When it comes to food and drink, Glasgow is firing on all cylinders.
With two new Michelin Stars under its belt thanks to Cail Bruich and Unalome, several new cafes, bars and restaurants opening every month, and street food markets with cuisines from around the globe, the city has shrugged off the gloom and uncertainty of the pandemic with a thriving dining scene to be proud of.
So when we spotted that one of the city's best loved restaurants was voted no. 1 on TripAdvisor – and name-checked by Conde Nast – we knew it must have something to seriously shout about.
Enter, The Gannet in Finnieston's Argyle Street.
The story behind The Gannet
The Gannet was launched by Ivan Stein, Peter Read and Peter McKenna in September 2013 as a restaurant where guests could have a high-end food experience in a casual environment.
The kitchen, headed up by Peter Mckenna, "blends traditional and contemporary technique creating a distinctly modern Scottish fine dining experience."
Its multi-course seasonal menu is crafted using ingredients which have been produced, farmed and foraged in Scotland.
What we had
In the interest of transparency, I'm a wee bit of a newbie when it comes to meat; I've only just started eating red meat in the last few months. And I'm no Jay Rayner either – think of this as an everyday punter's guide.
We started off with the snacks course. The word 'snack' evokes a casual feel – but this wasn't your average small bite.
First of all, they were served on a big bird's nest filled with foliage.
There were adorable tiny tacos filled with smoked and pickled mussels along with an Isle of Mull cheddar and onion crostade that boasted a delightful combination of crisp saltiness and cheese – we'd have had a whole nestful if we could. On the side, we had Gigha oysters with a sweet, peppery Vietnamese dressing.
Next up was the sea trout, which was delicately sliced and cured in pickled cherry blossom and served with blood orange slices, oyster emulsion and roe dressing laced with tiny orange fish eggs. The fish was basked in a briny, citrusy flavour without being overpowering,
As a former vegetarian, I had to swallow my guilt with the next dish; red deer. I've not eaten much red meat since I broke my herbivows during lockdown... but we were feeling game. And if I was to take a punt, it would surely be in one of the city's most high-end dining spots.
I was expecting a softer bite, but deer is less juicy than the likes of the beef I've tried; firm and leaner, with a bit of chew. But it melded beautifully with the crunch of the smoked crumb and silky egg yolk. The fusion of textures in this dish alone made it a stand-out.
The next dish is The Gannet's savoury tribute to the homely comfort of 'tea and toast'... Albeit a bit more pricy. And with meat in it.
The organic mutton shoulder is slowly cooked and rolled, along with lamb sweetbreads in foaming butter and served with a mustard & onion seed lamb fat focaccia with air-dried mutton. I could have had a full plate of those bad boys.
Now, the fussier among us would probably turn our noses up at 'cauliflower fungus' – it's a mushroom, basically, with a hint of earthy hazelnut. The Peterhead monkfish was mild-flavoured and meaty, lavished in creamy smoked butter. (Just don't do what I did and Google what the fish looks like._
Out comes the Peelham farm lamb, served in juicy chops and a slab of creamy potatoes infused with strong wild garlic, topped with Hen of the Woods mushroom. Probably the least intimidating dish of the lot as this was like a very tarted-up Sunday roast – and was my boyfriend's favourite.
Last up, the dessert; 68 per cent Dominican dark chocolate with hazelnut from Scottish company Barenones, served with cacao husk. A decadent, melt-in-the-mouth confection that genuinely has not left my mind in five days.
Reader, I must tell you I forgot to take a photo before wiring into this glorious creation when it was put in front of me. I have herein included an Instagram post for your perusal
Verdict
Scotland's natural larder is celebrated in every dish on The Gannet's tasting menu, with no stone left unturned in making each bite truly special.
Don't let the fancy ingredients put you off giving The Gannet a try either; the servers are down-to-earth, talking you through each dish and happily answer any questions.
My only advice is don't go if you're hungover or after a proper scran – the small plates just won't cut it. And at £70 per person, it's best saved for a time when you can truly appreciate it.
Serving fine dining with a cosy neighbourhood feel, it's no surprise that The Gannet has soared to the top spot on Trip Advisor. Whether you're out for an occasion or wanting to impress, this spot is the ideal destination for a dining experience to remember.
