Eat out, drink up
Restaurateurs have their say
Once a year we tell you what’s best. This year, to complement our annual Eating and Drinking Guide - and the opinions of our reviewers - we ask a few top restaurateurs what they like and why. Words: Barry Shelby
n addition to highlighting the usual hallmark
venues, The List Eating and Drinking Guide
for 200] introduces some new names to our top restaurants. The Marque Central, Skerries Seafood Restaurant and Café Marlayne feature on Hitlists in the capital. Meanwhile in Glasgow. Farfelu. Café Clear and Arta have risen to the top in our humble ~ if well-informed — opinion.
You. too. have had your say: the Readers‘ Choices range from The Witchery by the Castle and ()ne Devonshire Gardens to Harry Ramsden’s and All Bar ()ne.
lf critics and consumers have had their say. then it‘s high time that industry got a word in. as well. The List has conducted a mini-survey in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We asked chefs and restaurateurs at some of our best establishments to give us three to five of their favourite eating and drinking places.— telling us, in brief. why.
In no particular order. here are the results:
DEREK MARSHALL (Head Chef) Gamba Glasgow
(fitz)Henry Edinburgh. Food is excellent. always consistent.
Amber Regent Glasgow. Best Cantonese food: excellent service and attention to detail.
Nairn’s Glasgow. Good food. good service.
DEREK TANG (Owner)
Kweilin Edinburgh
Restaurant Martin Wishart Leith. Excellent quality of food. beautifully presented. Lancer‘s Brasserie Edinburgh. Friendly atmosphere: food is excellent.
The Dome Edinburgh. Relaxed and elegant surroundings and a good place for a drink.
ANGUS BOYD (Chef/Patron) Mitchell’s Glasgow
Malmaison Glasgow. Good atmosphere and decor
Amber Regent Glasgow. Go for the food. Shish Mahal Glasgow. Consistent quality of the cooking.
ADRIAN HANGER (Proprietor)
The Dial Edinburgh
Poprokit Edinburgh. Always a good meeting house with vibrant atmosphere. good beer and great music.
Bar Kohl Edinburgh. Good range of drinks. superb management and staff.
Grain Store Edinburgh. It's like going home. Carla and Paul run a professional operation. Tapas Ole Edinburgh. Fab for a snack on the run. Kweilin Edinburgh. Always great food and Derek is a charmer.
1 18 THE LIST Apr 2001
Food & Drink
‘A most soulful place, once entered tin‘c stops and it
embraces you.’ Malcolm lnnes on Cafe Gandolfi
eat@list.co.uk
NICK NAIRN (Director)
Nairn’s, Glasgow
Restaurant Martin Wishart l.eith. Wishart is at the stage in his career where everything goes into his cooking and it shows on the plate.
The Marque Edinburgh. l’unky cooking. deceptively simple style. Atrium Edinburgh. (‘hef has found his niche: extraordinarily good lunch.
Gamha Glasgow. Derek Marshall cooks up a storm.
Roman Camp (‘allander The country house hotel experience: proper cooking and value for money.
SHIRLEY MOWAT (Proprietor)
The Skerries Seafood Restaurant, Edinburgh Champany Inn Chop and Ale House l.in|ithgow. Good steaks. sauces and home-made chips.
Daniel’s Leith. Relaxed atmosphere and perfect for light bite or big meal.
The Tower Edinburgh. Atmosphere and the views are special. Restaurant Martin Wishart Leith. Best quality and presentation.
FERRIER RICHARDSON (Chef/Managing Director) Eurasia, Glasgow
Café Mao Glasgow. Good food. good service. nice ambience. Gamba Glasgow. Great seafood. great chef and excellent service. Corinthian Bar Glasgow. Great atmosphere. Fun place.
Arta Glasgow. Totally over the top bar;great fun and well run.
MALCOLM INNES (Partner)
The Apartment, Edinburgh
Café Gandolfi Glasgow. A most soulful place. once entered time stops and it embraces you.
The Grain Store Edinburgh. Great food. caringly cooked and gorgeous wines.
Human Be-ln Edinburgh. Young. stylish. independent and very sexy.