Ad Lib- Merchant City - Glasgow

Overpriced and mediocre. Not what it used to be and will probably avoid in future. I don't normally leave much detail in a review, but as I used to really like this place, I think it's only fair to make sure others know how much its gone downhill. I would usually have ordered a burger, but went for a sandwich instead but this was a disappointment... Tbh I feel a bit cheated paying £10 for a finger roll sized sandwich, especially as the side order of mac and cheese was bigger than it. Same goes for the disappointing onion rings and overpriced drinks. 1.5 stars really as the food still tasted decent, even though at £35 for a quick main for two with a drink each felt a bit expensive for what was on offer here. I used to be a regular customer here until I moved away from Glasgow a few years ago, when it was a pretty great and substantial eat for the money the burgers especially were great... Massive and eclectic selection of unusual combinations that was always worth looking through but now seem a bit boring and plain (plus almost every topping is an extra now so your going to spend another few quid to get a decent combo! . The atmosphere also seems to have gone from the place too. Maybe we were unlucky, but sadly think this is the end of Ad Lib burgers for me now.

Fantastic night great food reasonable priced drinks and salsa dancing can't wait to go back

I am a big fan of Ad Lib. I enjoy both the Merchant City branch and the Hope Street branch. They often have an offer on Itison for a burger, sandwich, or salad for two people, which I take advantage of frequently. I recently discovered that they have an app with daily rotating offers. I have tried the classic burger, lamb burger, and chicken burger, all of which were delicious. The Cobb salad is also very filling. During my last visit, I tried the chicken, bacon, and tomato sandwich with a pint of Shipyard APA. Although my meal was good, it wasn't up to the usual standard. The ciabatta was tough, the sandwich dressing lacked flavor, and the chargrilled chicken was slightly overpowering. The salad dressing was too salty. The fries were great, but I would avoid this menu option in the future. Despite this, it won't stop me from returning as the overall experience is usually excellent. I recommend trying something off the daily specials board for a treat. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, great staff, and good music that isn't too loud. Although my last meal was disappointing, I would usually give them 5 out of 5 stars. I will stick to 4 for now, but hopefully, my next visit will be able to change that.

I ordered a steak Philly sandwich and my friends ordered burgers. Unfortunately, my steak was dry and not good quality, with very little filling. My friends also did not enjoy their burgers. The total bill came to £30 for 2 lemonades, a sandwich, and a burger, which was quite expensive given the poor quality of the food. Overall, I will not be returning to this restaurant. The only positive aspect was the friendly staff.

I kind of stumbled across this place after being dropped by taxi in Merchant City and wandered around looking for somewhere to have a drink before our restaurant reservation. It looked quite funky and while primarily a diner style restaurant they did have a bar with extra seating available. The hostess assured us we could just order drinks without food. I really dig this space. The dimmed orange glow lighting and the retro almost 70s art deco style decor. The staff were great, one waiter even read out their cocktail list as no menu was available only to have me order wine. Their restrooms could do with a revamp and were kind of disappointing after so much has obviously gone into the decor. The wine was good, they had a decent selection, although £18 for three glasses of wine is on the pricey side if you don't go to Merchant City often! I am going to try and head back to sample their food though, which looked very tasty!