Glasgow venues round-up: April 2022

Spotlight:

To Be Confirmed

Sorry to take you back there, but remember Lockdown 1? That sliver of time before the pubs reopened when the hospitality industry was flirting with new ideas? We’re talking at-home restaurant dining boxes, Zoom DJ sets, cocktail delivery services, craft beer party boxes – there was some pretty good stuff. It was not unusual to hear people say “they should keep this after the pandemic, I’d buy it”, while swigging from a carton of takeaway beer in the park. But it's hard to keep that promise when faced with the irresistible reality of an open pub.

Everything else aside, it was a creative and collaborative time for a lot of people working in Glasgow’s hospitality industry. And it's from that time and spirit that the To Be Confirmed project was born. TBC is a new monthly pop-up which sees familiar faces from the Glasgow bar and restaurant scene join forces for events in popular and unexpected spots in the city. This enigmatic collaborative undertaking is the brainchild of mixologist Jasmine Harrabi (of Celentano’s) who will design the drinks offering for each pop-up – beginning with a CBD cocktail menu with East End pizza place BAKED. This month’s event is set to take place in Tabac’s CBD bar, bringing BAKED’s famous focaccia pizzas to the city centre for the first time. Music will be provided by... well, that's still appropriately to be confirmed.

Recent Openings:

Berto’s Brownies

Anyone who has attended food events or festivals in Glasgow recently will have encountered Berto’s Brownies (and probably have fond memories of the charming Berto himself). This popular Spanish pastry chef has been travelling the west coast selling gooey brownies with sweet sauces for several years to great acclaim. Fans of the sweet treats no longer have to hope and wonder when they might get their next fix – Berto’s now has a permanent home in the city, tucked away from the busy Finnieston strip in the colourful Hidden Lane. A joyful and sunny match made in heaven. Hidden Lane, 1103 Argyle St, G3 8ND

Zennor

Occupying the space once held by beloved Dennistoun coffee spot EAST who have since moved round the corner, Zennor is the newest face on the Dennistoun coffee scene. Zennor specialises in short, strong coffees but they offer everything a good coffee shop does these days: soft drinks, kombucha, teas (their matcha lattes are particularly popular) and a selection of great food options. A short mix of brunchy favourites such as avocado on toast or granola share the menu pages alongside more substantial offerings such as vegan chillis and hot pots. A changing daily selection of sweet and savoury cakes, breads and pastries is also available. 354 Duke St, G31 1RB

Gaucho

Slick city-centre steak restaurant Gaucho opened its doors last month to much fanfare – a lineup of horses even stood outside to herald its launch night. A well-established brand with restaurants throughout London and the UK, the Gaucho motif runs throughout the restaurant, from its décor to its Argentinian natural wine list. Proud of its sustainability policy, especially where meat is concerned – Gaucho claims to be the first restaurant of its kind in Scotland where all the steak is carbon-neutral – their efforts include being selective about what the cows eat, where they are farmed, and the impact that has on local communities. If you're going to open a steak restaurant in 2022, that's the way to do it. 7 W Nile St, G1 2PR