Vittoria's is the perfect restaurant to sample a real taste of Italy. Renowned for its high level of service and fresh Italian food, book online with Vittoria's on Leith Walk and experience over 40 years of history. You can now also book online at Vittoria's on the bridge and at La Favorita too.
Guy's
- Food served: Mon–Thu noon–10.30pm; Fri/Sat noon–11.30pm; Sun 12.30–9.30pm.
- Pre-theatre times: 5–6.30pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 12.30–10pm.
- Children welcome: until 8pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 6
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu, Live music
- Music on stereo: Some kind of Latin version of classic pop hits: likeably camp.
- Capacity: 52
- Largest group: 52
- Open since: 2006
- Average price 2 courses:
£10 (set lunch)
£22 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £13.95
- House wine: £12.95 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
Guy's twinkles warmly in the Merchant City firmament. It's a big, long room, but you can feel at home amid the accumulated bric-a-brac sprinkled lightly about the interior. These include Mexican Day of the Dead plates, an imposing carved bird lectern, golden cherubs and bright paintings. The individual décor is backed up with cooking of substance, characterised by an unforced eclecticism that recognises no barriers in the world of cuisine. The sushi, for example, is no token gesture; it's as well presented and thoughtfully made as in any specialist establishment. The core of the menu is Italian and Scottish – pasta dishes include hand-made ravioli – while meats, such as venison or veal, are sourced locally. Specials are dictated by whatever's good at the market. Wild halibut fillet is as melty as the hollandaise sauce it swims in, and side orders include traditional favourites such as some beltingly minty mushy peas. Everything at Guy's is made on premises, including the ice-cream, and a soft and luxurious bread and butter pudding recipe calls for panettone, adding that extra bit of class. In the gentle presence of owner/chef Guy Cowan, the staff appear to be having a nice time, too. None more so than the singer fronting the jazz trio.
- High point: Personal touches
- Low point: Prawn cocktail
The LIST Card A1
This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:
Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Dinner: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
Exclusions: Public Holidays
Remember: book by phone (0141 552 1114) and ask for a LIST Card booking.
Guy's
The following text has been provided by Guy's.
Guy's Restaurant and Bar is located in the heart of the Merchant City. After more than twenty years feeding the cream of the film industry's A list with his Location Catering business, Reel Food, Guy decided that living out of a suitcase was best left to younger chefs and headed home to Glasgow to set up this unique venue.
The exceptionally eclectic menu reflects Guy's personal dining preferences and mirror his passion for cooking. The finest ingredients sourced from many independent producers mixed with simplicity in preparation and sprinkled with a big pinch of Guy's individual flair result in food that just begs to be eaten. Our Aberdeen Angus Beef and Scotch Lamb come from Millers of Speyside and affirm our membership of the prestigious Scotch Beef Club. The grass fed veal is reared on Sunnyside Farm in Sanquhar and tastes wonderful. Our fish and shellfish, supplied by MacCallum's of Troon, come from the sparkling waters that lick our Scottish coastline.
Nowhere else in the city can you eat sushi, sashimi, mince & tatties, steak tartare or a variety of homemade ravioli at one table. The desserts are all made on the premises including the fabulous ice creams, (passion fruit and olive oil are amongst the favourites), and with a fine selection of artisan cheese with oatcakes from Pittenweem bring your meal to a perfect end.
The wine list is extensive, imaginative and well priced whilst the cocktails shake and fizz with excitement. There is an amazing array of spirits from around the globe with a great selection of whisky that would satisfy any connoisseur of Scotland's 'Water of Life'.
Set lunch menus, pre-theatre menus and Sunday roasts are available on top of our A La Carte. Guy's is a fantastic venue for romantic dinners for two, family reunions or celebrations with set menus tailored for any occasion. We can even cater for your party at home, in the wilds or at another city centre location.
Evenings with live jazz on Wednesdays & Thursdays, piano on Fridays & Saturdays and friendly, knowledgeable and attentive front of house staff make Guy's a very special place."
