For more than three decades, Mister Singh’s India has been one of Glasgow’s most recognisable Indian restaurants, earning a loyal following through family values, warm hospitality and consistently high-quality food.
Founded in 1994 by the Singh family, the restaurant has become a fixture of the city’s dining scene, known for blending traditional Indian cuisine with a distinctly Glaswegian sense of welcome. The restaurant has built a reputation for treating every customer like a guest in the family home, an approach that continues to resonate with generations of diners.
Satty Singh,who has spent nearly four decades in the hospitality industry, said his journey began in 1987 when he took his first job as a waiter at New Mahal on Glasgow’s Southside.
“My first job was to stand at the door to welcome guests in and to see them out when they were leaving and also say welcome and thank you.”
Although he jokes that he sometimes found himself looking across the road at Mr D’s nightclub, Singh said the role taught him the foundations of customer service.
“The best part of the job is taking orders and making people go home happy. It’s about knowing your product and treating people as if they’ve come to your house for dinner rather than to an establishment.”
When the Singh family opened Mister Singh’s India in 1994, they had a clear ambition.
Satty Singh said: “We wanted to be the best Indian restaurant in Glasgow, if not Scotland.”
He said achieving that goal required hard work, a deep understanding of the market and a commitment to offering something distinctive.
“You had to work hard to understand the market, to have a unique selling point and deliver that with good quality food and service.”
Singh credited the restaurant’s long-term success to the family’s hands-on approach and the personal relationships they have built with customers over the years.
He said: “All the family worked very hard and were very hands-on, so there’s a personal touch.”
Many of the recipes served at the restaurant are now more than 30 years old, and the business is welcoming third- and fourth-generation customers.
“We’ve grown with our patrons and we’re just as much a part of their family as they are part of ours.”
Beyond the restaurant, the Mister Singh’s brand has expanded into retail, with a range of curry products developed in partnership with family-run manufacturer PK Foods.
Singh said the launch was particularly memorable, especially as it was attended by his footballing hero, Sir Kenny Dalglish.
“To have my all-time hero Sir Kenny Dalglish come was just like a dream come true.”
Among his proudest achievements was being invited to prepare salmon tikka for the St Andrew’s Day reception at 10 Downing Street.
Satty said: “In nearly 40 years in the trade, that was probably a highlight.”
Reflecting on his career and the growth of Mister Singh’s India, Satty believes success comes down to a simple philosophy.
“You just work hard, stay humble and be as professional as possible.”
Today, Mister Singh’s India which can be found in the west end at Elderslie Street remains one of Glasgow’s most established Indian restaurants, combining award-winning cuisine with a family ethos that has kept customers returning for generations.