Review: Two Figs, Byres Road, Glasgow *CLOSED*

 

two figs 5 and 9 Byres Road Glasgow Outside

The Two Figs is a place we’ve known about since it opened but until now hadn’t had the opportunity to dine there.

We visited on a Tuesday night to discover that they are currently running an “around the world in 80 burgers” promotion. Each Tuesday a themed burger from a different place around the world is on offer for £8.95 and that includes a beer from the same region too (and how could we pass up an offer like that?)!

To begin…

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow bread olives oil balsamic

A variety of plump olives in a ramekin, 4 slices of bread with (spreadable!) butter and balsamic in olive oil.

Then cocktails

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow cocktailtwo figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow cocktail

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow cocktail

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow calamari and chipotle mayo
calamari and chipotle mayo

The calamari was lovely and not chewy or rubbery. It came with a slice of chilli and a lemon wedge, which is so often a simple omission.

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow salmon and crab fishcake
Salmon and crab fishcake

The fishcake. 2 huge fishcakes with plenty of fish in the filling.

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow slow cooked ribs in chilli and bourbon molasses
slow cooked ribs in chilli and bourbon molasses

The ribs were lovely and sticky (and messy!). Cooked just as we’d hoped – meat melting off the bone, with red chillies and spring onion for added flavour and a kick.

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow sri lankan curry
two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow sri lankan curry

Sri Lankan veg curry, but ordered with a chicken skewer. A big plentiful portion, too big to finish in fact, a great amount of veg and rice. A nice touch is that you can create your own combination of meaty skewers.

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow schawarma and halloumi
two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow schawarma and halloumi

 The Schwarma and Halloumi

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow polish burger
two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow polish burger

As mentioned above, on Tuesday’s there is an “around the world in 80 burgers” promotion and on this night the country of choice was Poland. The burger was a good size, meaty and was topped with Polish sausage and red cabbage. Served alongside decent chips and side salad, it also came with a bottle of Tyskie, which for £8.95 is a bargain!

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow sticky figgy pudding
Sticky Figgy Pudding

The Sticky figgy pudding, think sticky toffee pudding but take away the dates and replace with figs. We love figs and sticky toffee pudding so were really looking forwards to this but sadly it was a a bit hard and definitely not as soft, moist or as gooey as we’d have liked it to be.

two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow honeycombe cheesecake - cheesecake of the week
two figs 5 and 9 byres road glasgow honeycombe cheesecake – cheesecake of the week

The Honeycomb cheesecake had a soft consistency somewhere between ice-cream and Brie or Camembert, cheesy yes, a real cheesecake with noticeable vanilla and a firm crumbly biscuit base, a great cheesecake but I’d have liked more honeycomb!

Toilet check, ladies clean and all good however the gents toilet has a tap which fires out water (so be careful!) and one of those hand dryers where your fingers need to be almost touch the dryer for it to stay on.

Overall, the 2 Figs undersells itself, we hadn’t been before and the website looks more like something a cafe would have, it doesn’t give any indication of the late night cosiness with cocktails and food quality which is a bit more sophisticated than at first glance and there are novelties on the menu, a Wasabi Bloody Mary for example? There’s also a good selection of cocktails, some of which have 4 shots for only £6.30, and the spirits on offer are all good quality. We loved the themed burger and will be back again soon to try another country…

The Two Figs also does a lunch menu a mere £5 Monday – Friday. See the menu here

The Two Figs on Urbanspoon

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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