MacSorley's

The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.

At this time last year the upstairs eating section of MacSorley’s was going for a full-blown, fine-dining approach. The food was great, but the juxtaposition of such cuisine in an old-school pub, albeit a music-focused one with a young clientele, was always risky. This year, the owners have seen sense and pared back the suaveness, kept the Scottish strain and injected some full-bloodedness in there. Cullen skink hits the spot: big, milky-creaminess with carefully flaked haddock and chunky potato. Savoury tarts are too often precious little arrangements of goat's cheese and antipasti; here it’s Lanarkshire cheddar and meaty sundried tomatoes – enough to tempt a carnivore to swap jerseys. But ‘Peterhead fish and chips’ steal the show – crisp batter, earthy chips and served wrapped up in newspaper with some pickles thrown in for fun. Well played all round.

• High point: Lovely mezzanine for eating
• Low point: Live (and loud) bands can impede a bit

The LIST Card A22

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.