City’s ‘struggle’ for Michelin-starred restaurants
A GLASGOW restaurant boss has claimed the city is “struggling” to achieve a Michelin star because of the high standards required.
The last restaurant to achieve the most coveted culinary honour was Gordon Ramsay’s Amaryllis at One Devonshire Gardens, now Hotel du Vin.
The chef said the reason the restaurant closed was because there was no market for fine dining in Glasgow.
Claudio Celino, who owns Italian restaurants in Dennistoun and Partick, agrees with Ramsay to some extent but believes city diners are still looking for a ‘special occasion’ fine dining restaurant.
He said: “I know for fact that there are people in Glasgow that travel to find the best restaurants in Scotland.
“In Glasgow, I think the budget is a big part of why there are no Michelin stars restaurants.
“However, we have a lot of casual dining restaurants with good food and affordable prices.
“To be awarded as a Michelin star restaurant, everything has to be absolutely spotless. From the food you put into your mouth, to the flavours, the balance, the recommendations of the wines, the choice of the bread or the cheese, the service and also the personality of the chef.
“I think that is why the city is struggling to get one.”
Marco Pierre White, who was the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, has argued that Glasgow doesn’t need a Michelin star.
Speaking to the Evening Times’ sister title The Herald, a couple of years ago, he said: “The future of eating out is casual dining, good food at affordable prices.
“Most Michelin-starred restaurants are the most boring places on earth.”
An Eventbrite survey in UK revealed three in four people are willing to pay more for unique dining experiences and half would pay more for the exact same menu with the opportunity to interact with the chef. Scotland’s second Ivy restaurant opened earlier this year on Buchanan Street and is said to have been one of the London’s brand’s busiest openings with most tables booked until Christmas.
Staff put this down to a lack of fine dining restaurants in the city.
The Six by Nico brand, has been hugely popular and offers up up market tasting menu experience.