It’s business as usual at Scotland’s best seafood restaurant Gamba

It’s business as usual at Scotland’s best seafood restaurant Gamba. You’ve probably heard by now that Derek is selling the business, and just to reassure you, this hasn’t happened yet. It can be a long, drawn-out process. He will be in the kitchen conjuring up his seafood magic and steering the ship like he has done for the past 25 years, with our Maître d' Gregor Munn front-of-house as usual, until such time as a handover takes place.

Why has Derek decided to move on?

This has been an incredibly difficult decision for Derek, to move on from a business that he nurtured for a quarter of a century and built up to be one of Scotland’s most enduringly popular and prestigious restaurants with a clutch of awards to its name, and into which he poured his heart and soul.

Speaking to food journalist, Cate Devine, Derek explained what made him arrive at the decision and why nobody should be writing him off just yet.

There’s life after Gamba for Derek Marshall

Said Derek: “I feel I’ve done my time. Gamba is a great, consistent and sustainable business with no debts, but it needs new blood. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone to take it on, make it their own and take it forward with their own narrative.

“I’ve been coming to this decision for about a year. I used to do seven days a week but when you get a bit older it’s not as easy as it once was, even on four days.

 “However, I’m not giving up; I need a new challenge and I want to keep cooking, but on my own terms.”

But for now, Derek is very much focussed on continuity at Gamba - the highest quality, fresh produce, and exceptional service, allowing as many of you as possible to experience Gamba in the months to come before he bows out. And on that note, should you ever find that our online booking system says we are full, or you would simply prefer to speak to someone in person, please call the restaurant on 0141 572 0899 and we will always do our best to accommodate you.

Changing menus at Gamba

Business as usual at Gamba means that our menus are constantly changing as a vehicle for Derek’s creativity, and we have just revamped our Saturday menu. It’s now 2 courses for £34.50, including a 175ml glass of Cotes de Gascogne Blanc or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Prepare to agonise over Rollmop Herrings, Purple Potato, Gherkin, Chive Salad, or Smoked chicken salad, couscous, sun-blushed tomato, sugar snap and lemon to start. Two of our Saturday mains are Roasted Shetland Hake Norwegian prawns, sweetcorn, garden peas, & tomato chowder, or Crisp-fried Stone Bass, Baby crayfish, Caesar Salad and Granny Smith apple.

We have also made some changes to our a la carte menu, like the addition of a new starter, Roquefort, fine beans, smoked almonds, Granny Smith, house dressing, and main, Shetland Hake, and Sweetcorn and smoked Haddock chowder, garden peas, tomato and mussels, pesto.

Glasgow’s best fish restaurant: Gamba at Christmas

Don’t miss out on your chance to sample Gamba at Christmas, by booking your table for either our Christmas a la carte or set menus. Derek is looking forward to seeing you over the festive season, and as a bonus, this year Glasgow’s best fish restaurant is open on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.

 And why not give your loved ones the gift of Gamba this Christmas?

Gamba gift vouchers make for the perfect foodie gift for anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, as well as Christmas gifts – all special occasions really. Gift vouchers can be used at any time and against any of our wine, dinners, or food events.

Derek has some amazing ideas up his sleeves for menus in 2024 when they redeem their , and all vouchers will of course be redeemed regardless of the sale of the restaurant.

 Our gift vouchers can be personalised with a message and sent instantly by email or text. If you buy £100 worth of vouchers in person from the restaurant, you will receive a complimentary copy of Derek’s cookbook.

Gamba customer reviews

Here’s a snapshot of some of our most recent five-star customer reviews.

“What a wonderful dining experience Fine wine and fantastic food.”

“Food was amazing, great service!!”

“Great staff, great food. We’ll be back.”

“Another great night at Gamba, can never resist the fish soup, excellent every time around, fish cooked to perfection. Staff always on top form. Gregor leads a great front of house team. Highly recommended always. “

“Great meal and excellent service very professional and our party of 8 was served In a very timely manner. So, 3 course meals and drinks enjoyed by all. Well done to the Gamba Team.”

“Food was exceptional. And lovely mocktails.”

And finally, a big thank you to all who attended our 25th birthday party

Derek would like to thank you all for coming along to celebrate Gamba’s 25th birthday at the end of last month.

He said: “It was a lovely afternoon and so great for me to be out of the kitchen, and for myself, Gregor, and the team to see everybody and thank you all in person for all their support over the years.

“It was a fabulous turnout for a rainy Glasgow Sunday, and I was really touched by all the gifts, and impressed with the catering from my team in the kitchen. Mussel stew, Gamba soup, mini crab meat sandwiches, I’m sure that you will agree they were out of this world. See you all very soon and many thanks for the lovely gifts.”

 By Jason Caddy