So L.A.
Situated on 43 Mitchell Street, So L.A. is the latest addition to Glasgow’s hospitality landscape. The latest venture for RUSK & RUSK, the award-winning team behind, The Butchershop Bar & Grill, Hutchesons City Grill, and The Spanish Butcher, So L.A. is an all-day venue inspired by the vibrancy and diversity of the West Coast’s drinking and dining scene.
So L.A. is RUSK & RUSK’s most ambitious project to date and is the first of the collection to open in the heart of Glasgow City Centre. The venue boasts an inclusive and highly inventive menu, which will appeal to meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans alike.
Behind the venue’s floor to ceiling glass frontage, discerning customers will find a luxurious homage to the atmosphere and energy of downtown L.A. – perfectly channelled through the restaurant’s mysterious urban walkway, sweeping charcoal leather booths and neon-rimmed light backdrops. In the bar area to the front of the venue, a striking 25-foot fluted teak, concrete-topped bar takes centre stage. Carefully considered lush foliage and floor-standing antique mirrors contrasted with concrete wall tiles seamlessly combine raw and natural design elements.
Hidden beneath the bar and restaurant, guests will find The White Box – a spectacular, subterranean urban garden designed for private functions. White exposed brick walls, stylish lighting and an ostentatious entrance, make for a stunning and highly flexible city centre space.
Conceptualised by James and Louise Rusk, the duo behind the RUSK & RUSK collection, the 150-cover bar and restaurant is an exciting addition their portfolio. Louise Rusk, co-owner of RUSK & RUSK, commented, “We founded RUSK & RUSK in Glasgow because we love the city and we are committed to creating amazing spaces with global appeal. Our investment in Mitchell Street is a continuation of our commitment to the city and its economy. At RUSK & RUSK, we are deeply committed to bringing the best, progressive cuisine and cutting-edge spaces to Scotland – and we believe So L.A. delivers on both of these things in a big way.”
James Rusk added, “With a Glasgow staff count now topping 200, So L.A. will see us further invest in team training and continue to create jobs with clear and open progression routes. We pride ourselves on creating destination restaurants that are inspiring to dine and work in, a hallmark of RUSK & RUSK venues.”
He continued, “California has always been a real pioneer when it comes to the culinary arts— from its extraordinary use of fresh produce to its fun and atmospheric interiors. So L.A. is a new concept that channels all of this and pushes the boundaries of our current offering. We are incredibly excited to open the doors to So L.A. and cannot wait to welcome the first of our guests over the coming days.”
Diners can expect bold flavour combinations that celebrate the eclectic cultures and cuisines known for influencing the Californian dining scene; with signature dishes including the Old Bay Lobster and Crayfish Roll, Sautéed Chickpea Panisse, Street Corn and Miso Glazed Beef Fillet.
The clear love of flavour and craft also spills over to the drinks menus; from the show stopping cocktail menu, to the Tequila Map and California cellar selection, these all combine to make the bar a destination in its own right.
So L.A. is open from 12pm through to midnight weekdays and 1am Friday-Saturday. For more information, please visit www.solaglasgow.com.
RUSK & RUSK
RUSK & RUSK Scotland’s leading independent hospitality and lifestyle group and was co-founded by James and Louise Rusk. Headquartered in Glasgow, the business boasts three globally recognised dining establishments across the city – The Butchershop Bar & Grill, Hutchesons City Grill and The Spanish Butcher – each having their own distinctive characteristics and unique identity. With a focus on providing fully rounded dining experiences, the group has created spaces that excite the senses and amplify emotions, achieved through meticulous detail to music, art, design, performance and food.
GMACK CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENTS LTD
GMACK C&D Ltd are a specialist in fit out and construction. From initial design through to project completion, GMACK C&D Ltd provide a comprehensive and high quality service. We provide construction, manufacturing, fit out and refurbishment services where quality project management comes as standard. The joint owners, having over 60 years of experience in the construction industry, supply all trades to deliver a turnkey solution to every client.
Working across all sectors of the industry, nothing is outside our scope. From constructing a replica of the 1930’s scoreboard at the Brooklands Museum Racing Circuit to fitting out new offices, bars, restaurants and working in colleges, we pride ourselves in the level of repeat business including that of Rusk & Rusk Ltd.
GMACK C&D Ltd were delighted to be appointed as Principal Contractor for the fit out of James and Louise’s new venture of So L.A. and having worked closely with the Design Team we have delivered a project of which we are all very proud.
John McKerrow, Director, commented:
“We have a fantastic working relationship with Rusk & Rusk and delivering So L.A. for them has been a real highlight and as a company we take pride in delivering ‘All Round Solutions’.
“In the words of James Rusk – This project is ‘Awesome’.”
Mosaic AD
Mosaic Architecture + Design is an architectural practice of award-winning architects and designers. Distinguished by its experience and quality of service, it adds value to all projects through its commitment to delivering excellence. The practice works across a wide range of sectors but has a speciality in the hospitality sector.
Celebrating 15 years of trading in 2018, Mosaic AD work for a number of blue chip clients. In the hospitality sector these include: Hilton; Marriot; Starwood; Eton Group; Westmont Group; RAC; Scoop restaurants; Punch; Belhaven and Rusk and Rusk.
Most recently, Mosaic AD worked on So L.A where it had a wide-ranging role which included acting as Lead Consultant, Interior Designer and Architects. Its comprehensive remit covered everything through initial briefing, negotiating planning permission, building warrant and licensing approvals, down to bespoke design of fixtures and fittings, even door handles, together with administering the construction process.
Commenting on its involvement at So L.A, Stephen Mallon from Mosaic AD, said: “It means a lot to have repeat business and a returning client, which validates what we do, but actually makes us more invested in the product and design process as a result. We learn something new about us, the client and the process on each project. We then use that knowledge to improve service going forward to build strong relationships.”
Alliance Till Systems Ltd
Alliance Till Systems Ltd specialise in delivering top of the range EPOS solutions and offer quality, performance, reliability and first class customer service. They are authorised partners and resellers for Aures – POS developer and manufacturer, ICRTouch POS software, and NCR Orderman – specially engineered handheld radio ordering solutions.
The company recently worked with James and Louise Rusk on So L.A in which they were asked to provide the EPOS system solution. The project included providing the touch screen terminals, kitchen printers and radio ordering handheld devices to make customer order taking seamless and more efficient, as well as managing the sale information for the management team on a cloud based server.
Hervé Bouchard from Alliance Till Systems said: “This is our fourth venture with Rusk and Rusk as we have previously worked on Hutchesons, The Butchershop and The Spanish Butcher. It obviously means a lot to us that James and Louise have decided to continue our long relationship. It’s a vote of confidence on our products and services. We do our very best to provide the right solutions and make sure the systems work as intended. We are aware of the commitment and passion of the owners, so it is equally important for Alliance to give them the same commitment and passion on their EPOS solution.”
In operation for more than 10 years, the company has worked on a wide variety of projects from small fine dining restaurants to local cafes and bars to prestigious sites such as Mackintosh at the Willow, which recently reopened and includes a 200 seat restaurant in the A listed, internationally recognised original Willow Tea Rooms Building in 217 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow.
Whether you are running a fine dining restaurant, a quick service outlet or a high volume establishment, Alliance Till Systems Ltd will provide you with the effective tools to control, manage and operate your business with solutions designed to work reliably around the clock and increase your sales.
