Café Mao
This restaurant has ceased trading.
- Food served: Tue/Wed 12.30–2.30pm, 5.30–9pm; Thu 12.30–2.30pm, 5.30–9.30pm; Fri 12.30–2.30pm, 5.30–11pm; Sat 1–11pm; Sun 2–9pm. Closed Mon.
- Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sat 5.30–6.30pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 4
- Private dining: Up to 100 covers
- Also offers: Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables
- Music on stereo: Ambient lounge, house, chill-out.
- Capacity: 160
- Largest group: 100
- Open since: 1999
Send us more details about this place.
The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
The pop art-inspired portraits of the Chairman that look out over the Merchant City should be familiar faces these days - it is, after all, a decade since Café Mao arrived in town. Its staying power is impressive; the bold primary colours of the walls and fittings have never dulled or dated, and a confident yet sensible approach to ‘fusion’ means the menu has never run the risk of being a novelty that might wear off. Instead, it offers lots of popular dishes from across south-east Asia: wok-fried meats, ramen broths, Thai curries. And it’s accessible, too, clearly labelling dishes for their level of chilli strength, whether vegetarian, lower fat, or adaptable for coeliacs. The sharing dish for two lets diners sample various best-selling starters including dry-rubbed ribs (with a pleasantly spicy undertone) and chicken skewers accompanied by satay sauce that pleases with its crunchy peanuts and fiery after taste. From the ‘Mao Classics’ section, five-spice chicken is aromatic and salty-sweet, served on crisped noodles and just a small amount of soy so that the seasonings aren’t overwhelmed. Flavours are well rendered elsewhere, too, such as the citrus edge of the marinade in chilli lime beef, or the Thai-style house salad that has a dressing that’s zesty with lemongrass at first, giving way to a hint of coconut and chilli. As its age reaches double figures, Mao continues to play its cards wisely.
- High point: Something for everyone to like
- Low point: Some dishes play it too safe
Reviews of Café Mao (84 Brunswick Street, Glasgow)
- 2. cjack, glasgow – 27 August 2009, 10:43am
Café MaoReport -
One of the best restaurants in Glasgow. The sharing starter is outstanding and I would highly recommend the mango duck and the nasi goreng. Lovely decor and excellent service.
- 1. mick, glasgow – 22 February 2009, 12:53pmCafé MaoReport
-
Cafe Mao a lovely little name for a bar in the city of Glasgow, what next, Hitler's Bier keller, Stalin's Vodka vault, Chairman Mao was guilty of murdering around 70 million of his own people, he was best friends with Pol Pot and praised that man for taking his country back to year zero, but then again most of the pretentious posuers who frequent these bars would'nt have a clue. I am amazed that a bar can be called after such a mass murderer, did the owners not realise this or do a bit of research on the subject.
To post a review you'll first need to log in: Forgotten your password?
Not registered? Sign up – it only takes a minute.
RSS feed of these reviews
