Cottier's
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- Food served: Mon–Sun 5–10pm
- Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sun 5–7pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sun noon–midnight
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
- Music on stereo: South American instrumental music/funky soul
- Capacity: 75
- Largest group: 75
- Open since: 1992
- Average price 2 courses:
£3.95 (set lunch)
£18 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £11.50
- House wine: £13 per bottle
Nominate this restaurant forThe List Reader Award 2010
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.
There have been changes lately in this popular West End fixture. As the restoration of the church structure built in 1865 continues, the theatre is still closed and while the bar thrives, Cottier's no longer runs the busy Sunday jazz sessions or half-price fajitas/burgers deals. Things are less altered up the spiral stairs to the restaurant, where the striking gold ceilings, church chairs, large mirrors and twinkling lights create a glowing picturesque scene (as a former church, though, it can, unfortunately, be draughty at times). The menu’s international flavour includes inventive treatments of fresh local ingredients, like smoked haddock and roasted salmon fishcakes which flake gently and meld well with a sweet chilli sauce and crunchy beansprouts. Roast chicken comes in a silky and lightly spiced jus with honey-herb basted vegetables for a warming but not stodgy main course, while pork chops are jazzed up by a rich puy lentil and tomato base. A good range of bar food is available downstairs during the daytime, from nachos and mussels to more extensive meals. While everywhere has outdoor seating now, the Cottier's beer garden is one of the original and most pleasant places in the city to drink outside on a nice day.
- High point: Unusual and pretty surroundings
- Low point: Bring a jumper on cold nights
Comments for Cottier's (93–95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow)
- 1. Helen, Glasgow – 21 July 2009, 2:08pmReport
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I've spent many a sunny day sat in the beer garden at Cottiers over the years but had never eaten there til Friday. Sadly, it was a much less pleasant experience.
It wasn't a good start, with only two white wines (sauvignon blanc and chardonnay - my least favourite) available by the glass. It then took the waitress three attempts to get our drinks to us (a beer and a coke - nothing complicated). Our starters were fine (deep fried brie, and feta salad) though nothing special. The main courses, unfortunately, werent fine. Between the two of us we had the only two veggie choices - veg fajitas, and polenta with goats cheese. To be honest both dishes looked pretty similar - a mish mash of roasted veg all overcooked to a sort of brown mess, we couldnt even distinguish some of the veg. My polenta was soggy and not even seasoned. It was really, really not worth the money. We both left about half of our dishes. I hoped that the meal could be redeemed by what sounded like a decent dessert - lemon posset with home made shortbread. The shortbread was nice, but the posset came in a nasty-looking drinks tumbler which was WAY too large, and it was lumpy as well. Really overall a quite terrible and very disappointing meal, especially for the most of fifty quid.
We then had to wait absolutely ages after requesting our bill and in the end had to go and seek it out ourselves. I was about to make my complaint about the food when I realised I was actually going to throw up, imminently, so had to just leave the money and run downstairs. My partner, who hadnt even eaten any of the same dishes as me, was ill about half an hour later.
I dont have any desire to ever cross the threshold of this place ever again. - 2. Grant + Rona, Glasgow – 15 February 2010, 8:53pm
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The food here is fantastic, a real forgotten treasure in the West End.
There was a set menu for valentines weekend, however we opted for main courses from the a la carte menu.
Grant opted for The Brazillian Coco Polo which was beautifully cooked in a nice creamy sauce and served with rice. There were jalapenos which were on the hot side, but could have been avoided if not to your liking. The portion was generous with two large pieces of chicken, and just enough rice so as not to leave you too full.
Rona ordered Lamb Shank which was perfectly cooked, tender and falling off the bone. It was served on a bed of Moroccan Couscous and was a fitting accompaniment.
For dessert we had a Dark Chocolate and Orange Cheesecake as well as Apple Crumble. The Cheesecake was very good and a great choice on the menu. The Crumble was undercooked which was the poorest part of the meal, it felt like a real afterthought from the chef.
All in all the food was excellent however the restaurant (the attic of the church) felt a bit cold and lacked atmosphere (it was less than half full). Compared to the bar downstairs which had a roaring fire and plenty atmosphere, it was a little disappointing.
The smells in the restaurant were fantastic and certainly would leave us wanting to return and try something else from the menu. Perhaps the courses are a couple of pounds dearer than rivals in the area which explains the empty restaurant compared to the buzzing bar, however this is certainly fine dining and our main courses were really brilliant brilliant meals.
Def recommend this place to all and we will be going back, with a few friends I'm sure.
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