Restaurant ideas - Fife/Edinburgh/Borders...

[tvrolet]

OK folks, I need an idea for a decent restaurant. The only one I know that fits the bill I'm after is the Champany Inn, but they're booked on the date I need. So, the requirement is:
1) Location-wise, within half of an hour or so of the Forth Bridge
2) 'Smart' (price is no object for this little jaunt)
3) Scottish/euro food - so no Indian, Chinese, Thai etc (which is my usual fare!)
4) No nouvelle cuisine, tiny portions or food stacked in towers - and nothing with quails eggs, hare, pigeon, larks' vomit or other off-the-wall menu entries. I want relatively conventional food, but done well.
5) This is important this one - it's got to have decent parking - proximity and space - so that knocks out pretty much all of the Edinburgh city-centre places (and the Dakota at weekends). Mrs T will be in heels, and is not up for walking!
6) Would be real nice if it was a 'destination' after a wee drive in the country. Not absolutely necessary this one, but I'd rather spend 45 minutes scooting through the country with a nice meal at the end of it, than sitting in traffic for half an hour.

Ideas?

[ALY77]

The Prestonfield, Edinburgh?

Orocco Pier, South Queensferry?

[5 In a Row]

Balbirnie Hotel, Markinch?

[Rockatansky]

Peat Inn?

[5 In a Row]

Rockatansky said:

Peat Inn?

Didn't that used to be nouvelle cuisine?

[Rockatansky]

You may have a point.

It's quite a while since I was there, but I dare say the quail's eggs won't be too far away..

[tonytifoso]

Sangsters at Elie. Divine food cooked by a genius

[5 In a Row]

I've never been rich enough to eat there

Balbirnie probably wasn't a good suggestion due to the poor Fife roads and all the speed bumps to get up to the hotel.

[Nefarious]

Kitchin or Martin Wisharts?

Maybe a bit too nouveau (although IME both keep the right side of the line, even on the tasting menu), but there's lots of parking down in Leith.

Alternatively, and this might be pushing your 1/2 hour from the bridge stipulation, there's Martin Wishart's new place on Loch Lomond. Last time I looked they were doing a deal on Chef's tasting menu, room for the night, and breakfast.

[Rockatansky]

5 In a Row said:

I've never been rich enough to eat there

Note that I never actually said I'd eaten there, just been there

I have sat waiting in luxury cars of varying types outside many fine hotels and restaurants in a previous life

[sherman]

Livingstons in Linlithgow behind Bar Leo is very nice or Marynka across the road is very good as long as yo like seafood. Parking is good in the high street after the rush hour time is over.

[tvrolet]

Thanks for the all the quick responses – done and dusted, the Balbirnie House...but not sure if it’s quite going to hit the mark but we’ll see.

ALY77 said:

The Prestonfield, Edinburgh?
Orocco Pier, South Queensferry?

Menu at Rhubarb doesn’t really float my boat.
Orocco – good call, I forgot it was even there. But if a place can be too close that’s probably it. I’d be able to wave at my hoose across the Firth. But duly reminded; I’ll have to do a lunch there sometime

5 In a Row said:

Balbirnie Hotel, Markinch?

The winner – scores on menu, parking etc., but put off by the fact it’s a hotel restaurant and not a stand-alone establishment. We'll see though.

Rockatansky said:

Peat Inn?

Ideal location, but there’s really nothing on the menu I fancy. Not even slightly. Too nouvelle for me I’m afraid.

tonytifoso said:

Sangsters at Elie. Divine food cooked by a genius

Liked the idea of a drive to Elie, but again the menu didn’t float my boat – I’m sure it’s great food, but on sample menu none of the 3 choices really had me salivating at the thought....

Nefarious said:

Kitchin or Martin Wisharts?
Maybe a bit too nouveau (although IME both keep the right side of the line, even on the tasting menu), but there's lots of parking down in Leith.

Scanned the menus....jeez Kitchin has pigs head, bone marrow and eel amongst the delicacies. Not for me I’m afraid.

sherman said:

Livingstons in Linlithgow behind Bar Leo is very nice or Marynka across the road is very good as long as yo like seafood. Parking is good in the high street after the rush hour time is over.

Missed the cut I’m sorry, but added to the list of possibles for the future.
Thanks for the suggestions folks...

[tonytifoso]

We demand a course by course review with marks out of 10

[Lefty Two Drams]

Rockatansky said:

Peat Inn?

+1

Lovely place

[p17sut]

You can always park in Markinch or at the Balbirnie entrance car park and have a nice walk through the grounds to the hotel.

Are you going to the Bistro or Orangery?

I know the place and its owners quite well.

[5 In a Row]

p17sut said:

You can always park in Markinch or at the Balbirnie entrance car park and have a nice walk through the grounds to the hotel.

It would be safer to park at the hotel and commence the walk from there

[Craigie]

Another possible one for the future would be the restaurant at Beecraigs Country Park. If you get a window seat there you get a lovely view all the way to the Forth Bridges, really is quite spectacular.

Also very nice for a walk after the meal "to let the food go down" but maybe not suitable for heels.....

[a11y_m]

Not sure if this type of thing would suit, but I was impressed last time I was there (over 18 months ago though):

The Park Bistro (Linlithgow): http://www.theparkbistro.co.uk/park-bistro-home/

Sherman might be able to add some comment/info about it better than me perhaps?

[sherman]

a11y_m said:

Not sure if this type of thing would suit, but I was impressed last time I was there (over 18 months ago though):

The Park Bistro (Linlithgow): http://www.theparkbistro.co.uk/park-bistro-home/

Sherman might be able to add some comment/info about it better than me perhaps?

Never actually been to the park bistro myself but from what I hear it is very nice.

Beecraigs restaurant is ok as long as you want some nicely done venison. The venison comes from the deer farm next door. The service is not spectacular but if you get a window seat on a good day you can see all the way to the Bass rock and beyond.

[p17sut]

5 In a Row said:

p17sut said:

You can always park in Markinch or at the Balbirnie entrance car park and have a nice walk through the grounds to the hotel.

It would be safer to park at the hotel and commence the walk from there

Yeah the usual dog walkers car park at the estate entrance would be better than trying to park in the town.

The hotel owner has had a couple of 911s and more recently a 4200 Spyder plus various quick bikes.....but due to a growing family now has a 4x4 and a golf.