These are The Scotsman food writers' favourite restaurants of 2020 so far (despite covid)
This year has been an annus horribilis for hospitality and eating out, but here The Scotsman food and drink writers' and critics share their favourite restaurants of 2020 so far.
There was, however, a couple of months at the start of the year, when we were blissfully ignorant and covid was an unthreatening speck on the horizon.
We ate and drank well, hugged our pals and openly cleared our throats, free from dirty looks.
Then after lockdown, we were blown away by how ingenious restaurants were, in adapting and offering takeaway.
Now, they’ve reopened, some have closed again, others have gone back to takeaway and we anticipate more hokey-cokey-ing.
Meanwhile, The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday’s food writers reminisce about what tasty things we did manage to squeeze in this year.
Gloriosa
(1321 Argyle Street, Glasgow, 0141 334 0594)
On 1 March, when the covid buzz was just starting to get a little louder, I visited Gloriosa. It had opened in the former premises of Firebird by Rosie Healey, previously of nearby Alchemilla.
The meal made me very happy, with dishes including duck ragu tagliatelle and smoked haddock carpaccio, fennel, sage and lemon.
However, the real stand out was the panna cotta. As a chocoholic, it’s never in my top desserts, but this version came with burnt caramel sauce and a crumbly brazil nut biscuit. It’s only a slight exaggeration to say I’ve dreamt about it every night since.
I don’t think I’d ever been to Kiloconquhar, unless passing through, when I reviewed East Neuk gastropub The Kinneuchar Inn back in January.
We walked on the beach at Elie, and were starving by the time lunch came round.
It’s hard to choose stand-out dishes from the consistently great meal, though I was most impressed by the hispi cabbage with potted shrimp butter and the ultra creamy rice pudding. Thanks to outdoor tables, they’ve thankfully pulled through lockdown.
Gaby Soutar
Bar Brett
(321 Great Western Road, Glasgow)