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
- 1. visitor1, Guy's Merchant City – 18 May 2008, 8:01pm
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Looking forward to a delicious meal in what appeared to be an impressive setting, however let down at the first hurdle by grubby menus and Melba toast....cold, burnt, fragmented offerings, less than appetising. Pre-theatre menu offered limited choice and pretty average food. Staff were very friendly and courteous but unfortunately not well informed (no idea re soup of the day). Redeemed slightly by a few good glasses of wine. Wouldn't recommend it.
- 2. arnaza, Merchant City – 25 June 2008, 9:43pmReport
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I believe you should be made aware of the experience that I and the other 19 members of my staff had at your restaurant on Fri Jun 20. We arrived at 7:30pm at the time of our reservation. Our appetiser arrived after 9pm and at length it was 11 before our dessert was served. During this time our drinks stood empty, which could be understood because we said that we'd get our own at the bar, but the water jug should have been refilled, while servers chatted to the bar staff and stood near the kitchen. After that, we were given a very small amount of vegetables and potatoes per 4 people. Many people including myself went home far less than satisfied.
- 3. Guy from Guy's., Guy's, Candleriggs, Glasgow. G1 1LD – 27 June 2008, 1:50pmReport
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It is upsetting to receive such a stinging and unfavourable report from customers who clearly did not enjoy their visit to my restaurant. I apologise to any and all of your colleagues for any dissatisfaction they may have felt as a result of their experience here.
I wish to make some points to set the record straight,
1. Your reservation was at 8.00pm and not 7.30pm as you state.
2. Unfortunately, all the tables booked in for 7.30pm arrived late creating a knock on effect for the kitchen, which is tiny, resulting in a slight delay with your starters. We allow up to 30 minutes on a busy evening for first courses to arrive, your orders came through to the kitchen at 8.22pm meaning your wait time increased to 38 minutes. I am sorry for this but as I have explained there was now a backlog of orders on the tab. May I add that normally our diners are out with family, friend or colleagues and are pleased to have some time to enjoy each other's company.
3. You say your desserts were not served until 11.00pm. but the reality is that most desserts went out at approximately 10.40pm , not in our opinion an outrageous time from first course to sweets in a restaurant of this type. The chocolate puddings were slightly delayed as our pastry chef was unhappy with the first batch prepared for you and remade the entire order. We try never to let mistakes leave the kitchen.
4. " our drinks stood empty, which could be understood because we said that we'd get our own at the bar" Why you felt the need to bring up the matter of empty glasses I am not sure when in your own words you said you would get your own at the bar. You ordered your drinks almost on an individual basis creating a huge amount of extra work for the servers and bar staff. This is not the normal method of ordering drinks in my or indeed any other quality restaurant and without doubt added to the time delay in servicing your table.
5. Your water jugs were refilled on several occasions but you would have only had to ask your server to bring you more water at any time you needed it.
6. The girls worked very hard as did the kitchen to try and make your evening a pleasant experience.
7. If anyone amongst your party had asked for extra vegetables and/or potatoes they would have received them immediately. I cannot understand why this request was not made given your comments.
8. I agreed to provide the same menu that you had one year ago at the same price, despite huge increases in costs to me, and also waived the normal 12% service charge we apply to large parties such as yours.
9. I came out from the kitchen and spoke to several of your colleagues to check on their satisfaction and apologised to anyone who expresse…
- 4. Guy from Guy's., Guy's, Candleriggs, Glasgow. G1 1LD – 27 June 2008, 2:02pmReport
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Visitor 1.
Sorry you felt let down. You should never have been given a grubby menu, no excuses for that. Melba toast is however by the its very nature, cold, often dark as we have light and well toasted slices and gets broken as it is so fragile. The pre theatre menu offers great value for money on a fairly simple but balanced selection. We do not drop the quality of produce just work for very little profit on these special menus. Pre theatres menu are designed to provide an quick, tasty and economical bite before a night out. If you wanted something more 'exciting' our a la carte has many wonderful choices on it. The staff are always informed of whatever soups, specials, etc., are on but it is possible that there was a change of shift from day to evening servers and the member of staff had not had a chance to find out what was being served that evening. Glad you enjoyed your wine just a pity you never voiced your dismay at the time.
