Image creds: West Side Tavern Instagram
An interview with the owner and managers of West Side Tavern, the brains behind the new cocktail menu.
With the launch of their new cocktail menu in late February, The Glasgow Guardian were welcomed into Partick’s Italian-American bar and diner or ‘watering hole and eatery’, West Side Tavern.
The bar was fully seated, with a lively welcoming atmosphere as Brooklyn’s LCD Soundsystem played in the background.
The first cocktail I ordered was the Sex and The City, after the previous menu paid homage to Carrie Bradshaw herself. A blackberry, vodka and prosecco sorbet style drink that was perfect for those who imagine themselves to be like the girls from the show ordering cosmopolitans, but maybe don’t appreciate the traditional drinks bitter strength.
After the launch night, The Glasgow Guardian spoke with owner Joshua and managers Joseph and John, who explained the concept behind the new menu and the space West Side Tavern is creating.
They all agreed: “The most important thing when you go into a venue is how it makes you feel”
Walking into West Side Tavern, there is a warm feeling behind the ambient lighting and classic American diner red booths. It feels homely and nostalgic. Owner Joshua explained:
“The theming is very New York and inspired by a dive bar aesthetic but with a premium offering, […] that realness that you get in New York translates to Glasgow as well”
Joshua spoke of creating a gritty and authentic establishment that at the same time “offers a brilliant service”.
Working with and having “great relationships” with brands such as Bacardi and Patron the new menu has been created and tested to an extremely high standard.
The menu is split into tiers:
Tavern Serves- described as your bread and butter cocktails like margaritas and espresso martinis: “the ones that people are going to order if they are on the menu or not”
Signatures– “completely original concepts” with “loose combinations of italian and american style serves”
Contemporary classics- “cocktails that you would recognise with our little twist on them”
No and Low– alcohol free cocktails/mocktails
The new Signatures consists of high quality and creative cocktails that are approachable and unpretentious: “contemporary drinks with a face lift” says John general manager.
One feature is the Mai Taliano that sold particularly well on the launch night as Joseph the assistant manager believed was due to its unique presentation, the “showmanship of the drink.”. For example: “If a waiter walks past your table with a drink that has a flamed meringue on top, you go ‘oh I want one of those”.
The drink is based off of a classic Italian dessert, mandorlato. Joseph explained: “ a lot of the time the cocktails are lemon meringue, but we wanted to move away from that”. With a toasted meringue toast, Appleton Rum, Curacao, oat milk and lime it is certainly something I have never seen before.
With another unique mix of orange and coffee the Cafe Americano is a flavour combination you may not expect to work but is incredibly executed by West Side Tavern. The menu is rounded off with a Cinnamon Roll Ramos which Joseph explained:
“if you’re in here for the drinks it shows confidence in the bartenders, if you don’t do every step of the drink right it wont work” almost like trying to make a “Souffle behind the bar”.
Another unique aspect of their drink selection is the Taptails. Now, I have to admit I may have inadvertently turned my nose up at the thought of drinking a draught cocktail. Potentially scarred from those Smirnoff espresso martinis you would order to feel like you were having a ‘fancy’ drink (for the price of a vodka lemonade) at eighteen. However, after being given a taste I take back any previous scepticism and can confidently say that it was the best Hugo Spritz I have ever had.
For those who are after an alcohol free refreshment but don’t fancy a diet coke or some apple and orange juice with a bit of grenadine chucked in it, this menu might be the best in Glasgow. With mocktails served to the same standard as their cocktails, down to the barware. With options such as a 0% Martini or a Celibate in the City there is something for everyone.
With their new menu being a display of precision and careful thought, this Dumbarton Road gem presents some of the best cocktails in Glasgow. Could the Jersey Shore be Glasgow’s cocktail of the summer?
