Amaryllis (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Gordon Ramsay |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland, United Kingdom |
Key people | David Dempsey (head chef) |
| Products | Fine dining, Scottish cuisine |
Amaryllis was a dining establishment located within the One Devonshire Gardens hotel in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by chef Gordon Ramsay and managed daily by David Dempsey. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2002 and retained this distinction until it ceased operations in 2004.
History
In 2001, renowned chef Gordon Ramsay introduced Amaryllis in his native city of Glasgow, entrusting his protégé David Dempsey—who had previously served as sous chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London—with the role of head chef. Angela Hartnett played a role in the restaurant’s inception. After an extensive two-year search for the ideal location, Ramsay selected One Devonshire Gardens for his inaugural Scottish restaurant venture.
Amaryllis achieved a Michelin star within seven months of opening. In April 2003, Dempsey departed to assume leadership at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay but tragically passed away soon after. Despite strong patronage on weekends, the establishment experienced difficulties attracting customers during weekdays and ultimately closed in early 2004. The decision to shut down was influenced by concerns over sustaining its Michelin status and financial losses amounting to £480,000 over three years.
Following Dempsey’s death, Ramsay expressed a sense of relief regarding the closure of Amaryllis. Subsequently, he filmed the initial season of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares for Channel 4. The premises were later occupied by Room, a restaurant operated by John Pallagi and Simon Wright; although Ramsay offered assistance through Kitchen Nightmares, they chose not to accept it. The closure of Amaryllis was later mentioned in the first season episode titled "The Olde Stone Mill."
Menu
The culinary offerings highlighted local Scottish ingredients and included signature dishes associated with Ramsay, such as lobster ravioli and langoustine poached in lobster bisque accompanied by fennel purée. Scottish spring lamb was served alongside aubergine caviar, tomatoes, and rosemary jus. At its debut, the restaurant featured two fixed-price options: a three-course meal priced at £25 and a six-course tasting menu at £40.
Prior to closing, a more affordable menu was available in the main dining area, while a higher-priced selection continued to be offered in the adjacent drawing-room.
Reception
Ten days after opening, Lucy Bannall’s review mentioned an unsatisfactory amuse-bouche caused by an order error but commended the main dishes as "marvellous." She characterized the overall dining experience as somewhat "erratic," though without elaborating on specific issues.
The restaurant attracted criticism for being overly refined for Glasgow’s dining scene. Reflecting on this after Amaryllis’s closure, Ramsay acknowledged he might consider reopening in Glasgow but would avoid fine dining or extensive multi-course menus, admitting that their initial expectations had been set too high.
Awards and ratings
In 2002, Amaryllis was awarded a Michelin star, continuing the tradition of Michelin recognition at One Devonshire Gardens that had been established since 1995.