Clarissa's Kopitiam

From sticky tables to silver spoons. Jom makan.

  • Loon Fung Cantonese Restaurant, Glasgow

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Congee
    • Decor: Upmarket Chinese restaurant
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Decent dim sum. Would avoid Three Kind of Roast as drenched in sauce and too salty. The cheese-filled dumpling squirts, so beware!

    Dish(es) savoured

    • King Prawn Cheung Fun
    • Turnip Mousse
    • Crispy Fried Prawn in Beancurd Wraps
    • King Prawn with Cheese Salt Egg Yolk Sauce
    • Char-Siu Buns
    • Beef Ball Dumpling
    • Beef & Ginger & Spring Onion Dumpling
    • Fisherman’s Congee
    • Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaves
    • Three Kind of Roast
    • Crispy Egg Yolk Buns

    Price

    • Final bill: £90 for 4 pax with Chinese tea

    Date

    • August 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Imperial Palace

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Upmarket Chinese restaurant
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Restaurant located on top of Matthew’s Foods (Asian supermarket)

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Grilled Turnip Paste
    • King Prawn Cheung Fun
    • Prawn Chives Dumplings
    • Pork & Prawn Dumplings
    • Char Siu Bun
    • Chinese Sausage & Bacon Pot Rice
    • Custard Bun

    Price

    • Final bill: £46 for 2 pax, no drinks

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Minami

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes, if in the area; 7 mins from Edinburgh Waverley Station
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Sushi
    • Decor: Japanese beach bar with bright yellow interior
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Western style sushi restaurant tucked away in the backstreets. Pricey.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Miso soup
    • California Crunch

    Price

    • Final bill: £21, no drinks, 10% service charge

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • The Little Parlour, Stockbridge

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Little confectionery shop selling ice-cream at the counter
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Decent ice-cream, mediocre gelato. Missing the promised creamy texture. Second branch of a popular ice-cream shop in South Queensferry.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Cookies & Cream

    Price

    • Final bill: £3.50

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Chez Jules Bistro

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Steak
    • Decor: French bistro
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Need to reserve; walked in at 12pm on a Monday and only outdoor seating was available

    Dish(es) savoured

    Chez Jules Lunch Menu

    • Terrine de Campagne, Onion chutney and toasts
    • Chargrilled skirt steak au poivre with p ommes frites
    • Mousse au chocolat

    Price

    • Final bill: £15.90, no drinks

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Domenico’s

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Cozy Italian restaurant with dim lighting
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: A tad too heavy on the cream. Lasagna will take 25 minutes.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Haggis Pasta: An Italian pasta dish with a Scottish twist! Tagliatelle, haggis, truffle pesto, wild mushrooms & cream

    Price

    • Final bill: £13.75 for one main only, 10.0% service charge

    Date

    • August 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Roseleaf Bar Cafe

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Legendary Scotch Egg
    • Decor: Pub
    • Service: Friendly, family-run vibe
    • Other thoughts: French toast needed greens. Walked in at 12pm on a Thursday with bar seat availability only. At 12.30pm there was a 1.5 hour waiting time!

    Dish(es) savoured

    • French Toast with banana: Slices of pan-fried eggy bread with rashers of smoked streaky bacon and Canada’s finest grade ‘A’ maple syrup served on the side
    • Legendary Scotch Egg: Free range Scotch eggs drizzled with hollandaise & oor homemade broon sauce served with double dipped chippies & Heinz finest beans served 2 ways…

    Price

    • Final bill: £34 for 2 pax, no drinks, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • August 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • La Barantine Stockbridge

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Cozy cafe
    • Service: Nice
    • Other thoughts: Doesn’t sell a plain old brownie!

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Chocolate eclair
    • Raspberry and pistachio macaron

    Price

    • Eclair: £5.80 (out)
    • Macaron: £1.70 each (out)

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Hope Izakaya

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Modern Japanese with koi-shaped lightning and daruma doll lanterns
    • Service: Good, chirpy
    • Other thoughts: Also got a free salad appetiser and matcha chocolate dessert. Good lunch set selection from soups to poke bowls.

    Dish(es) savoured

    Izakaya Lunch Set

    (Green tea, free refills + Veg skewer + Main course)

    • Tonkotsu Cha Shu Ramen: Cha shu, ramen, Naturo maki, fish cake, soft boiled egg, spring onions, sesame seeds, seaweed and soup

    Price

    • Final bill: £15.99 pre-service charge

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Casa Mortero, Madrid

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Minimalist-industrial
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Michelin Guide

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Creamy croquettes made with jamón ibérico
    • Semicured iberic “pressa” (iberic pork cut) with “migas” and mature cheese
    • Duck rice with green asparagus and creamy cheese

    Price

    • Final bill: €84 for 2 pax including a beer and glass of wine

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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