clydebuilt, sec, glasgow

1 LOCATION

At the SEC’S front entrance so convenient for pre-show lunch, dinner, snack or drinks, whether you’re going to the SEC, Hydro or Armadillo.

2 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

There’s a bar between two eating places. The further away area is smaller, less busy and more private, with seating booths. Unfortunately, tables there were already reserved, although it serves the same menu. The larger bar area was busy and lively, as expected on a Saturday evening.

3 SERVICE

Polite bar staff advised we should find a table, choose from the menu and order at the bar. A bit alarmingly, given we were expecting home-cooked meals, it seemed to be only minutes before our meals were served.

4 MENU

Reasonable choice of standard pub grub, a selection of burgers, pasta and pizza or traditional beer-battered fish and chips, fishcakes and Caesar salad. Tasty-sounding sides and puddings.

5 TASTE

The chargrilled beef on toasted brioche with baby gem, tomato, sea salt and pepper skinny fries and homemade kale slaw, sounded mouthwatering. As did other dishes on the menu. But this was definitely descriptive writing taken to the extreme. More accurate would be “average, slightly soggy roll with dense, low quality, tasteless burger, and slaw so acidic it potentially had paint-stripping qualities”. The chips were Ok-ish. Even adding cheddar, smoked pancetta or pulled pork options would struggle to perk this up.

6 PRICE

Around £30 for two main meals and soft drinks. Portion size was OK but poor food quality made this feel expensive.

7 AMBIENCE

The modern industrial style decor, with its nod to shipbuilding, is nice. But the place is so draughty it felt like we were outside by the Clyde!

8 SOMETHING SPECIAL

A good spot for people-watching. And, of course, a handy waiting/drinking place before shows.

9 TOILETS

A walk down the concourse. Not the cleanest.

10 VERDICT

Not great. Save yourself £20 and go to Mcdonald’s instead. 8/20