The Richmond Bar & Bistro

I’d been looking forward to trying The Richmond since it opened and it didn’t disappoint.
The bar is lovely, very sleek, yet welcoming, and on the night we visited wasn’t overly busy so we chose to sit at one of the tables at the front.
The staff were very friendly and attentive. I wasn’t sure if this would be one of those super cool type places, but there was a nice mixture of clientele — couples having a meal and some groups having cocktails.
With lots of good veggie options on the menu including appetisers and small plates, it was hard to choose, but always one for a veggie burger, I opted to try the chickpea and mushroom burger which came with chips, onion rings and dipping sauce. It was a pretty sizable spicy chickpea patty served on a sourdough bun, and although I couldn’t taste any mushrooms it was still very tasty. It was quite spicy and also came with a piece of pakora on top of the burger, so some Diet Coke and tomato sauce complemented it pretty well.
I’d heard great reviews of the desserts, so opted for the Nutella and marscapone samosa which was served with icecream and maple syrup. The samosa was crisp and flaky and the inside suitably sweet and chocolatey. It was pretty filling and probably not a dessert I’d pick regularly, but it was nice to see some different options for a change.
The place feels quite special, yet is really reasonably priced, and with so many tempting food and drink options and lovely staff I’ll definitely return.

Came here a few weeks back on a Unilocal wine tasting event and loved the nibbles they served here.
Popped back before getting my hair snipped the other Thursday. Didn’t realise they did two for £20 meals during the week, that included a cocktail.
Fortunately for me, it was curry night! Had a choice of two. Jalfrezi or Goan (both chicken). We had both to try them and as usual, Fiona won with the jalfrezi. Portions were so generous and filling. Just can’t believe the whole bill came to £20, felt we were robbing them.
You could tell it was lovingly made from scratch and bursting with flavours. I don’t think this will be the last time we head to Richmond. With these meal offers on during the week, you’d be mad to miss it!
You Gotta Eat Here — For Sure! :-D

Good effort on the vegetarian options!
The Richmond Bar & Bistro oozes class and manages to achieve that happy balance of being upscale yet laid back.
It was refreshing to note that the vegetarian options showed some imagination. The ubiquitous macaroni cheese made an appearance on the menu but when dining out I always try to choose a meal where the raw ingredients cost more than a quid.
I started with the goats cheese and red pepper samosa with mango salsa. It tasted pretty good and it wasn’t until the second mouthful that I noticed that the filling was actually spiced chickpeas. If the goats cheese and pepper was in there somewhere I certainly couldn’t taste it.
While I enjoyed the starter, it meant that my main course of spiced chickpea burger was going to be a bit repetative. Lovely chips and onions rings accompanied it, and the decent sourdough bun was the perfect foil to carry the filling. The raita style sauce that accompanied the meal was fine, but the burger needed that little extra oomph that only tomato ketchup can deliver. Our lovely waitress duly obliged with a wee ramekin of the red stuff.
We’d originally headed to The Richmond with the intention of going the full three courses from the lunchtime set menu, but due to an early delay when the wrong starter was brought out, we ran out of time and had to leave after just two courses or risk a parking fine. I’ll allocate more than an hour and a half for lunch next time! Oopsie.
The Richmond is a swanky place with an interesting menu and a very decent selection at the bar. All our meals were nicely presented, and while the chicken tandoori tasted ‘like it had been cooked a while ago and reheated’, everything else was very good indeed.
The loos here are jaw dropping. In a good way!
Pay them a visit :)

We ate here a few weeks ago on the Tuesday night Supper Club deal — £9.50 for two courses or £12.50 for three — and the food was great. So much so we went back last night, having booked through 5pm and were able to take advantage of the Supper Club menu on a Monday night.
I had the red pepper pakora to start, which was excellent, and then the curry of the day (chicken jalfrezi) which was full of flavour and spice with out being too hot. The portion size is perfect, with fluffy rice and a piece of bread (not sure actually what type of bread but not naan). I finished with the chocolate and maple syrup samosa… erm hello!!! You have to go just to try it. It is dessert perfection, served hot, the chocolate filling is all oozy and delicious, mmmm! Hubby had the white chocolate cheesecake dessert, which was a giant portion and also very good.
I can see us heading back to The Richmond soon when the food and prices are so good :)

