City Merchant

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

Established in 1988, City Merchant's reputation as one of the best fish restaurants in Glasgow is as much down to owners who pride themselves on the freshness of their seafood as it is to the resulting cuisine that is undeniably impressive. A decadent starter of six oysters Rockefeller sets the scene, made with thermidor sauce, spinach and breadcrumbs. The splash-out seafood platter (£32.95 pp) consists of langoustine, scallops, oysters, mussels, shell-on prawns and crab claw, with super-freshness enlivenend by a choice of dressings. For meat-lovers there are dishes from ‘the Highlands and the Lowlands’ including tender whisky-marinated breast of chicken with a haggis potato scone, served with a rather frugal helping of clapshot. For dessert, the Baileys crème brûlée is wonderfully rich, cooling as you eat down from the hot sugar crust. With great service and imaginative décor – a large fish tank in the entrance and a beautiful stained-glass marine scene on the wall – this is a lovely place to dine.

• High point: Lobster fishcake with a lovely citrus chilli mayonnaise
• Low point: Seafood this good gets pricey