Green Gates Merchantcity

01 The Arrival

Green Gates has that immediately lively Merchant City feel — busy, colourful and very much somewhere you'd want to go with a few friends. The interior has a warm, comfortable feel and the booths are particularly nice for a longer meal, with a proper buzz that never tips into overly formal.

02 The Food

Diners frequently highlight the tapas-style dishes, butter chicken, lamb bhuna, saag, fish pakora, naan and Indian desserts, with ordering several smaller dishes for the table a popular way to try a bit of everything. The food is richly spiced without being hot for the sake of it — the lamb bhuna and saag are repeatedly singled out, and the butter chicken gets plenty of love for being rich and flavourful. Portions are generous with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.

03 The Experience

Staff are genuinely welcoming, polite and attentive, happy to suggest dishes and help work out how much to order — real guidance when there are so many tempting options. The atmosphere is lively, warm and social, suiting a Friday or Saturday night with friends, helped by comfortable seating and a central Merchant City location.

04 Was It Worth It?

For the range and amount of food on offer, this comes across as very good value, particularly when sharing several dishes — the tapas/grill format gives plenty of flexibility alongside traditional Indian flavours.

05 The Verdict

Excellent choice of Indian dishes, great for sharing, rich layered flavours, friendly staff and a good central location — it can get very busy, so booking ahead is sensible. This feels like a place you could easily become a regular at, ideal for a girls' night, a casual date or dinner with friends.

Location — 24 Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1LD, UK