I absolutely love Greece, having spent a fair few summers in the past gracing them with my presence. Greek food is just so gorgeous and you never feel guilty, no matter what you eat!
Plato is a beautiful restaurant in Bothwell (on the outskirts of Glasgow) which fully embodies the beauty and simplicity of Greek dining. The restaurant has a shabby-chic beach feel and the food is just to die for.
This blog post is based on two visits because the first time I’d battered into my Mousaka without taking a picture first – the ultimate blogger fail! I used it as an excuse to go back and eat more food so all’s we’ll that ends well!
Aubergine Roulade
This was so rich and luxurious! The aubergines are ‘stuffed’ – effectively rolled round meatballs made from minced beef, onions, sun-dried tomatoes and Greek herbs and it’s served in rich a tomato sauce. Total comfort food!
Scottish Mussels in Cream Sauce
I can’t resist good old Scottish Mussels when I see them on a menu! The mussels are cooked in a Greek twist on the Marinière style – with Ouzo replacing white wine to be cooked with garlic, onions and cream. For that extra Greek lunch they were topped with feta cheese. Absolutely gorgeous! My last experience of Ouzo was when I was 19 and taking shots of the stuff, so I’m happy to enjoy Ouzo responsibly for the first time in my life!
Drunken Mezze
This dish was a mixture of Siglino & Cretan sausages which were slow cooked with red wine, herbs, tomato & peppers. The mixture was very rich and as much as I liked it, I wouldn’t order it as I find such sausage-heavy dishes like this hard to eat a lot of. I really enjoyed a taste of it though!
Prawn Saganaki
Now THIS is my ideal starter! Also very rich, but rich in the addictive tasty sense! Tiger prawns and peppers were cooked in a rich and herby tomato & Ouzo sauce, topped with feta cheese – and I love feta so much! Luckily it was served with garlic bread so I could mop up every single drop of that sauce!
Pork Souvlaki
The souvlaki is available with other meats but we ordered the pork tenderloin version. The meat is cooked on a skewer with peppers and is marinated with Greek herbs and extra virgin olive oil. The beautiful dish is served with a warmed pitta, chips, tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and olives. A wonderfully fresh mix of flavours and textures for you to experiment with!
Moussaka
I remember trying moussaka for the first time in Corfu when I was 17 and just falling in love with it. It’s essentially Greek lasagne with layers of beef and lamb mince, aubergine (I am so obsessed with aubergine these days!) and potato in a rich tomato sauce. This is all lovingly topped with béchamel sauce and Kefalotyri cheese and oven baked to perfection. A hearty Greek classic which is guaranteed to burn my tongue because I can’t wait to eat it!
Seafood Linguini
This was better than any pasta I’ve ever eaten from any Italian restaurant! And I don’t hesitate to say that because this was seriously good. The linguini pasta is cooked perfectly and is laced with with jumbo prawns, calamari, clams, scallops and mussels in a tomato & Ouzo lobster bisque with a touch of garlic and chilli. Thanks to the mussel shortage (due to the hot weather we’ve had this summer) the hen had to swap in smoked mussels – which I personally found delicious! It also resulted in less shells for me to deal with so it was a win win!
Halloumi Fries
If you’re looking for the best halloumi fries then just stop looking because here they are. I’ve found halloumi fries totally overrated for a long time, but these ones actually make me realise what I’m missing! They’re than anywhere I’ve tried in Glasgow. That’s a fact. They taste amazing on their own but absolutely outrageously good with their tzatziki which I ordered an helping of.
French Martini – vodka, crème de mûre & pineapple juice.
Brockman’s Bramble – Brockman’s gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, crème de mûre, and crushed ice
Very Berry Martini – Boë gin, Brockman’s gin, pineapple & lemon juices, sugar syrup & crème de mûre
This place is an all-rounder – truly lovely staff, amazing food and a a beautiful restaurant. After a meal fit for royalty and a few rounds of cocktails, we set off home – full and happy. I almost didn’t need to write this blog post because I’ve told everyone from my family to my hairdresser and a woman serving me in ALDI about this place. Of all the places I e recommended, this is one I’d urge you to try out!
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Plato Bar & Restaurant, 27 Main Street, Bothwell, G71 8RD
01698 853016
@PlatoBothwell
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