Restaurant Review: westend spot hits the right notes

Situated on Ashton Lane, it is a place which doesn’t seem overly commercialised, channeling the spirit of the westend as it was, not as it has become.

In a bid to keep itself fresh and continue to compete with the mega powers alongside in Ashton Lane, the Belgian singer-inspired bar introduced a new menu recently.

Although I never tried the old one, I can’t help but feel they made the right decision, as the choice from the new menu is excellent.

From bar bites to some more adventurous dishes, the lane eatery ticks an awful lot of boxes.

Crispy baby squid with roast garlic aioli was my pick of the starters, and it was incredibly moreish — I could have easily polished off another portion there and then.

For main I resisted my temptation of more traditional pub food of burgers and fish and chips — but I soon began to regret my decision as I saw them pass by again and again.

Service was quite slow (although we arrived just minutes after two large tables, so it would be fair to give Brel the benefit of the doubt) so I had second guessed my order a number of times by the time my food eventually arrived.

However, when it was served, I knew I’d made the right decision. The slow cooked brisket of beef, seared skirt steak, pancetta and dauphinoise potatoes I would recommend to anyone.

As good as my main was, they saved the best for last. While I detest the hyperbole of food being “to die for”, I would certainly suffer a mild injury for another piece of Brel’s pecan pie.

Beyond the food, the pub boasts an impressive look, feel and beer list. I normally steer clear of Byres Road these days, but an evening at Brel makes me think twice.

Rating: 8/10

Brel

Ashton Lane

Hillhead

G12 8SJ

Tel: 0141 342 4966