CHEF’SCHOICE

John Burns, head chef at Malmaison Glasgow’s Chez Mal brassiere picks his six favourite places to eat

ICHIBAN NOODLE BAR, GLASGOW There are not as many Japanese places in Glasgow as there are other cuisines, but this informal Japanese restaurant is a staple of mine. The quality is always great and their chicken chilli udon dish never disappoints. ichiban.co.uk, 0141 204 4200 PAESANO PIZZA, GLASGOW This is where I choose to go for classic Italian fare. They have three pizza ovens brought over from Naples and everything they use, from the flour in the pizza, to the cured meats and even their tomatoes come from Italy. It is about as authentic as you get in Glasgow. paesanopizza.co.uk, 0141 258 5565 CINNAMON, ABERDEEN This is an Indian restaurant but a bit more modern than your regular curry house. There’s a bit of European influence in their dishes too. I tend to go for the tandoori baked sea bass and anchovy naan when I visit. 01224 633328 OX AND FINCH, GLASGOW A great place to visit for some relaxed social dining. The little plates mean that you graze your way through a meal and get to try lots of different dishes with a group of friends. oxandfinch.com, 0141 339 8627 THE BUTCHERSHOP BAR & GRILL, GLASGOW This is where I tend to go when I’m after a good steak in Glasgow. Their beef is grass-fed and they do a lot of special cuts and cured meats too. butchershopglasgow.com, 0141 339 2999 TWO FAT LADIES AT THE BUTTERY This veteran establishment is a nice one if you are entertaining guests and maybe want to show off a bit. It’s modern, it’s Scottish, the decor is great; all round it’s always a great experience. www.twofatladiesrestaurant.com/buttery; 0141 221 8188