Cringletie House Hotel

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It may only be twenty miles south of Edinburgh, but Cringletie House is a country house hotel that offers a real sense of complete escape that makes it feel much further away. This Borders bolthole reclines in 28 acres of grounds and the dining room is a fittingly grand setting for a grand dinner and if it is a romantic one even better. Choose between the a la carte menu or the excellent seven course tasting menu (which can be matched with wines) devised by ambitious head chef Craig Gibb. He is a talent well capable of handling Scotland’s fine produce, but also likes to add his own twists such as the pork belly, which comes with scallops, balsamic Onions and marinated squid. The mains challenge too, but even the squeamish should be converted by his rabbit loin spiced with pistachio and pancetta, with a rabbit leg tortellini. To finish off there are few more decadent desserts in Scotland than chocolate and cherry fondant, chocolate millefeuille and white chocolate and cherry mousse. The wine list and vegetables from their own walled garden back up this assured and dynamic hotel restaurant.

1. scotguide, Edinburgh – 27 December 2009, 11:10amCringletie House HotelReport

Having seen the website and read a whole variety of very positive reviews from the most reputable sources, I was really looking forward to Christmas lunch (3- course, £75 a head without wine) with great anticipation.

The experience was quite different and very disappointing. While the meal was competent enough, it wasn't particularly inspiring and I could have, and have, found an equal level of competence locally at least £15 a head less than we paid for a similar 3-course meal on Christmas Day. We had the distinct impression that the inflated price we were charged was simply the hotel trading on the reputation it seems to have at other times of the year, and were left with the unpleasant feeling of having been ripped off on this occasion.