Second up, Ghillie Dhu. A traditional Scottish pub spread over three main areas, Ghillie Dhu boasts “the finest local produce, ales and premium spirits”, including their own brand Ghillie Ale and Ghillie Dhu own blended Scotch whisky. The décor is traditional without being tacky, the waiting staff wear kilts and serve to the sound of lively pipe music (slightly cheesy, but fun). Ghillie Dhu is a fairly new addition to the area (having revamped the casino formerly on site) and is a venue for all sorts – ceilidhs, tea dances, live music, weddings, meetings, hens and so on. You could have a three course meal and ceilidh until the wee small hours, or a cosy drink by the f'ire.
Miss Twin had: Hot roast on toast with small bowl of kitchen soup £5.55 + Coke £2.10
Miss Twin: My lunch was the 'hot roast on toast'. The roast of the day was pork, and two reasonable slices were served on a slice of fresh bloomer bread on top of an apple and sultana accompaniment. This was served with a few salad leaves and a small bowl of the soup of the day – tomato and basil.
Digging into the soup first I found it flavoursome – but the kind of strong tomato taste that reminds you of pasta sauce. You don't want to drink a lot of pasta sauce so I'm glad it was just a small bowl. The roast on toast was better, the meat succulent and tasty – and not too chewy! The leaves could have perhaps benefited from a better dressing – just oil is a bit dull and tasteless. I ordered this with a Diet Coke, which turned into full fat on the way to the table, but nevermind, its only a few extra calories. I also approved of the way it was presented on a wooden board rather than a plate.
Mrs Fish had: Prawn marie rose olive oil baked potato £4.95 + lemony water (tap)
Mrs Fish: You should know something first. This meal was eaten just a few hours after I had a wisdom tooth pulled. I was not at my best. I could only feel half my face. I required something soft and mushy.
So. A baked potato it was! Prawn Marie Rose. An “olive oil baked potato served with house dressed salad”. As Miss Twin mentioned, the house dressing was... interesting (in a Loyd Grossman way) - It was a bunch of chopped parsley in a vat of oil and didn't really taste of much. I've ordered the same thing from Ghillie Dhu before and it was much the same this time – mediocre. It was a good tattie, good size, but the prawns were a bit small and tired (not “the finest local produce”, although Farmfoods is closer than the Atlantic), and the marie rose lacked tang. As I said, it was the same before and I ordered it a second time so it's good enough. Just not great.
Entered Restaurant at 13:00
Ordered drinks at 13:05, food at 13:15.
Food arrived at 13:25.
Finished food at 13:45
Received bill and paid at 14:00 (and were given a voucher - £5 off when you spend £10 valid until end Feb).
Friendly waitress, but given the number of staff, overall service was a wee bit on the slow side. Reasonable value for money but food nothing to write home about, nice atmosphere, well-stocked bar, but why were the Christmas decorations still up!?
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