A popular American internet personality has visited a much-loved East Renfrewshire eatery as part of his series of food reviews.
Kalani Smith or “Kalani Ghost Hunter”, as he is known online, enjoyed a meal at The Malletsheugh Bar and Restaurant on Ayr Road in Newton Mearns.
The social media star, who hails from Nashville Tennessee, posted a review of his experience on TikTok where he has almost 3 million followers, as well as on Facebook.
He tried a variety of dishes at the restaurant including haggis pakora and accompanying sauces which he described as “incredible”.
Next up for tasting was the sticky honey chicken starter which Kalani praised for its freshness and sweet and spicy kick, and described as possibly “the best sauce he has had on chicken in the United Kingdom.”
Butter chicken, vindaloo curry with lamb and chicken Jaipuri also got the review treatment during the video documenting his visit.
The lamb he said was “incredibly tasty” and “had a kick to it” but was “not overpowering” and had “really good flavour”.
The Jaipuri he described as “wow”, “beautifully cooked” and “having a unique flavour profile”, winning a ten out of ten from the American.
Kalani, meanwhile, described the butter chicken, which he enjoyed with some garlic naan at the Malletsheugh as the “best he has ever had”.
In sum, he said it was one of his “favourite meals he has had yet,” before rounding off his experience with some tempting-looking sticky toffee pudding and ice cream.
The family-run restaurant officially opened on August 27 last year, serving a 'unique' blend of Scottish and Indian cuisine in a "showstopping double menu."
With its opening, owners the Birks hoped to bring something different to Newton Mearns with their fusion of cuisines and a menu featuring dishes from curries rich in flavour and spice to steak pie and fish and chips.
Kalani visited the restaurant following the news that it had been named as a finalist in the Scottish Curry Awards.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, April 15 at the Double Tree by Hilton in Glasgow.
A post on the Malletsheugh’s Facebook page announcing the news earlier this month said: “We are FINALISTs at the Scottish Curry Awards on the 15th of April.
“Wish us luck as we hope to take home the award for the best new restaurant.”
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