Australian chef Tobias Fiegel is to open a new restaurant on Glasgow’s thriving Finnieston strip at the end of January, promising a ‘pan-Asian powerhouse’ that blends Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisines.
The venture, named ‘Extra_Ordinary’, will occupy the 1132 Argyle St site that hosted Nico Simeone’s Sole Club for most of 2024.
Fiegel said: “Opening Extra_Ordinary is an incredibly exciting opportunity offered to me by Nico Simeone that enables me to combine my passion for various Asian cuisines and share them with the people of Glasgow.
“In essence, this is the food I enjoy cooking and eating, and in this sleek and stylish environment, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with ingredients and creative approaches that I am genuinely passionate about.”
Tobias, an Australian-Italian who grew up in Sydney, crafted his trade in some of that city’s most recognised spots, and it was at the ‘uber cool’ cafe Edition that he first discovered his passion for Japanese food through Japanese-Nordic fusion.
Moving to Scandinavia, Tobias gained more experience at Restaurant Geist and Geranium in Copenhagen, as well as Restaurant Ask in Finland. He then settled in Scotland to work for Stuart Ralston at Aizle and Simeone at Six by Nico.
His plan for Extra_Ordinary – or X_O Glasgow as it will appear on social media – is to create a ‘lively, all-day restaurant with a contemporary Asian aesthetic’ influenced by cities like Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong.
Customers can look forward to ‘enthusiastic staff, creative flavour infusions, and a reasonably priced menu’ that will change regularly, based on a mix of traditional Asian ingredients, with many components crafted from scratch and redefined through innovative recipes.
At launch, on Friday 31st January 2025, the menu will feature dishes such as Kohlrabi Kimchi, Udon with XO mussels, Char Siu Chinese pancake, and Yuzu-Kosho tomato sashimi.
X_O Glasgow will also offer a wide range of local and international beverages, including wines, sake, whiskey and cocktails, ‘all with a story to tell’.
