Aberdeenshire offers stunning coastlines, historic castles, and rich Scottish culture; typical dishes include haggis, smoked salmon, and buttery shortbread.
Pub • Steak • British • Scottish
"A friend I went here for lunch as it had been recommended never again. I ordered the battered chicken goujons. When the plate arrived the batter was dark brown (not golden) due to the fact they had been fried far too long. Due to this I could barely cut them the chicken meat was tough dry. My friend ordered panko breaded haddock fared slightly better but the fish was overcooked. As the restaurant was not very busy there was no excuse for the poor overcooked food. Certainly not a pleasant meal we will not be returning."
Pubs • Steak • Seafood • British
"Sunday, 3rd September 2023 – 19:00 Meal: Wine Starters – Main – Coffee My friend and I arrived at 19:00 to a busy but not overfull restaurant without a reservation and they accommodated us upstairs. Menus were produced and we ordered a bottle of white wine and a jug of water. 0rders placed for starters and 2 servings of the Italian style fish stew on the ‘Specials Board’ at 26.99 each. Tomato and chilli with promises of loads of different fish. The toss up was between a steak or the stew (which neither of us would cook at home). The table was dirty and needed wiping – this request was placed 3x on the young waitron who eventually produced a cloth slopping water from a bucket in the corner cupped in her hands where she half heartedly wiped the table with water dripping onto my friend’s lap. Hurried mop up with tissues out of my bag. The white wine was plonked on the table – next to the cooler – unopened and no glasses. Several attempts were made to attract the waitron’s attention. Eventually another bottle was produced opened and we were advised the waitron was under age and not allowed to pour wine. Perfectly acceptable had she produced an opener and the glasses with an explanation I would have been happy to help myself – we understand and appreciate these things. The starters arrived and were delicious! The chef then came out to see us and explained that there was no lobster for the stew – we asked for extra monkfish, he then said there was no monkfish left – but could help us with other white fish and crab claws. He said he was down to the last 2 portions, and he would ensure they were hearty. We were a bit concerned and suggested perhaps we settle for the steak which is always delicious. He assured us we had made the right choice and would enjoy the stew. The stews arrived and were ‘hearty’ if being crammed with the contents of a tin of crab claws is your definition of hearty. The promised ‘rich tomato broth with chilli and garlic’ was a watered down version of what was clearly less than a cup of the original broth left at the bottom of the pot topped with water. It was tasteless – lacking in hint of either chilli, wine, garlic or herbs – having lived in Malta I can assure you I have a deep understanding of Med cooking. I guess we were lucky we didn’t have the salty brine of the crab claws as the broth. It was inedible and we were starving so we kept adding salt and pepper – we were beyond the point of returning the food which was a mistake in hindsight. We skipped dessert – had coffees and left. The meal came to nearly £100.00. This was an expensive lousy experience. We paid a generous tip – because they accommodated us without a reservation. Take aways from the experience: • The restaurant service on a Sunday evening at 19:00 should be as good as it is on a Friday at 19:00 • Being a local and having eaten there several times – it is my first choice for a ‘good’ meal – don’t abuse the luxury of local support. • Train your waitrons to clean tables, by wringing out the cloth and not dripping water on your patrons. • Waitrons (even under aged ones) should at least carry a wine opener, and understand that wine glasses should be produced when delivering wine. • Your chef should know better and never, ever assume he can cut costs by selling the dregs from his kitchen. • A poor dining experience costs you more than you think. We would have ordered dessert, and more importantly returned for a second meal in the next week – WE DIDN’T! I have a friend coming from Ireland in November – do I risk taking her to the Anchor?"
Fish • Steak • Cheese • Hotels
"Wasn’t sure where to eat in Ballater in the evening as everything seemed closed other than the Indian (packed and take away Chinese. The Fish Restsurant was a bit more pricey than we were looking for so chanced in here and what a find! Absolutely delicious had fish and chips (cos why not and they were absolutely gorgeous, fresh, chunky white fish, light batter … chef took our order and waited on which was a great touch. He was lovely, funny guy too told couple next to us he had to chase the 3 legged haggis himself when they enquired what it was Hubby had fajitas they were superb too Well recommended by us"
Food • Cafe • Coffee • British
"Very disappointed after our most recent visit to the Murly Tuck. We went mid morning on a Sunday and inside was very chilly with no heating on well certainly the radiator we were next to was off! So sat with jackets on. Ordered our food which was fine but then plates were taken away from myself and husband whilst our daughter was still eating! The place was empty so not like screaming out for tables! Think too much staff for that time of day with nothing to do. My husband went to pay whilst my daughter and I remained at the table and our cups/juice were then removed again before finished! Find this totally unnecessary when the place was empty. Got no thank you or bye from anyone so will certainly think twice before returning."
