And Now For Something Different

Since I've started my new job I haven't had as much time to create new dishes, so to remind you that I'm still here, I will be doing some restaurant reviews too.

My first review is for Number 16 in Byres Road Glasgow. Claire and I visited here last Monday for our friend Rebecca's birthday. Where will you find it? Byres Road, number 16 surprisingly! It's not the biggest of restaurants, with probably enough room for about 20 downstairs and maybe the same upstairs (I never went up so I'm only guessing) so probably you would be best phoning in advance. The welcoming to the place was warm and polite and water was readily available and poured out for you. I was driving so I'm not sure what the wine list was like, although Claire had a glass of the house red which was apparently nice.

The food menu itself is not the biggest, but don't let that fool you, remember its quality not quantity! There was probably a choice of about 8 starters and main courses, and it was aimed more at fish lovers with all bar 2 of the main courses fish.

To start I had the salmon and Claire lamb with harissa and parsnip mash. The salmon was served on top of baby potatoes and had mushroom sauce drizzled around it and a couple of mushrooms. To be honest the starters sounded like a meal in themselves, but they did not fill you up so you were ready for your main course. The presentation of the food was very impressive. I'm not really one for over doing presentation when it comes to food, but this was impressively served.

For the main course Claire, not liking fish in the slightest, had venison, whilst I had the roasted belly pork. The venison came with a cabbage, bacon and oatmeal mixture (can't remember what it was called) and pink peppercorn sauce. The pork came with pakchoi and a mixed greens, mashed sweet potato and gravy. Again it was all very well presented on the plate, although with me enjoying food as much as I do I thought that maybe there wasn't as much as I'd like on my plate. But like I said before, quality not quantity. There was certainly enough plus they put a bowl of sliced carrots and a bowl of sliced potato in a creamy sauce on our table for us to help ourselves.

After all this lovely food I managed to fit in room for desert (of course!) which Claire and I shared. It was a chocolate tart served with raspberry sauce and cream. As you can guess this was nice!

Overall I would highly recommend this restaurant. The decor was pleasant with like old fashioned stone walls and driftwood hung on the walls and the lighting was not too light or too dark. The staff were polite and friendly, especially when one of them found out it was Rebecca's birthday and put a candle on her dessert and sang Happy Birthday! Also the bill at £168 between 7 people still works out at £24 each, which, for the West End is good.

Number 16
16 Byres Road
Glasgow
G11 5JY
Tel: 0141 339 2544
www.number16.co.uk