It's hard to be non-judgemental about a chain restaurant, particularly one the size of Hard Rock Cafe. It is a truly global brand with a seriously serious army of fans. So, if you really want a taste of Glasgow, I wouldn't blame you for visiting a smaller independent, of which there are many!
But stick with me! There's a reason I've given this five stars.
Hard Rock Cafe was the product of foodie allied forces as two Americans visited London in the early 1970's. Isaac Tigrett and peter Morton were not impressed by the exclusivity of restaurants with quality food on the menu. They believed that great food could be enjoyed by ordinary working class people and families. With that in mind they opened their first store in Piccadilly and quickly built a loyal following. It was some time before they began introducing the now familiar collection of memorabilia; instead focusing on building a reputation for tasty food.
The franchise spread beyond British shores and proved a natural hit in the brothers homeland, and birth place of rock 'n' roll. Through the 80s and 90s, it garnered its reputation for BBQ, parties and awesome tuneage. A great place for an 'event' night out, where diners could feel like stars among the glitzy suits and Gibson Les Pauls. This approach to satisfying customers has evidently worked and when you go to the Hard Rock Cafe, whether in Berlin or London, the feeling of being part of 'the band' is strong.
And this is no different to Glasgow. All the same elements are there; guitars, suits, gold discs, great cocktails and a group of staff determined to make your night amazing. A 'vibe' manager is employed to take song requests and make sure your ears as a happy as your tastebuds.
The restaurant also makes great use of Glasgow's history. The traditional Hard Rock aesthetic is built around the Grade II listed building, once the Victorian Athenaeum Theatre. The classic architecture harks back to the decadent wealth the city's rich and powerful enjoyed during the industrial revolution.
When i visited in December, the restaurant (I think) was still finding its feet and building its collection of memorabilia. Now, with even more attachment to Glasgow, diners can check out items from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB) and even a classic Marti Pellow suit from Wet Wet Wet. These particular items are displayed in the 500 capacity gig venue above the restaurant. We were given a tour of the facility and I think it could definitely add to Glasgow's live scene.
So, this night was all about some new menu additions, which we were being invited to try (Huzzah!!).
To get in the swing of things, a trio of mini-margaritas arrived with a side of nachos. This is the 'Air Mexico'. Each cocktail was, unsurprisingly, a hit. Me and tequila just work well together. And then two more rounds arrived! Next came the 'Nachopalooza'. I'm not sure I need to explain. We were treated to two enormous plates, one topped with southern fried chicken and the other with slow cooked brisket. Completing the quattro of starters were the jumbo sharing platter (chicken fillets, onion rings, lovely bruschetta, crackers and a really tasty spinach guacamole) and a plate of loaded potato skins.
The nachos are listed as being for one but the staff will quite fairly tell you the sensible option is to share. Between six of us, we struggled.
For the main course, I opted for he new tango burger; two lean steak patties topped with blue cheese, jack cheese, sloppy joe sauce and crispy onions. The burger also came with a healthy portion of fries. My wife went for the fillet of fish sandwich, which I have been reliably informed, was delicious. I have to say though, that ,even though we shared the starters, it was all a bit much. I managed to finish my burger but only after sacrificing the bun. Special mention for the blue cheese, which to my surprise proved an excellent companion to the meat. A really nice kick. My only negative would be that I enjoy my meat a wee bit rarer than the well done burger I received.
The new menu, for me, really worked and while it hardly strays from what you'd expect from Hard Rock Cafe, it sufficiently delivers on taste and quality. As I said, you get an experience, more than just your food. You get to be part of the Hard Rock band.
One last note...our host Gillian was fantastic. She clearly described each course and the ingredients to the food and cocktails. She was lively, engaging and gave us an informative tour of the gig venue. She also gave me the insight in to a wee bit of the history of the company. To cap off a great night, we also left with a Hard Rock Cafe thermos gift. read more