
Big Counter
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Quick info
About Big Counter
Big Counter is a small bistro at 76 Victoria Rd in Glasgow, serving dinner from a menu that changes every week. The cooking is seasonal and bistro style, and the compact drinks list centres on low intervention wine. Recent dishes include breaded monkfish, mussels and a T-bone steak served with fries, and retro desserts close the meal. The menu is laid out in sections, with the smaller plates first and the bigger dishes in the middle, and food arrives as each dish is ready. Tables sit close together in the small dining room. Reservations are made online through ResDiary, using the website button, the link on Instagram or DishCult.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention breaded monkfish, t-bone steak, mussels and crispy fries.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention breaded monkfish, t-bone steak, mussels and crispy fries.
Customer Review Summary
Breaded monkfish is the dish reviewers name most. One diner called it delicious and another saw a boyfriend who never eats fish finish half of it, though others found it stringy or just average. Close behind are the mussels, called really delicious, plus the lemon sole, a cataplana of skate, mussels and clams, the lamb and the steak tartare on the weekly changing menu. The T-bone divides opinion. One diner found it well cooked and nicely salted, while another said it lacked flavour and had grizzle. One table found the tartare so acidic they complained. Service is the recurring complaint in the lower ratings. Reviewers describe a server who seemed cold and uninterested, no explanation of how the menu works for first-timers, slow pacing between dishes and no check-ins during the meal. Happier diners describe friendly staff and a cosy, chill atmosphere, and one suggests booking ahead because everything is made fresh to order. Crisp fries and very good chips are praised across both happy and disappointed reviews.
Customer Review Summary
Breaded monkfish is the dish reviewers name most. One diner called it delicious and another saw a boyfriend who never eats fish finish half of it, though others found it stringy or just average. Close behind are the mussels, called really delicious, plus the lemon sole, a cataplana of skate, mussels and clams, the lamb and the steak tartare on the weekly changing menu. The T-bone divides opinion. One diner found it well cooked and nicely salted, while another said it lacked flavour and had grizzle. One table found the tartare so acidic they complained. Service is the recurring complaint in the lower ratings. Reviewers describe a server who seemed cold and uninterested, no explanation of how the menu works for first-timers, slow pacing between dishes and no check-ins during the meal. Happier diners describe friendly staff and a cosy, chill atmosphere, and one suggests booking ahead because everything is made fresh to order. Crisp fries and very good chips are praised across both happy and disappointed reviews.
Featured reviews
- Liam McLean
“The best meal we had on our honeymoon - you have to try their food. We will definitely be coming back every time we are in Glasgow..”
- Jess B
“Food was good, but unfortunately the service was poor. We live very locally to this restaurant and decided to book for our anniversary after hearing good things. Unfortunately, the experience left us really disappointed. Once we were seated, the menus were already on the table. As we’d never been before, I wasn’t really sure how much we were supposed to order. After our drinks order was taken, the waiter came back for our food order and I said that we hadn’t been before and could they explain how the menu worked. She just looked at me blankly 🫥 and said, “Well, it comes out when it’s ready. The top will come out first and the middle are bigger dishes.” There was no real explanation of how many plates would be suitable for two people or what we should order. The menu is quite different from what you’d normally get, so a quick explanation would have been really helpful. We ordered two “starters”, the 1/2 chicken and two sides. The food itself was actually very tasty and we really enjoyed it. A small part of the chicken looked undercooked. It was separate from the main bulk of the chicken, so we left that part to the side, but not once did anyone come over to check how our food was. Even when our plates were being cleared, we weren’t asked how everything had been. We declined the dessert menu, but we may have had another drink, unfortunately, this wasn’t offered either. The whole atmosphere just felt quite cold, almost as if we had done something wrong. We paid the bill, including the 12.5% service charge (I wish we had asked to have it removed, but who wants that awkwardness), and left. For such a small restaurant, I would have expected at least a simple “thank you” or “goodbye”, but there was no conversation at all. I’m from a hospitality background myself, so I completely understand that people can have an off day. However, after looking at the recent reviews afterwards (something I wish I’d done before booking), it seems this isn’t just a one-off experience. It’s a real shame because the food was good and we were really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, the service completely let it down and we left feeling highly disappointed. We definitely wouldn’t return.”
- Aimee
“A very underwhelming experience. I have wanted to try this place for ages as I love this street of restaurants. We booked online for 5pm on a Sunday and turned up when it was quiet. There were plenty of free tables but we were placed on stools in the window. I asked if we could take a table as there were other couples sat there and was treated as a bit of an inconvenience and told that we had to give it back by 6.45, which we agreed to. The server was very cold and uninterested. I ordered the Basque stew which came out lukewarm and the pasta quality did not reflect the price. The chips were very good though. Not a terrible experience but definitely not what we were expecting as I've heard such good things about this place.”
- Michael Discombe
“Came with gf for dinner - ordered mussels for stRter along with monkfish. Mussels were great, really delicious. Monkfish was average. Ordered t bone steak for the two of us - which was pricey at 98, top end pricing I would have thought for glasgow. Meat didn't have much flavour and had some grizzle. Better steak at tiffanys at a better price point. The pepper sauce was very good and so we're the fries. We had two non alcoholic beers. All in 140. Overall, its OK - mussels we're the highlight. Service was fine and it was a good atmosphere inside.”
- Bronagh Carey
“Just wonderful food. Changing menu so you really take your chances. But this is fresh ingredients beautifully cooked. Of note were: Steak tartare (my go-to), delicious breaded monkfish, sumptuous lemon sole and a delicious cataplana laden with succulent skate, mussels and clams. There is steak on offer but we were just so happy with the fish (btw I love meat too!).”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“big counter dinner house. very small restaurant. thursday-sunday. weekly changing menu. small drinks list. seasonal, bistro style cooking and low intervention wine. book via 'ResDiary' using the website button, link on instagram or via DishCult. early walk ins welcome x”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Location
Restaurants near Big Counter
- Kebabish Grill4.32,0970.2 mi£10–20Vegan optionsVegetarian optionsWheelchair accessible
mixed grill, fresh naan, chicken tikka biryani
- Halal Kebab House4.02690.3 mi
chips and cheese, chicken donner and chips, chapattis and okra curry
- Darbar (Desi Cafe)4.51850.3 mi£10–20Good for kidsReservations
home style curries, reasonable prices, kebabs and chicken manchurian
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Counter | 4.6180 | — | — | breaded monkfish, t-bone steak, mussels |
| Kebabish GrillVegan options · Vegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible | 4.32,097 | 0.2 mi | £10–20 | mixed grill, fresh naan, chicken tikka biryani |
| Halal Kebab House | 4.0269 | 0.3 mi | — | chips and cheese, chicken donner and chips, chapattis and okra curry |
| Darbar (Desi Cafe)Good for kids · Reservations | 4.5185 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | home style curries, reasonable prices, kebabs and chicken manchurian |
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