Emma Mykytyn Bistro Eleven Fifty Five: Seasonal Dining on Argyle Street, Glasgow
Looking for a restaurant in Finnieston for a special dinner, pre-theatre meal or relaxed lunch in Glasgow? Bistro Eleven Fifty Five on Argyle Street is one of the most talked-about restaurants in Finnieston, bringing a smart neighbourhood bistro feel to one of Glasgow’s best food streets. What was The Gannet for 12 years has morphed into a more relaxed restaurant with a soundtrack to match, with the likes of Orange Juice, BRMC and Goldfrapp playing during our visit.
Located at 1155 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB, the aptly named restaurant sits in the heart of Glasgow’s West End dining strip, close to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the SEC, and the OVO Hydro. It’s a strong choice if you are searching for a restaurant near the OVO Hydro or SEC to tie in with an event.
Bistro Eleven Fifty Five Glasgow Review
Eleven Fifty Five feels like the kind of restaurant Finnieston does so well: confident, polished and ingredient-led, but still warm enough to feel like somewhere you would happily linger over another glass of wine.
The cooking is seasonal, produce-focused and rooted in quality ingredients, with thoughtful touches that make the menu feel more interesting than a standard neighbourhood restaurant. This is not a place trying to shout. It is the sort of restaurant where the details do the work: good bread, delicious starters, proper sauces and carefully chosen mains.
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What is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five like?
Expect a modern bistro menu with plenty of comfort, but also enough technique to keep things exciting. The current à la carte menu includes dishes such as beef tartare with caramelised bone marrow, leek vinaigrette with Isle of Mull Royale, heritage beetroot and radish with almond cream, cured halibut, whole plaice on the bone, lamb rump and shoulder, and a Himalayan salt-aged ribeye.
It is a menu built for people who like proper cooking: sauces, texture, seasoning and a sense of seasonality. It also works well for sharing a few bites before moving on to starters and mains, especially if you are visiting with someone who enjoys ordering a little bit of everything.
What to order at Eleven Fifty Five
There are four ‘bites’ items for snacking on while you settle in with a drink. We had both bread options – wheaten and milk bread with butter. Two perfectly browned milk bread buns alongside a wheaten loaf with a dark, sweet and salty crust served with perfectly spreadable butter.
To wash down our bread, Mark had a glass of Peter Jakob Kuhn Riesling 2024, a pale golden, dry Riesling with lemon and peach flavours and a syrupy mouthfeel; while I had an Eleven Fifty Five Martini made with gin and an onion garnish.
Another snack item, 0ysters, soon followed. These are available in a trio of styles – natural, Vietnamese, and hot sauce. We had the Vietnamese style with the fish sauce, mirin, crispy shallots and coriander shoots, which brought a smile to Mark’s face.
For starters, the beef tartare with caramelised bone marrow, parsley, pickled shallots and sourdough crisps arrived on three separate plates: the delicate tartare itself, the bone marrow, and the crisps. It also came with a dinky spoon to extract the rich “meat butter” from the bone. While some tartares are spicy, this had more of a pickled/vinegar flavour.
The glazed quail with pickled vegetables and pomegranate arrived with an enticing aroma, browned skin and a colourful topping of pomegranate and chives. The meat was tender and not too gamey, with the pomegranate providing a welcome tart flavour.
Pickled herring, horseradish ice cream and Greenheart brassica leaves, my Nordic genes loved this, especially with the added zing from the creamy horseradish ice cream. This was also the most colourful dish of the evening and looked like something you might see in an art gallery. It wasn’t really a still life though, as it was devoured quickly!
For mains, the John Dory with chicken and peppercorn sauce is exactly the sort of bistro dish we love to see: simple on paper, but all about quality and execution. Expertly cooked fish, and plenty of it in a ‘chicken’ sauce with loads of fiery peppercorns.
The lamb rump and shoulder with aubergine, poached summer vegetables, anchovies and crisp capers brings a heartier option. For anyone who loves lamb, the best way to describe this was that it was really lamby lamb, you know what we mean? The combination of anchovies with lamb was new to us, but this is a thing, as we discovered. The anchovies didn’t have much of a fishy taste, instead they were there to impart a savoury umami flavour.
