Fish Fish Fish Fish Fish. Fish Fish Fish Fish.
Glasgow - September 2017
On a recent trip north of the wall, to the only Euro-country
where the most popular drink is not made by Coca-Cola (which is to be
respected, even if said drink is Irn Bru), we discovered something of a hidden
gem.
Nestled away in a remote beauty spot between a subway
station and a multi-storey car-park, next to a dual carriageway in an industrial
part of Glasgow, The Fish People Café is somewhat unassuming.
However the stark façade belies a much more welcoming
interior, with the modern dining space dominated by a marble oyster bar. It’s nice.
It’s classy.
As for the food, the décor is thankfully more representative of the quality than the location. It’s a short menu, clearly focused on doing a few things well. Our starters and mains were all beautifully cooked, the highlight being a chunky slab of sea bass swimming in a spiced ginger cream. Crispy skin, firm flesh and a real punch from the sauce. It reminds me of a dish we ate recently at Outlaws, but without the subtlety of the Michelin kitchen. This had the same constituent parts as at Outlaws, but with everything dialled up to 11. Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football vs. Arsene Wenger’s orchestra made fishy flesh. Not technically perfect, but a lot of fun.
The lack of technical perfection is evident elsewhere, with a crab masala starter (again, full of curry warmth) served on a brick of watermelon that unbalances the dish, and a chocolate dessert where the orange meringue lacks enough citrus zing to stop it being anything other than rich.
Minor failures in finesse aside, the meal was really
enjoyable. All the ingredients seem fresh off the boat (or at least the counter
of their fishmonger opposite), and the service was nice and friendly. If you
find yourself in Glasgow and would like some delicious seafood, I know just the
people to see.
The Fish People Cafe
Shields Road Subway Station,
350 Scotland Street,
Glasgow,
G5 8QF