Pub Review - Liquid Ship, Great Western Road, Glasgow
Stumble upon this snug pub-cum-style bar at the edge of Glasgow city centre and you'd be forgiven for expecting run-of-the-mill pub grub. But a closer look proves it's doing something a little bit different.
Tucked away at the grubbier end of one of the city's longest thoroughfares, Great Western Road, this is the latest from the Stravaigin team, who own the well-known West End pub/restaurant of the same name. Passing punters are attracted by its cool but lived-in looks - aqua walls, subtle lighting, squidgy leather sofas - and it certainly stands out from the crowd. Thankfully, its ship-shape and Bristol fashion doesn't lead to an overly-nautical theme, and photos of rigging, ferry-style seating and a ship's wheel are the only passing references.
There's also a wooden gantry stocking all the usuals, as well as some decent beers. So far, so familiar. But what sets the Liquid Ship apart becomes apparent in one corner of the tiny bar, which houses a deli-style array of jars containing sweets, kalamata olives and pickled vegetables, as well as a tiny "kitchen" serving hot sandwiches, salads and main courses.
For around £8 a head, customers are shown just what can be done in a small space with a bit of food flair. The concise but imaginative menu offers "wee bits and platters" (available all day, every day), "pieces" (panini) and more substantial meals - all lovingly prepared behind the bar, but looking and tasting as if they've come from a restaurant kitchen.
Start with Aussie bush tucker, which includes dukkah (a blend of nuts and spices) with balsamic-puddled olive oil, marinated olives & bread for £3.45; a Spanish platter with marinated manchego cheese and romesco (a garlicky sauce originating from the city of Tarragona), or something lighter, such as a Mexican crayfish cocktail or smoked trout, chickpea, chilli and sun-blushed tomato salad.
The paninis are similarly exotic, with a Ukrainian style arriving stuffed with smoked pork loin, cheese, beetroot and sauerkraut. The kitchen may be small but this doesn't stop the team concocting flavoursome mains either, such as spicy chorizo, chicken and chickpea stew (£6.25), a Stravaigin beef, Rioja and mushroom pie, served with winter coleslaw (£6.95), or a Liquid Ship curry, which changes each week.
Even the all-day pub breakfast isn't safe from a Liquid Ship makeover and is offered in a "cold" platter style, with croissants, oatcakes, apricot jam, smoked pork loin, chilli'd tomato chutney and coffee for £5.95.
Punters can wash the whole lot down with a real ale, wine of the month or a cocktail such as Bloody Queen Mary with chilli vodka, horseradish sauce and dry sherry.
PubChef Rating (out of 10)
Ambience 8, Value for money 9, Flavour factor 8, Overall impression 8.5
BEERS: Caledonian 80 Shilling and Deuchars IPA, Addlestone's cask-conditioned cider, bottled lagers including Budvar and Furstenberg.
MAIN COURSES: £3.45 to £6.95
WINES ON LIST: Six whites and six reds, one champagne, one cava and one rosé. Wines include a South African Zonnebloem Sauvignon Blanc and a Riojan Quintana Tempranillo.
ANOTHER THING: The pub has tapped into the office workers market with a takeaway menu that offers wraps, panini and foccacia, with fillings such as goat's cheese or pickled pumpkin, and Thai coconut and lentil soup.