Sides of Denburn Farm asparagus with a lemon emulsion, deliciously tender asparagus drizzled with a tart lemon. Simple and perfect. I am a huge asparagus fan but please can we get more white asparagus on British menus!
Pommes puree, as expected with Peter’s (chef and co-owner) Irish heritage, this did not disappoint – smooth and buttery. The only problem is that one bowl simply isn’t enough (when we come back we will order one each for sure)!
Not the most photogenic of sides: home-grown wild mushrooms (does that actually mean they are tame?!) in a wild garlic sauce. You can see these mushrooms being grown on site – have a nosey as you go to the toilets downstairs. These oyster mushrooms were meaty, garlicky and surprisingly moreish.
And then it was time for dessert, with options such as a chocolate bar with praline, caramel, dark chocolate and Guinness ice cream. This chocolate bar itself was smooth and creamy, but the Guinness ice cream was like the head on a pint in pudding form, perfectly cutting through the rich, thick chocolate bar.
Last but not least, mille-feuille with white chocolate, coffee and chocolate ice cream, a dainty one, especially in comparison to the chocolate bar. Smooth chocolate ice cream and a light end to the meal.
Final verdict: is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five worth booking?
Yes. Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is a strong addition to the Finnieston restaurant scene and a great choice if you are looking for seasonal cooking, polished service and a proper bistro feel in Glasgow. The menu has enough familiar comfort to be welcoming, but enough interest to make it feel like a treat.
Book it for a relaxed lunch, a pre-theatre meal before the Hydro, or a full dinner when you want somewhere stylish but not stuffy. In a part of Glasgow already packed with good places to eat, Eleven Fifty Five gives Finnieston another very good reason to visit.
Lunch and pre-theatre menu in Finnieston
One of the best ways to enjoy Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is through the lunch and early evening menu. This makes it a good-value option for anyone looking for a pre-theatre restaurant in Finnieston, or a lunch near Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Who is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five best for?
Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is great for date nights, catch-ups with food-loving friends, special lunches, relaxed celebrations and anyone looking for a seasonal restaurant in Finnieston, Glasgow. It has enough polish for an occasion, but the bistro feel keeps it from becoming too formal, and the music is good too.
Bistro Eleven Fifty Five booking details
Address: 1155 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB
Website: bistroelevenfiftyfive.com
Book online: Make a reservation at Eleven Fifty Five
Opening / service times: Dinner is currently listed Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm, with lunch Wednesday to Saturday from 12 noon to 2.30pm. Always check directly before travelling, especially around holidays or special events.
Google Map: Bistro Eleven Fifty Five, Finnieston Glasgow
Open Bistro Eleven Fifty Five in Google Maps
How to get to Bistro Eleven Fifty Five
Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is on Argyle Street in Finnieston, one of Glasgow’s best areas for restaurants, bars and cafés. It is handy for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove Park, the SEC, OVO Hydro and The Clydeside Distillery.
If travelling by train, Exhibition Centre station is the closest railway station. From Glasgow city centre, it is also easy to reach by taxi, bus or on foot if you are already around the West End, Charing Cross or Kelvingrove.
FAQs about Bistro Eleven Fifty Five Glasgow
Where is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five?
Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is at 1155 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB.
Do you need to book Eleven Fifty Five?
Booking is recommended, especially for dinner and weekends. Tables can be reserved through the official Eleven Fifty Five website.
Is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five good for pre-theatre dining?
Yes, Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is a good option before a show, gig or event at the OVO Hydro, SEC or nearby venues.
What kind of food does Eleven Fifty Five serve?
Eleven Fifty Five serves modern bistro cooking with seasonal ingredients, Scottish produce, seafood, meat dishes, vegetable-led plates, desserts, wine and cocktails.
Is Bistro Eleven Fifty Five near the OVO Hydro?
Yes, Bistro Eleven Fifty Five is in Finnieston, making it a handy restaurant choice before events at the OVO Hydro or SEC.
