Stravaigin — Restaurant in Scotland

The food was pretty good but the staff were really rude and uninterested. When we first arrived we were stood about whilst staff members walked past us to go speak with their friends or each other. At this point the bar is very busy but the restaurant empty. So after they actively ignored us I had to follow a staff member to tell them we had a reservation to which they just pointed at a table and told us to sit over there. They seemed much more interested in talking to their friends and it turns out they were finishing their shift so maybe that's why they were so rude. I've been here many times before though and the bar staff are always friendly and helpful so this was the first bad experience I have had here. The food was pretty good and the bread and hummus was incredible but the weird atmosphere and bad service was distracting. We tried a cookie desert with ice cream. The cookie was hard and tasted stale and the ice cream was basil which just made your mouth taste like dirt. A nice homely desert would have been a lot better but unfortunately there was no choice for this. Overall we were expecting really high standards as we have been to the bar loads and love it here. We have eaten in the bar loads and always enjoyed our experience so we were disappointed this experience didn't translate to the restaurant. But unfortunately the staff were rude and uninterested. They wanted to watch the rugby and chat to their hipster pals more than serve customers. It took ages to be served and even longer to order, and we were waiting a long time once we got the bill to pay too. I suspect most people would have just left without paying it was that long a wait. I should say the second girl to serve us was really nice but she did still take a while between courses and to pay the bill. The atmosphere was awkward and weird too and again I think that was created by the staff being uninterested and resenting the people there for a meal when clearly they had better places to be that night. Won't be back for dinner and certainly not good...

We booked as a party of 4 onto the Hogmanay event for NYE 2023 but we left disappointed. We had been to Stravaigin before and enjoyed ourselves, and arrived initially optimistic to a very pretty, intimate venue in the Cellar and a piper on arrival. Throughout the evening the staff were extremely attentive and thorough, and responded faultlessly to allergens and dietary requirements. The food was passable - other guests enjoyed their meals, though the vegan menu was very salty and largely lukewarm. It didn’t feel worth the significant price, and every course came out a good deal after the usual menu.

Mostly, the evening was impacted by a large and unruly party who seemed to all know each other, and dwarfed the size of all the other tables combined. Despite being around a small table together, we quickly couldn’t hear each other even if shouting. The large group continued to get louder and louder, eventually leading us to abandon even trying to talk. The combination of the loud group and an even louder (but very talented) guitarist eventually gave me a splitting, sober headache. I definitely appreciate the need for delicacy in this situation and the situation would’ve been equally uncomfortable had we been sat in silence. I would’ve appreciated the staff being more hands-on in dealing with the group, and perhaps security should be hired in coming years. When checking ours and others’ tables, it would’ve been impossible to not notice our discomfort, and I think they were waiting for a customer to request they step in. As the evening progressed, there was undressing from the main group, and a lengthy wait for the cubicle in the men’s bathroom, which explained some of their behaviour. Our lasting impression was a mismanaged, raucous and intolerable environment. We left early, forgoing our midnight dram. We’ve enjoyed Stravaigin before but I can’t say I’ll be...

Yet another fabulous meal. One of our favourite local eateries in Glasgow's West End.

Food is always gorgeous, relaxed yet attentive service.

Brilliant cocktails, nibbles and it's hard not to savour 3 courses !

Bravo Olivia and team xx

Stravaigin is a beautiful gaelic word and means to wander without purpose.

This easy-vibe bar & restaurant feels different to anywhere we've visited so far this year. It's definitely unpretentious, relaxed and attentive service feels natural and honest.

It is a cool local hangout, well away from the centre of town (in the west end).

The food is fabulous and they use local Scottish ingredients as well as those from further afield to achieve a great combination.

You can just enjoy the bar where local friends sit on bar stools chatting about their day. Or you can dine in the shabby-chique pub with it's stripped down paintwork, raw ceilings and sanded back floors.

I enjoyed a bloody Mary cocktail (with a perfect amount of heat because the bar girl asked how I enjoy my drink, "8/10 I declared "). I also ordered olives and nuts and both were more than ordinary.

For main course the steak 🥩 was off the scale and the accompanying hash brown was a revelation.

After a short intermission/ pause, while I chatted to locals on the adjacent table, I ordered a chocolate dessert from heaven and finished that off with a glass of dessert wine.

This is a place where can easily feel at home. It's not like most restaurants recognised by the Michelin guide, basically it's a suburban pub with gastro food and it packs a huge punch. It's a perfectly simple combination, yet the food & service is slick and...