These are 12 of the most famous chefs to ever cook in Glasgow restaurants
Glasgow is a culinary melting pot - you can have French pastries for breakfast, Japanese Sushi for lunch, and Italian pasta for dinner - which is only possible thanks to the fine chefs of our city.
We have an eclectic mix of chefs in Glasgow that craft all kinds of different dishes from all over the world. In this article we wanted to shine a spotlight on the best-known of these innovative artists whose culinary prowess is known far beyond our city limits.
These kitchen icons helped make Glasgow’s food scene what it is today - bringing attention to the city and inspiring Glaswegians to test their own skills in the kitchen.
Interested in finding out the favourite Glasgow food spots from celebrity chefs? Check out our article on the best restaurants recommended by some of the world’s most famous chefs.
From the international superstar chef Gordon Ramsay to charismatic local legends like Graeme Cheevers - whether they were born and raised in the city, or found their fame in kitchens around Glasgow, here’s eight of the biggest names in Glasgow’s culinary world.
These kitchen icons helped make Glasgow’s food scene what it is today - bringing attention to the city and inspiring Glaswegians to test their own skills in the kitchen.
5. Six by Nico chef Nico Simeone
Six by Nico took the culinary world by storm when it was launched by Italian-Glaswegian Nico Simeone in 2017 - now there’s Six by Nico restaurants in over a dozen sites across the UK - with talks of opening a branch in Dubai soon. The chefs early career included stints at Michelin starred Number One at Balmoral, where he was awarded Young Scottish Seafood Chef of the Year award. Nico also trained with the talented team at Brian Maule’s acclaimed Chardon d’Or right here in Glasgow.
6. Lorna McNee
Lorna McNee is a Glasgow chef with extraordinary abilities, bouncing from achievement to achievement. Undertaking her work experience as a sous-chef at the Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles Hotel - she won Game Chef of the Year in 2016 and National Scottish Chef of the Year in 2017. In August 2020 she became head chef of Cail Bruich on Great Western Road - in January 2021. A few short months later the West End restaurant won a Michelin star in January 2021 - the first star awarded in Glasgow in 18 years. Photo: submit
7. Brian Maule
Brian Maule ran what was considered by many as Glasgow’s best restaurant, Chardon d’Or, for 22 years before announcing their closure last month, July 2023. Maule brought high-level dining to Glasgow in 2001 - after refining his craft as head chef of the two Michelin Starred Le Gavroche in London working alongside culinary legends Michel and Albert Roux. Brian is the gold-standard for many Glaswegian chefs, but it’s currently unclear where the celebrity chef will go next.
8. Graeme Cheevers
Glaswegian chef Graeme Cheevers cut his teeth in Singapore and New York before coming home to work as Head Chef with Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond. There he retained a Michelin Star at the restaurant for five years before winning another star at the Isle of Erika Hotel in 2018 - two years later in 2020 he nabbed the Island luxury hotel restaurant another star. Cheevers struck out in his own following the Covid-19 pandemic with Unalome in Finnieston, which has already become a fast-favourite of Glaswegians and further afield foodies. Photo: DMcCallum
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.