First taste GlenHouse: I review Aberdeen restaurant in former bank

I have never seen a restaurant as busy on a Monday as the new GlenHouse in Aberdeen was this week.

It’s early evening still, and the tables around us are quickly filling up – on a Monday.

Safe to say, I’m glad we booked.

The new restaurant is at 201 Union Street, at a former Bank of Scotland branch.

Owner Parveen Sood told The Press and Journal last week that he believed the old bank building was the “perfect spot” for his new restaurant.

Parveen Sood inside his new restaurant GlenHouse on Union Street, Aberdeen. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

For all everyone hates on Union Street, the new restaurant is bustling with activity. Bus gates haven’t impacted anyone’s appetite, it seems.

I will say that the parking cost (£7.40 for two hours at Golden Square) was a hard pill to swallow.

But our mood soon improved as my boyfriend, Michael, and I walked across the street to the gleaming renovated building at Canada House.

My first impressions on GlenHouse Aberdeen review

Parveen tells me he hopes GlenHouse will be a “candle” lighting up Union Street.

It is certainly glowing in a metaphorical and literal sense – shiny, newly decal-covered windows reflect the evening sunlight, giving the building a mystical feel.

And figuratively, the place is a shining representation of what Union Street has to offer.

The new space opened last Friday. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Smiling servers aplenty mill about the space, and we’re guided to a table for two promptly.

The service starts off a little slow, but it picks up quickly.

We are seated in the main dining area, though I should note there are also private dining rooms you can visit.

I was a fan of the sleek, stylish interior at GlenHouse.

The stylish space is filled with elegant lighting, both in the booth seating and also above prints from local artists which line the walls.

The music creates an upbeat atmosphere, with remixes of songs like Murder on the Dancefloor filling the space.

There are other couples around us, as well as friends and families here: like us, curious about the new Aberdeen eatery.

GlenHouse has some gorgeous lighting. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

So far, so good. But how’s the food?

What’s on the menu at GlenHouse Aberdeen?

There’s a varied offering at GlenHouse: main dishes include grilled seabass, seafood linguine, fillet steak plus veggie options like a halloumi burger and some salads.

But there is also a very tempting tapas offering.

Deciding that the latter option gives us the chance to try out more of the menu, we go for tapas.

Our server suggests three dishes apiece, and we happily oblige.

We’re offered a bread basket, which features focaccia from local producer The Bread Maker. This was delicious, alongside a dish of olive oil and balsamic – but bear in mind you will be charged for this (£4.50).

I’m delighted to see such a plentiful cocktail offering – and mocktails, given I have made the ultimate sacrifice and am the designated driver for the night.

Pina Colada cocktail and virgin Cosmopolitan. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

My virgin Cosmopolitan (£5.25) though, doesn’t feel like much of a sacrifice at all.

Despite the absence of alcohol, the drink holds its own: bright, sweet and refreshing.

There’s that usual tartness, with a zesty burst that keeps me going in for another sip.

It doesn’t taste watered down, which most mocktails fall victim to.

Michael chooses the summer favourite, Pina Colada (£9.95). There are ten cocktails at this price, which is comparatively pretty cheap.

The creamy, fruity concoction is a great start to our visit, served beautifully in a bulbous glass that makes you long to laze by the beach.

We order our tapas and sip away quite happily, enjoying the buzz as more and more diners enter the eatery.

My thoughts on the tapas at GlenHouse

The food arrives to our table in a matter of minutes after ordering. I almost think there’s been a mistake and we’re being handed someone else’s order.

But nope, our six tapas dishes are set down in front of us. We both grin. It looks good.

What first catches my eye is the salt and pepper calamari (£8.95).

I have been craving the salt and pepper calamari since I tried it. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

This is served with a neat drizzle of aioli.

The batter is paper thin, the squid remarkably tender. I nab quite a bit of this dish before remembering we’re sharing this – oops.

But smearing the calamari slithers in the sharp, flavourful sauce is hard to resist.

Next up on our list of sharing dishes are the cauliflower wings (£.7.99) – these were recommended by our server too.

The sweet and tangy cauliflower “wings”. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

I’m a huge chicken wing fan, so it’s a testament to my faith in our server that I opt for the veggie option instead of the hot honey chicken wings, also on the menu.

And wow, do I need to thank her.

The “wings” are delicious. Again with thin breading, these are doused in a dreamy, sweet and tangy glaze.

Suitably moreish, the cruciferous vegetable inside is moist and flavourful too.

Crispy pork belly: a crunch above the rest

Another highlight was the chorizo in red wine dish (£8.95).

The sauteed chunks of spicy pork sausage are softened nicely without crumbling apart. We use our delicious bread to soak up the flavourful oil and red wine mixture in the dish.

The chorizo dish from GlenHouse. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

It isn’t possible to eat tapas without having patatas bravas. And the crispy potatoes (£6.95), which come with a tomato sauce and garlic aioli, fit the bill.

Name a better combo than soft, buttery potatoes with tangy tomato sauce and a sweet garlic aioli – you simply cannot.

One suggestion though: if the potato chunks were smaller, there’d be more potential for a crisp on the skin, as sadly the crispy potatoes aren’t very crispy.

The crispy potatoes, a take on patatas bravas. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

But the crispy pork belly (£9.95) makes up for this and then some.

The dish is indulgent, aromatic and satisfying crunchy.

At first glance, the pork belly is visually striking: the blistered skin is glistening and golden brown.

The mouth-watering crispy pork belly. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Topped with sesame seeds and spring onion, it’s a colourful delight.

I slice into it, and I’m met with the crackling top, a tender middle and a rich, meaty base. I couldn’t have asked for more with this.

Lastly, there’s the garlic mushrooms (£6.95).

The garlic mushrooms were sadly not a star of the show at GlenHouse. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

I have to say, I’m a little disappointed with these. The garlic flavour isn’t particularly strong, and some of the mushrooms are a little rubbery.

Verdict on my GlenHouse Aberdeen review

GlenHouse should be that busy every Monday – nay, every day of the week.

The service is fast and friendly and though there are a few little hiccups – a mix-up with wrong items on our bill – those are regular teething problems that come with the opening of new place.

The decor of the restaurant is elegant and timeless, and the inclusion of local artists lining the walls is great to see.

Some of the food we tried, plus other dishes available at GlenHouse, Aberdeen. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

As for the food, almost everything was perfect. A few small niggles – which could be due to preference – won’t put me off from coming back here again.

I’ll definitely be visiting to try out some of the tempting main dishes, especially the linguine frutti di mare, Caesar salad and sirloin steak.

Scores:

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Surroundings: 5/5