Restaurants in Central Scotland
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Seafood Temple
Locally sourced seafood is the god that’s worshipped at this tiny temple – a former park pavilion with glorious views over the bay. Owned by a former fisherman who smokes his own salmon, what must be Oban’s smallest restaurant serves up whole lobster cooked to order, scallops in garlic butter, plump langoustines, and the ‘platter magnifique’ (£60 for two persons), which offers a taste of everything. Booking essential.
reviewed
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Waterfront Restaurant
Housed on the top floor of a converted seamen’s mission, the Waterfront’s stylish, unfussy decor – dusky pink and carmine with pine tables and local art on the walls – does little to distract from the superb seafood freshly landed at the quay just a few metres away.
The menu ranges from crispy-battered haddock and chips to pan-fried scallops with lime, chilli and coriander pickle. There’s an early evening menu (5.30pm to 6.45pm) offering two courses for £11.50, or soup followed by fish and chips for £9.75. Best to book for dinner.
reviewed
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Kerachers
This classic seafood restaurant keeps things simple, combining fresh seafood with ingredients that add hints of flavour to complement but not overpower the dishes − a recipe for success!
reviewed
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Foyer
A light, airy space filled with blond wood and bold colours, Foyer is an art gallery as well as a restaurant and is run by a charity that works against youth homelessness and unemployment. The seasonal menu is a fusion of Scottish, Mediterranean and Asian influences, with lots of good vegetarian (and gluten- or dairy-free) options. A light lunch menu is available from 11am to 4pm.
reviewed
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Doll’s House
With its high-backed chairs, bright colours and creaky wooden floor, the Doll’s House blends a Victorian child’s bedroom with modern stylings. The result is a surprising warmth and no pretensions. The menu makes the most of local fish and other Scottish produce, and the two-course lunch for £6.95 is unbeatable value. The early-evening two-course deal for £12.95 isn’t bad either.
reviewed
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Shellfish Bar
If you want to savour superb Scottish seafood without the expense of an upmarket restaurant, head for Oban’s famous seafood stall – it’s the green shack on the quayside near the ferry terminal. Here you can buy fresh and cooked seafood to take away – excellent prawn sandwiches (£2.75), dressed crab (£4.75), and fresh oysters for only 65p each.
reviewed
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Howie's
A chic bistro dishing up great-value 'modern Scottish' cuisine accompanied by very reasonably priced house wine. Two-/three-course dinner £18/20.
reviewed
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Moulin Hotel
A mile away but a world apart, this atmospheric hotel was trading centuries before the tartan tack came to Pitlochry. With its romantic low ceilings, ageing wood and booth seating, the inn is a wonderfully atmospheric spot for a house-brewed ale or a portion of Highland comfort food: try the filling haggis or venison stew. A more formal restaurant (mains £13 to £16) serves equally delicious fare, and the hotel has a variety of rooms (single/double £60/75) as well as a self-catering annexe. The best way to get here from Pitlochry is walking: it’s a pretty uphill stroll through green fields, and an easy roll down the slope afterwards.
reviewed
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Taymouth Restaurant
Kenmore Hotel, touched with a quiet sense of dignity, claims to be Scotland’s oldest inn and dates from 1572. Its quaint, spacious rooms are generously furnished and full of character. On the chimneypiece in the bar look out for the romantic description of the countryside written by Robert Burns in 1787. After a few drinks in the bar, watch out for the low doorways on your way upstairs. The Taymouth Restaurant overlooks Loch Tay and the mouthwatering menu uses Scottish produce in simple but tasty combinations; the service is first class.
reviewed
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Rendezvous@Nargile
A stylish West End venue specialising in Turkish cuisine. There are tasty spreads of mezes – shakshuka (a blend of roast peppers, tomatoes, aubergines and chilli), djadjik (yoghurt with garlic and cucumber) and sigara boregi (cheese pastries), for example – followed by delicious, melt-in-the-mouth kebabs and marinated meats, and vegetarian dishes such as mantar guvec (casserole of button mushrooms in creamy sauce with a cheese-and-couscous crust).
reviewed
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Breizh
This warmly decorated bistro – the place could define the word – is a treat. Dishes are served with real panache, and the salads, featuring all sorts of delicious ingredients, are a feast of colour, texture and subtle flavours. The blackboard meat and fish specials offer great value and a real taste of northwest France: breakfasts, galettes (Breton buckwheat crêpes), tasty wines... If you like quality food served in an unpretentious way, you'll love it here.
reviewed
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Mhor Fish
Both chip shop and fish restaurant, but wholly different, this endearing black-and-white-tiled cafe displays the day's fresh catch. You can choose how you want it cooked, whether pan-seared and accompanied by one of many good wines, or fried and wrapped in paper with chips to take away. The fish and seafood comes from sustainable stock, and includes oysters and other goodies. If they run out of fresh fish, they shut, so opening hours can be a bit variable.
