GLASGOW restaurateurs commissioned a huge painting which appears to depict food critic Joanna Blythman’s face on a cow after she gave them a bad review.

It has been claimed that the four-foot high picture which hangs above a fridge full of fresh meat in steakhouse Porter and Rye bears a striking resemblance to the award-winning writer.

The respected critic (pictured above) who is the author of seven landmark books on food issues has described the stunt as “pathetic” and accused the owners of the restaurant of “misogyny.”

In 2011 Ms Blythman slammed the menu at Porter and Rye’s “sister restaurant”, The Finnieston, as “over-priced” and “patchy”.

Staff admitted this prompted the restaurant’s owners to order the cheeky picture of the cow, which they hung in new restaurant Porter and Rye when it opened in January this year.

Ms Blythman later visited the Argyle Street eaterie and gave it a glowing review, unaware that the painting was intended to poke fun at her.

The restaurant’s owner has denied there is any connection between the food critic and the image of the cow but staff were happy to discuss the link with diners.

One waiter told The Evening Times: “It is supposed to be Joanna Blythman but we're very cautious about who gets to know about it, just in case it’s a relative or friend who’s asking.

“Essentially, we weren't happy when she slated our sister restaurant The Finnieston when it first opened.

“She went in on a Monday to review it when there is always a reduced fish menu and complained about it. We only serve fresh fish and everyone knows fishermen don’t go out on a Sunday.

“The owners also have friends who opened a restaurant and she gave them a bad review too.

“But to be fair, she came in to Porter and Rye when we opened and raved about the place so it's a bit awkward now.”

A waitress who served the Evening Times during another visit to the restaurant said the link between Blythman and the painting is an “open secret” among staff.

When asked about the similarities she added: “We think it’s hilarious because the critic came in and gave us a great review even though she was sitting below this huge picture of her face in a cow.”

Ms Blythman was unimpressed when the Evening Times told her about the painting.

She said, if the restaurant had intended to insult her: “It’s pathetic and they need to grow up. Porter and Rye is a good restaurant but if the owners want to be immature and juvenile, that’s a shame.

“It’s also misogynistic and sexist. They obviously have a Neanderthal mentality. They wouldn’t do this to a man.”

She added: “Restaurateurs who go on to have longevity, who become really respected, are people who would never react in that unprofessional way.

“I can think of lots of cases where restaurateurss have been really quite bruised by a review from me but it has helped them then they have turned it around and subsequently got strong reviews.”

Graham Suttle, the managing director of Kained Holdings, owner of Porter and Rye and The Finnieston, said: “The painting is of a cow.”