Rating Rating 4.8/5
I made a last-minute booking based on the place being open on a Sunday and having a menu that suited myself and my two teenage daughters. On arriving, I was a little taken aback by the fact that the restaurant is basically the back room of a pub (you have to walk through the pub to get to it). However, the decor was pleasing (lots of wood and tasteful Scottish themed paintings and wallpaper - dark but easy on the eye and not overdone to cheesines as is so common in Scots-cuisine eateries) and the staff were very friendly and helpful. I had a lamb shank on a rosemary jus, No 1 daughter had seared salmon, and No 2 daughter had the wild mushroom risotto. The salmon and the lamb were both served with broccoli and green beans while the risotto came with ratatouille and mixed-leaf salad. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, the lamb was tender and flavoursome, while my daughters pronounced the salmon and risotto "delicious". We all had the plain and milk chocolate cheesecake served on a raspberry coulis with fresh raspberries and chocolate ice-cream - again very good. With drinks, coffee and freshly-made shortbread, the whole lot came to under £36 (with 5pm discount).
The combination of price and quality would be hard to beat and the service was excellent. I would give it straight 5s but for the fact that the music - post-punk and neo-60s rock - while suitable for the pub area, was not appropriate for a restaurant. However, it wasn't very loud and, in these days of epidemic tone-deafness, at least it wasn't techno or rap (I speak as a musician with an abiding hatred for those two musically sterile forms). I was assured by the very helpful waitress that they are working on ways of splitting the sound system so that restaurant customers can have a more relaxing ambience. Apart from that quibble, I would unreservedly recommend this restaurant for price, quality, and service.
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NoRobert Leslie - 29/10/2007