reviewed
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Hermann’s
Solidly set on a corner above the Mercat Cross and below the castle, this elegant Scottish-Austrian restaurant is a reliable and popular choice. The solid, conservative decor is weirdly offset by magazine-style skiing photos, but the food doesn’t miss a beat and ranges from Scottish favourites to gourmet schnitzel and spätzle noodles. Vegetarian options are good, and quality Austrian wines provide an out-of-the-ordinary accompaniment.
reviewed
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Callander Meadows
Informal but smart, this well-loved restaurant in the centre of Callander occupies the two front rooms of a house on the main street. There's a contemporary flair for presentation and unusual flavour combinations, but a solidly British base underpins the cuisine, with things like mackerel, red cabbage, salmon and duck making regular and welcome appearances. It's also open on Mondays from April to September, and Wednesdays too in high summer.
reviewed
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Sand Dollar Café
A cut above your usual seaside cafe – on sunny days you can sit at the wooden tables outside and share a bottle of chilled white wine, and there's a tempting menu that includes pancakes with maple syrup, homemade burgers and chocolate brownie with Orkney ice cream. An evening bistro menu (mains £11 to £20, served from 6pm Thursday to Saturday) offers steak and seafood dishes. The cafe is on the esplanade, 800m northeast of the city centre.
reviewed
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Silver Darling
The Silver Darling (an old Scottish nickname for herring) is housed in a former Customs office, with picture windows overlooking the sea at the entrance to Aberdeen harbour. Here you can enjoy fresh Scottish seafood prepared by a top French chef while you watch the porpoises playing in the harbour mouth. The lunch menu offers good-value gourmet delights, such as pan-fried turbot with chorizo and herb croquette; bookings are recommended.
reviewed
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Aura
Aura is an interesting mix – American deli by day dishing out giant sandwiches, and wine bar and restaurant day and night. Muted tones entice diners into its soft, relaxing environment, ideal for a wonderful meal. The early evening dinner special means small mains are only £7, including Moroccan beef or mussels in garlic sauce. There’s plenty for vegetarians, too. On our visit the amateurish service was a letdown.
reviewed
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Ee’usk
Bright and modern Ee’usk (it’s how you pronounce iasg, the Gaelic word for fish) occupies Oban’s prime location on the North Pier. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow diners on two levels to enjoy views over the harbour to Kerrera and Mull, while sampling a seafood menu ranging from fragrant Thai fish cakes to langoustines with chilli and ginger.
A little pricey, perhaps, but both food and location are first class.
reviewed
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Musa Art Cafe
The bright paintings on the walls match the vibrant furnishings and smart gastronomic creations at this great cafe-restaurant, set in a former church that was later used to store bananas. As well as a menu that focuses on quality local produce cooked in a quirky way – think haggis-and-coriander spring rolls with apricot chutney – there are Brewdog beers from Fraserburgh, and interesting music, sometimes live.
reviewed
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Playwright
Next door to the theatre, and decorated with photos of Scottish actors, this innovative cafe-bar and bistro serves a 'grazing menu' of light meals (£5 to £8) from noon to 5pm, a lunch and pre-theatre menu (£17/20 for two/three courses) and a gourmet à la carte menu that concentrates on fine Scottish produce with dishes such as saddle of lamb with wild mushrooms and roast halibut with shellfish sauce.
reviewed
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East India Company
This basement Indian restaurant is one of the best spots in Central Scotland for a curry. Sumptuously decorated to resemble a ship’s stateroom, with portraits of tea barons on the wall to conjure images of the days of the clippers, it offers exquisite dishes from all parts of India. There’s a buffet dinner available Monday to Thursday (£8.95), but go à la carte and savour the toothsome flavours.
reviewed
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Loch Fyne Oyster Bar
Six miles northeast of Inveraray in Cairndow, this rustic-themed restaurant serves excellent seafood, though the service can be a bit hit-and-miss. It’s housed in a converted byre, and the menu includes locally farmed oysters, mussels and salmon. The neighbouring shop sells packaged seafood and other deli goods to take away, as well as bottled beer from the nearby Fyne Ales microbrewery.
reviewed
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Deans@Let’s Eat
Noted for its excellent service, this award-winning bistro is the best place in town for splashing out on a special meal. Outstanding cuisine comes in the form of creative dishes on a short menu listed by main ingredient: halibut, lamb and beef reliably feature, but the manner of their cooking will change. Enjoy an aperitif on the comfy couches before indulging your palate.
reviewed
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Lade Inn
Callander's best pub isn't in Callander − it's a mile north of town. It does decent, large and popular bar meals, doesn't mind kids, and pulls a good pint (the real ales here are brewed to a house recipe). Next door, the owners run a shop with a dazzling selection of Scottish beers. There's low-key live music here at weekends too, but it shuts early if it's quiet midweek.
reviewed
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Metro
Sleek, slate-blue banquettes, white linen napkins, black-clad staff and a view of Victoria Dock lend an air of city sophistication to this stylish hotel brasserie, with a menu that ranges from steaks and burgers to Caribbean jerk chicken with coconut curry. There’s a three-course dinner menu for £21.50. Located just east of the city centre, close to the Frigate Unicorn.
reviewed
