La Balena - Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Scotland

We were looking forward to having a nice Italian meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice. We ate indoors, but there appeared to be outdoor seating. The wait staff was attentive throughout our time there. We had calamari for a starter, and we both had the Tagliatelle Ragu for our main meal. For dessert, we had the tiramisu and elderflower panna cotta. The meal was fine it was all rather underwhelming. It seemed a bit like what we would expect at a chain restaurant in the USA. The calamari was on the tough side. The entree was average, nothing that special. The tiramisu was what one might expect, again, in a chain restaurant. The elder elderflower panna cotta was good, but the ice cream served with it was subpar. I think it was strawberry, very artificial tasting much like Nestlé Quik Stawberry milk I remember as a child. Take the ice cream out, and it would be an improvement for the dessert. The staff indicated the menu was new. I would hope they could improve on the flavors, at least on the items we ate. We are not locals, but if we were, we might be inclined to try the restaurant...

I wish I could leave no stars for the food. Dad and myself went out to dinner lastnight 30/11/2024. I wished we didn't! We both ordered the calamari starter. I managed to eat 3 of the calamari rings, they were far too salty. They might aswell have served it with sea water. We then ordered mains hoping it would improve, it didn't. Dad ordered the T-bone steak, he said not only was it again over salted but it was swimming in oil. I ordered a side of plain fries. Well instead of a side of fries, I recieved a bowl of salt with fries added to it. I didn't previously have high cholesterol but I'm sure I do today. After telling the waitress, who couldn't speak louder than a whisper. All she said was sorry. The music got louder over the 2 hours we were there, it became overly crowded with people, including kitchen staff members hovering around the dining room floor. For all the brilliant reviews I've read and heard. Lastnight was disappointing. As 2 people with food intolerances and high cholesterol. We're suffering today. We certainly won't be back. Not a great atmosphere for anyone neurotypical...

Terribly loud with all of the vast, hard surfaces bouncing around the noise from kitchen open to dining area plus diners loud voices . Annoying background music added to the racket. Being seated at small table in centre column felt like dining in a corridor with customers and staff constantly wafting to and fro inches away from our meals and drinks. Table for two too small to hold two dinner plates, side plates, wine glasses, water glasses, bottle of wine, carafe of water plus condiments and six sets of cutlery. Those for courses not ordered were not removed. Manager or someone continually hovering distractingly whilst micromanaging waitresses. Lighting far too bright. Plush seats which will be difficult to keep clean. Not a place to go for an intimate, romantic meal at all. Over £100 for two course meal with house wine and coffee for us both. Though open through the day there is only the expensive dinner menu to choose from. All of the above a terrible shame as food...