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Wagamama (Glasgow)
by suz1584
Recently I visited Glasgow with my husband and a friend to go and see A-ha for the second last time in concert (I say second last time because we had tickets for Bournemouth a week later with my husband who has been following them since they started out). So we had our hotel booked and tickets safely in the glove box.
The ... evening went very well and didn't go on as late as expected so the next morning we had the perfect chance to drive into Glasgow and do some all important shopping. With the shops to be visited already planned (the apple store) we just had to make a decision on where to go for lunch.
My friend had recommended Wagamama's in Glasgow. I'd never heard of the place and I didn't know what kind of food to expect but he had said that it was really good so we followed him to the restaurant like lost sheep.
The Location
Wagamama Glasgow City Centre is situated on West George Street, for those of you familiar with Glasgow you'll be aware that this is very central for all the shops. For people like me who hadn't really been to Glasgow City Centre much, it is quite easy to find and I'm pretty sure that you'd be able to locate this restaurant quite easily. A two minute walk from Buchanan Street (one of the main shopping streets in Glasgow that I'm aware of) and several minutes walk from Buchanan bus station.
The Restaurant
Well for those of you who have never heard of Wagamama it is (as stated on their website) a chain of award-winning pan-asian inspired noodle restaurants. So as you can imagine all dishes are noodle or riced based dishes.
We walked into the restaurant and my first thought was it was a very open and bright place. The kitchen on your right hand side had walls about halfway up, so you could watch the chefs making your meal. We were quickly seated and the first thing I noticed was the seats were like in school with tables and fixed benches. So in my opinion you definitely couldn't have an intimate meal in the restaurant as you are almost sharing your table with strangers. This isn't usually my kind of dining but I went ahead with it anyway.
Once seated I realised that although there are people sharing the same table and bench as you it does still have a feeling of being a table on it's own.
The next thing I noticed was the noise, because of the tables you could fit a lot more people in the restaurant than having it set like other restaurants. This made it quite loud although the restaurant was half empty. I think the open kitchen also added to the noise. I have to admit that the noise was actually more comforting than irritating and we soon got into the same way with chatting and laughing. One thing's for sure - other people wouldn't be able to hear much of our conversation.
The menu
We were given menus as soon as we sat down and to say I was confused was an understatement, I didn't understand want any of the dishes were meant to be. Underneath there was a small description of what each dish was. I also noticed at the top that it had a menu glossary which helped you understand what most things were.
We all decided we would just have a main course as it was through the day and we didn't want to feel to sluggish driving back home to the Highlands.
I decided to have chicken katsu curry which as it stated on the menu chicken breast deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs with a curry sauce and sticky white rice. My friend had the same and my husband decided to have teriyaki beef on a bed of teppan fried soba noodles. (Soba noodles being thin wheat egg noodles).
The meal took about 10-15 minutes to be cooked and when it arrived I was very impressed with how good it looked and also the portion size. There is a choice to use chopsticks or you can ask for a knife and fork like we all did.
My dish was absolutely delicious, it was cooked perfectly and I was slightly worried it would be to spicy for me but I was glad that it was quite mild for a curry. The food tasted so fresh and I think with the open kitchen so you can watch your food gives you added confidence that everything is cooked when you order your meal.
The meal was lovely but I couldn't eat the whole dish. The only thing I didn't like was the pickled salad but I think that depends on each person as my friend enjoyed his.
My husbands dish looked just as good as mine and I have to admit I did steal a bite and I will probably order his dish if we ever manage to go back again.
The Staff
We had the same waitress throughout our visit, normally this is a good thing but unfortunately she let the restaurant down, when asked a question she wasn't very helpful and she didn't look happy to be there. It may have been due to the fact that she was running around serving her tables so maybe a bit stressed with how busy the restaurant was.
We didn't speak to any of the other members of staff on our visit but most of the other staff seemed to be happy and smiling, even the chefs seemed to be happy to be there.
Pricing
My dish was £8.95 and my husbands dish was a bit more expensive at £13.25 but it was definitely worth the price. A glass of coke is priced at £2.15 which I found quite expensive for the amount you got.
Overall
My opinion was lowered a bit because of the noise and also the staff but still a lovely visit and I would definitely go back. It's just a shame my nearest restaurant is 4 hours drive away and hopefully they decide to open a restaurant in Inverness which is much closer to home for me.
If you would like any further information, to look to find your nearest restaurant or just to have a wee look at their menu then visit http://www.wagamama.com/home/ which is very easy to navigate and get all the information you're looking for.
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Khushi's Diner (Edinburgh)
by Froggerella
I went to Khushi's on a weekday evening, when it was moderately busy. I was in a group of three, and we immediately were seated at a wonderful table in the corner and presented with menus. As it's BYOB, we had some wine with us, and we were swiftly given a wine cooler. An important note: there is NO corkage fee.
The food ... arrived quickly, and was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Chana Masala (chickpea curry), and it was the most flavoursome chana masala I've ever tasted. My fellow diners were also delighted with their own food - none of us could fault it. We were also given chilled table water for free with our meal, which was a nice touch.
The service was wonderful - the servers were attentive, without being intrusive. We were asked partway through the meal if everything was ok, and the servers kept an eye on all the tables to ensure no one was left with an empty plate sitting in front of them.
We were presented with the bill after our meal, but assured not to rush, as we were still finishing our wine. I felt this was incredibly nice of them, since we were drinking wine we had bought from elsewhere (being BYOB).
Overall, a wonderful meal and a wonderful experience.
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Restaurants in Orkney in general
by excavator
Birsay Bay Tearoom situated near the Brough of Birsay at the North-Westernmost tip of Mainland Orkney provides a warm and most welcoming stopoff point on any tour of this wonderful island.
Away from the two main towns on the Island, Kirkwall and Stromness, cafes and tearooms are hard to find, and for the weary traveller any ... would be a welcome find. Given such a captive audience, it would be easy for such an establishment to take advantage of the situation and offer basic provision at exorbitant price. This can certainly NOT be said of the Birsay Bay Tearoom.
Upon entering, the immediate impression is one of spaciousness, comfort, cleanliness, and superb attention to detail. The cafe is light, airy, and modern, with large picture windows offering outstanding views of the foreshore, sea, and the coast extending from the Brough of Birsay 2km to the North, to the impressive cliffs of Marwick Head 5km South. Whatever the weather, there will be plenty to watch while you await your order.
And while you wait, you can make use of the wildlife and shoreline guide books and the binoculars provided, even choosing to relax in the comfy leather sofas in one corner.
Not that you will wait for long - the service is First Class too, and the food no exception. From soup of the day, sandwiches, toasties, and baked potatoes with an assortment of delightful fillings, to salads, and then scrumptious home made cakes and pastries, everything is locally sourced and freshly made. For the side salad, you can make your own selections from a number of options available, most if not all freshly picked from their own glasshouses right next to the cafe! And all at a sensible price.
An extensive selection of teas, coffees, and soft drinks are also available, as is locally produced ice-cream. Local produce can also be purchased to take away.
As for the other facilities, the toilets are spotless, and an excellent information board in the lobby area gives up to date information on what's going on in the area, including tide timetables for those wishing to venture over the causeway to the Brough.
All in all, a truly First Class experience.
Check for opening times and see a sample menu at:
http://www.birsaybaytearoom.co.uk/
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