Hidden away behind Kelvingrove Park, The Richmond may easily be missed, but it’s well worth seeking out. I cycled over on a Thursday evening and the staff were more than happy to let me stick my bike indoors by the fire escape, as there wasn’t anywhere I could secure it outside.
It was curry and cocktail night and diners could choose a drink and dish each, for £20 per couple. I had a lovely vegetable curry, which was precisely spiced and paired with fluffy white rice and naan bread. My boyfriend had a chicken curry which he described, between mouthfuls, as ‘pure amazing’.
Our drinks were perfectly prepared and beautifully presented — I went for the pamplemousse mojito and he had the red berry caiprinhia, both of which were fruity and flavoursome, with a nice kick to them.
I was really impressed with the quality of our dinner and drinks, which could easily cost more than twice the price elsewhere.
It’s a stylish and inviting environment, with lots of fashionable features to look at and some lovely local touches like a jar of Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers on the bar by the coffee machine.
Good food, delicious drinks and lovely staff — well worth a visit to be well fed and looked after.

Have been here a couple of times since discovering it. Nik and I went here for dinner after the Stravaigin event and took advantage of the Tuesday night deal of 2 courses for £9.50. I love the style of the place with tulips on the window and sleek design. Staff were welcoming and friendly and we took a table at the back. It was quite quiet so we got to pick where we wanted to sit.
I ordered the mushrooms on toast to start and while they were very tasty, the ratio wasn’t quite right. Loads of toasted bread and not enough of the mushrooms in sauce for me. There was also far too much balsamic reduction on the salad — very strong tasting making some of the drenched leaves inedible, just a few drops would have been preferable.
For mains I had the macaroni which came with garlic bread — the same as the bread with my starter. It would be nice to maybe have the option of chips instead but as I didn’t know my mushrooms were coming with so much of the same bread, I didn’t think to ask when I ordered. There was no side salad as in Briony’s picture but perhaps that was because we were having the cheap deal. The macaroni was lovely but I felt the same as Briony in that once I’d eaten the top layer, it wasn’t cheesy enough for me. Still pleasant though.
Nik’s courses were much better than mine, his chicken jalfrezi (the curry of the day) in particular was delicious! Wish I’d chosen that. It had a lovely depth of flavour with lots of spices without being overly hot. It was served with flatbread and rice. His haggis bon bons were nice too.
I liked the look of the cocktail menu so we returned a week or so later when on a night out nearby and I had the Aviator. It’s a lovely bar to hang out in but we were surprised to find it almost empty on a Friday night. Not much of an atmosphere but it was a nice chilled out place to enjoy a drink or two. We also enjoyed some of the Tyrell’s popcorn with our drinks — YUM!
When Nik managed to spill his drink all over the table and me (!) the barmaid appeared with a cloth before we’d even had a chance to ask for help. She was very helpful and lovely about it.
Will definitely be back and hope to upgrade it to 4 or 5 stars next time! I really like the bar itself and they do some great mid-​week deals.

Not bad, not good, and very much a case of style over substance in more than a few areas.
The Richmond looks fantastic, on entering I was immediately wondering if it was a lot more upmarket than I’d been lead to believe but thankfully the prices are all very reasonable.
We popped in here for brunch and despite it being pretty busy, managed to get a seat in the window. Alas we were sat at a big round table which, despite having only two seats available to it, was far too big for the area. Score one for style over substance, smaller tables (without thick legs to negotiate) would probably make things seem a little more intimate.
On to the food, Spanish eggs for my partner (eggs and chorizo) and my appetite got the better of me as I plumped for the Richmond grill (Scottish breakfast).
Both were disappointing. Perhaps my hopes had been raised by other reviews but, whilst the dishes are reasonably priced, I would still have expected better.
The Spanish eggs were a mix of watery scrambled egg with tiny chunks of chorizo that barely made any impression on the tastebuds. The Richmond grill included bacon that wasn’t crispy despite my asking for it, one slice of potato scone, a spoonful of beans, a haggis ‘nugget’, a watery mushroom and a bog standard, uninspiring sausage.
I don’t mind paying £7 for a mixed grill but expect to at least feel full after eating it. Poor value for money. But hey, it was well presented (style over substance).
Perhaps it was our choice of dishes on the day, the table next to us had some very tasty looking, and smelling, pies but looking around the other tables, a lot of the food hinted that the focus was on presentation, not on flavour (the table next to us had a sandwich with a knife rammed through it in place of a skewer??).
Overall underwhelming. First impressions are good, but the food, whilst not bad, just wasn’t all that good.

