Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Glasgow/Lanarkshire

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Glasgow/Lanarkshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Number 16 Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3403)

£25 and under

Modern European

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Award- winning restaurant in the heart of Glasgow's West End.

Number 16 is a cosy, well established and much loved neighbourhood favourite offering quality food, friendly service and great value in relaxed surroundings. Run by a tight- knit, experienced and dedicated team; Number 16 is proud to bring fresh and unusual ideas to modern Scottish cooking. Our ever- changing menu features imaginative, balanced flavours and a commitment to using seasonal produce. We strive to make each dining experience a relaxing, unique and memorable one for every customer.

Top review

Peter

Dined 3 days ago

A great pre Christmas Dinner - outstanding Staff . Really enjoyed the experience and highly recommended!

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Hogmanay at Number 16 2024

Madras Cafe

4.8

4.8 (724)

£25 and under

Indian

Glasgow

About the restaurant

No short cuts. No easy fixes. We aspire to do things the right way. Using recipes that are true to their roots, wholesome natural ingredients, and classical cooking techniques. Our food is actually cooked in our own kitchens, from scratch, by our amazing chefs who absolutely love their jobs and love feeding people!
We offer quality and honest food. Everything we create in our kitchen is sublime, from the textures to the flavours. We aim to enhance and elevate the Indian classics and street food.As nature is generous with her many colours and palate, you will find her in the finely blended flavours in all the dishes we present, experienced in all their authenticity, their freshness and their delightful individuality.
Our culinary style is both – incredibly simple and cleverly refined. Everything that seems ordinary hides a delightful twist.
Let Madras Cafe guide you through a memorable dining experience.

Top review

Jessica

Dined 5 days ago

I’ve been here a few times and every time has been a great experience! The pakoda is absolutely unreal, so crispy and delicious.

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4.8

4.8 (589)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

nigel

Dined 4 days ago

Very relaxed lunch and excellent service and food. Good selection of drinks.

Thundercat Pub & Diner

4.7

4.7 (2858)

£25 and under

American

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Glasgow City centre pub and diner specialising in deep dish pizza pies and American staples.
Thundercat’s head chef Yvonne Noon is passionate about the food served in America’s diners, pubs and dive bars.
Having travelled the length and breadth of the USA, Yvonne and the team behind Buck’s Bar now bring those authentic flavours and recipes to Glasgow.
Open for Brunch, lunch and dinner til late.
Thundercat also sells local draught beers, cocktails and shakes. Drinks promos every day.

Top review

Marie

Dined 2 days ago

Lucy our server was lovely. The food was outstanding, first time being in but defo not be the last.

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Classic Chicago Style

KELP

4.7

4.7 (1004)

£26 to £40

Seafood

Glasgow

About the restaurant

At KELP we take our time to make sure the food that goes on your plate is a fresh and local as possible. We source our seafood to be specifically Scottish and sustainable. We pride ourselves on using local suppliers for all our food. The fish people supply our fresh seafood daily. Our bread comes from Soja bakehouse, a family owned bakery in Cumbernauld. Our meat comes from ABR butchers, based in Bearsden.
Our executive chef, Christopher Hutchison, creates amazing, innovative dishes to be enjoyed and shared with friends and loved ones. We now have an AA rosette for 2023/2024 to highlight his and the teams amazing work. We are located on Cowcaddens Road, just around the corner from our sister restaurant, Ardnamurchan Restaurant and Bar and a stones throw from the theatre royal. Perfect for a meal before a show. Relax in our modern, airy restaurant and watch the chefs work in the open kitchen. Our signature dish is our crab doughnut, you'll be amazed!

Top review

Joanne

Dined 3 days ago

Menu is an interesting mix of choices. Food was fantastic - very tasty. VFM. Staff very attentive. only criticism side came to the table after we had finished our main plates (not charged so dealt with without asking) I guess that’s the issue with the small plates format. Highly recommend.

Kinara

4.7

4.7 (30)

£25 and under

Indian

Merchant City

About the restaurant

Embark on a culinary journey of India's multifaceted regional cuisines at Kinara by Shabu Natarajan. Kinara is the project very closed to chef Shabu's heart. We started Kinara with a vision to promote Quality Indian food in heart of Glasgow's Merchant City. Kinara team is experienced and professional. With awards winning chef Shabu at the helm team smartly managing the Kinara very well.
Kinara is featured in Local and National news recently for their achievement at Scottish Hospitality award "Best casual venue in Scotland".
We are delighted to finally be able to open our doors and welcome customers into Kinara. Our chef Shabu Natarajan and the team have worked very hard to bring you a menu full of delectable dishes. Chef Shabu’s passion for Indian cuisine shines through every bite in a relaxed, modern ambient.
We offer the best in local produce combined with some innovative creations and quality service that will provide you with an unforgettable dining experience.

