Margo — Restaurant in Great Britain

Low expectations met with a warm welcome. Not a fan of sharing plates but this is the exception.

Super relaxed casual atmosphere with music and kitchen sound. The purpose-built furniture and lighting all added to a very mellow atmosphere. I really liked the toilet doors which were intriguing because they are covered in some kind of glass or perspex that you can't see into but you can see out of. Every detail of the restaurant has been considered. There's a lot of wine to choose from, the very friendly helpful waitress help identify a really good bottle of wine in our budget. We had slightly fizzy wine from the Basque region . There are mocktails, cocktails, no alcohol beer, something for everyone. The food did not really compare with the reviews, but they did give a sense of them. The menu is arranged by quickness of delivery. At the top there is olives and what proved to be brown focaccia that was more like cake. The middle section is Smaller cheaper plates the bottom section is more like a main course and more expensive there were five of us and we chose four appetisers, five small plates and five big plates and we tasted each other's food. The experience is more like a culinary Aladdin's cave the dishes came in drips and drops, quite quickly. We really had no idea what we had ordered apart from the ingredients We were delighted by what arrived. No two dishes tasted the same. I would say that the menu is Mediterranean vaguely. There was a green goddess asparagus dish, asparagus on a bed of green purée topped with croutons attractive to look at really tasty with a slight edge of mint . The ham hock rillettes was superb. Crispy on the outside topped with some kind of sauce and packed with moist, delicious slightly salty shredded hock The belly pork was fantastic with Scotch Bonnet and sour cherries. Two people had a dish prawn bisque and pasta that was absolutely delicious, quite rich. There was a beef dish cooked to perfection. The crunchy potatoes which were just a side dish were absolutely fantastic crispy served with garlic butter. Nothing needed to be seasoned. It was all perfect to taste. Despite being full three of us had the special of the day ricotta and lemon ice cream. A really good palette cleanser. One person had the burnt butter almond tart absolutely superb. Really crisp pastry with slivers of cooked pear. Faultless.

Five people, one bottle of wine, one beer, four starter plates, five middle plates, five large plates, four desserts out of pure enjoyment.. No change out of £250. There was no service charge. Our waitress was excellent. On the day the best food I've had in Glasgow for quite some time can't wait for excuse to go back apparently there is a barbecue place next-door by the same company so we might have to divert there before returning to Margo.

N B. A separate menu was printed for someone who had allergies. Nothing was too much trouble to accommodate...

I was counting down the days to visit Margo, but after my visit I feel dissatisfied. I think it's been possibly overhyped. The food felt impersonal, it didn't feel like they wanted to serve me delicious food - it felt like they want to serve me fancy food.

The staff were so lovely, I didnt catch our waiters' names. If you were working at 8pm on the 17th of April, you were so lovely, thank you all. However, I'll never love a restaurant that makes their waiters use a script - it's not fun. Let staff be charismatic. Let them be funny.

The clientele were uppity and posh, which destroyed the vibe. I don't think 'fancy' inherently means 'good', and this restaurant was probably more fancy than good.

What we ordered:

Focaccia w/ olive tapenade - the focaccia was lovely, the tepenade was VERY briney and I've had better up the street for cheaper as well. The olive oil was very fruity and mild, so a nice addition, but I wish it was a little spicer.

Ham Croquettes - they were very tasty, the paprika came through amazingly. Perhaps a little too small, even just 10% bigger would be much better. The parmesan was quite mild, which was definitely noticeable. A strong salty flavour would have been the cherry on top.

Cured Rainbow Trout - quite frankly, this dish was gross. The watercress oil covering everything was slimey and truly unpleasant. The crowdie was a saving grace, I smothered what I could in it before it ran out. This dish made me boak many times, but I refused to waste £12.50. If it sounds up your street try it, but I'd suggest not too.

Oyster mushroom and Scarmoza caveltelli - this dish was incredible. Tasty af. The pasta was molto al dente however, I think even Italians would have something to say about how undercooked the rocks were.

Charred swede and cavolo Nero - this was incredible. Order it, one of the better dishes we had there today. You'll be very happy with it.

Grilled Broccoli - this was really good, but the romesco really overpowered it in every way. If you like romesco go ahead, but I'd advised to miss it, nothing you couldn't make at home.

Roasted potatos - do not miss out. The 2nd best dish we had today. Incredibly garlicky, crispy, chives galore! Get them. Get them. Get them!

Lemon posset with G&T granita - very tasty, the posset was so rich and lemony. The granita was sublime, but I don't really know what the gin added to it... Seems unnecessary. I'd prefer a flavoured gin that complements the dish more.

Browned Butter Almond Tart - Incredible. Divine. Delicious. The poached quince was beautiful and paired with the crumbly, rich, and flavourful tart perfectly. The cremé freche was lovely and added a beautiful zing that wrapped the dish up well.

Overall, I will visit again just to get a 2nd opinion and to get more of that Tart!!! I'd suggest a visit if you're into finer dishes, but I personally think there's better food in Glasgow for...

Margo – A Study in Style Over Substance

Tucked within a stylish corner of the city, Margo presents itself with aesthetic confidence: a warm, inviting interior that exudes a contemporary charm, with thoughtful design elements that set the stage for a memorable dining experience. Unfortunately, the promise of the setting is not matched by what arrives on the plate.

While Margo aspires to culinary innovation, the execution of its menu leans more toward eccentricity than elegance. The flavour combinations are, at times, perplexing—pairings that challenge without ultimately convincing. Dishes lack a coherent through-line, resulting in courses that feel more experimental than refined. There is a boldness here, but it comes at the expense of balance and clarity.

Compounding the experience are portion sizes that swing unpredictably between meagre and generous, creating a sense of inconsistency that undermines the flow of a multi-course meal. For a restaurant with ambitions reflected in its pricing, the quality and cohesion of the dishes often fall short of justifying the cost.

Service, while delivered by a genuinely courteous and warm team, falters in pacing. Dishes arrived out of the expected sequence, which further disrupted the rhythm of the evening. It's a hospitality team that cares, but one perhaps stretched thin or lacking guidance.

In the end, it is the decor that leaves the most lasting impression—an unusual conclusion for a restaurant where cuisine should be the primary narrative. Margo may yet find its identity, but for now, it remains a beautifully dressed stage searching for a...