Ox & Finch

In Glasgow it’s well known now that getting a table at Ox and Finch isn’t always easy: jam-packed from Sunday to Sunday, eating here will take forward planning. Making a booking, though, is the only awkward thing about a meal at this buzzy West End restaurant.

Alarm bells might typically ring when faced with a menu that offers up Asian-inspired dishes alongside British classics and Middle Eastern plates but the confident team here handle their wide culinary brief just fine.

A succession of vibrant, globally inspired plates delivered by engaging staff begins with a green harissa hummus with an addictively herbaceous fragrance and pickled chili garnish. Next, poached hake yields easily into the sweet and mildly spiced katsu sauce that surrounds it – a welcome change from the fried chicken version.

The sharing plates arrive as and when they’re ready, but everything we ate was delivered in what felt like a well thought-out order. Unctuous belly pork is accompanied by delicate scallops, satay sauce, pickled cucumber and salted pineapple which, thanks to some precise cooking and crisping, all harmonise in a happy sing-song of sweet and salt and sour, without the scallops becoming overwhelmed. Skate wing was rich and buttery, and while perfectly pleasant didn’t have the boldness of flavours the other plates had.

The food is accompanied by a drinks list that has been given real consideration, showcasing a well-rounded selection of beers, wine and softs, as well as an extensive selection of whiskies. The wines are fairly priced (a fruity Pierrick Harang Cuvée Balthazar Viognier will set you back £5.85 a glass, for instance) and the cocktail list is short but sweet, with just six options. And before you ask, anything off menu isn’t pandered to – the mark of a contentedly assured team, we suspect. But there should be more than enough here to keep you happy.

Based in the heart of Glasgow's bustling West End, Ox & Finch is a contemporary restaurant which serves a varied menu of small sharing plates. Priding itself on its ingredient-led, simple style of cooking, it has proved popular among Glaswegians and visitors alike since it opened in 2014. Balancing a laid-back ambience with a menu which demonstrates real skill, Ox & Finch is a spot for both special occasions and casual lunches, but you are required to book ahead to guarantee yourself a table.

From the outside, Ox & Finch almost has the appearance of a pub with its big windows and large sign. This carries through to the restaurant's interior which features brown leather banquettes, walls lined with wine bottles, and pendant lights hanging from above. At one end of the restaurant there's a swanky bar decorated with black tiles, while to the side sits Ox & Finch's open kitchen, which allows diners to watch on as their food is prepared.

The style of food on offer varies hugely with dishes inspired by everywhere from Asia to the Middle East, and there are also some classic British dishes thrown in for good measure. You're encouraged to order a mixture of different plates to share as a table, meaning you can try a decent amount of the menu. Dishes at Ox & Finch range from beetroot hummus with feta, nut dukkah, pomegranate and toasted flatbread, and charred sprouts with parmesan gnocchi, smoked bacon and a poached egg, to seared scallops, served with pancetta, cauliflower, capers, raisins and hazelnuts. Meanwhile desserts include chocolate and coconut crémeux with coconut ice cream, and tonka bean bread and butter pudding with a yoghurt sorbet.

Ox & Finch's drinks menu is headlined by its impressive and reasonably priced wine list but there are also alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, beers, spirits and more available.