Crabshakk

‘Cracking good food’ (geddit?) is the punning slogan behind Crabshakk – a popular seafood specialist in Glasgow’s funky Finnieston district that’s been going strong for a decade. Close to the west end, Glasgow University and Kelvingrove Park, Crabshakk is a bit of a schlep from the city centre, but well worth it if you’re craving top-notch fish and seafood in a homely setting.

Designed as an all-day kitchen with rough-hewn elbow-to-elbow tables, an industrial steel staircase and a glass-clad bar, Crabshakk is the sort of place you can rock up alone for a quick bite without feeling self-conscious, though fair warning: if you’ve not booked, you’ll be hard-pushed to get a table. It really is that popular.

Staff are smiley and accommodating, but it’s the exceptional food that keeps this place packed to the rafters. With a core menu that’s barely changed since day one, Crabshakk majors in shellfish, crustacea and mighty seafood platters. Crabs, lobsters (cold or grilled) and oysters au natural are its stock in trade, served simply with sides of bread, chips, mayo and salad, but you can also slurp bowls of shellfish chowder, nibble on dinky crab cakes, tuck into plates of pasta vongole or fill up on fish and chips.

Meat eaters and veggies get a token look-in, but given its reputation for excellent fish and seafood, “particularly scallops seared with anchovies”, Crabshakk would be an odd choice for anyone who doesn’t eat it. Puds are simple – think fruit salad, ice cream and panna cotta – and there’s a good selection of drinks. It’s worth noting that the owners also run the no-bookings Table Eleven oyster bar a few doors away, in case you can’t get a table at Crabshakk.

Sometimes, it is the simplest of restaurant concepts which prove to be the most effective and this is certainly true of Glasgow’s long-standing Crabshakk. Found in the city’s trendy Finnieston district, Crabshakk is a simple seafood restaurant serving an uncomplicated menu which champions the very best of Scottish fish and shellfish.

The dining room boasts a ramshackle, thrown together industrial chic vibe, featuring bare wooden tables, benches with padded leather trim and a standalone bar flanked by stools that lend themselves to solo dining. SquareMeal readers often remark on the friendly and approachable nature of the service here, but it is of course the menu that keeps diners coming back for more.

The a la carte is made up of staple seafood dishes such as oysters, fruits de mer and Glasgow fish suppers (pretty much unchanged since Crabshakk first opened its doors in 2009), but things are kept exciting by twice daily-changing specials, which are written up on blackboards in chalk and served at lunch and dinner.

On your visit, you might begin by shucking half a dozen oysters, before moving on to the likes of tempura squid served alongside a soy and coriander dipping sauce or seared scallops with anchovies. Larger plates meanwhile include the homely likes of traditional fish and chips served with tartar sauce or a fish club sandwich accompanied by chips and salad, while the more upmarket likes of crab cakes and half or whole Scottish lobster are also available. You can pad out your meal with sides of garlic bread or chips, as well as an assortment of dipping sauces such as lemon or garlic mayonnaise.

If you would like to end your meal with something sweet, take your pick from Crabshakk’s simple selection of desserts - think a slice of chocolate cake or a lively fruit salad.