The Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, Glasgow

Over the weekend, myself and Niall were treated to a delightful weekend in the very lovely Glasgow, courtesy of the good people at Visit Scotland, as 2010 is the Scottish Year of Food and Drink.

Last Friday evening, following a short and stress-free flight over from Dublin, we made our way to Glasgow’s Carlton George Hotel, smack in the city centre just around the corner from Buchanan Street.

After enjoying a complimentary Scotch whiskey in our hotel room, we made our way to The Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, via a short trip to Hillhead from the city centre on the Glasgow Subway system.

Perhaps it could be said that The Ubiquitous Chip has become as much a part of the Glasgwegian landscape as the subway itself, albeit in an entirely more glamorous sense.

The Ubiquitous Chip have been the purveyors of some of the finest Scottish ingredients for the past 40 years, having been founded  by Ronnie Clydesdale back in 1971.  Clydesdale was ahead of his time through his championing of local produce as well as his insistence on environmentally sustainable and ethically farmed produce.

Since that time The Ubiquitous Chip has grown into a multi-faceted business, with the traditional restaurant having been joined by the more informal Brasserie, a Big Pub and a Wee Pub, as well as additional off-premises associated businesses, helping to insure The Ubiquitous Chip offers something for everyone.

The Courtyard at The Ubiquitous Chip

We walked into the beautiful naturally lit covered courtyard which is the entrance of the restaurant and were greeted by one of the team’s four managers Ciaran Gourley.  Ciaran led us to our table, underneath the vines and in the midst of all the bustling restaurant’s action, and told us a little more about The Ubiquitous Chip’s illustrious history.

The Ubiquitous Chip was given its name due to the fact of the glaring absence of chips on their menu, as founder Ronnie’s aim was to bring a bit more sophistication to the Glaswegian dining scene.

The restaurant began its life in another location and when owner Ronnie Clydesdale set about expanding, it was by a happy coincidence that he found the building on Ashton Lane which was once used as a stable for Clydesdale horses.  It’s a really impressive entrance to a beautiful room, which is split into two main sections, with a more traditional restaurant space to the right of the courtyard.

The Ubiquitous Chip was awarded with the Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year Scotland 2010 and the appetizer of  Seafood Bisque with a Ginger Mayo certainly helped to whet our appetites for what promised to be a special meal.

While we supped our Bisque appetizers, the in-house sommelier helped us match our wines to our chosen dishes.  The wine list is vast and for wine novices like ourselves, having a sommelier on hand to point us in the right grape direction was invaluable.  Have a look over here for a snippet of the wine list.

In addition to the sommelier’s assistance, we were treated extremely well by the large number of staff members working on the night.  Our main waitress happened to be from Newry and made sure that we were looked after at all times, leaving us wanting for nothing and feeling very comfortable in our surroundings.

For starters, I had to go for The Chip’s Own Venison Haggis with Mashed Potatoes, Carrot Crisp and Turnip Cream, made in the same way since 1971, with a vegetarian version available.  It was delish, with a beautifully spicy kick to it.

Niall went for the Duck and Shiitake Terrine with Puy Lentil Dahl and a Light Ginger and Chilli Piccalilli, also a winner and not least because of the stunning Ginger and Chilli Piccalilli.

For my main course, I went for the Aberdeen Angus Fillet Steak au Poivre with Potato Gratin, Cherry Tomatoes, Spinach and Wild Mushrooms, which unfortunately wasn’t as tender as I was expecting but thankfully lived up to my taste expectations.

For Niall’s main course, he had the Scrabster Landed Lyth with Herb Crust served with Lyonnaise Potatoes, Asparagus and Lemon Hollandaise.  Even though the Herb Crust was a little underwhelming, the fish itself was beautifully cooked and thoroughy enjoyed.

For dessert, I went for the delicious Raspberry Sorbet with Raspberry Jelly.

Although it was lovely, I suffered serious Dessert Envy upon a sample of Niall’s Oatmeal Ice Cream, which was just outrageously scrumptious, having the velvety texture of an ice-cream/creamy cake hybrid. Amazing.  And look!  The recipe is available on The Chip’s website!

We enjoyed a plate of petits fours with our well made Macchiatos at the end of the evening, a good two hours after we had first arrived.

All of this delectable food comes with a robust price tag of course but one that is fitting to the quality of food you receive.  The Ubiquitous Chip have a Two Courses with Appetiser for £34.95 and Three Courses with Appetiser coming in at £39.95. If you were to add a bottle of wine to the bill, that would add another £30 at least to your bill.

So, not exactly cheap, but remember that The Ubiquitous Chip also has a much more affordable Brasserie menu, a delicious looking Sunday Lunch Menu, as well as Bar Food if you just want to pop in for a lovely pint and a few nibbles  on your next visit to Glasgow.

The Ubiquitous Chip

12 Ashton Lane
Glasgow
Scotland
G12 8SJ

Categories: Blog Trips