Top review

Nikolaos

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

We went to Kinara for our work night out. The food was absolutely delicious, service was very attentive and accommodating. We ordered appetisers, drinks and mains and everything came out perfectly timed. Overall an amazing night, will definitely recommend and revisit!

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Experience

Christmas Day Menu-2024

The Spiritualist Glasgow

4.5

4.5 (837)

£25 and under

Cocktail Bar

Glasgow

About the restaurant

The Spiritualist is an enticingly elegant cocktail bar and restaurant with a touch of cool. Located in the centre of Glasgow, we're the perfect place to relax with friends and family over cocktails and small plates.

We’re proud to hold Scotland’s greatest bar gantry. But don’t just take our word for it. Come and see the unrivaled selection of cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, wines and craft beers for yourself!

🧒 Under 18s welcome until 8pm
🍲 Bar bites menu available Wed – Fri all day, Sat – Sun from 3pm
🥞 Boozy Brunch available Thu – Sun 12pm-3pm
🏃 Walk-ins welcome
🍹 ‘Just Drinks’ bookings welcome
🍽️ Kitchen closes at 9pm
📅 Contact us directly for bookings of 8 or more

Top review

Jacqueline

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

We arrived early and by luck our table was available. Very attentive service throughout. We had the Christmas menu. Food was excellent & beautifully presented. Wine with meal was reasonably priced. We finished with a cocktail which was also good value. First time I’d been to the Spiritualist in a while but as good as I remembered and I will definitely return soon.

Gaucho Glasgow

4.5

4.5 (830)

£26 to £40

Steak

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Join us this December at Gaucho, where we’ll be serving up festive dishes and drinks with an Argentinian twist, perfect for corporate celebrations, Christmas parties and family gatherings!

Located just a short walk from Glasgow Central Station, at the corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street, Gaucho Glasgow is proud to be Scotland’s first carbon-neutral steak restaurant. It is also the second in our collection to offer Argentina’s finest free-range, grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef, bold Latin flavors, and a premium wine list.

As the newest addition to our restaurant portfolio, Gaucho Glasgow showcases the sleek, modern design of Gaucho 2.0, inspired by contemporary Argentina. Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by a sophisticated blend of rich textures and glamorous tones. Relax in our stylish cocktail lounge or step into the dining area, where you can enjoy everything from a productive working lunch to an intimate dinner in one of our private booths.

Top review

Raj

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

There was a 15 minute delay in getting us our table, but staff were very apologetic and attentive throughout. We had a lovely time!

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4.4

4.4 (568)

£26 to £40

Latin American

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Welcome to El Santo, the pulsating heart of Latin American culture & cuisine in the heart of Glasgow! Experience an explosion of flavours at our casual luxury dining venue, with a tantalising menu of small, shareable dishes, transporting you on a gastronomical adventure across Latin America.

As the sun sets, the rhythm of our bar & dance floor takes over. Immerse yourself in the irresistible beats of our DJs and the fiery passion of our dancers every Friday & Saturday! Our Saturdays are truly special, featuring Live Entertainment in the evening.

Discover the allure of our El Santito Speakeasy, available for private events that can be fully customised to meet your specific needs. Experience the magic and create unforgettable memories at El Santito!

Book now and experience the exotic vibrancy and mouth-watering delights of Latin America at El Santo. ¡Te esperamos ansiosos!

Top review

Linda

Dined 5 days ago

First time, booked without a personal recommendation just reviews on websites and did not disappoint. Felt like every dish we tried was better than the last.

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Experience

Sunday Rodizio BBQ menu - £38.95

Experience

Premium Festive Menu

Experience

Signature Festive Sharing Menu

Hazel

4.4

4.4 (220)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Glasgow

About the restaurant

Your urban oasis in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Pause to appreciate a quiet coffee, connect with friends over lunch, or enjoy an indulgent dinner with cocktails.

Our warm and welcoming restaurant is made for the people of and visitors to Glasgow, drawing inspiration from the hazel branch depicted in the city’s crest, and from Glasgow’s harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.

Natural sophistication that meets an urban edge; Hazel is the perfect choice for an experience before, during or after a day of shopping, sightseeing or working in Glasgow City Centre.

Our welcoming, knowledgeable team look forward to welcoming you for a relaxing and enriching experience, time and time again.

Top review

Tori

Dined 3 days ago

I recently dined at Hazel, had a wonderful evening and already cannot wait to return. The drinks menu specifically was very impressive, offering delicious mocktails and non alcoholic beverages which catered nicely for my sister who is pregnant. The service was outstanding, we were very well looked after all evening and the team made us as comfortable as possible. The food was delicious and presented beautifully. I can’t wait to return after hearing about the different seasonal menus the restaurant offers. Overall, Hazel offered a superb dining experience with exceptional food, impeccable service, and a delightful ambiance. I look forward to returning.

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Experience

Festive Menu - Thursday to Saturday

Experience

Hogmanay Celebration Menu

Experience

LARGE PARTY Festive Menu £48.00 Thurs to saturday

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