Eating out: festive fine dining for Urbanites

The bar and brasserie launched some new additions to the menu last week — and so your intrepid reviewer went along, cocktail in hand, to sample some winter warmers.

Packed to the rafters, the event was certainly popular — hinting at good things to come.

The feature table was laden with goodies; some gone in seconds (journalists and bloggers alike aren’t shy when it comes to grub).

Fish goujons were particularly popular, and (when I finally nabbed a bit), I could see why; crisp coating, flaky fish and the perfect tartare sauce.

Marrbury smoked salmon with capers was, predicatably, very good, a duck confit salad with roast beetroot, green beans and grain mustard hit the spot too, and a roquefort and granny smith salad received high praise from the other half (although a little strong for my taste).

On then to miniatures from the new menu, and a fishcake with red pepper and black bean salsa was plump, fishy and full of flavour. Sashimi of sea bass and salmon — accompanied by a sweet and sticky teriyaki — was wonderful too, but the Scotch beef burger was a little dry and hard to swallow (even in mini form).

Desserts were snaffled just as fast, but I managed to lay claim to a chocolate and pecan brownie (heavenly — the best of the bunch), lemon posset (a little too tangy for me, but refreshing) and banana ice cream with rum butterscotch and crushed meringue (a new favourite).

The food at Urban is much like the decor; it’s elegant for the most part, without trying too hard — instead, the focus lies on high quality ingredients without much of a fuss.

Situated seconds from Buchanan Street shops, it’s a great option for a post-Christmas shopping nibble, not to mention festive parties — if you happen to spot me there again, mine’s another Cosmopolitan.

Rating: 8/10

Urban Bar and Brasserie

23-25 St Vincent Place

Glasgow

G1 2DT

Tel: 0141 248 5636