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Hotel restaurants are a curious thing. Depending on capacity at the hotel, they can either be empty and chilly affairs, or else bustling and noisy. When we arrived at The Source Grill at the Glasgow Marriott, the hotel was about a third full, although diners kept filing in while we ate. It was steady but not packed, with a laidback atmosphere and prompt food throughout the evening.
While not the newest restaurant in town, The Source Grill is well presented, neat and charming. The staff were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, and chatted to us about the menu when prompted while leaving us alone for most of us – which is just what you want from any table service.
The name of the restaurant gave us a good clue about what to expect, although I rarely check menus before I arrive to dine. We found that the a la carte menu had some great dishes with plenty of local flair. Among the starters, for example, was a Campbell’s haggis broth with vegetable crisps (£6.00), a confit of Ayrshire ham hough and chicken terrine with orchard chutney (£7.75) and crab and coriander cakes with chilli and lime salsa (£8.50).
The mains similarly had a Scottish twist, with dishes ranging from an oven-baked cod fillet with chorizo and black pudding (£16.50) to pan-seared duck breast with kale, sweet potato and scotch bonnet chilli jam (£18.75). Cod, chorizo and black pudding is basically heaven to me, and the dish did not disappoint. The scotch bonnet chilli jam was also a firm favourite, and went perfectly with the pan-seared duck breast and the creamy sweet potato.
The market menu, meanwhile, includes firm favourites such as the flat top 8oz minute steak (£19), grilled chicken breast with fries (£13.50), grilled fillet of Shetland salmon with charred lemon and dill mayonnaise (£16.50), linguini primavera in a light parmesan sauce (£11.65), grilled chicken penne arrabiata (£14.50). While these dishes were marginally less exciting, they were also cheaper and would appeal more widely – which is perfect if you’re dining with one of those friends who gets scared by things like scotch bonnet chilli jam.
The desserts on offer were also pretty exciting, including a chocolate cheesecake with orange and Grahams Dairy Cream, and Cranachan sundae with toasted oats, whisky, heather honey, ice cream and cream. All are priced £6.50, except the cheese, which is £8.00.
I opted for the lemon posset with honeycomb and raspberry sorbet, while my friend tried the sticky toffee pudding with decadent Mackie’s Ice Cream. The lemon posset was gorgeous, and the big chunks of honeycomb just melted on the mouth, adding a welcome molasses edge and fibrous texture to this rich and creamy dish. The sticky toffee pudding was decadent, but well paired with the ice cream, which added a cooling, buttery influence to the dish.
Those dining on a budget can opt for two courses from a smaller menu for £18 or three courses for £23. This is a great deal, and certainly won’t break the bank. The selection is fine, although you won’t find some of the more exciting meals on there, naturally.
The hotel is very LGBT-friendly (check out the pics of the drag concierge, Anna Phylactic, who we interviewed recently) and they do a fine afternoon tea, too.
The Glasgow Marriott Hotel is within walking distance of Glasgow Central, right on the edge of the city centre. The Glasgow hotel’s location is just five minutes on foot from Glasgow’s epic nightlife, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Hydro arena, and the city’s great shopping district.
Rates at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel start from just £84 per night. Book and find more information online at glasgowmarriott.co.uk.
