Epicures

Epicures brings a polished, European-leaning sensibility to the West End of Glasgow, blending French inflections with the cosiness of British comfort cooking. It is the sort of place where the classics are treated with care, and indulgence is served with a light touch.

The kitchen opens with a wild mushroom parfait, brightened by pickled shallots and the crunch of smoked almonds, ready to be swept up with garlic sourdough toast. Grilled scallops arrive in their shells, bathed in garlic butter under a delicate parmesan crust.

For mains, think duck done properly: confit leg with fondant potato, crispy pancetta and a smoky bean cassoulet. The signature lobster thermidor frites, with skin-on fries, a generous gloss of thermidor sauce and a squeeze of grilled lemon is equally a must-try.

Don't forget a side of skinny fries, perhaps dusted with parmesan and truffle, and some seasonal greens make easy companions, before a finale of crème brûlée or sticky toffee pudding.

Epicures suits lingering lunches and unhurried suppers, the kind made for good conversation and another glass. The welcome is warm, the mood unpretentious, and the pleasures refreshingly straightforward.

Book a table, bring an appetite, and let the classics do the talking. After all, life’s too short not to crack the top of a perfect crème brûlée.