We went to The Richmond for dinner. The Tuesday deal was 2 courses for 9.50. Service was very friendly and efficient too. The atmosphere is smart but relaxed. My haggis bon bons to start were good although not amazing, they would have been nicer if a little more peppery. There were a few Indian dishes on the menu and I had the curry of the day for my main. The chicken Jalfrezi was full of flavour, with true depth. Outstanding cooking, no excessive liquid pool of sauce. Delicious spiced chicken with onions and mushrooms. mmmm. They have a different offer every weekday I think. We will most certainly be paying The Richmond a repeat visit!

I paid a lunch-​time visit to this super classy, glamorous bar one Friday and never wanted to leave again! The décor is seriously bling — in a good way — I love the low cushioned chairs, the wall of mirrors with bevelled edges and the timber panelled walls. It just exudes elegance and I definitely need to return for a glam night out for cocktails and food!
I sat by the window and enjoyed the large, bright space while I tried to get some work done. As soon as I opened my laptop, the waitress popped over with the wifi password on a piece of paper — I love service like that! I had a soft drink while I waited to digest my earlier meal before ordering more food. I opted for the mac cheese which I think was around £6. Nicely presented with a side salad and bread, the panko crumbed topping was a great addition. Downside of the mac was that once that delicious top layer was gone, the rest of the mac was a little to plain for my taste buds and I thought it would do with more cheese. But then, I think pretty much every dish needs more cheese so maybe its just personal preference.
I was really impressed by the service — friendly and welcoming and they were happy to let me work away in the corner which was appreciated! I can’t wait to return to see what it’s like at nighttime, as this place has the potential to become a firm favourite for me in the Woodlands area!

I love this place for those hungover Sunday brunches! The breakfast is fab, love the burgers and they do a good coffee too.

Having by passed this place a few times, on my way here and there, i’ve always been intrigued! Last night it was finally being in the right place in a rain shower that pushed me in!
Visually it’s stunning, i’ve always been a fan of good finishes and this place has taken the time to make sure everything has been completed to a high standard!
The staff were lovely and friendly without being too overbearing, we were looked after really well but never once did we feel rushed or neglected!
Being a veggie when it comes to food choices on a menu, you kinda learn to not have the highest of expectations but when i saw the butternut squash tagine on the menu i allowed myself to get excited, and i was not disappointed, it was packed full of flavours and the accompanying cous cous and flatbread was delicious. My friend had the beef pie and was equally impressed, being a farm boy he knows good meat cooked well and this was that!
The drinks list has something for everyone, always one to try new drinks i was spoiled for choice!
The ONLY reason this isn’t 5 stars is because the dessert let them down, it just wasn’t for me!
But overall a total hidden gem that has restored my faith in Glasgow’s bars & restaurants! :)
P. S. I kinda judge places on their toilets, if they can look after them as well as they do out front it’s a good sign! All i can say about these bathrooms are if i could i’d move in, THE loveliest and best kept loos i’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting! :)

Now lugging a pram around, one of my first criteria for whether I like a place or not is whether the staff are helpful on our arrival.
Here a lovely woman rushed forward to help us with the door and was not phased by the buggy at all, telling us to sit wherever we wanted. So… They made a good first impression.
The staff remained excellent, the coffee was good and it was lovely being able to see out to the river (or, rather, some leafy trees from where we were).
The highlight (aside from our conversation and cute babies, obviously) was a very odd song being played which I now can’t find anywhere… About a friendly whale. So, if you like wacky music you might hear something of liking in this place.

