Situated in Bellahouston Park, Village in the Park is the sister restaurant of the award-winning Village Curry House, and was opened in December of 2007 by Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond. The venue is entirely alcohol free, instead featuring an inventive range of ‘mocktails’ and smoothies. It’s testament to the sublime quality of the cooking that Village in the Park is constantly packed out, despite Glasgow’s noted preoccupation with booze. Gregarious proprietor Archie Baig claims direct lineage from Ghengis Khan, and the innovative menu features fresh, natural halal ingredients prepared with a prominent Mughlai Empire theme. The Channa Poori features flaky, moreish flatbread with an authentically dry chickpea filling and a serious chilli kick. The Chanpe Kandhari - barbecued lamb chops – are charred black around the edges and gloriously tender inside, while the magnificent, musical-sounding Till Mil Jhinga feature succulent, fleshy king prawns with sesame seed marinated in bold spices. The extravagant main courses are steeped in Mongolian heritage, with dry, robust spices and creamy finishing notes. Traditional Dumpukht dishes are served in a Handi (clay pot) sealed with a golden naan bread, and hark back to the halcyon days of the Mughlai Empire, where meals were cooked in the embers of dying fires, in holes dug deep in the earth. The ingredients are thus effectively steamed in the clay pot, with the flavours gloriously intermingling, infusing the meat with fragrant exotic spices. The verdant park backdrop, ornate Lahori furniture and stunning ‘Tumboo’ canopy make Village in the Park a fantastic venue for plush conservatory eating, while the summer barbecue patio and children’s play area mean it’s ideal for family-friendly, al fresco summer dining.