So there we were through at Scothot sloping around having a look at all new innovations in the catering world at the SECC Glasgow tasting ice creams, olives, talking recycling, talking till systems, bouncing on chairs, nibbling lovely snacks after a few hours our legs were considerably shorter and we were in dire need of a major face stuffing. Yup lunch was looming. Naturally we couldn’t get into the only restaurant at Scothot so I recalled a friend of mine Kirsteen recently raving about a great new place to go. I texted her. The Fish People Café it’s called she said it is right next to Shields Road Tube station and there is parking right next door. We found it on Scotland Street in the least likely place you can imagine.
The Fish People Café is a literal oasis amidst a busy industrial landscape. Right next door to the fish shop, their fish shop, which you can see is a busy buzzing business with white aproned , welly booted men, But as promised there it stood as if it had landed from another planet. out, really light, modern, warm with tinkling jazz, a very cool bar and a few folk finishing off as we scooted in about 2pm on a Tuesday.
Lunch a 2 course option for £10 was exceptional value but as were on a day out from our fellow restaurant in Edinburgh we went off plan to the a la carte.
Boy oh boy.
We ordered up fresh homemade bread and butter, anchovies in oil and a few olives whilst we ogled the menu. Wow. Could have ordered anything. But seafood won out.
Prawn cocktail.
Oysters
Mussels with chorizo
Superlative, fresh, plump, delicious, fill in your own favourite adjective here – it will fit this food. Yumola.
Main courses.
Hand dived Scallops 6 ginormous of the juicy, plumpacious delights with a pile of fresh salad leaves with the most delicious fresh dressing with a spritz of lime. Of course we had a side order of chips – hand cut and fried to perfection. A side salad with yet another fresh and unique dressing.
J, one of our number ordered up a baby poussin and chips and S a whole Tandooried seabass. Be still my beating heart. At this point no more food pics because frankly I was far too excited and enjoying it too much!
Its not often you get 5 foodies round a table who just grinned at each other.We were in the presence of genius.
Location. Idea. Presentation. The unexpected brilliance of this tucked away wee gem.
I had to leave a scallop and a half I was so full. I do not have a small appetite but honestly I did. The others didn’t hold back and swooped them up so this Aberdonian could rest easy.
Then came the option of sweet. Could we? Should we? Well we couldn’t and we definitely shouldn’t but we did. Same words of description and joy apply. Mmmmmmmn.
To top off our top foodie delighst our waiter was a charming smiley guy – ‘How long have you been open?’
“ 5 months. In fact this time 5 months ago I was a fishmonger – there” he said pointing next door” but when I heard about the restaurant I thought aye, I’ll go and work there it’s warmer.”
He’s found his calling. So has the chef. So have I to sit there regularly and wonder at the freshest most delicious fish in town.
Shields Road Subway Station
350 Scotland Street
Glasgow
G5 8QF.
Tel 0141 429 8787
Open all day from mid-day til 9 week days, 10 weekends and 4 on a Sunday. Now…..over to you….but you better book because this place will be the hottest ticket in town.
