Gael and Grain

A canny cocktail paying homage to the humble honey bee has set Glasgow’s West End buzzing.

The Seillean-Mil is pure nectar with some of Scotland’s finest ingredients swirling round to create the sweetest of tastes.

Scots Gaelic for honey bee, the Seillean-Mil is just one of the traditional options on the drink and food menus at one of Glasgow’s newest bar and restaurant Gael and Grain.

Everything about it is Scottish, from the finest Fettercairn 12 dram, spritz liqueur Amarosa, a combination of sweet rosehips with a blend of wild herbs and botanicals, macerated local raspberries and the beautiful, whipped honey from Ed’s bees.

Literally “flown in” from nearby urban hives which dominate the Glasgow skyline, perched on the roof tops of the city’s highest buildings, the honey is collected as part of venture between the bee keepers and Young Enterprise Scotland to encourage new skills in the disadvantaged.

And the cocktail is not only delicious, but also £1 of the £10 price wings its way to charity, making it the most deserving of drinks.

Gael and Grain opened its doors in May following a joint £275,000 revamp by the Lomond Leisure Group and Star Pubs.

Previously the Van Winkle, the Sandyford Place venue is neatly placed in the city’s conservation area and just a stone’s throw from the popular Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

And in true tartan style, Gael and Grain is the epitome of Scottishness, from the décor to the menus.

The mid-1800s building is through a smart 30 seater al fresco area and inside has been tastefully decorated incorporating natural materials, like timber flooring, exposed brickwork and leather button-back seating, as well as Scottish designed fabrics and wallpapers.

It’s light, airy and welcoming and the young staff are full of Scottish charm as they greet and attend to your every need.

With 65 covers in the main pub and a 30 seater private dining area, guests can also book the A’ Chuilidh (Gaelic for The Secret Hiding Place) or enjoy the dog-friendly beer garden. Entertainment is via a weekly dose of laughs from Good Egg Comedy.

But it’s the food and drink which is the most dynamic and everything is geared up to show off the best of the Scottish larder.

The eight menus from main and lunch to gluten free and special ones for kids and dogs, mean everyone is catered for.

Starters are sumptuous and range from tasty haggis bon bons with a wee whisky sauce (£7.45) to traditional Cullen Skink soup (£8.45) packed with smocked haddock, potato and onion cream. Vegetarians are well looked after too, with goats’ cheese and red pepper croquettes (£7.95), served with sweet chilli sauce and a medley of mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce on toasted on sourdough bread from the social enterprise Freedom Bakery and topped with shaved Grana Padano.

There’s plenty of tradition on the main courses, with the signature haggis tikka masala (£16.75 plus £3 to add chicken) a popular dish.  Crammed full of the finest MacSween’s haggis cooked in a special sauce with basmati rice and naan bread, it goes down well with the imaginative cocktails, beers, ciders and spirits.

Other beauties include the finest Scottish ribeye steak served with a choice of sauce, thick cut chips, roquette and Grana Padano salad (£29.45), Chicken Balmoral (£19.95), stuffed with haggis and wrapped in pancetta, with a portion of Dauphinoise potatoes, savoy cabbage, bacon and a creamy whisky sauce.

Vegetarians can enjoy delights such as a spinach and courgette lasagne (£17.25) with fresh salad and sweet tofu chilli burger in a vegan bun, with vegan mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce, lettuce and tomato.

But it’s the dessert menu which has the most intriguing Scottish flavours running through it. Think Irun Brun cheesecake (£8.45), surprisingly light and delicious to Gael and Grain’s Jammie Dodger (£8.25), shortbread rounds crammed full of cranachan cream and topped with a raspberry drizzle.

Abair àite spòrsail a bhith – what a fun place to be!

The Details

Gael and Grain, 23 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G3 7NG, Scotland.

Tel: + 44 0141 339 9993.

Website: www.gaelandgrain.com

Email: contact@gaelandgrain.com

The closest railway station is Charing Cross which is an 8-minute walk away and it’s on a bus route taking just 12 minutes to the city centre. The restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from midday to 11:00pm, Friday from midday to midnight, Saturday from 9:00am to midnight and Sunday from 9:00am until 11:00pm.

Type of Restaurant: Scottish Restaurant and Bar

Price Band: Medium prices for good quality Scottish produce, served on classy plates and dishes, together with an excellent selection of drinks.

Insider Tip: The Irun Bru cheesecake has to be the biggest draw, true “Made in Scotland from Girders”.

Reviewers Rating: 9/10

Author Bio:

Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2

Photographs courtesy of Gael and Grain