Monday, March 05, 2007

Browns Restaurant, Drymen


I thought that I would do my bit to promote local business today as I know that a lot of the people who read (but don't comment) are local.

Drymen used to have an Indian restaurant that did meals and carryouts. The food was fine but the restaurant was very dark and a bit musty - not somewhere you would want to go in the daytime and to be honest, not really nice enough for a treat either. A while ago the building went on fire and the business closed.

I was hoping that it would become a kind of nice lunch dining place like Ramsays in Bridge of Allan or Kemble & Jones in Glasgow - somewhere that I could meet friends for a civilised, light and not too pricey lunch.

To be honest I was rather miffed when I heard that it was going to be a "fine dining place" with "contemporary scottish cuisine". Rumours began to circulate about how expensive it was going to be.

I was very disappointed. How often do I get to go somewhere like that? I miss having somewhere that I can eat out every month, not just at birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Well, last week Mum and I had lunch there - they have a set lunch - 2 courses and coffee for £11.95 and (always a sign of a good place I think) they aren't fussed if you order tap water. Well it was fantastic, the food was delicious, the mustiness has gone and has been transformed into an brown and cream elegance. And did I mention the food?

I think that the price is excellent - less than I spend in Ramsays on the equivalent. The appalling thing was that there was no-one else there. The service is so friendly and downbeat that it did't feel odd, but if it continues for long then presumably the restaurant will not carry on.

So use it or lose it. Browns isn't just expensive fine dining - you can do lunch there. You can do lunch there to a budget. I am looking through my address book as I speak for people that I really need to meet for lunch.

The more observant of you will notice that the website is meant to be up today - well it is but it needs some glitches removed (long story). Email me (snapdragonjane@yahoo.co.uk) if you want the address to see what a glitchy website looks like!

Still blogging at CL - Here

5 comments:

Heather said...

I do that sometimes because I have readers who email me but don't want to comment and people who say - hey I read this and that - and they tend to be the locals.

Funny really how shy folks are - I think that bloggers generally are commentors - but the blogs are inundated with folk who never squeak until you find out that they are reading all the time.

Weird isn't it?

Jane said...

The stats are amazing - with an inundation in lunchhours - but to be honest I wouldn't want the site to have 200+ comments like many of the US blogs as it stops being a conversation and just becomes a littany of "Gosh you brighten my day" and "I really LOVE your green jug".

I think that I have been very lucky in the quality of my commenters who tend to have something to add to the conversation.

Nonnie said...

Sounds like a great restaurant. I love it when you find somewhere that's really good and really affordable. Sadly, and perhaps surprisingly, that's kind of difficult living in London. It's a shame when places don't go because people think they are a certain type of place and so don't give them a go. I hope some of the locals in your area give it a go.
I wouldn't mind a peep at your website even with the cliches.

Johnny said...

A group of friends and I went there on Saturday night, we were up that way for a stag weekend of all things. The food was stunning, pricey but worth the price. Value for money was excellent and my steak was cooked to perfection

Anonymous said...

JUST FOUND OUT THEY HAVE GONE BUST AND LEFT A LOT OF UNHAPPY SUPPLIERS