Argyll Bute
The Lorne

The Lorne

249 Argyll Street, PA23 7QT, Argyll Bute, United Kingdom

Soup • Meat • Steak • Cheese


"Well received by young waitress who was polite and took our drinks order. We ordered King Prawn tempura as a starter but beware of small print, for £9.95 you only get 3 small king prawns!! Very over priced, fair enough if these were scallops but over £3 each for a small king prawn is grossly over priced. Also we were offered a choice of sauces but conveniently weren’t told that there was a charge of £2.50 for the satay sauce. When served, the prawns were small and the Tempura batter was disappointing. The satay sauce was served in a small half full ramekin which should have been included in the £9.95 price. For mains we had the Lorne chicken and beer battered haddock full fillet for an extra £3). Lorne chicken was fine although could have been warmer. The beer battered haddock was surprisingly small considering the full fillet was ordered. Batter was crispy, tasty with good quality fish but portion far too small. Chips weren’t great and soggy while the mushy peas were served in a very small ramekin why would you do this? Peas are cheap, be generous. The peas were lukewarm no doubt having cooled in the ramekin and the tartar sauce portion was also ridiculously small and I had to order more. While we can all appreciate portion control and cut backs, for the prices charged, the portions here are very disappointing and not good value to customers. An older waitress came to us with the bill and when we gave her our requested feedback she became argumentative but eventually agreed to remove the satay sauce from the bill. Her standard phrase ….’it says that on the menu’ so beware of small print. Summary food just okay, portion control poor and overpriced, tend to be served lukewarm."

The Cruin Loch Lomond

The Cruin Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond Lodges, Argyll Bute, United Kingdom

Soup • Fish • Chicken • Ice Cream


"We dined here two nights ago on our last night in Loch Lomond. We had pre booked given the situation with Covid and that there weren't a lot of other restaurants/hotels in the area we were staying to get to on foot. We were not disappointed. I have read other reviews which are negative and I can't understand them. The restaurant staff were very accommodating allowing us to come a couple of hours earlier to have a drink. We sat outside overlooking the Loch amazing views, and then when it was getting a bit chilly we came in and sat in the lobby. The adherence to social distancing and health and safety was very good, they had a one way system and all of the staff wore masks when walking about and serving. It is a lovely venue. When we went into the main restaurant to eat, we were aware there were probably a lot less people in than usual due to the fact that they will be limited on numbers. That said, it was full, and there was a lovely cosy atmosphere. The food however was the crowning glory. The menu itself had the usual mains (fish and chips, burgers etc) but they had specials and we ordered two steaks, with a pepper sauce and black pudding. They were absolutely beautiful, cooked just right and so tasty. The starter prawns that we shared were so tasty as well. We felt it was reasonably priced for the venue and type of food we ordered and you could eat cheaper if you wanted something like a burger, however we were treating ourselves as it was our last night. I can't find any complaint and I can only say the staff were extremely helpful and I feel for them given what must be quite stressful times having to adhere to the Covid regulations and have less diners due to that. An earlier comment about no draft beer again I don't think this is something that is a major fault and my partner (who loves his draft lager) was quite happy to have a larger bottle of one of those available. I cannot say anything negative about this place and I would definitely recommend dining here."

Victoria's

Victoria's

55 Victoria Street, Argyll Bute, United Kingdom

Steak • Coffee • British • Vegetarian


"what? a terrible experience? pray it. restaurant will be busy, so if they just want to get to the off chance, we could be able to put them in. the location is completely empty. Anyway, in the first conversation with the staff., there will be a waiting time as we occupied down. no problem, we will admire the prospects. drinks and meals ordered. then the experience begins. steak's understated. false guides served the hand cutting chips, anemic and inedible. foods returned, only to be burned again, beyond the recognition. Now, it says on the menu carburized, because it cooked on a grill! godliness comes in the sense. oh and sometimes the steak is less rare in the middle, as we cannot check everyone. ah and the handcut chips? now they are not completely hand-cut, but made by a knife and then frozen and we take them out and cook them? they are uncooked on the inside!? well, it is the kartoffels that they see it is what the suppliers send us, but if they are unhappy, I will see to take a few pounds for the chips away! fillet steak has taken off the bill as she did not eat it? I hear you cry, what a nice gesture. unfortunately it wasn't to be. because I had asked and the bottle wein should be taken as goodwill, I had not expected that the sirloin steak, that was £4 cheaper to be removed! unnecessary to say bill returned. after my first visit on the island would I recommend this restaurant? absolutely not!"

Caledonia Coffeehouse And Bistro

Caledonia Coffeehouse And Bistro

31 Marine Road, Argyll Bute, United Kingdom, PA20 0LL

Cafe • Vegan • French • British


"I don't like to post negative reviews but something needs to be said. 50 minutes to get served when 90% of the food we ordered was cold and only needed to be placed on a chopping board. A chopping board which of course had to be was in swathes of spring onion. Now it seems churlish to say this but food is allowed to be savoury, every single dish was served with either a clawing pickle, chutney or balsamic reduction. Now to the cooking ... The curried muscles tasted precisely like muscles lightly warmed in coconut milk. No spice, no curry nothing. The tapas selection is where it went horribly wrong. Patatas Bravas is a simple simple dish cubes of fried potato in a spicy paprika sauce, not 2 soggy hash browns covered in chipped cooked tomato and onions. Pan con Tomato is another simple dish fresh bread covered with fresh tomatoes in olive oil and seasoned, not toasted bread covered in the same cooked tomato and Onion that swamped the the potatoes. Fried Serano Ham is a strange choice, fried Serano Ham in Balsamic vinegar is an abomination Tapenade is NOT a sweet tangy relish. It is ostensibly mashed olives this one like everything else was doused in sweet vinegar and quite quite unpleasant. The frozen chips were well cooked though. I'm giving it 3 stars simply because I don't like posting negative points, especially for a restaurant on an island where the food is universally awful."