A journey through the bucolic charms of rural Fife was the perfect start to our evening at The Tiel Restaurant, nestled in the charming village of Auchtertool.
The name Auchtertool developed from the Gaelic uachdar, meaning upland or heights above the Tiel burn, from the Gaelic word tuil meaning torrent.
The cosy restaurant has been refurbished recently to create an eclectic mix of old and new, incorporating wood and slate flooring. The original bar was one from the first RMS Mauretania, which claimed the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing during her 1907 inaugural season.
We were warmly welcomed and shown to our table, and, armed with the knowledge that proprietor Joyce Fox is also an award winning chef who uses the best of local, seasonal produce, we enjoyed the anticipation of a memorable meal ahead.
The menu was refreshingly free from standard pub grub fare and had obviously been put together with careful thought to seasonality. With a good appetite after our journey, we decided to go for starters. My partner decided on the East Neuk Tiel smoked trout salad with crushed oatcakes and Glayva crème fraiche while I chose the Scottish Indian selection – a traditional twist on Indian favourites including haggis, chicken pakora with black pudding samosa twist mango coulis and masala ketchup.
Both dishes were sensational – perfectly flavoured and seasoned, and the batter on the Scottish Indian delicacies light and crispy.
Before the mains appeared, we were brought a marinated cocktail salmon appetiser each, which was a nice touch.
So – to the main event. My partner had ordered the braised borders beef cheek with horseradish mash, spiced red cabbage and finished with a rich red wine jus. With only a small pang of guilt, having seen the free range hens pecking happily in the restaurant kitchen garden, I went for the home smoked chicken, Strathdon blue cheese and walnut salad, elderberry and sloe gin dressing with Jersey Royal potatoes.
Suffice to say the beef was melt in the mouth succulent, perfectly balanced by the mash and red cabbage, while the chicken was tender, flavoursome and beautifully complemented by the blue cheese.
Determined to dine in style, we couldn’t resist the dessert menu, opting for the home made sticky toffee pudding and the artisan cheese board with Orkney smoked cheddar, Tain highland brie, Strathdon Blue served with iced grapes, crackers and home-made chutney. The brie was particularly delicious. For just £1 more you could add on a small glass of vintage port so it would have been a shame not to!
The sticky toffee pudding came with a big dollop of tablet ice-cream – the perfect end to a great meal.
The Tiel is also happy to cater for gluten free and lactose free diets as well as low sodium diet requirements. They also have a limited children’s menu and welcome families.
The Tiel may be tucked away in the depths of the Fife countryside but in fact it’s only a short journey from Kirkcaldy, and a 10-minute drive from Dunfermline. But, if you live further afield, it’s certainly worth a longer drive.
Info
Price: Starters from: £4; mains from £9.95; desserts from £4.95
Value: 8/10
Menu: 9/10
Atmosphere:8 /10
Service: 10/10
Food: 10/10
Total: 45/50
Info: The Tiel Restaurant & Bar
Address: Main Street, Auchtertool KY2 5XW
Tel: 01592 730381
