Have you tried Brookside Garden Centre?
I’ll admit something before we get started.
Until this visit, I’d never actually eaten at a garden centre.
In fact, I don’t think I’d ever properly visited one!
I’d heard plenty of people talking about how good the food can be at garden centres, but it wasn’t something I’d ever really considered trying myself.
So when John and I decided to visit Brookside Garden Centre for some food, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
And I’ll be completely honest…
I probably went in with a few preconceived ideas.
I was expecting basic sandwiches, maybe some fish and chips, and a fairly straightforward café menu.
Well, I’ll happily put my hand up and admit I was wrong!
Because what we actually got was some absolutely cracking food.
Including a bowl of soup that I genuinely believe might be the tastiest soup I’ve ever had!
Let’s get into it.
Please note: This review is based on an older visit. All the dishes we tried were from the specials menu, so they may not be available during your visit. Always check the current menu before travelling specifically for a particular dish.
Our First Visit to Brookside Garden Centre
John and I headed along to Brookside Garden Centre to see what all the fuss was about when it comes to garden centre food.
As someone who spends a fair bit of time visiting restaurants, cafés and takeaways, I’m always interested in trying something different.
But garden centres weren’t somewhere I’d previously thought about going for a meal.
And looking back, that was clearly my mistake!
We decided to try a couple of soups, two main courses and a dessert.
Everything we ordered came from the specials menu.
And there were some absolute belters!
Cajun Chicken Soup – The Best Soup I’ve Ever Tasted?
Right, let’s start with the absolute highlight of the entire visit.
The Cajun chicken soup.
And I’m not exaggerating when I say this…
I genuinely think this might be the tastiest soup I’ve ever had!
Now, I’ve eaten a fair amount of soup over the years.
But this was something else.
It was thick, creamy and absolutely bursting with flavour.
Every spoonful was fantastic.
The Cajun flavours worked brilliantly, giving it a richness and depth that made it stand out from your typical bowl of soup.
Honestly, I couldn’t get enough of it.
Sometimes you try something that immediately makes you think, I’ll be remembering that for a long time.
And this was definitely one of those dishes.
Absolutely outstanding soup!
If I return to Brookside and this isn’t on the menu, I’ll be very upset! 😂
All joking aside, it really was that good.
Haggis Soup – Something a Wee Bit Different!
John decided to go for something I’d never actually seen on a menu before.
Haggis soup!
Now, being Scottish, I’ve obviously eaten plenty of haggis over the years.
But haggis soup?
That was a new one for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t try John’s soup myself, so I can’t give you a proper personal review of the flavour.
What I can tell you is that he absolutely devoured it!
There certainly wasn’t much left in his bowl.
And judging by how quickly it disappeared, I’d say he was pretty happy with his choice.
It’s always good to see somewhere offering something a wee bit different.
The Monte Carlo – A French Toast Sandwich!
Now onto the main courses.
And once again, there was one dish that completely stole the show.
The Monte Carlo!
If you’ve never heard of one before, the best way I can describe the version we had is a French toast sandwich filled with cheese, ham and mustard.
I’m sure there’s probably a lot more goes into making it than that.
But that’s the general idea! 😂
And I’ll tell you something…
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!
Anyone who follows my food reviews will know that I love a good toastie.
A proper toasted sandwich with melted cheese is one of life’s simple pleasures.
But do you know what’s even better than a toastie?
A toastie made with French toast!
What an unbelievable combination.
The ham, cheese and mustard worked brilliantly together, while the French toast took the whole thing to another level.
It was rich, comforting and exactly the sort of food I love.
Honestly, I thought it was an unreal scran.
And it’s definitely something I’ll be attempting to recreate in the house at some point.
Whether my version turns out anywhere near as good is another question! 😂
Brookside’s Club Sandwich – A Good Effort!
Our other main course was Brookside’s own take on a club sandwich.
It came with chicken, bacon, salad and the usual sort of ingredients you’d expect from a club sandwich.
And to be fair, it was nice in its own right.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Unfortunately for the club sandwich, though, it was sitting alongside that fantastic Monte Carlo.
And that’s some serious competition!
As much as I enjoyed the club sandwich, it was completely overshadowed by the French toast creation.
Sometimes a dish can be perfectly enjoyable but still end up playing second fiddle to something exceptional.
And that was definitely the case here.
Deep-Fried Teacake – A Proper Scottish Dessert!
To finish things off, we decided to try a deep-fried teacake.
And let’s be honest…
A deep-fried teacake pretty much speaks for itself! 😂
If there’s one thing we Scots know how to do, it’s find something sweet and see what happens when you deep-fry it.
It was certainly an entertaining way to finish the meal.
And after the soups and main courses we’d already enjoyed, it rounded off a cracking visit.
Are the Dishes Available on Brookside Garden Centre Regular Menu?
Now, here’s something important to mention.
Every dish we tried during our visit was from the specials menu.
That means I’m not entirely sure whether the Cajun chicken soup, Monte Carlo sandwich or any of the other dishes are available regularly.
They may have been limited-time specials.
Or perhaps some have since made their way onto the main menu.
I genuinely don’t know.
But I’ll tell you what…
If they’re not permanent menu items, they absolutely should be!
Especially that Cajun chicken soup.
I honestly think everyone should have the chance to try it.
It was that good.
And the Monte Carlo was another dish I’d happily travel back for.
If you’re planning a visit specifically to try either of those, I’d recommend checking with Brookside Garden Centre first to see what’s currently being served.
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My Overall Brookside Garden Centre Review
Well, what can I say?
My first proper garden centre food experience was an absolute success!
I went in expecting fairly basic café food.
And I left having eaten some of the most enjoyable dishes I’d tried in a while.
The Cajun chicken soup was the clear highlight.
Thick, creamy, packed with flavour and genuinely one of the best soups I can remember eating.
The Monte Carlo French toast sandwich was another absolute winner.
A fantastic combination of ham, cheese, mustard and French toast that I’d happily order again.
The club sandwich was enjoyable, John demolished his haggis soup, and we finished with a deep-fried teacake.
What’s not to love?
A massive amount of credit has to go to the chefs.
They produced some seriously good food.
Would I return to Brookside Garden Centre?
Absolutely!
And I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the Cajun chicken soup makes another appearance.
Is Garden Centre Food Underrated?
One thing this visit definitely taught me is that I shouldn’t overlook garden centres when looking for somewhere to eat.
I’d heard plenty of people praising garden centre cafés before.
But until I actually visited one, I didn’t realise just how good the food could be.
If Brookside is anything to go by, I’ve clearly been missing out!
Which brings me to an idea…
Should I start a tour of garden centres around Scotland to find out who serves the best scran?
Because after this experience, I’m certainly tempted!
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Have You Eaten at Brookside Garden Centre?
Now I want to hear from you!
Have you visited Brookside Garden Centre for food?
Have you ever tried their Cajun chicken soup or Monte Carlo sandwich?
And if you’re a regular visitor, do you know whether either of them still appears on the menu?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And while we’re at it…
Which garden centre in Lanarkshire or the wider Glasgow area serves the best food?
Give me your recommendations!
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