Where to go for food in Glasgow this Easter

For those beyond the age of egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, Easter Sunday is all about the roast. Get yourself down to The Duke’s Umbrella, where you can feast on your choice of beef, chicken or venison, alongside Yorkshire pudding, duck fat potatoes, charcoal-blackened carrot, sautéed greens, watercress and red wine gravy. It’s fancier than your average pub, with candles, curios, fringed lamps and lavish gilt-finished artworks. Indeed the decor has a touch of the Peaky Blinders about it — lots of turn of the (20th) century and Art Deco era touches. The Duke’s Umbrella often has live music sets for background and has become a city gathering point for the latest pub game revival craze – chess.

If you’d prefer your Sunday lunch to be a little less conventional, why not opt for a Mexican meal. The school holidays can place a drain on your bank account, so saving wherever possible will make your money go further this Easter. And Bibi’s is here to help, with free meals for little ones on Sundays. The children’s menu is healthy and nutritious but tasty, and the team provide colouring pages and games to keep boredom at bay, while you indulge in a margarita or two. Great value Early Bird menus are also available making this Partick-based cantina a real winner on value. Plus, with a homey atmosphere and colourful, cheery decor, Bibi’s is a winner for anyone who loves a tasty taco or brilliant burrito.

As the weather begins to improve at this time of year (April showers notwithstanding), it’s good to get out into nature, especially if you reside in one of the more built-up parts of the city. Hop on the 60A bus, or the train, to Milngavie. Here you can stock up on fresh air with a walk beside the reservoir, and explore the country parkland of Mugdock with its castle. Then pop into the centre and discover this 18th century former coaching inn, found close to the West Highland Way. Garvie & Co. caters to everything, from a quick coffee to a fancy afternoon tea, or a full formal dinner. And there’s some outdoor seating to watch the world go by, too. The Easter weekend is a great excuse to stray beyond your usual stomping ground and sample places such as this, just outside of the city.

Have an Easter weekend lunch out with all the fam or just with your partner. This restaurant celebrates two decades of service and boasts some of the best and most consistently glowing reviews in town. The team’s super friendly, offering a personalised approach to service and scrummy scran including fish, seafood, Scottish beef and lamb, fowl and game. Its menu changes frequently, in line with the seasons and holidays, so if you want a meal you won’t get another time of year, book your place. And do book. Fanny’s enduring popularity ensures its relatively small dining room fills up ahead of time. The space, on the strip in Finnieston, has a cosy retro feel and can cater for private dining, should you wish to make your Easter gathering an occasion to remember.

Italian food is evergreen. But Amore in Merchant City often serves up a special menu in honour of Easter, from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. The range of traditional Italian fare is much larger than usually found on set menus, with all the classic favourites, alongside house specials, plus a few Anglicised and international options. Diners are sure of a warm welcome and friendly ambience at Amore.

Entertainment and dining all rolled into one, the family can watch the food being prepared on the flames by the chefs at Sapporo Teppanyaki in the Merchant City. The restaurant serves authentic Japanese food with a Western twist. Those under 10 can order a soft drink along with their choice of yakisoba noodles with vegetables or chicken, Japanese teppanyaki egg noodles with chicken and vegetables, chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, vegetable tempura or chicken kara-age. Sapporo’s set menus and sushi platters serve as a sociable way for the family to share plates and bond while trying new flavours together, or everyone can order their own separate a la carte dishes.

If April showers arrive during the Easter hols, you’ll need a wet weather plan. And the Fort is it. All undercover, you can shop, watch movies, take part in egg hunts and other kid-friendly activities — and of course, eat. TGI Fridays is one of the residents and loved by families. Look out for special offers and freebies from the brand (previous years have included treats like free chocolate eggs with childrens’ meals). Baby food is complimentary here and young diners can opt for Little League (smaller version of main menu items), or Major League versions of Fridays Favourites. Both come with at least one portion of their five a day. Pretty much everything on this US-style menu is going to please your little ones and there are plenty of vegan and low sugar options as well.

Located on the Finnieston Strip in Glasgow, Strip Joint’s ideally placed just a five minute walk from the SSE Hydro Arena, The SEC Events Campus and The Armadillo. It’s also just a short 10 minute walk from the SWG3 Arts Venue Site. The venue has Innis & Gunn lager fresh from the tank, with a huge range of beers and spirits from around the globe, so you will find something for every taste. The cocktails are renowned as being affordable, but more importantly they’re delicious! Strip Joint is family-friendly and the ‘Kids Make Your Own Pizza’ is a huge hit. Kids select toppings and top the pizza right at the table before they’re whisked off to the kitchen and into the oven. The kids’ faces when their creation returns to the table is always a picture.