- 5. Lindsay Lennen, Glasgow – 27 June 2008, 6:53pmReport
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I visited Guy's a few weeks ago with my partner. They managed to squeeze us in at very short notice on a Saturday night. The food was fantastic, some of the best I've eaten, and I really liked the ambiance. Staff were very friendly and I thought the meal was good value. We will be returning soon.
- 6. Guy from Guy's., Guy's, Candleriggs, G1 1LD – 28 June 2008, 11:40pmReport
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Reply received from ARNAZA
Dear Guy,
I appreciate the time you have taken to respond to my email and post. Thank you for your clarifications. Your thorough response to the concerns presented, is adequate compensation.
I see many of the issues arose because we were not proactive patrons. I have a suggestion as a former waitress/server and the daughter of one who once waited on Princess Grace Kelly and Andre 'The Giant'. A server should continually offer their service, this is a great way to impress his/her employer by making additional business, make the guest feel they're valued, ensure an excellent tip, and secure plenty of returning patrons and referrals.
Again, thank you for your time.
Best wishes,
Mrs. Hughes - 7. Paul James, Glasgow – 13 July 2008, 12:08pmReport
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Was the reviewer of this restaurant somwhere else?? The food was not good at all. Tasted bland, huge choice of sub-standard fayre. Pehaps trying to get a small menu right would be the answer, because going on my experience and the experience of others, this restaurant wont last if it doesnt pull its socks up. You wouldnt mind if it was cheap, but it is an expensive restuarant, and not worth a penny of it.
- 8. Guy from Guy's. – 13 July 2008, 3:54pmReport
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Paul,
Sorry to read of your disappointment with our food. Did you let us know you were unhappy? I wonder what you ate that tasted bland? I would be grateful if you would let me know. How many dishes did you have to form the opinion that all our food is sub-standard? Any particular dish? I will give your reply my full attention.
- 9. alanm, guys – 15 July 2008, 1:19amReport
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sorry to disagree ,have found the food to be of excellent standard, but would agree with previous clients the staff should offer their service more , the coffe machine seems to be a vocal point for staff. understanding that owner/chef has his hands full in the kitchen maybe should employ a strong manager which does not nesscessary take away the character of the owner.
- 10. Guy from Guy's. – 15 July 2008, 8:54amReport
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Alanm,
Glad you enjoyed the food, sorry if the service let us down. Constantly trying to improve all round and I am aware that now and again the coffee machine appears to be the centre of the waiting universe but working on it.........
Guy
- 11. alanm, guy's – 15 July 2008, 8:11pmReport
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thanks for your reply and honesty,maybe a host/hostess would benifit your resturant. good staff is hard to come by.
- 12. Guy from Guy's. – 15 July 2008, 10:34pmReport
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Always looking. Guy
- 13. bigeater, glasgow – 21 July 2008, 5:15pmReport
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Last Friday we visited Guy’s and took a few of our staff who had had a successful month as a reward. It was our first time in the restaurant and I must say that we were very impressed by the food, it really was excellent. There is a very good atmosphere and the staff were very friendly and attentive. There was only a couple of things that could have made it slightly more enjoyable – we ordered a few bottles of pink champagne which was very pleasant, however we also ordered a bottle of Chablis which for some reason was either ‘corked’ or of just poor quality (it was £95 so I doubt it was the latter), between the four of us who were drinking white wine we only had a about a quarter of a glass so we asked the waitress to remove it from the table. We were actually charged full price for the wine which was disappointing given the amount of money we spent that afternoon. I must stress that this did not ruin the experience and that we would definitely return to Guys – all in all it was a very enjoyable experience.
- 14. Guy from Guy's. – 25 July 2008, 10:46amReport
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Hi Bigeater,
Very happy to read you enjoyed your lunch. I never knew about the wine issue but later that evening did see a bottle of Chablis which had not been finished, although I didn't detect any flaw. We are closed until 05th August but please call after this date and we will put things right.
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