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UPDATE: Miso is now closed: Notice on the door seen on 23rd Feb 2008 indicated that Miso has closed down. Not sure as to the reasons, but we’d not been back as we could never decide if it was a bar or a restaurant. A shame.

We’ve just returned from a meal at Miso here in Glasgow, at 57 West Regent Street. Very nice it was too, so I figured it was time I did a bit of a restaurant review, just in case readers draw the wrong conclusion that Glasgow is a city mainly featuring deep-fried culinary produce. Of course, Frances is probably the only Weggie who doesn’t like deep-fried produce, including Tempura…

Featuring a chef who built something of a reputation for himself at a now closed Japanese restaurant in Glasgow’s west-end (’Fusion’, on Byers Road), the menu is - as you’d expect from a venue named after Japan’s famous soup - very Japanese. Whilst portions weren’t huge, the quality was good. Frances wasn’t overly impressed with the sushi (it does take a lot to impress her), the chicken skewers I had went down a treat. The seating was comfortable, the venue spacious, and the staff friendly.

Lots of Japanese beer available - I had a nice pint of Kirin which brought a few memories back of our trip to Japan. Saki based cocktails were talked up by the manager, and they certainly were very nice indeed. I sipped on a nice plum-saki based cocktail whilst Frances tackled the strawberry sorbet.

Main courses were nice. Whilst we had said “something other than noodles”, only Frances held up to that by going for a rice and teriyaki beef affair. I went for noodles with oyster sauce and chicken. Portions weren’t huge, but very nice. The restaurant was certainly quiet - a combination no doubt of the Celtic football match and the mid-week timing - but the atmosphere was great. At just over £30 for two people (one two course, one three course), and including a few drinks (including a delicious plum-saki based cocktail), I think it’s hard to say this was anything but excellent value for money.

Talking to the manager (maybe even owner), they’ve been going for eight months (opening in late 2004), and started mainly as a pre-club bar, however it seems that the venue has done very well with food that they’re now extending the hours food is served: It’s currently billed more of a night-spot than a restaurant, something I think they’re now turning around somewhat - a new menu should be appearing soon. Talk of a sushi refrigerator and well-priced sushi available until the small hours in the next few weeks, makes it seem like the ideal chill-out spot until the small hours. The music was a selection of recent tracks, combined with the almost ubiquitous Quentin Tarantino assortment.

Certainly with the excellent selection of Japanese food, Japanese drinks, attentive bar/waiting staff, and a very conducive atmosphere, I can imagine the place being packed to the rafters at the peak hours. I’m sure we’ll be poking our nose around the door in the not so distant future as a possible place to visit later on in an evening when we get the Sushi-nibbles. A great find for Glasgow.

Details

• If you find out about Miso via this web-page, please mention it when you book/arrive! I don’t get commission, but a free drink for a referral or two if they recognise me never goes amiss.
• 57 West Regent Street (Above Bamboo)
• Tel. 0141 333 01333
• Fax. 0141 333 1818
• www.barmiso.com

Links

• www.barmiso.com
• Evening times
• The List