The Boat House
- Food served: Restaurant: Mon–Fri 5pm–10pm, Sat noon–2.30pm / 5.30–10pm, Sun 12.30–3.30pm /5.30–8pm Bistro: Mon–Sat noon–9.30pm, Sun 12.30–9pm
- Bar open: Mon–Thurs and Sun 10am–12pm, Fri–Sat 10am–1am
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 18
- Also offers: Gluten-free options, Children's high chairs, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
- Music on stereo: Easy listening
- Capacity: 40–48
- Largest group: 44
- Open since: April 2003
- Average price 2 courses:
£15.95 (set lunch)
£17.95 (set dinner) - House wine: £13.50 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.
South Queensferry's Boat House restaurant has outgrown its original walls and a couple of years back part of the garden was sacrificed to make way for what is now a thriving bistro and bar with stunning picture windows over the Forth. Cleverly, however, the pleasant patio by the sea remains intact for sunset drinks or balmy summer days. The bistro serves a broad food spectrum, from macaroni cheese to mussels. In contrast, the main restaurant, with its white tablecloths and white stone walls, has a relaxed but more formal atmosphere. Chef/patron Paul Steward sources fish from all over Scotland; dark red rich seafood bisque owes its flavour and colour to lobster, langoustines and crab shells, while delicate locally oak-smoked salmon is from a smokery five miles down the road. The menu changes every few days, but dishes such as the west coast scallops (the heady aroma of white truffle scented oil announces their arrival to the table) have been on the menu for the past five years. Book or arrive early if you want sea views or a table in the main restaurant, as diners flock from all over the Central Belt to this destination seafood restaurant.
- High point: Stunning location with views of both bridges and Fife
- Low point: Having to navigate either a steep internal staircase or wave-lapped beach access steps
Comments
- 1. Saucy Sal, Edinburgh – 2 July 2009, 12:10pm
Report -
Went for sat lunch and had fixed price menu in restaurant as was quieter than bistro and had window table. Disappointed in mains - all fish portions fairly small. I had 4 scallops but no scent of truffle noted -(see above) and my daughter had a fish fillet which had a sauce so scarce she said she had to ration it to each mouthful. But is was presentation that was lacking - all came with boiled new potatoes and green beans already on the plate - this was dull, dry and lazy and wasteful as none of us ate the potatoes. The bistro version of the scallops looked much more interesting when I checked out the other menu. Starters - a lovely flavoursome cullen skink, not too rich with cream and pudding of fresh generously filled profiteroles were much more what we expected.
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