Pubs • Full • Steak • British
"A lovely meal was had at the Shepards rest in Westhill. Me and a few friends live in the local area and this is definitely the best restaurant in the area. Our server Lauren was very helpful and an asset to the restaurant with her wonderful customer service. Me and my friends all had burgers and all of our specific’s were met with ease and the food was served in time. We all enjoyed our beers and gins that we ordered. Reasonably priced and the food quality was perfect if not better than expected for a local pub and grill. Been here many times before and have had a great experience each time. I tend to recommend this place to anyone that I meet that is visiting Westhill and there surrounding area. Keep up the good work."
Soup • Steak • Pasta • Cheese
"I came here on Wednesday night with the wife. We came because there was a ‘buy one get one free’ offer which is outstanding value for money. I had the chicken burger which was sublime. It came with chunky chips and a spicy dipping sauce....The wife went for the steak burger which she scoffed. The bill came to £15 for two people which is tremendous... so good we immediately made another booking for next week so we can bring our friends with us! There is plenty of parking outside, and the restaurant is beside Thainstone Mart for those new to the area. There is free WiFi, and a Trace Trace system upon arrival. The waitresses were all very helpful and friendly, the only minor quibble is that service was a bit slow e.g. we weren’t given menus when we were seated, and the food took around 40 minutes to arrive after ordering. Overall we had a very good experience and we are looking forward to our next visit."
Pizza • Pasta • Steak • Italian
"Early dinner last Saturday evening with friends. We were given a table in a quieter room at the back of the building, which suited us perfectly as it was an old friends catching up occasion. Very impressed by the polite, friendly efficient service attention to detail excellent while not being intrusive. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food, I was pleased that I was able to have a starter, another starter dish as my main I was asked if I wanted a bigger portion, though I declined so that I would have room for tiramisu, which is always my pud of choice when eating Italian. The owner/manager ? was absolutely charming, checking if we were OK with the room, the table pretty much everything else again without being intrusive a bit of an art form in my humble opinion! I look forward very much to a return visit."
Food • Seafood • British • Scottish
"Super fish supper tonight in Banchory! Paul and his team have just got the batter mix down to the right crispness, the fish (haddock) was properly fresh, mushy peas were sublime, and it's inspiring to see lobster, hake and tiger prawns on the menu. Love the passion for innovation and respect for tradition! Next time will try the battered lemon sole. Thanks for a great supper at the end of a fairly dreich day."
Soup • Meat • Steak • Cheese
"There are 2 entrances to Carron to Mumbai, we entered from the street side and walked into an unmanned bar, a girl did eventually appear and asked if we had a table booked we had 2 friends joining us so asked if we could wait for them in the bar which wasn't a problem but weren't offered a drink while we waited, another waiter appeared a few minutes later and aknowleged us and we asked if we could have a drink which he seemed to go to another bar for and then the drinks were brought. Apart from the initial welcome the rest of the evening was very enjoyable. The restaurant is a whole different world to the front of house and the waiters are very knowledgeable and very good at recommending dishes if you are unsure what to choose, they did seem a little understaffed and the younger staff were not so knowledgeable. Will definitely recommend and visit again"
Wine • Pasta • Pizza • Italian
"Last night, we decided to dine at Gino's, as we enjoy supporting local businesses. Overall, we had a cozy and comfortable experience and enjoyed the wide variety of options on the menu. The front of house staff were kind and efficient, though we were not asked about our food until we were leaving. Despite this, we had no complaints about the delicious and fresh food, which was also reasonably priced. We were disappointed that the chef did not greet our table, but we still recommend this restaurant for those looking for a local spot in Stonehaven. The vegetarian options are plentiful, there is on street parking available, and the atmosphere gives off an authentic Italian vibe. The price range is £10-20 per person for dinner."
