Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TEA FOR
two
For tea and a snack, why not join the
rest of the tourists in Glasgow and try to
secure a table at the landmark
Willow
Tea Rooms,
217 Sauchiehall St.
(
&
0141/332-0521;
Underground:
Buchanan St.). When the famed Mrs.
Cranston opened the Willow Tea Rooms
in 1904, it was something of a sensation
due to its unique Charles Rennie Mack-
intosh design. The building's white
facade still stands out from the crowd
more than 100 years later. The dining
room, one floor above street level, is
open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm
and Sunday noon to 5pm. A second
branch on Buchanan Street is similarly
appointed if less authentic.
For a more contemporary experience,
in the West End overlooking the River
Kelvin,
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea,
42
Otago St. (
&
0141/357-4524;
Under-
ground: Kelvinbridge), has a selection of
some 80 teas, served in fairly eccentric
and bohemian surroundings. Food is
vegetarian. In the evenings, there may
be live music, poetry, or comedy. Tchai-
Ovna is open daily from 11am to 11pm.
panini with free-range chicken, sage, thyme, red onion, mayo, and balsamic vinegar.
Be patient, the place is busy at peak time but it's worth the wait.
182 W. Regent St.
&
0141/226-3406.
www.wtms.co.uk. Soups £2.50; sandwiches £3-£6. MC, V. Mon-
Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 10am-5pm. Underground: Buchanan St.
15
THE WEST END
Expensive
Bistro at One Devonshire Gardens
MODERN SCOTTISH In the luxu-
rious Hotel du Vin (p. 175), this restaurant sets the bar nearly as high as the world-
class lodgings. Chef du Cuisine Paul Tamburrini takes care of the food, with dishes
such as braised oxtail terrine, shellfish and smoked haddock soufflé, or butter
roasted loin of roe deer. The wine list is large, and the house selections are both
diverse and relatively affordable, the surroundings feel elegant but not stuffy, and
staff are relaxed but informed. While the restaurant at this landmark address hasn't
quite achieved the heights to which it once soared under the guidance of Michelin-
starred chef Andrew Fairlie, it is certainly flying in the right direction.
Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, 1 Devonshire Gardens.
&
0141/339-2001.
www.hotelduvin.
com. Reservations required. Fixed-price lunch £14.50; main courses £20-£25. AE, MC, V. Mon-Fri
7-10:30am, noon-2.15pm, and 6-10pm; Sat 7-11am and 6-10pm; Sun 7-11am, 12.30-2.45pm, and 6-10pm.
Rail: Hyndland.
La Parmigiana
ITALIAN This remains the favorite fine-dining Italian restau-
rant in Glasgow, providing a cosmopolitan and Continental atmosphere. A well-
established, quarter-of-a-century-old business belonging to the Giovanazzi family,
Parmigiana is often recommended for its fish and meat dishes, whether grilled
salmon with honey-roasted vegetables, pan-fried pork cutlet with caramelized apple,
or roast breast of guinea fowl stuffed with porcini mushrooms. A highlight of the
pasta options is lobster ravioli with basil cream sauce.
