Glasgow's second Michelin starred restaurant as of 2022 Guide announcement

This was a very enjoyable first time visit. The head chef (Graeme Chivers) formerly worked at Restaurant Martin Wishart at Loch Lomund which has still left an impression on me. Unalome (a Budhist symbol representing a path to enlightenment) takes influence from Japanese cooking within its mainly British produce and modern style and has a comfortable atmosphere. I saw at least two tables of diners on their own reading books during their lunch which painted the hospitable and comfortable atmosphere of this restaurant nicely in my eyes. Moreover, the canapes and dishes on the very reasonable set 3 course lunch menu of £38 per person revealed flavour combinations that worked well with good execution and were a simple pleasure to have. There is simply no reason to not try here and I recommend thoroughly seeing for yourself.

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Unalome is a welcome new addition to the Michelin starred family scene, having opened its doors in June 2021 and gaining its star in 2022. The restaurant’s head chef, Graham, previously worked in Singapore, and his international experience comes through in his dishes. As a member of the Luxury Restaurant Guide, this is included for a complimentary glass of sparkling wine for diners and their guests (applicable days) which is always nice to enjoy as was the case here.

Canapés of beetroot meringue with goat’s cheese had a good balance of sweetness of the meringue and the tanginess of the cheese. The cheese gougere with truffle was equally impressive, with a lovely texture and gentle truffle flavour.

The steamed brioche buns with venison yuzu gel and chilli were another canapé highlight, offering a unique twist on traditional bao buns. The mackerel crudo with beetroot, horseradish, and oscietra caviar was a refreshing and flavourful seafood dish. Always lovely to have snacks that have had a lot of effort in the preparation for these.

Moving on to the dishes, the Jerusalem artichoke with wild garlic emulsion and parmesan foam was a vegetarian standout. The cured sea bream with fermented kohlrabi was also a very enjoyable and well-executed dish.

For meat lovers, the lamb with burnt aubergine purée, pickled cucumber, mint yoghurt, mint sauce, and barbecued leeks was a little saucy but the combination of flavors worked really well. The stonebass with prawn farci, saffron potato, langoustine bisque, and herb emulsion was another standout dish with a lovely balance of flavours.

To end the meal, the set lemon cream with vanilla ice cream and earl grey was a light and refreshing dessert, while the caramelised white chocolate parfait with Alphonso mango purée, marshmallow citrus ice cream, and almond tuile was a more decadent and indulgent option.

Both myself and my guest enjoyed these dishes and overall, Unalome is a restaurant worth visiting for its style of cooking and well-executed dishes, as well as its attentive service and inviting atmosphere.

Food Grade: 80%