Bars • Wine • Cakes • Breakfast
"Popped in for breakfast on the way from Aberdeen to Edinburgh. Easy to find and loads of free parking nearby. . We were there for opening at 10 am. Lovely sea view. Outstanding coffee, Eggs Benedict, and a really good Full Scottish. Quality ingredients and..."
Cafés • Steak • Pasta • Hotels
"Stayed for three nights in Room 7, on a bed and breakfast basis. Very happy with all aspects, clean and comfortable. A bit of late night noise as the room is directly above the bar and in the excellent weather a lot of people spent time outside with their drinks and smokes! Excellent varied menu, good quality and well presented food. Breakfast service and check in particularly friendly. Beer garden very nice, although not sure about some young guys inflicting their choice of ‘music’ on other customers! Thankfully the restaurant area is lovely, so moving inside wasn’t a disappointment, despite the lovely weather! Never had an alcoholic shake before, but the Tennessee Boozy Shake is highly recommended! On street parking (free) available outside the hotel, no problem in getting a place each day."
Kebab • Asiatic • Mexican • Seafood
"The Beef Carbonade (Flemish Beef Stew) was simply the best I have ever tasted. I have eaten beef bourguignon and various versions of Beef in Ale or Red Wine or Stout in a selection of places from local pubs to a number of Bistros in France even some expensive ones in Paris but never tasted better. Incredibly tender and also full of flavour. Hats off to the chef. It was Sunday lunch very busy but all the staff were also very professional and on the ball. Fantastic experience"
Food • Full • Steak • British
"This place was heaving on a Wednesday evening, probably because there are so very few places in Scotland to eat out? Menu reads well with some interesting options. Service was good. The ubiquitous Haggis Bonbons were OK but weirdly sat on an Asian-Flavoured slaw of some sort, Steak Stroganoff with rice was creamy pleasant, but Crispy Chicken stir-fry was so overloaded with (bottled? sweet sour sauce that it was almost inedible. Perhaps stick to standard dishes if you eat here?"
Food • Store • Indian • Delivery
"We had a party of 7(2 being children) for my birthday. The service was extremely poor. Staff were not chatty or welcoming. I advised the waiter that I had meerkat movies 2 for 1 offer and was not happy about this. The food itself was lovely but like I said the staff and atmosphere of the restaurant wasn’t its normal self. I think the restaurant has been taken over by someone else. On asking the bill, the 2 for 1 meals had not been taken off. And the staff were reluctant to take it off. Even to the point that they lied that it had been taken off and that was the correct bill amount. On leaving the restaurant after paying the bill we were stopped by a very aggressive and unapproachable staff member possibly the manager advising that we hadn’t paid the correct amount and we were due him more money. He was very arrogant and rude. I explained that I come to the restaurant regularly and also order takeaways from them and have never had such an awful experience. As regular visitors we are also usually offered a complimentary drink at the end this was not the case even though we were there and celebrating my birthday. After leaving the restaurant feeling very annoyed and knowing full wel I had been charged more than I should have I noticed in their Facebook page that kids eat free every Sunday, and includes two courses. I was charged for both children’s meals and they were not offered a dessert or ice cream. After many years visiting Lasan I can confirm that they have lost some very loyal and regular customers. We will not be visiting again and I would not recommend going to others."
Soup • Steak • Cheese • Salads
"We recently had one of the best meals in years at this restaurant. As a family of four, we ordered three different steaks and a large portion of fish and chips, and each dish was cooked perfectly. The chips were the best we've had in a long time. Our starters were delicious, including a rich pate, creamy burrata, and tasty beetroot falafel. The wine selection was excellent and reasonably priced. The restaurant is located in the lovely town of Ballater and is a great place to treat yourselves after a day of exploring the hills. The staff were polite and welcoming, making our evening enjoyable.Overall, a fantastic dining experience that I highly recommend."
