Old Glasgow Pubs.co.uk

[ skip to navigation ]
Old Glasgow Pubs by john gorevan

 

Harvey's American Bar & Diner.

Park Terrace, Glasgow.

Harvey's Park Terrace advert 1977

In the NEWS 1977...

If anyone had told me five years ago that today I would be sitting in an American diner, eating John Boy's College Sweetheart and drinking a Tequila Sunrise, I would have laughed.

But five years is a long time in the catering business. Out has gone the olde-worlde atmosphere and in is the American-type eating house.

Such a place is Harvey's American Diner which opened just over a year ago as part of the Beacon's Hotel complex which operates from Park Terrace near Charing Cross.

It is run by Douglas Ross, a young businessman who holds onto one old-fashioned belief, that the customer is always right. "We were the first diner-type place to open in Glasgow," said Mr Ross, "and, of course, we think we're the best."

Certainly Harvey's is one of the most impressively decorated bar-and -diner set-ups I've ever been in. Green is the main colour both in the cocktail bar and the diner. In the bar, two large artificial palm trees and the large modern bar dominate.

EAGLE

In the diner all the seating is in booths with individual lighting. And on one wall there is a huge American eagle, made. Mr Ross told me, from car bumpers.

But what about that John Boy's College Sweetheart I mentioned earlier? Actually it's a quarter pound or half pound of baby beef, served with a sweet and sour sauce, coleslaw and, of course, French fries and green salad. You can also help yourself from the relish tray.

This is just one of the succulent burgers on offer. There are several other burger dishes, Chilis, and T-bone steaks on the menu too. Sweets include Blueberry Pie, Uncle Walt's Waffles (let's hope he doesn't miss them) and Chocolate Fudge Cake.

At the moment Harvey's are offering a three-course Christmas dinner for £3.25. Through in the cocktail bar there is a wide selection of drinks available. The cocktail list includes a Pussyfoot, orange, pineapple, grapefruit, and grenadine, or a Planter's Punch, Barcardi, lemon, and sugar.

A Tequila Sunrise, incidentally is a mixture of Tequila, orange, lemon and grenadine. "These are just a selection of cocktail's" said Mr Ross. "I think we will be able to make anything the customer orders."

COACH

What really impressed me is that though Harvey's have had a very successful year, they are not content to rest on their laurels. They are thinking of ways to keep the customers happy all the time.

Harvey's now have a jazz session by the Frank Pantrini Quartet every Sunday lunch-time, and they are also orginising a coach trip to a medieval banquet at Cambusnethan near Wishaw.

Harvey's is slightly off the beaten track being up in Park Terrace, but I wouldn't let that deter you. It is well worth a visit.

It is closed all day Monday but is open the other six nights of the week and every lunchtime except Saturday.

End.

Go to top of page