Emma Mykytyn Bramble Glasgow Review: Creative Brunch on Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow’s Southside certainly isn’t short of good places for breakfast and brunch, but Bramble on Pollokshaws Road has developed a loyal following with its mix of brunch classics and more adventurous dishes.
Located at 924 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G41 2ET, Bramble is a relaxed neighbourhood café serving breakfast, brunch, cakes, tea and coffee. It currently opens from 9am until 4pm seven days a week and operates on a walk-in basis.
We visited to see whether Bramble deserves a place among the best brunch spots in Glasgow Southside, ordering scrambled egg on sourdough, the Mexy Benedict and Cajun corn toast, alongside an iced Spanish latte and a traditional pot of tea.
Brunch at Bramble Glasgow
The menu at Bramble is one of its biggest attractions. There are familiar breakfast favourites if you fancy something straightforward, but there are also plenty of dishes which move beyond the standard avocado toast and fry-up territory.
That makes it a particularly good option if you are looking for an interesting brunch in Shawlands and Glasgow Southside rather than simply eggs and toast.
Scrambled egg on sourdough
Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best test of a brunch café.
The scrambled egg on sourdough kept things uncomplicated. Soft scrambled egg piled onto two toasted slices of Freedom Bakery sourdough. This is a comforting breakfast and is an ideal choice if some of the larger dishes on the menu sound a little too ambitious first thing in the morning.
Good sourdough gives the dish the texture it needs, with the crisp toast contrasting against the soft egg.
It might not be the showiest plate on the menu, but sometimes a simple plate of scrambled eggs and toast is exactly what you want.
Mexy Benedict at Bramble
For something with a little more attitude, there is the Mexy Benedict.
This is Bramble’s Mexican-inspired take on eggs benedict.
It is the sort of dish that explains why Bramble is more interesting than your average breakfast café.
Instead of simply repeating the usual combination of poached eggs, muffin and hollandaise, the Mexy Benedict brings extra spice and richness to the plate.
If you enjoy eggs Benedict but fancy something a bit different, this is one of the dishes we would look towards when deciding what to order at Bramble Glasgow. Layers of flavour.
Cajun corn toast
Our most eye-catching choice was the Cajun corn toast.
This is brunch with absolutely no intention of being boring.
Cheesy toasted sourdough topped with Cajun creamed corn, house-pickled onions and poached eggs, finished with chorizo crumb, there is a vegetarian alternative available and corn ribs alongside.
There is a lot going on, but that is precisely why I ordered it.
The sweetness of corn works particularly well with Cajun seasoning, while the pickled onion brings acidity to cut through the richer creamy and cheesy elements. The poached eggs turn it into a substantial brunch rather than simply fancy toast.
Then there are the corn ribs, because apparently one form of corn simply wasn’t enough.
Of the dishes we tried, this is the one to order if you are looking for something a little different from the usual Glasgow brunch menu.
Iced Spanish latte
To drink, I tried the iced Spanish latte. Sweet, creamy iced coffee works particularly well alongside the spicier dishes on the menu, especially on one of those rare Glasgow days when an iced drink actually feels appropriate.
It is also a welcome change from automatically ordering the usual flat white or cappuccino.
Whilst Mark shared a pot of tea. There is something pleasing about a proper pot of tea with brunch, particularly when you want to sit for a while rather than grab a coffee and disappear.
With large brunch dishes competing for attention, tea might not be the headline act at Bramble, but sometimes you just want a decent brew alongside your breakfast.
What is Bramble on Pollokshaws Road like?
Bramble feels very much like a Glasgow Southside neighbourhood brunch café rather than somewhere created solely for social media.
The food photographs well, certainly, but there is substance behind it. The menu mixes dependable breakfast staples with dishes which make you stop and read the description twice.
You can visit for straightforward scrambled egg and sourdough, while the person sitting opposite can work their way through a plate of Cajun creamed corn, poached eggs, chorizo crumb and corn ribs.
Bramble is also currently advertised as dog friendly, another useful plus for anyone looking for a dog-friendly brunch cafe in Glasgow Southside.
Is Bramble Glasgow worth visiting?
For us, yes. Bramble manages to cover both sides of the brunch divide.
If you prefer simple breakfast food, there are dishes such as scrambled egg on sourdough. If your idea of brunch involves trying something you probably wouldn’t make at home, dishes such as the Mexy Benedict and Cajun corn toast provide plenty of interest.
The Cajun corn toast was particularly memorable, taking something as humble as sweetcorn and turning it into a full-on brunch dish.
Add an iced Spanish latte, a pot of tea and the relaxed Southside setting, and Bramble is an easy café to recommend when someone asks us where to go for brunch in Glasgow.
With so much competition around Shawlands and the wider Southside, standing out isn’t easy. Bramble does it by keeping familiar brunch favourites on the menu while being willing to have a bit of fun with them.
And really, isn’t that what brunch should be about?
Bramble Glasgow, useful information
Where: Bramble, 924 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2ET
Area: Glasgow Southside
Food: Breakfast, brunch and lunch
Opening hours: Currently 9am–4pm daily
Booking: Walk-ins only
Dog friendly: Yes
Opening hours and menu dishes can change, so check Bramble’s social media before making a special journey.
FAQ
Where is Bramble in Glasgow?
Bramble is at 924 Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow’s Southside, close to the Shawlands area.
Can you book Bramble Glasgow?
Bramble currently advertises itself as walk-in only, so you don’t need to make a reservation. They do have a waiting list in operation.
Is Bramble Glasgow dog friendly?
Yes, Bramble currently welcomes dogs and you can order off their own doggy menu
What should I order at Bramble Glasgow?
From our visit, the Cajun corn toast and Mexy Benedict are the dishes to investigate if you want something more unusual, while scrambled egg on sourdough is a good choice for a simple breakfast.