Cafe • Lunch • Coffee • British
"On arrival we waited to be seated, while a staff member chatting to another staff member on the phone. Before we got shown to our seat we were told there was no hot drinks ax we sat I was going to have the pancakes with bacon only to be told no pancakes left I did it is a basic recipe I would hope the chef know how to make a batter unless it was pre packet and they have ran out, I had another look and decided on the steak sandwich and hubby had full breakfast a soda drink and water was told to help ourselves to water drink then came, a wee while later was advised there is no steak why was this not taken off the menu, we decided to head out paid £2.95 for a can of irnbru, why did they open the cafe was quiet I now know why as this is the second time we have been and they had no hot water for teas/coffees. Very disappointed"
Cafe • Steak • British • Scottish
"It was like a cattle market …The customers were packed in you could barely move ! Other customers from tables were having to get up to let an older lady past with her zimmer frame, There was no system as 4 different waitress came to ask us our order. The waitress that severed us was rude and dismissive and she didn’t know what was available, when I asked her to ask the kitchen she never went to ask the kitchen. When the food came, the salad was sour which isn’t to everyone’s taste. I had a chicken mayo panini and it was yellow and didn’t taste fresh. Another member of the party had a panini and it was just thrown on the the plate and the bacon was pretty much just fat. Would have gotten better value for money doing it myself considering the money we paid. I don’t mind spending money on good food however this was not good food. We are regular customers and it has defiantly went down hill. Won’t be in a rush back."
Soup • Steak • Pizza • Cheese
"After staying at this hotel, I must say that the parking fee was quite expensive. We were looking forward to a good night's sleep, especially since we had been traveling in a camper van. However, the hotel room was hot with no air flow, extremely noisy until the early hours of the morning, and the beds were very uncomfortable. In the end, we decided to sleep in our van in the parking lot when we couldn't get any rest in the room. The information provided on the booking site was inaccurate, so it is advisable to double check and call ahead to confirm. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this hotel and will not be returning. It is a shame because the staff was very friendly and the overall atmosphere of the hotel was pleasant. However, I go to a hotel primarily for a good night's sleep, not just to admire the decor."
Cafe • Soup • British • Scottish
"Knowing this cafe well I am disappointed to be treated in the following manner after suggesting to one of my colleagues to meet here for a meeting and a coffee. My colleague 's understanding is limited and just needs a moment for explaination as they originate from a different country with English not as their first language. Imagine my surprise and which turned to disgust at the way we, as customers were treated when my colleague 's understanding was a little different and I was in the process of trying to explain. Due to my colleague having English as an additional language and for the purpose of the meeting they like to sit closer when I 'm explaining areas of the meeting to help their understanding. They moved a seat closer which unfortunately blocked a walk way and also where other chairs could not be used on a different table. (At this point this was not directly affected any other customer). I 'd like to state at this point I was aware and was in the process of encouraging an alternative and trying to help my colleague understand why we would have to rethink this. I also am very mindful that with English as an additional language this would take a little longer. Within minutes of my colleague sitting and before I could get a chance to rearrange or explain the difficulty of sitting where she needed too what I can only describe as an irate looking lady came storming out of the kitchen her words were not polite we were publically humiliated and told off with the following we can 't have the seat there and we 'd have to move it back as we were blocking the walkway . This lady 's mannerism 's were nothing but rude, passive agressive and quite frankly embarassing. This was in front of other customers. If you think that it 's clever to humiliate your customers in that manner when a mere quiet and polite request in a calm manner would have had the same result you are sadly mistaken. Your customers need to feel respected, warmly welcomed and accomodated. You made us feel unwelcome and unrespected. Your lovely waitress ensured we were able to be reseated. I 'd have a good look at how this was handled and regardless or whether this review is directed to the Owner or an Employee you need to ensure that this type of behaviour doesn 't happen to anyone else regardless of their background. Unlucky for you that I experienced this and lucky for you that my colleague doesn 't appear to have been phased by your clear disrespect. I am local. I will be sharing my experience with anyone who will listen. This is sad as I would like to praise the young lady who served us and accomodated us by assisting us to move to a larger table it was very apparent that our previous encounter had been noticed and this poor young lady was embarassed. This review is not directed at her whatsoever. I have always promoted what I thought was this lovely little cafe the food has always been lovely and I have never encoutered such rudeness. If you can 't work with people perhaps you shouldn 't work in hospitality. I will return again and do not expect to receive such an antiquated attitude and intolerance to other people and customers. Think before you act I 'd say read the situation and observe a little I appreciate that where the chair had been placed was not suitable I don 't appreciate being angrily spoken too and then publically humiliated unecessarily."