Charcoals

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Charcoals
26A Renfield Street
Glasgow, G2 1LU
Phone: 0141 221 9251
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  • Food served: Mon–Sun noon–midnight
  • Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sun 5–7pm
  • Bar open: Mon–Sat noon–1am, Sun noon–midnight
  • Number of wines sold by the glass: 2
  • Delivery: £1.25 local area
  • Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Takeaway, Pre-theatre menu
  • Music on stereo: Classical Indian/ Bollywood
  • Capacity: 56
  • Largest group: 50
  • Open since: 2004
View larger map of G2 1LU
  • Average price 2 courses:
     £5.95 (set lunch)
     £17 (evening meal)
  • Pre-theatre price: £9.99
  • House wine: £9.95 per bottle
Nominate this restaurant for
The List Reader Award 2010
Eating & Drinking Guide 2009

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

This little joint is slap bang in the middle of town – so much so it’s easy to miss amid the bright lights of newsagents and chain pubs. It’s worth keeping your eye out for Charcoals, though, as since it opened in 2004 it has built a modest yet solid reputation for fresh, confidently cooked Punjabi food and friendly service. The restaurant sits next door to the Charcoals takeaway which serves city centre crowds after hours, but recent renovation means sit-in diners don’t need to tramp through it to get to their table. Once inside, the menu offers ‘Glaswegian’ standards: Jaipuris, kormas and bhoonas – more interesting, however, are the house specialities and the takallufaat (from the grill). Marinated lamp chops are little char-grilled portions of joy, served alongside subtle pulau and aloo paratha – light layers of bread, potato and spinach baked in the tandoor. The spices are well considered, too – chicken chilli fry is a lot more sophisticated than it sounds, its whole green chillies marrying a rich sauce without overpowering it. The staff are informative and flexible, and are happy to conjure up a veggie version of your choice on request. Simple and unaffected, Charcoals beats many top-dollar equivalents.

  • High point: Succulent lamb chops
  • Low point: Dining room slightly cramped for city shoppers

The LIST Card A24

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This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:

Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

Dinner: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun

Remember: book by phone (0141 221 9251) and ask for a LIST Card booking.

The LIST Card is a dining scheme that gives you promotional two-for-one offers at a range of restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. Find out more.

Comments for Charcoals (26A Renfield Street, Glasgow)

1. viccatpat, Angus – 4 July 2009, 4:54pm(1)Report

I visited Charcoals, Renfield Street, Glasgow with my daughter on 27th June '09.

After finding a very dead weavel in the joint 2-portion rice dish, we obviously complained - first to the waitress (who was lovely), then the "chef" - who was argumentative, and lastly with the "owner" who was belligirent, partonising and sleazy in the extreme!

While my daugher was physically retching, the "owner" offered us more food, which we naturally declined. I spent the most part of Saturday night/Sunday morning revisiting my king prawn dish - was quite unwell for almost a week afterwards.

I paid 50% of the bill just to get out of the premises and away from the "owner" - in hindsight, I wish I had stood my ground!

We visited this restaurant 3 years previously, so were very much looking forward to great food - sadly, it was such a negative experience on this occasion, we will never visit again!

BEWARE!!!!

2. viccatpat, Angus – 4 July 2009, 5:05pm(1)Report

AVOID!!

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