3 minute read
Dinner at Bracken
Renfrewshire Foodies take a trip to an inconspicuous Erskine gem.
In all honesty, Bracken isn’t the sort of place you happen to “stumble upon”. It’s located on the edge of a shopping precinct, one that we’ve driven by hundreds of times en route to the supermarket. You literally drive past Bracken, as you’re off to do your weekly shop. So, why haven’t we paid any attention to it before?
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Well, it just sort of blends in. Perhaps we’re just not looking for a gastro pub as we’re headed to pick up a rotisserie chicken and a bottle of soda water? So for the rest of you, who might have fleetingly wondered what awaits you or even driven past the establishment without giving it a second glance, I have one sentence for you - YOU SHOULD GO.
From the outside, Bracken perhaps looks a bit like any other old school pub. It’s got dark signage in a traditional font and some outside tables. The facade may reveal little about what’s behind the front door, but inside is a whole other story. There’s bench seating, bright purple accents, tartan and tables of all sizes up to booths for the family. There’s a big, airy, bar next to the restaurant and it’s even got sofas. Step through the door and you’re suddenly welcomed into a warm, friendly pub, with cheery hospitality staff and a family friendly menu that will likely keep your Grandma happy, as there’s fish & chips.
For a Wednesday evening at 6.30pm, Bracken was busy and consisted mostly of couples or friends enjoying a drink and waiting on their food. Instantly, what struck us was the extensive menu on offer. It’s pub food but hot, fresh and modern pub food.
Our drinks arrived quickly and soon, we went for a starter each, opting for a chicken pakora which came in a homemade batter mix, served with spiced onions and a pakora dip as well as chicken strips with garlic mayo. The food arrived quickly, portion sizes were plentiful and we’d recommend, if dining as a group, trying a few starters alongside your drinks. After all, both were reasonably priced at £4.95 each.
In terms of mains, we were similarly impressed by the extensive number of options that encompassed a burger menu, Mexican dishes, Asian dishes, an Italian selection and some British pub classics. It was hard to narrow it down, but one of us tried the house special– the Bracken Burger – a crispy chicken fillet, topped with cheese, bacon, peri-peri and bbq sauce- while the other went classic with the lasagne which came served with garlic bread and was great value at £7.95. Most main courses ranged from £6.95 to £10.95 which we felt offered great value as nobody was going hungry.
Unafraid of a challenge, after the loaded katsu fries were mentioned by our server, we added on a portion to share alongside the main courses. In keeping with everything else, these were fresh, tasty and just the right amount of spice.
All in all, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found after stepping through Bracken’s doors and would wholly recommend it for a midweek treat. Particularly when you don’t feel like cooking, but you’re really after a filling and hearty meal. Although we didn’t consume any alcohol, there was also a good selection of beers, wines and spirits available behind the bar.
Based on our experience, you’ll leave feeling full, satisfied and certainly telling your friends that they should go along.
Bracken, Unit 14 Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Erskine, PA8 7AA, 0141 812 3713, facebook.com/bracken
