Restaurant Taster Menus - recommendations.

[scaffoldingtheworld]

Has anyone got any recommendations?

My gran has given DH and I money for a night away and I think we’d like to book a restaurant with a taster menu as something completely different. Usually we are with the kids so meals out usually factor in a burger or fish and chips.

I’ve seen Dean Banks at the Cale in Edinburgh and there is Six by Nico but I wonder if anyone has any other recommendations. We are based centrally so can travel a bit.

[quote Badgertadger]@NoYOUbekind it's always a risk with fancy hotels - soulless dining rooms that don't quite please anyone.[/quote]
Yep - see also Aizle, Paul Tamburrini's place (where the food was glorious) and Prince at the Balmoral (shudder). The Pompadour manages to get away with it as it's such a beautiful room.

We also had a gorgeous meal at Mark Greenaway (at the Waldorf - sounds like he may have moved on?) in an almost empty dining room. Really reasonable price for the set menu too.

@IHaveBrilloHair I don't think Nico was a very nice employer either. No breaks, unpaid overtime, bullying, the usual.

Ugh, won't go there then.

Oh, this is a no brainer: Number One at the Balmoral in Edinburgh.

Amazing!

I went to the Peat Inn too on holiday a few weeks ago and it was really disappointing.

I thought the same about peat inn, service was lovely, room was nice but I wasn’t blown away by the food at all.

Just checked Cail Bruich, fully booked for ages!
Dd and I are planning on 88 in Glasgow for her birthday, not tasting menu, or particularly fancy, but I've heard good things and it's small plates which we love.

It’s tasting not taster, sorry for being petty but it drives me potty

We had 2 tasting menus last week...

www.windlestraw.co.uk near Peebles
It's a hotel too
Nice and quiet, family run.
Great service
Food was delicious
Very nice atmosphere.

Also went to Number 1 at the Balmoral in Edinburgh
Great food. The dessert was probably the best thing I've ever eaten!!! (I've had 7 or 8 tasting menus in the past)
But the atmosphere isn't that great. The other clientele seemed quite pompous, which ruined the atmosphere for us.

I liked the balmoral atmosphere. Formal but relaxed, and best service

@NCkitchen.
I'm hoping Martin Wishart isn't pompous.
I actually ate at his restaurant at Cameron House many years ago and it really was exactly that, I think it being in an expensive hotel didn't help, and the other clientele were um v braying!
It was my first experience with a restaurant like that though and although I still wouldn't like it, it would bother me far less now, besides my friend and I would probably just laugh at that nonsense!
It's one thing I loved about The Kitchin they managed to make you feel as comfortable as if you were in your local, yet also like you were very important to them.
Damn you bullying, stealing horror

We had the same experience at Cameron House, the sommelier was a pompous arse.

In the Witchery and Peat Inn some of the other clients were posh, loud and overbearing twats.

The staff were lovely at the Balmoral, attentive, friendly, welcoming.

It was the other guests that soured the atmosphere for us. Might have just been an odd night as we've only been once

Gordons, Inverkeilor.

I've not been to Martin Wishart for years but I do remember both times the service was exemplary and not snooty at all.

I’ve been to Martin Wishart and really liked it. It’s very serene and relaxing, and great food

@titsintiers
How funny the cheese guy spoke to me as if I'd never heard of cheese before and when we went to the loo acted like we were trying to do a runner!
It was 11 years ago though and makes me laugh now.
That said, its 15 minutes from my house and I never went back.

On Martin Wishart, DH always said the service at The Honours (now closed) was exceptionally snooty and unnecessarily so, given they were trying to pass themselves off as a bistro. At Restaurant MW the service is lovely. But with anywhere, you have to be in the right mood for the place - I once went to RMW for a reunion with friends who lived overseas and we just wanted to talk so the constant 'here is your asparagus, which was fresh-picked by Jemima on her farm this morning' spiel felt intrusive even though it wasn't really in itself, if that makes sense?

We'll definitely be in the mood for a good tasting menu with explanations, that's what we want, just so long as it's not snooty.
We also don't drink so I'm hoping they don't get weird about that.

If you fancy a jaunt to North Yorkshire, Tommy Banks's Black Swan at Oldstead was one of the best tasting menus I've had in my life. They ask about any dietary issues/aversions etc beforehand and tailor the menu to each guest. Every item was divine, service wonderful and the rooms themselves just lovely.

If you don't drink I'd recommend Timberyard as they do a wine pairing but also an alcohol free one with some really interesting homemade/brewed(?) drinks.

Heard great things about Dean Banks at the Cally but I'm yet to try it. So glad to hear people are boycotting the Kitchen and Six by Nico, I believe the allegations. Six by Nico is a conveyor belt anyway, really rushed.

We don't want alcohol free pairings, just water, I'm hoping they'll be fine with that, we really are there for the food.
(We do drink, but both hate wine, I'm driving anyway and we are happy with water)

I didn't find six by Nico rushed and I've been a number of times. You simply can't expect a six course meal at £30 to come with the same level of service as something that costs three times as much.

I’d ring them and say about the wine thing beforehand so it’s stress free . DP rings to say no fish for him (weirdo!) and it’s been a good way to do it.