Located inside an A-listed building steeped in history, the Bistro at Balbirnie House Hotel enjoys breathtaking surroundings.
Set in 400 acres of parkland just outside Glenrothes, the country house is the gem at the centre of Balbirnie Park.
Built in 1777 and once the private estate of the Balfour Family, the current building is a rebuild that was completed in 1817 and converted into a hotel in 1990.
Popular with tourists enjoying golf and famous as a wedding venue, it has picked up a host of accolades — most recently being named “Best Wedding Hotel on a Global Level” at the Haute Grandeur Awards.
It’s the third year in a row the team have picked up the gong, marking the venue out for couples planning their big day worldwide.
And after attending a friend’s wedding at the premises earlier this year, I was keen to head back and try the food on offer.
Balbirnie House Hotel
A key part of visiting Balbirnie House is taking in the amazing surroundings and stunning architecture of the house.
I visited with my mum in the evening, but I’d also recommend heading along during the day to take advantage of the landscaped gardens around the hotel.
We opted to visit the Bistro, which seems to be the less formal of two restaurants at the hotel.
After entering through the grand entrance the friendly reception team welcomed us and gave directions to the dining room, which is on the lower ground floor.
We were left to make our own way. I’m not sure if this is deliberate but it was a nice touch as it allowed us to take in the sights of the house and its walls, which are littered with artwork.
Because of its A-listed status, this part of the building can only be reached after going down quite a few steps and there is no lift.
The Orangery, which offers a seven-course tasting menu, is fully accessible on the ground floor so those who rely on disabled access shouldn’t be put off.
Despite the grandness of the Georgian mansion, the Bistro is designed nicely and is a really warm and welcoming space which isn’t overly formal.
It was bustling as we arrived – creating a lovely atmosphere – and we were shown to a table by the bustling entrance next to the kitchens which gave us a great view of everything going on.
The food
Once seated we were given a menu and ordered two soft drinks, but there is also a wide range of wines, spirits and beers available alongside a cocktail menu.
The autumnal menu has lots of variety and is clearly designed to cater for lunch and dinner guests alike.
The offering had been newly updated when we visited, and it had lots of information about each dish and indicated where locally sourced ingredients are used, which is always good to see.
Deciding what to order was really difficult, and both my mum and I struggled to choose our starters in particular.
We couldn’t help but look at what those around us were enjoying, with both the pea and pancetta fish cake (£8.50) and cauliflower veloute (£7) both presented very well.
The cock a leekie terrine (£8.50) and a smoked haddock and horseradish tian (£9) also looked tempting.
In the end, we decided to plump for the baked camembert for two (£15.95), which turned out to be a cheese lover’s dream.
It was served with a beautiful mulled fig chutney, slices of fresh bread and finished off with a selection of sweet pickles.
My mum was a big fan of the chutney which wasn’t too strong and balanced well with the cheese.
Each course did take around 15-20 minutes to arrive, but the restaurant was busy with a large group booking being seated shortly after us.
All that cheese and bread in our starter, which we absolutely devoured, was also very filling so the break between dishes wasn’t a big issue.
For my main, I went straight for the beef bourguignon (£15.50) but other options include venison loin (£23.95) and baked fillet of Scrabster cod (£17.00).
Meanwhile, my mum ordered the signature Balbirnie royale burger from the grill menu, which also offers an 8oz ribeye steak (£27.95). We also ordered a side of onion rings (£3.50) to share.
After another short wait, we weren’t disappointed. Beef bourguignon is a personal favourite so I had high hopes which were exceeded.
Served with honey-roasted root vegetables and a herb mash, the dish was visually appealing and packed with flavour. The beef melted in the mouth and had been cooked expertly.
The parsley-flavoured mash paired really well with the beef and was something a little different to what I’ve had with this dish before.
The royale burger was served well done, which suited my mum but might not be to everyone’s taste, and came with bacon, cheese, lettuce, red onion, gherkin and burger sauce.
While tasty, the burger didn’t seem to have anything unique about it, which would have been nice to see given it bears the hotel’s name.
The verdict
While on the more expensive side locally we loved our visit to the Bistro at Balbirnie House Hotel.
With two AA rosettes and lots of awards, our expectations before arriving were high but more than matched by the talented team.
The portions were also generous, meaning the prices didn’t seem unreasonable.
A number of deals are available for those looking to visit on a budget, including two courses for £15.95 between noon and 5pm during the week. The hotel also runs a steak night each Thursday, with two steaks and a bottle of wine for £55.
While busy, the service was also great and the staff all seemed very knowledgeable and proud to work there.
The food at the Bistro is extremely well prepared and, importantly, doesn’t rely on the setting to make up for any shortcomings. It stands out as excellent on its own.
Overall, both my mum and I are very keen to visit again and will likely be back soon to try out The Orangery which offers a seven-course tasting menu (£38.50 per person).
Alasdair is a journalist with The Courier’s Live Team in Dundee. He covers breaking news across Tayside and Fife.
A proud Fifer, he loves sampling the wide range of food and drink the Kingdom has to offer.
Information
Address: Balbirnie House Hotel, Balbirnie Park, Markinch, KY7 6NE
T: 01592 610066
Price: £67.05 for a sharing starter for two, two mains and three soft drinks.
Scores:
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 4.5/5
- Surroundings: 5/5
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