On a clear sunny day, the terrace at Craig Millar’s restaurant, 16 West End, St Monans, Fife feels like it’s overlooking the Mediterranean rather than the Firth of Forth. The short brasserie menu had three fish choices, including fish pie, haddock and chips or cod on a saffron and gnocchi broth and the two meat options included slow cooked ox cheek, all of which around were around the £15 mark,
Cristiano Guarnacci, the chef pictured above, has been creating Italian food for diners in west Fife for many years; first as the owner of Italian restaurant, Taurasi, and then, as a chef at Ciao Italia. His latest venture, Incontri, also in Dunfermline, opened on 23 March. The Bruce Street restaurant is a joint venture with Paul and Nicola Mitchell; Nicola manages front of house while Cristiano runs the open plan
Based in cafes in and around Dunfermline town centre, Cafe Music Live provides a friendly and relaxed live music environment for young performers. The concept is the brainchild of local live music organiser Jonathan Cairney who, as a teacher and a musician, was keen to provide both a platform for younger performers and a destination for young music fans. The ‘tea-time’ gigs are free and will feature vocalists, solo musicians,
The owners who took over the Boathouse cafe and restaurant in Kinross in early 2015 have succeeded in making the venue an all-year round destination. With the addition of lamps, candlelight, fairy lights and sofas, the cafe is now a cozy winter venue. Under the previous ownership the opening hours in winter were intermittent and all the focus seemed to be on the decked seating area outside; admittedly the deck
An Edinburgh stalwart Howies restaurant celebrates 25 years since the first one opened in 1990. Named after its founder David Howie Scott, who deliberately eschewed fine dining to create an informal bistro, the restaurant has been sold and bought back by the owner in the intervening years. During that time it has been a consistently popular venue for groups and office nights out which is probably down to a number
Where do you go if you want a pint with a nice view? The Ship Inn in the waterside village of Limekilns is worth considering for its views across the Forth of Firth. It may not have the dramatic proximity to the Forth Rail Bridge that the bars and restaurants in South Queensferry have but the village has attractive Scottish stone-built cottages plus the streets are less manic so it’s
Shieldbank Coffee Shop Monday – Closed Tuesday – 12pm until 6pm Wednesday to Sunday 10am until 6pm Shieldbank Coffee Shop is a small country coffee shop one mile outside the picturesque village of Saline within the grounds of Shieldbank Riding and Vaulting Club. They specialise in home-made soups, home baking, various light lunches, coffee and locally blended teas. In the warmer weather the terrace is open. You can watch the
The Court House Coffee Bar & Restaurant in Kinross, Perthshire opened in Spring 2015. The two local entrepreneurs, Jamie Fraser and Gerry Alexander, who started the restaurant, have created a lovely interior from the former Court House. Although it’s a long time since it was a court house – the last case was in 1977 – the history does provide a good back story. For instance, the room now used
The Scottish Riviera is at Aberdour in Fife. Or at least that’s what it said on the sign at Black Sands, the beach close to the town centre of Aberdour. Today Avocado Sweet is featuring a small but pretty section of the popular Fife Coastal Path, a section which also happens to have at least a couple of good cafes along the way. The starting point is just before the
Don’t panic, like we did, at the tiny portion of chips in the mini frying baskets served at the Tailend restaurant in St Andrews, Fife. The waiting staff will bring you more chips when you are ready. Once you’ve relaxed because your extra chips have arrived you’ll realise the haddock is really fresh at this Market Street restaurant which is also a takeaway and fishmonger. Maybe being a fishmonger helps