What is it?
An airy, welcoming cafe within a gallery in the heart of Speyside.
First impressions:
The cool decor and gallery displays made me question whether this was a good choice for the kids but the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming and quickly got us seated and furnished us with a high chair for the baby.
What did you have?
My daughter and I both opted to try the soups of the day. There wasn’t a specific kids option on the menu but they were happy to do a smaller bowl of the tomato soup with fresh crusty bread. There is a kids bagel available. I opted for the mushroom and blue cheese soup and upgraded my bread to a cheese scone (£4.90). Baby tasted a little bit of everything. Other options on the menu include filled bagels, antipasti and gourmet pizza.
Much of a wait?
Not at all, we were there quite early for lunch and everything arrived extremely quickly. The total bill for the soups, scone and a soft drink came to under £10.
How was the food?
Delicious, home-made soup which had obviously been made with care and attention. The cafe prides itself on using locally sourced and organic produce. My daughters both enjoyed everything they tasted and my older girl was delighted when her water arrived in a cute sparkly cup, while all the food was beautifully presented on handmade bowls and plates.
Good for kids?
Yes, the children were made extremely welcome and there is a changing mat in the bathroom. There aren’t any specific kids dishes on offer apart from the bagel but I prefer that approach. I was a bit wary of letting the children loose in the gallery, though and might think twice about bringing the more boisterous members of my family!
Good for the rest of the family?
Definitely! It is a lovely cafe with interesting art on the walls, a cosy fire nook and cool furnishings. The food is of a very high standard and the cakes looked fantastic! There was plenty of room for a pram or wheelchair.
Would you go back?
Yes the food was delicious and service was friendly and I would love to visit in summer to make use of the lovely courtyard dining area or sit by the fire with a coffee and a cake on a colder day.
Contact: 74 High Street, Grantown-on-Spey, T:01479 872246 www.thehighstreetmerchants.com (Closed Mondays)
