Our Recommendations - Places To Eat
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As well as travel, another of our favourite pastimes is eating out, whenever time permits, of course. We very much enjoy the guidance given by Ron McKenna in his weekly column for the Glasgow Herald. Following his advice, we’ve not yet put a foot wrong.
For us, a good place to eat doesn’t need to be posh or expensive, we just look for good quality food, well served in a convivial atmosphere, which is great value for money.
Our views on the eateries local to us are detailed on the Eating Out page on our site, as you’ve perhaps seen. Moving further afield, though, here’s a list of a few places where we’ve very much enjoyed ourselves. If you are in their neck of the woods, we have no hesitation in recommending that you give them a try.
Scotland - Up North
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Durness. – Cocoa Mountain.
This is a really nice café in a unit on an old radar station at Balnakiel just west of Durness. They specialise in all things chocolate and serve hot chocolate & coffee to die for, really nice nibbles too, especially all their wonderful chocolate products. Mmmm.
They’ve also opened a new branch in Auchterarder!! cocoamountain.co.uk |
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Lochinver. – The Caberfeidh.
Simon & Jen own & run this really friendly wee place, with its cosy dining room and welcoming bar. They use only the freshest local produce and, not surprisingly, get very busy indeed. A super place to eat when you’re staying at Tigh na Sith, though we do recommend that you book to make sure of your table. thecaberfeidh.co.uk |
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Kinlochbervie. – The Old School.
We’d been trying for a good while to get into this restaurant with rooms and, after many attempts we made it. We very much enjoyed the atmosphere in the converted schoolroom and the food was well worth the effort!! oldschoolhotel.co.uk |
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Ullapool. – The Seaforth.
Sitting where they are, overlooking the harbour & ferry port, they could so easily rip people off here. But they do not. We have enjoyed every single meal we’ve had there – it is a great menu, with a really good choice of local dishes and, you can sit outside, under their canopy with your dog too!! theseaforth.com |
Scotland - Central Belt
Glasgow
Irene’s home city is also home to a plethora of restaurants, some of which have become firm favourites of ours.
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Chardon d’Or
As Ron McKenna says, quite why Brian Maule, the chef proprietor here, has not got a Michelin Star is a mystery. He doesn’t need one though, even if he deserves one. Great value, top-end dining, perfect for that special occasion, even in these cash strapped times. brianmaule.com
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Café Mancini.
One of Irene’s two favourite Italian restaurants in her home city. Mancini’s offers a well varied menu, well executed and nicely served in a very pleasant ambience. mancini-restaurant.co.uk (Sad to say that, at the moment, there is a problem with Mancini's site, which the owner is working hard to get sorted out.) |
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Osteria Piero.
This is Irene’s other favourite and is very different from Mancini’s. If you are looking for loads of pasta a go go, this is not the place for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a really authentic, traditional Italian experience, here it is, at its best. Irene says so, so it must be true. It also won the Best Italian Restaurant Award in 2010. osteriapiero.co.uk
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Mother India Café.
There is, of course a vast choice of Indian Restaurants in Glasgow, many of them very well established and very fine indeed – the Koh I Noor & Shenaz come to mind. However, our current favourite is Mother India Café, just opposite Kelvingrove Gallery. In this very small establishment, you’ll feel the buzz the second you walk in. You get to choose from a very wide menu of “tapas” sized dishes and you’ll perhaps get to rub shoulders with the rich and famous who, like you, will have queued to get in as they do not take bookings. Superb. motherindiaglasgow.co.uk
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Edinburgh
For us, one man and his teams, do it all – well nearly!! David Ramsden has created 3 great value, easy access venues all within a stone’s throw of each other near Princes Street.
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The Dogs.
Our favourite and the first in the trio is the original – The Dogs. This was the very first of the new breed of restaurant bars in Edinburgh, now much imitated but, as yet, not bettered. In this lovely upstairs room, Mr Ramsdens’ chefs champion the use of Scottish & British ingredients in their extensive menu. Super food, very well cooked, tremendous atmosphere, no airs or graces, great service & stunning value – we love it. thedogsonline.co.uk
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Amore Dogs.
Right next door to The Dogs and offering the same magic experience, you’ll find Amore Dogs. Same ambience, service & standards of cooking, same great value too, but “Italian Style”. Right up Irene’s street. amoredogs.co.uk
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Sea Dogs.
Just round the corner from the other two restaurants, you’ll find Sea Dogs, where Mr Ramsden & his team do it all again and do it just as well – this time with…….yes, you’ve guessed it, Fish!! No fancy, expensive seafood, simply great value choices, well cooked & presented and which do not cost the earth. seadogsonline.co.uk
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The Khukuri.
David Ramsden hasn’t (yet) moved into the world of cuisine from the Indian subcontinent. But there are, in our view, 2 excellent and very different places where we’ve had a great time. The first is a genuine Nepali restaurant in Haymarket. It looks like a shop from the outside, not too prepossessing at that. Step across the threshold though and you’ll find that it is nice and small, nice and simple and serves great food at great value prices. thekhukuri.co.uk
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Scotland - Other
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Troon. – Scotts.
There is a way to “ease the pain” of flying with Ryanair out of Prestwick. We’ve sussed it out -here’s the recipe.
Book to stay at the new Travelodge at Ayr the night before you fly and book your car into Watsons Airpark for the next morning. Then take the short drive up the road and dine at Scotts in the yacht haven at Troon. A touch of civilisation before the mayhem of your flight.
We’ve eaten here 4 or 5 times now (Ryanair is still the best way for us to get to Girona), and every time it gets our break off to a really good start. You can choose to eat in the bar or the restaurant, it matters not, the quality is all the same.
After a lovely meal, you’ll enjoy your few hours’ sleep before jetting off to who-knows-where. scotts-troon.co.uk
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