Gloriosa

Mediterranean, 1321 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AB

£117.15 for 4 sharing plates, two starters, one glass of wine and one lemonade

Gloriosa is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with a Scandi minimalist bistro feel, located just a short walk from Kelvingrove Museum. It had come highly recommended to us, and from the outset it felt like a place designed for relaxed sharing and lingering over food.

The menu follows a sharing plates concept, with dishes brought out as they are ready. Unlike many places that take this approach, the plates here are far from small, which we were very happy about. We asked our server to guide us through what Gloriosa does best, and it proved to be a great decision.

We started with the focaccia and olive oil, and it was an immediate highlight. We have eaten a lot of bread in restaurants recently, much of it disappointing, but this was easily the best focaccia we have had in months. It was completely fresh, perfectly cooked, and paired with an olive oil that was genuinely delicious. The portion was generous, and we could not get enough of it.

Next, on our server’s recommendation, we ordered the taramsalata with Padron peppers. The peppers were coated in something that made them incredible on their own, and the taramsalata itself was beautifully creamy. It is not usually something I gravitate towards, but this version completely won me over.

We then tried the roasted cauliflower, which came with labneh and what we think was pistachio. It was a nice dish and we enjoyed it, though it did not quite stand out in the same way as some of the others.

The Jerusalem artichokes were another dish we had high expectations for. They were good, but not quite the showstopper we had hoped they might be.

One of the specials, a pork shoulder chop, was without question the star of the meal. Pork can so often be overcooked and end up chewy, but this was perfectly done and beautifully succulent. It was served with a sweet, fruity sauce and topped with what we believe were poached or roasted pears, which worked wonderfully together.

Overall, we had a really lovely evening at Gloriosa. The vibe was spot on, the service was excellent, and it felt like a great place for a relaxed night out. While it may not be our favourite restaurant ever, there is a reassuring sense of consistency and reliability here, and that counts for a lot.

Our only real criticism is minor. Because the plates are large and arrive as they are ready, it would have been nice to have some contrasting vegetables alongside the pork. That said, this is very much a personal preference and should not put anyone off ordering it.

All in all, we really enjoyed our visit, and Gloriosa has earned a place near the top of our list.