Dining We looked forward to dining in the pre booked Clunie restaurant on our first night. The hotel is crammed full of fascinating object d’art which have been creatively and tastefully embedded throughout the building. The restaurant was no exception which all supported the promise of a good meal. Sadly this did not really materialise despite the hotel’s website stating ‘The Fife Arms showcases the finest seasonal produce for which Scotland is world famous. From fresh seafood and game to local whiskies and spirits, many of the ingredients used in the kitchens and bars is sourced from local suppliers, gamekeepers and farmers.’ Despite the restaurant being almost full the presented menu only...
We were staying at the hotel, so wanted the full Fife Arms experience. We had cocktails in Elsa 's Bar, which were excellent, and served by very friendly, enthusiastic staff. Unfortunately, the dining experience was not nearly as good. First of all , neither of us could find anything exciting on the menu. We would have happily had two starters, as we often do in very good restaurants, but there simply were not enough interesting starters. The main options of vegetarian, cod, lamb or beef wellington for two were so uninspiring that we both ordered the lamb, which was decent quality meat with a completely tasteless sauce. Why was there no game on the menu? Wild duck or pheasant would have been...
Made reservations and came a considerable distance with visiting friends to treat them to the wood fired Sunday roast at the Fife Arms Clunie Restaurant. Bad sign that they seemed surprised to see us, then seated us in an otherwise empty dining room. Service was lovely. Wait staff were excellent. Starters (a soup, and a leek dish) were slow to arrive but tasty. Then the Sunday roast when it finally arrived an hour later was almost inedible. Beef was both tough and improperly carved, so very stringy. Managed to saw off a few bits. Gravy good, but Yorkshire puddings probably store bought and in the oven all day were dried to a crisp and tasteless. The roasted potatoes couldn 't be cut with our...
Overall we enjoyed our evening. It was good that you fitted us in for a special occasion. We were aware that we had to vacate the table in two hours for later diners. But throughout we felt a pressure to comply with this, which was totally unnecessary and has never happened in much more modest establishments. In other words we felt rushed. The service was friendly and if anything a little too attentive. Having been ushered in very attentively by all, this was just switched off for our exit and we might have been invisible. The main course was really excellent and a highlight. The starter was a fish dish totally dominated by chilli and very ordinary. Chefs seem to be obsessed with chilli nowa...
Réservez une table maintenant
During our stay in Braemar, we decided to try out The Clunie based on a recommendation. The hotel has a unique charm and is popular among American tourists, akin to a Scottish version of Disney Land which they seem to enjoy. The decor is interesting, although the dining room could use some improvement as it felt a bit stifling and lacked warmth. The local cuisine was good overall, although some dishes seemed unbalanced in terms of flavors – my cod main lacked taste and my husband's venison was overwhelmed by strong flavors in the dish. The starters and desserts, however, were delicious. The staff, although friendly, seemed to lack training in fine dining etiquette, indicating a need for more...
The hotel, already well-known and established, recently underwent a complete renovation by Hauser and Wirth, a global art dealer conglomerate. The transformation is truly stunning, striking a perfect balance between modern and traditional design. The focal point of The Clunie Dining Room is a majestic stag statue, reminding guests that they are in the heart of deer country. Even the Picasso portrait in the drawing room fits seamlessly into the new decor. The hand-painted, multicoloured abstract panelled walls are truly breathtaking. The wood-fired venison, sourced from a local estate, was of the highest quality, cooked to a perfect pink and tender perfection, and served with a delicious red...
After returning from walking ‘The Morrone’, we popped into the hotel to book a table for the evening. I gave details, man, time, and everything seemed fine. A moment later, we were questioned as to whether we were residents, we stated we just wanted dinner at the restaurant, then told bluntly that we could not book. That was rude enough, but moments later a couple overheard us and told us they had just booked a table, the only difference was their attire, we were in walking gear. The young man we spoke to as we entered was extremely helpful and as we were leaving asked if we had booked ok, and was surprised to hear we were unable to get a table. So rude and clearly they didn’t want ‘our sort...
Good: Service level from the staff was very high The starters and dessert were both very good The wine list was comprehensive, though the mark up was much higher that expected. Average: After dinner coffee had no petit fours option and was accompanied by very soft (almost soggy! shortbread Poor: The main was incredibly dissappointing very overcooked hake in overly vinegared broth. Value: Terrible. Very expensive and not a place we'll be revisiting.
Réservez une table maintenant
We dined here on the first night of our stay. Had a cocktail at Elsa’s Bar which was nice. This restaurant has a wonderful painting along with Stan the stag! Interesting combo. My venison tartare was delicious. Hubby decided to go for the Sunday roast. Largest Yorkshire pudding was one of the largest. It was delicious. My lamb was cooked to perfection. We did not have room for dessert but it was certainly an enjoyable dinner
The restaurant offers delicious food with exceptional service from a highly skilled staff. The wine selection and cocktail menu are excellent, all set in a unique and luxurious atmosphere.
