CHEF Graeme Cheevers will open Unalome restaurant in the West End, taking over where The Sisters once was on Kelvingrove Street. The declared aim is to achieve the city’s first Michelin star in almost 17 years. The dining room and kitchen are currently undergoing an extensive refit with a launch planned for early 2021.

Graeme worked for Geoffrey Smeddle at The Peat Inn before moving on to Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond, becoming head chef and retaining the restaurant’s Michelin star. He took over as head chef at the Isle of Eriska hotel in 2018 and was awarded a star in the Michelin Guide 2020. With his latest move, the stage is now set for Unalome by Graeme Cheevers to become one of the city’s top dining destinations.

You can expect hyper-seasonal menus that will change weekly, featuring the best of local and international produce. The restaurant will feature a distinctive chef’s table dining experience directly overlooking the kitchen.

On the announcement of his new venture, Graeme said: “There is nowhere else I would rather launch my own restaurant than in my home city of Glasgow. It is scary going solo, but I feel like I’m now at a point in my career where I’m ready and I have the confidence and experience to take it forward and make it a success.

“Unalome will be a dining experience unlike anything else you’ll find in the city. But, it will also be accessible and relaxed so that everyone can come and enjoy it. I don’t want it to be an occasion restaurant – I want people to visit again and again and experience something slightly different every time.

“We’re hitting the ground running and have high hopes to achieve Glasgow’s first Michelin star since 2004 within our first year. To follow the successes of Andrew Fairlie or Gordon Ramsay in Glasgow would be incredible. I can’t wait to get started.”

James Newton, co-director of Unalome, said: “We’re hugely optimistic and excited about investing in the long-term within Glasgow’s vibrant food and drink scene. Dependent on Scottish Government restrictions, we’re hopeful we will be welcoming our first diners by February 2021.”

Unalome is located at 36 Kelvingrove Street. More details on the launch will be available at unalomebygc.com.

Locker Opens in Hyndland

JAMES Newton and wife Dovile not only have fine dining to look forward to in their expanding local culinary portfolio that currently includes North Star Cafe on Queen Margaret Drive and Locker 1012 in Finnieston. They’ve brought chef David Hetherington, previously of Loch Lomond Arms and Bridge of Orchy hotels, to their new neighbourhood spot, Locker on Clarence Drive in Hyndland.

This week he was busy setting up a bakery operation in the kitchen that will turn out cakes, scones, pastries, breads and showstopping sausage rolls for the Hyndland unit and will also supply the other cafes.

“There’s loads of good bakeries right now in the city and there’s room for more. We aim to join that trend and be self-sufficient with a range of bakes that people really react to,” David said. The baking will be done in the morning before Locker opens to customers.

Dovile said: “We’ve been really welcomed into the neighbourhood as we prepare to open. We hope to be ready for any changes that come. People are waving in the window to us and asking questions about our menu, pointing to our scones as we get the place ready and telling us they can’t wait.”

The menu will have a strong brunch component, emulating sister venue Locker 1012. “We want a balance of what people are used to while still responding to different trends and working out what customers are looking for,” David says.

Instagram-friendly dishes set to join the new menu in Hyndland include feta and spinach shakshuka with kale pesto, white crab salad with crushed avocado, citrus hollandaise served on toasted homemade muffins or chorizo, hash browns, parmesan and citrus mayo served on toasted sourdough. Grab empire biscuits and fruit juices for the way home.

The Best of Glasgow

THIS week may prove to be a turning point. An effective, rigorously reviewed vaccine has been approved and will reach Scottish locations over the next few days. We can look towards the return of a more familiar version of city life.

With that in mind, The Best Of Glasgow is a new book which celebrates local people and places with neighbourhood profiles, restaurant, cafe and bar recommendations, alongside stories from independent shops, creative businesses, musicians, artists and local personalities.

There are also Glasgow Cookbook recipes from favourite food places including Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or, Accento Cafe, The Butchershop Bar & Grill, Red Onion, Five March, Julie’s Kopitiam, Glaschu, Ubiquitous Chip, La Lanterna, Gamba, Sugo, Cafe Gandolfi, The Gannet, Cake Bar and Scotland’s national chef Gary McLean.

You can order your copy today at glasgowtimes.co.uk/best-of-glasgow-book