With a view like this the food is (almost) secondary!
Great Places to Eat in Scotland
- Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch
The Location
The creation of Loch Lomond Shores at Balloch on the southernmost corner of Loch Lomond is part of the development of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Within easy reach of Glasgow (dual carriageway for most of the 15 miles), Loch Lomond Shores is proving to be popular with locals and tourists alike.The Restaurants
There are three areas in Drumkinnon Tower where you can eat. First of all, there is the restaurant near the top of the tower with spectacular views up Loch Lomond, beyond Inchmurrin island to Ben Lomond in the distance - see the picture at the top of this page. The paddle steamer "Maid of the Loch" is moored nearby and all the tables are arranged along the large picture windows. It is table service here, with young staff who cope admirably. On the day we were there, there was a queue waiting for a table (it was the October school holidays and the car parks were fuller than on any of the previous four times I had called at Lomond Shores). Even so, once we were seated, service was quick and efficient.
By contrast, there is a small mezzanine cocktail bar with snacks and drinks (including tea and coffee) above the ground floor. Most people seem to miss this one (access is by a stair which is easy to miss) and it is possible to have a quiet bite and drink there.
On the ground floor, there is a self-service restaurant which, in addition to the seating area inside, has an open-air terrace facing the loch. Of course, the Scottish weather is not always suitable for eating al fresco and, even on those occasions in summer when the sun is shining, you can find that the local wasps like the food too!
Drumkinnon Tower is open all year except Christmas Day. From April to September the hours are 9am to 7pm and October to March from 10am to 5pm. But the restaurants are also open in the evening - check at the information desk or phone 01389 721 500 for details.
In addition to the eating facilities in Drumkinnon Tower, Jenners of Princes Street, Edinburgh have opened a retail outlet as part of the Lomond Shores development. There you can enjoy the same high quality food and service of the popular restaurant in the capital - and enjoy a view which, in a different way, rivals that of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens.
The Food
Right, if you can drag your eyes from the view, the menu in the restaurant at the top of the tower is suitably up-market. There's main courses of smoked salmon salad, Cajun chicken served in a tortilla basket (large and crispy) with mixed leaves and sweetcorn salsa or poached salmon with dill dressing. There is also dressed crab salad or tuna nicoise plus roast vegetables in a tortilla a basket with pine nuts and balsamic vinegar.If that is too much, then there are a range of hot panninis with fillings such as smoked ham, turkey and smoked salmon. And if it's just a snack you're looking for, there sandwiches such as poached salmon dressed with green peppercorn mayonnaise or chicken in a Thai mayonnaise with apricots and almonds.
There are also cakes, pastries, muffins, gateaux and cheesecake (whew!). As well as the usual tea, coffee and soft drinks, you can have wine by the glass.
The ground floor servery provides more "fast food" style with chef's hot plate changing regularly, sandwiches and cakes. And for Glaswegians who can't do without their chipped potatoes (French fries) these are available - they looked quite dry and non-greasy - which might not necessarily suit the local taste!
The Bill
The main courses in the restaurant at the top of the tower cost between £5.50 and £9.50. The hot pannini cost around £3.20 to £4.50 and the sandwiches were under £3.Conclusion
With such a magnificent view, the food is (almost) incidental but, even so, it was of a high standard and not too highly priced. If Lomond Shores is as successful as the creators hope, however, they are going to have to think about increasing the number of tables available!Scottie
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