Mini by name, not my nature. - The Mini Grill Review

Through lockdown everyone has their places they miss. That cocktail bar with the good vibe and not too expensive drinks. The coffee shop where the barista vaguely knows you from the zombie-like horde they get day in-day out. That one restaurant that does your favourite meal to eat out and whenever a friend asks you where to go for dinner you tell them “Oh, you need to try...”. It is the latter I am here for today. My favourite place to eat out is nestled in Glasgow's busy Bath Street, just up from the King's Theatre and next to the infamous Shanghai Shuffle. The Mini Grill. The clue is in the name; it definitely is Mini, but packs one hell of a punch. The restaurant started in the downstairs area before expanding into the spacious upstairs dining room. It is family owned and ran by two brothers Ryan and Brett Fox, the geniuses behind the food and front of house experience. They strive for the idea that when you come into the beautifully designed restaurant, you are family too. The boys are not afraid of hard work and the restaurant is a real labour of love as you'll find both of them with the rest of the team working as hard as they can to create the best dining experience they know possible. And what is better than coming home to somewhere that you are always comfortable and always welcome.

Front of house is very welcoming. The service is impeccable for such a busy restaurant. No request feels too big or too much. Whether you're there for a special occasion or the delectable Sunday lunch you will be well taken care of as will your stomach. You will leave with a full belly and possibly slightly tipsy from the expertly curated wine and drinks list.

Primarily a steakhouse this gem offers, in my opinion, the best steaks in Glasgow. I am a real carnivore and will order a steak in just about anywhere that will allow me to so trust me when I say these beautiful pieces of meat are well looked after. Ranging from a delicious 240g Hanger Steak to a whopping 1200g Tomahawk Steak; each piece of Aberdeen Black Angus Dry Aged Beef is prepared and cooked to absolute perfection. There are a range of sides offered with the steak dishes such as the simple Sea-salted Chips and delectable Haggis Stuffed Yorkshire Puddings. But I would need an entirely new piece for me to convey my love for all of them (which I might do, we'll see.) The Red Wine Bone Marrow Jus is to die for. I could bathe in this sauce. The Peppercorn Sauce is also outstanding but I cannot and will not have a meal from The Mini Grill that does not include this jus. It is simply heaven.

However, executive chef Brett and head chef Pete's talents - along with the kitchen team - do not only lie with steak. The restaurant's expertly designed menu offers a small amount of options which only means the maximum amount of quality goes into creating every dish. My other half is not a fan of steaks and so will order from the main section of the menu when eating at The Mini Grill and it is much to my enjoyment as well as I cannot let him finish a meal without snagging a bite of something as every dish offers a different experience. The vegetarian option of Wild Mushroom and Winter Black Truffle Risotto is enough to make any meat eater reconsider their options. It is so packed with flavour and the mushrooms offering that much needed bite for texture it is very easy to forget there is no meat in this dish. From the creaminess of the risotto another option on the menu is the Glasgow Burger. This is no ordinary burger. This sensational course is a 7oz beef burger on a Barrs Irn Bru bun on a bed of Haggis Wellington and St. Mungo's Braised Beef Cheek topped with a sweet and salty Buckfast Bacon Jam! Yeah, I know. How is that even a sentence?! But trust me friends if you try any new burger this year make it this one and thank me later.

The beautiful range of starters and desserts cannot and should not be missed. Including the silky smooth and tasty Chicken Liver Parfait, the spicy and flavourful Shredded Duck Breast Dim Sum and delicate, perfectly Caramelised King Scallops with crispy salty pancetta. Each of these small plates pack the appropriate punch and are very well portioned giving you a phenomenal first taste of what these talented chefs have to offer but not filling you too much before taking on the brilliant main course of your choice. They tease you with delectable brilliance before knocking your socks off with the aptly named main event. The stunning desserts offer the perfect end to a delicious meal with a range that suits all tastes. From the rich creamy Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Delice, to the fluffy cloud of Raspberry Cranachan Soufflé and not forgetting the sweet velvety Apple Crumble Panna Cotta which is served with the most beautiful sharp, torte Bramley Apple Sorbet which you wish you could buy by the bucket to take home. The vanilla is complimented perfectly by the sorbet with the sweet mini toffee apple. Excellent texture is added by the cinnamon crumble and apple crisp.

The Mini Grill is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're taking friends or family in the hopes to show off or your just looking for some good grub in a stunning surrounding where you know you'll be taken care of and can dress up a bit. Make The Mini Grill your first visit after lockdown, I promise you won't regret it. And if you find you can't wait till then, don't worry. The Mini Grill is offering deliveries throughout lockdown to almost everywhere in Glasgow and potentially slightly beyond. The food comes packed very well and travels well. I don't live exactly local to the restaurant and every meal I've had delivered has arrived piping hot and in perfect restaurant condition. It is delivered safely and Covid friendly and still with that same unmistakeable Mini Grill customer service. The boys should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished from the “petite” downstairs Bath Street bar to the impeccable restaurateurs they have become.