It is not uncommon these days to stumble across restaurants which are so much more than just a place to eat and are in fact multi-faceted venues. This is also true of the wonderfully named Gloriosa in Glasgow, which comprises a restaurant, coffee shop, deli, off-licence and florist (phew).
The venue used to be home to pizza restaurant Firebird, but its owner Derek Sutherland decided to rebrand in 2019, entering into a new partnership with Lily Brown and Rosie Healy, the latter of which was formerly at acclaimed Nottingham restaurant Alchemilla. These days, the dining room at Gloriosa is an expansive space, which follows a contemporary colour palette of light greys and beech wood. The room also boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light, a standalone bar flanked with stools which lend themselves to solo dining and a huge wood-fired oven which takes up a large chunk of the partially open kitchen.
The menu at Gloriosa is focused on dishes which have been influenced by the Meditteranean and can be paired with a selection of wines from small independent European producers. The offering is made up of a short selection of small and large plates, designed to share (we’d recommend ordering five or six dishes between two). Dishes we like the look of include the oast carrots with walnuts, chilli butter and mint or the lamb chop served alongside burnt aubergine and za’atar.
Puddings meanwhile include chocolate, olive oil and walnut cake drizzled with a warm chocolate sauce and a slice of pistachio cake accompanied by plums and crème fraiche. There are deals to be had to, such as the combination of any pasta, any salad and a mini creme caramel for only £16 (available Mon-Thur).
On your way out, pick up a bottle of your favourite wine from the menu, or a bunch of flowers for your date, sourced from Dear Green Flower Farm.