My partner and I (plus kids) have come to Fenwick 47 in Greenock to try out the menu. It’s a typical spring day in Scotland – blowing a gale with hailstones, so when the four of us enter it’s a relief to feel that they’ve got the heating cranked up. There’s a cosy yet trendy vibe with fat candles on the tables and exposed brickwork and metal beams. Greens and greys dominate the décor and the effect is modern and stylish.
I’ve been eager to try out Fenwick 47 for a while. You only need to browse the restaurant and bar’s Facebook reviews (4.9*) or their TripAdvisor page (4.5*) to understand the hype around this bar/restaurant’s reliable reputation for quality.
Sustainability and top notch local produce are very important to the team. Suppliers include: Glasgow Social Enterprise Freedom Bakery, The Gourock Butcher, MVM Greenock for fruit and veg, and the Fish People in Glasgow supply all fresh fish and seafood.
The waitress shows us to our table and swiftly takes a drinks order. My half pint of Brew Dog’s Lost Lager is super cold and delicious. They have a wide selection of locally sourced craft beers and ciders – some of which are on tap. Always a good sign. The menu has two sides. One side is affordable ‘Bar Food’ options including a 1980s style Gourock High School Mac ‘n’ Cheese. (Gourock must have had the best school dinners in the country!) And a slightly pricier restaurant-style menu on the other side featuring the likes of monkfish, duck, lamb tagine and steaks. They don’t do a kids menu, but many of the dishes can be made into smaller portions.
We order a starter of mushroom gnocchi to share. The kids dive into these too, and I’m glad because there is no way we could have eaten them all. The portion is more main course than starter. The sauce is velvety and delicious. The kids almost lick the bowl.
For mains the kids go for the scampi and burger and both go down well. My partner has the duck which is cooked medium. It’s super-tender with bags of flavour. I opt for the seabass, which melts in the mouth. The accompanying wilted greens have a touch too much olive oil, but this may be down to personal taste and it is a tiny quibble to an otherwise fabulous dish. We finish with ginger and treacle tart, which is light, comforting and very, very moreish. The kids have brownie and ice cream. They finished this so fast I didn’t get a chance to steal any!
As well as having the delicious food covered, Fenwick 47 has your weekend entertainment sorted. Their new regular late-night DJ set and accoustic sessions are proving really popular.
Fenwick 47’s tagline is ‘Greenock’s Best Kept Secret. I think the secret’s out!