I'm really loving The Raven at the moment. Since we had our Yelp event last year it has really…read moreencouraged me to go back for more. Well, they did give us a splendiferous spread with copious plates of delicious food to try. In January they had a Winter Sale on with some meals available at £4 and £5 so decided to take advantage of this with my bestie and fellow Yelper Angela B. As a result I ended up with a taste tantalising wee mac and cheese topped with bacon bits including a wee bucket of chips. Not bad for a fiver. Boom! I've also frequented for drinks and they have an excellent bar selection, there's even some cheeky fruit beers in there. Yay! I would highly recommend popping in for a wee swally or a sit down meal within the designated dinning area. It's pretty, it's relaxing and the music is pretty good with some 90's indie beats to tickle your ear drums. Other music probably plays at other times. It's also bang smack right in the middle of town so super handy but ladies beware of the icy blast of the hand-drier in the toilets. Ice burns beware! Please note, not in the Urban Dictionary sense. "(noun): an insult so harsh, that it is both freezing and red hot. Often used sarcastically, like after "yer maw" jokes." Boab: "I wiz playing fitbaw last night." Shug: "I wiz playing with YER MAW last night!" Boab: "Ohhhhh, ICE BURN!" Enjoy and no ravens were harmed within writing this review.

I was in Glasgow and heading off to a real ale festival, and thought I'd better grab some food…read morefirst in preparation, so I decided to pop in here and check it out, maybe have a pint while I decided where to go to eat. I opted for the taster plank - 1 third of a pint of three different ales, served in a plank with the beer names written on. That in itself is a great touch, a few places don't identify which beer is which. I had a Casear Augustus from Williams Brothers, a Fake Lager from Brewdog and a Witless IV from Red Willow Brewery - as you can see, there's a great range to choose from and the staff were really helpful and knowledgeable about them all. While I was looking around and supping my drinks (the Witless was the pick of the bunch, fact fans!) I noticed the menu. I knew that The Raven were offering food, but wasn't too sure what. Looking at the menu, it looked pretty nifty so I figured I'd just eat here, and I was glad I did! The food is BBQ based - low and slow smoked pork, burgers, ribs, that sort of thing. There's been an explosion of this kind of food in Glasgow recently, I perhaps lay the blame at the feet of Adam Richman and Man vs. Food (my dream job too, it has to be said) but I'm not complaining! I opted for a pulled pork burrito with a side of spicy cheesy fries, and at £9 for the two, it was a steal. They arrived quickly, the fries in a basket and the burrito served on a platter. I was given cutlery before the food arrived, and what looked like a carrying case full of sauces, salt, pepper, kitchen roll and a great sight, a wet wipe! A great thing to have when eating what is esssentially finger food! There wasn't a long wait at all for the food; The burrito was lovely, really filled to the brim and fresh - but the spicy cheesy fries were stunning. Covered in jalapenos, cheese and a smoky, spicy BBQ sauce, they were quickly devoured. I could honestly have had a second helping of those on their own. A great first impression here, not just for the great food, but for the really helpful and friendly staff, and the attention to detail that the whole place shows. It's somewhere that I can see me returning to time and time again.

Okay so when P!nk is in town the place will be packed-fair warning!…read more I had the Chicken Shawarma. The naan is more like flatbread but it was so delicious. The Mac & Cheese side is big enough for a meal, we got the big one and didn't even make it halfway through. The cheese is rich and creamy with a lovely carmelized cheese & onion topping. It comes with what the Scots minimally refer to as a garlic bun. This manna from heaven is a light doughy bread with a thin layer of cheese, butter, and garlic in the middle and then topped with butter and green herbs (garlic tops maybe?). Despite the crowds and the noise we had a lovely time. The barmaids are super friendly and efficient and the barmen are quick-witted and sharp. Do yersel' a favor and git right in tae the place!

If you ever find yourself in the heart of Glasgow. Do yourself a favor and stop by. I was looking…read morefor a nice place to grab my official first drink in Scotland. After a couple of other stops that did not seem promising I found this gem. I walked in and it was packed and lively with lots or people at the bar and seated. The drinks were superb and the bartenders there are super fun and helpful! I met new friends and had one of the most highlight nights of my trip there! Go in, grab a drink and have lots of fun! This place will not disappoint!

This is one of my lowest reviews ever. This place is a sports bar 1st and a food serving…read moreestablishment second. The staff was nice and friendly. The food wasn't really that good. It's bar food. The chicken wings were overcooked. They looked like jerky strips, no joke! The beer selection is decent, and the liquor selection is decent as well. I had a Long Island Iced tea, and it was good. I ordered a double cheeseburger and waffle fries for my meal. I was still hungry after I finished. There are TVs all around the perimeter of the dining area. There are two levels. Credit and Debit cards are accepted here.

