Building on the runaway success of The Malletsheugh restaurant in Glasgow’s Newton Mearns, the Birk family are now preparing to open a second venue for their high-end Indian and Scottish food offer.
The new dining spot, to be named The Osprey, is located in the former Carrigans site in East Kilbride, and the family promises that it will deliver ‘the same premium experience at remarkably reasonable prices’.
In its first two years, The Malletsheugh has won numerous awards and attracted a loyal clientele, despite its location on the very outskirts of the city. The family – mum Tina Kaur Birk and sons Pav, Aman, Bobby and Rohan – have a three generation heritage in Indian food in Glasgow, as first their grandfather then their father were chefs in the city, and the family restaurant Taj Mahal in Gourock was much loved.
While their Indian food is as excellent as one would expect from a family with that history, to further elevate The Malletsheugh the Birks created a parallel ‘Scottish kitchen’ a la carte menu, reasoning that it is better to cater for non-curry eaters than have them divert entire parties elsewhere.
At The Osprey, the family plans to build on what they have created in Mearns – but with a fresh new twist, which they are keeping to themselves for now.
Pav Birk, who heads up the family firm, said: “This is a really exciting moment for us, getting the keys to our second restaurant – it feels special.
“We took a leap with The Malletsheugh, stretched ourselves and stepped into the unknown with a lot of risk – it was a gamble but we knew the place and the concept were special.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how the people in Mearns welcomed us and got behind us,” said Birk. “We really feel part of the local community and that’s exactly what we hope to build again in East Kilbride.”
Bobby said: “We are bringing the best of the Malletsheugh to East Kilbride, but of course we didn’t want to just replicate the same formula exactly.
“Of course premium quality Indian food will be the heart and soul of the new restaurant too, and we will also offer Scottish food – but we have a fun idea to freshen things up.
“We’re very grateful for the love and support our family has had at The Malletsheugh and we are excited to get to know the people of East Kilbride and how we can help and support the local community.”
Mum Tina added: “This is a proud day and moment for our family. The boys’ grandfather was one of the first Indian chefs trained in Glasgow and their father followed in his footsteps, they’ve grown up with hospitality in their blood.
“So to see them now make a huge success of the first high-end family restaurant and move to launch a second is a thrill. It makes me very proud of them.”
The Birks are said to be ‘investing heavily in dramatically transforming’ the Carrigans building inside and out. They are also keen to bring good news to the former staff of the site.
Bobby said: “We are trying to do something new and exciting but of course we are very conscious that former Carrigans staff are in limbo at the moment.
“We intend to keep as many of them as possible employed at The Osprey. We want to help the community and add to it.
“The restaurant is now closed for extensive renovations but we are consulting with staff representatives and very much want them to be part of The Osprey when we launch.”
