Riverside Tavern

How has 2017 been for you so far?

It’s been coming up roses for Lanark’s Riverside Tavern.

Tam Cowan, The Sun’s restaurant reviewer, wrote up the Kirkfieldbank bar a couple of weeks ago and he liked it.

A lot.

The service was ‘spot on’ while the pakora his mate ordered were better than the ones ordered at an Indian restaurant in Glasgow a few nights earlier.

And how was the steak pie, Tam? ‘Plenty of lean chunks of beef in a rich, thick gravy served with peas, carrots and a big dollop of buttery mash that was smoother than Swiss Toni from The Fast Show.’

Fair enough. Was that the best thing?

Apparently not. Dessert provided Tam and his mate with ‘the happiest ending this side of a massage parlour in Bangkok’.

There is little we can add to that.

Except to say that you can follow in Tam’s footsteps and try the Riverside Tavern with today’s Big Deal.

Lanark local

The clue is in the name. The Riverside Tavern is right by the Clyde, on the walkway in the village of Kirkfieldbank in the Clyde Valley, just a short stroll along the river from Lanark.

Art cognoscenti will know the site as the location of the Falls Of The Clyde Mural, a 25ft by 4ft high artwork created by Alasdair Gray in 1969.

After reopening in November 2015, this vibrant local pub has picked up plenty of positive word-of-mouth for its excellent menu, freshly prepared on the premises by the head chef and his team.

Pub food classics dominate but international dishes also feature.
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h3. Comfort food classics

Available seven days from noon to 8pm, the Big Deal offers two diners a starter and main course each, chosen from the a la carte menu, followed by a tea or coffee.

Starters feature such creations as hand-breaded mushrooms with garlic mayo, duck and port pâté with orange, cognac, brioche and onion chutney, or chicken and vegetable pakora.

Mains serve up great versions of the classics, including lamb shank, mixed grill, that famous steak pie, Scottish whole tail scampi, chicken chasni, and butcher’s pork and leek sausages with mash.

There are also vegetarian options and a range of handmade burgers.

If there’s still any space to be filled, desserts are an extra £3 and include sticky toffee pudding, chocolate fudge cake, caramel apple betty and Belgian waffles.

Happy diners

Many of Tripadvisor’s reviewers agree with Tam, as these excerpts show:

‘Welcome break during a walk and dog-friendly. We walked along the Clyde Walkway from Crossford to Kirkfieldbank… We had our lunch in the bar where we were made very welcome. The staff were very friendly and our lunch was delivered quickly… so tasty… generous proportions… The bar was warm and cosy and the toilets were spotless.’

Riverside Tavern’s Facebook page also has plenty of enthusiastic reviews:

‘The wee restaurant was lovely and warm… the ladies who served and chatted to us were lovely, made us feel very welcome – the food was delicious. The four of us had starters and main courses and definitely no room for pudding we were all very satisfied and full up – good sized portions x’

‘Lovely food and great value for money. Steak pie was delicious as was the soup, perfect for a cold day. Lovely wee pub and very friendly and helpful staff. I shall 100% be back.’

Hearty fare

Today’s Big Deal meal at the Riverside Tavern offers the perfect reward after a refreshing walk along the river.

The menu is a cut above your average pie and a pint establishment, and a relaxing meal here will round off a great day out by the river.