Walkabout is a chain of pubs that brings you "the awesome spirit of Australia" as well as "sharing…read morethe best of everything Australian." Well, as an actual, real-life Australian, I'd like to dispute this. I'll start with the positives. This is a huge pub over two floors and is really close to Cineworld. They have some really good Australian beers available here - my recommendations are Coopers and Little Creatures. There ends the positives. The tables are sticky, as is the floor. It has a seriously seedy vibe as soon as you walk in, and there's about 1,000 TVs on around the place showing football/soccer. They weren't even showing the AFL Grand Final which had been on that day, instead opting to show UK football. Perhaps there isn't the demand for it, but that is pretty damn un-Australian. Is the food Australian? I personally don't think so, although they do make an attempt with things like vegemite flat bread on the menu (I wonder if anyone actually orders this). I made the error of ordering a lamington - I didn't properly read the description on the menu so this is partly my fault, but what I received was not a lamington. A lamington is a plain sponge cake, covered in chocolate sauce and then coconut. This was a chocolate brownie covered in coconut. It didn't even taste very good. I'll admit this is my second proper visit here - I first visited when I moved to the UK for Australia Day. That was a terrible, terrible mistake so whatever you do, avoid this pub on the 26th of January. As for every other day of the year? Well, it's up to you, of course. Personally, it's not the pub for me when there's great pubs like The Flying Duck nearby.

I spent a week in Glasgow and tried many places - this place is awesome! The food is good and the…read moreservice is pretty nice. Where it really shines, and stands head and shoulders over the other pubs I tried in Glasgow is in two categories: 1. Whoever is in charge of booking the live music is spot on - acoustic and fun - very talented local music. I saw three different performers and all were excellent. Perfect atmosphere. Great live music! 2. The furnishings are spectacular. Decorated with class and style. Lots of solid wood and brass. The tables and chairs are solid, beautiful, and frankly, must have cost a fortune. Everything flows extremely well and creates the perfect vibe. Try the steak sandwich - the baguette is toasted so perfectly you can't get it out of your mind.

This is the most perfect Irish coffee I have ever had. It was absolutely made with love and fresh…read morecoffee.

lovely little place in a great location. Had a couple drinks and some pub food! overall pretty good…read morefood for a pub and the staff were wonderful, only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars was that the seating seemed outdated and was pretty torn up. Other than that there was great food and drinks and u can't ask for much more than that :)

Aye so Coopers then. Well on this occassion we met a friend who was waiting for other friends and…read morethought while myself and Ian were in the area we would swing by for one. Well little did we know there would be some violinists and an accordion player playing some Scottish reels. It was a Saturday night, so busy we expected especially with them students types but not was the live music. A voice on a mic started encouraging people to the dance floor, eh... what dance floor pal? Suddenly the pub was a mass of kilted lads... oh hello, and lassies, swooshing aboot to the Gay Gordons. I ken it had been Burn's Night the night afore so I'm guessing the partying was still going on like. (Ooft got all East side there). Coopers is alright, it's got tasty food and drinks, service is good but I would avoid like the plague if the fitbaw (football/soccer) is oan. Well unless you like the football. This does put me off a bit about the place. Best seats are up on the mezzanine level but can be sometimes reserved for parties. Btw there's a mezzanine level if you wanna reserve for a party. Good pub, good location, only a hop, skip and a set of lights from Kelvinbridge underground. Drink, food, seats, big screen tv, loads of tvs and a mezzanine. Check? Sorted!

Fun pub. Live musician. A number of ales and whiskys from which to choose. Friendly bar staff with…read moreprompt service. Very much a dive bar vibe.

Great music and drinks. A total surprise to the up side. We stumbles upon this place and it turned…read moreout to be a great experience.

The Old Schoolhouse - Where the Food Is A+ but You're the Waiter…read more Popped into The Old Schoolhouse in Glasgow expecting a traditional restaurant experience. You know, menus, servers, the whole shebang. What I got was more of a "choose your own adventure" dining experience -- but with surprisingly good food. Let's be clear: the food? Excellent. Whoever's back there in the kitchen deserves a gold star and maybe a cheeky raise. Burgers? Juicy. Chips? Crispy. Portions? Generous enough to make you question your life choices halfway through. But here's the twist -- it's basically self-service. You want a pint? You get up. Cutlery? Go fetch. Table cleared? You're on your own, soldier. I half expected to be handed a mop and a staff badge on the way out. One more step and they'll have you washing your own dishes and clocking in for a shift. That said, the vibes are great. It's casual, friendly, and full of locals who clearly know the deal. Just don't go in expecting fine dining -- unless your idea of fine dining includes ordering at the bar like it's a school canteen with beer. In summary: come for the food, stay for the slightly confusing service model, and leave with a full belly and a mild identity crisis. 4 stars - would dine again (but might wear an apron just in case).