I absolutely love The Richmond — I have visited here quite a few times since moving into the area and I loved the vibe of the bar instantly. You can tell that some serious money has been spent creating the cool American 1920 swinging style. With its gorgeous floors, comfortable seating and glass bar I can imagine walking through the door wearing a gorgeous bejewelled flapper dress and ordering a Southside Cocktail during the prohibition.
The staff are great and really friendly, willing to give guidance and recommendations when you ask for them. On my second visit I had my 5 year old niece with me — the waiter was great with her which I was really pleased with because some of the younger staff in west end bars can be a little cold with young kids, and he was a handsome fella which never hurts. :-)
One of my favourite dishes is the absolutely delicious pulled pork fajitas which are self asembly so you can make them just the way you like them. The Caesar Salad with Chicken — which was served with Parmesan, avocado, anchovies and all the good stuff that goes with a Caesar is also worth a try on a warm evening.
For dessert there can only be one option — the Double Nougat. 2 scoops of amazing vanilla ice cream sandwiched between 2 nougat wafers which came wrapped in a little grease proof sheet like you used to get from the ice cream van served with Raspberry sauce and sweet and sticky cream.
An undiscovered gem that’s well worth a try.

Was in on Sunday for the first time since this establishment reopened and all I can say is fab. the décor the staff and the total ambience was first
is such a lovely comfortable place and we were lucky enough to get a seat at the open windows which helped as it was such a hot day. the staff were very attentive and prices on par with byres road so no surprises. will be making this a stop off more often.

Discovered this little gem wandering home one evening so we popped in for a couple of drinks.
Really nice set up, trendy but not over the top. The barman was very friendly and as I was unsure about the cider as it was the cloudy variety he was happy to let me have a taste before making up my mind. i wasn’t disappointed.
Its really nicely laid out. Clean fresh and modern.
Nice menu. Pleasantly surprised to see how reasonable the prices were. You would be easily mistaken for thinking it should be a pricey little joint judging by the overall look and feel of the place.
I’ll certainly be making this place a regular in the future.

Wow, the cash has been seriously splashed in this, the former resting place of favorite student haunt, Bar Bola on Park Road.
Boarded up for year, you can see that some serious hard work has gone into completely transforming this place into one super slick, swish bar. It has a definite vintage old fashion feel with its wooden paneling and stone exposed walls, yet has some very elegant and modern furnishings. The bar itself is also a beautiful shiny delight, with gleaming glasses and bottle or posh plonk and spirits.
On offer is a great cocktail menu with many classics given a ‘twist.’ I tried the Rasoi Mojito made with cucumber and gin, a variant on the traditional rum theme and it was indeed delicious.
As it was my first visit, I could look beyond the «Richmond Beef Burger»
with cheese, pancetta & jalapeño peppers. It was very yummy as were the skin on chips. Served on a ciabatta type bread it turned out to be a rather filling meal. I could have no complaints whatsoever.
The whole place really does ooze class, the windows open out fully too, so I can imagine on a sunny day, sipping cocktails and relaxing here would be a real treat.
Wasn’t overly fussed about the beer selection, but you can’t have it all. All in all a top quality bistro /​bar and not too pretentious either, result!

A nice space with a lot effort gone into the fittings of its mid-​century revival design, though its uncomfortable chairs should have been left behind with the 50s. This is primarily a cocktail bar with overly loud music and an appalling beer selection, which is a shame because the food is pretty nice. Service is friendly and unpretentious unlike its prices: £11 for a hot dog or burger and even £10 for mac and cheese! Though the staff could do with a bit more training, having left me staring at the bill for more than half-​an-​hour and then taking the tray away with the bill before a tip could be left. I did enjoy my perfectly cooked steak and chips, which is a rare thing in Glasgow (shame I can’t say the same thing about mediocre service), so I may well be back one day…