"It's the big place on Woodlands Road, you can't miss it."…read more That's what I was told the first time I asked someone about The Old Schoolhouse... and dagnabbit, it's exactly right. It's big. Real big. They say they have 27 television screens (a necessity during the world cup) and without counting, I'd tend to believe it. It's a Belhaven pub, a chain that seems to be increasing it's foothold recently. I'd go as far as to say this would be treated as the figurehead of the Belhaven chain, especially in the Glasgow area. I can't fault it. The staff were friendly, the drinks were fairly cheap, the atmosphere was fine... but it was just a bit... I don't know - clinical? There was that "IT" factor missing from the place that made me want to rush back. I think I may know what it was... I cast a longing glance along the road to The Doublet, one of my favourite haunts, as I went inside. I wanted to be there. There's something unique about that wee place. And therein lies the problem with The Old Schoolhouse. Bar the size of it, there's practically nothing unique. You could be in any pub, in any city, anywhere. Nothing wrong with that, and I wouldn't avoid it, but this is the very definition of a middle-of-the-road three star review.

Friendly staff, good drink, Very busy and loud location and food was not that great.read more

Just minutes away from Buchanan Street and George Square, this fairly large pub has a generous…read moreamount of seating and can handle larger crowds. However, due to the televisions, good food and convenient location, it will fill quickly especially when matches are on. There are several small intimate booths and alcoves where you can escape the noise of the larger pub and a large room in the back can also be used to escape the central throng. This pub has served for me as a quick stop during a peace march past George Square, an opportunity to have a quick bite away from Buchanan Street crowds and an excellent place to take in a football match on their large screen televisions. Some good beers on tap, range of lagers and ales, and decent gantry. Good food served during the day. If you want to avoid the Wetherspoons "Superpub" across the street, then this place will serve you well. The dripping cornices and assorted items on the wall may please your visitng friends and family more than the corporate decor in the Counting House.

One thing I love about Sauchiehall street is that if you if you blink you would miss quite a lot on…read morewhat's changed on the street. On a matter of days two new pubs have opened on the street not far from each other, this is a good thing as Glasgow does need a little more variety. Life Glasgow is the latest addition on the street based where the old Campus bar used to be. This is yet another sports bar with more than six televisions in front of me. The bar has a fresh look to it, I can even smell the paint, there is a stage in the middle of the bar for entertainment, there is the usual draft drinks on offer but nothing new apart from mangers ice cold only costing £3.30 a pint and that's pretty good for this street would work out 55p cheaper than o'Neils bar just up the road. Food available just your typical pub grub sandwiches, panini's & baps but there is a snack & sides section on the menu that looks pretty cheap but wouldn't expect much for the prices. A few down sides that I spotted was that the bar was empty just me and another customer, the other negative that the bar tender had poor English where I had to ask twice what she said. The walls are rather bare making this bar too minimalistic. I hope that this bar will be better than what was here before, will be back in a week or two to check up & adjust their rating, up or down.

Came in here at 7pm on a Saturday night, and we'd had reservations. There were plenty of tables…read morethough and it seemed fairly quiet. The wait staff were really friendly and the decor was fresh and the place seemed really clean. It's typical pub grub and it's pretty cheap, so I was trying to manage my expectations! I ordered the candy floss martini which was amazing. Citrus vodka with chambord mixed with apple and cranberry juice it was rally yummy and moreish. Not to mention a big fluff of candy floss stuck to the side of the glass. I would definitely go back for a few more of those! The food wasn't great. I ordered mussels but they'd run out and made the huge mistake of opting for the carbonara. It was really gummy and stodgy and I left quite a lot of it, but the garlic bread was nice enough. Long story short I'd go back for the martini but definitely would skip the food next time.

If you've only been here when it was called "Faktory" then take a wee wander down again now that…read moreit's rebranded. First of all, get something to eat here, for the mighty MEATHAMMER inhabit the kitchen, and they have burgers of immense goodness and size. For my money, Meathammer consistently produce the best and most imaginative burgers that Glasgow has to offer, and at a decent price too. The staff in here are a lot more helpful and cheery and just downright nice than I remember from the last time I was in here. Not one person I spoke too seemed to be put out by any of my daft questions about the food, or the seating outside, or the football on the telly. The space itself is pretty amazing. It's a lot bigger than you would expect upon entering down the fairy light laden hallway - and there's a huge beer garden at the back with several big comfy leather couches - would be ideal for watching the football on, if it hadn't been raining earlier. The beers on tap are nice and cold; I had a pint (or 3) or Innis and Gunn and really enjoyed it. Side note that may be totally World Cup related - during the half time break in the football, they turned the sound of the TV off and put on music. A nice relief from having to listen to the "pundits" do their thing and bore you to tears. On the whole, The Record Factory seems to be a nice change to the other bars in this part of town, and I'd definitely return again. Especially for the food. Oh, the glorious food...

I paid a brief visit to Faktory one Saturday and left with a not-too-bad impression. We were there…read moreto see a band so spent most of the time in the band room which isn't a bad space - there's some seats and it's a pretty decent size room. It is hard to find though if they have the shutter down on the room (they apparently open up this shutter to the main room but if it's closed you need to walk through a pool room and past the toilets to find it). The main room didn't seem overly busy for a Saturday night but maybe it picks up later on. It really has a cheap student vibe to it which isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's just not my thing. I didn't visit the toilets or go to the bar so I can't comment on these aspects. I would return here in future if I had a reason - otherwise, I can't this being a place I'd visit for a drink when there are other places nearby that are much nicer.