McBain’s by the River — Restaurant in Scotland

Tried McBains due to reading good online reviews and their website informing they use all locally sourced ingredients but sadly found it to be no better than average. I tried the prawn cocktail to start hoping it would be something slightly different from the usual with a little bit of invention but it looked like it came straight from a 1980's Christmas dinner table. The prawns were the small watery ones you always see in supermarkets that come frozen and don't cost much and the Marie sauce tasted like it came from a jar. Coming in at just under a tenner for a basic prawn cocktail like that would be too expensive in somewhere like London, never mind Inverness. The Halibut main course had the potential to be excellent all the individual components that made up the dish were really tasty and it all went together well to make a really lovely main course but sadly the Halibut, the star of the dish was way overcooked and made the rest of the dish irrelevant. It too was very expensive at £26 but that could almost be forgiven had the fish been properly cooked. The staff were all really nice, the service was good and the presentation of the food was great too but unfortunately it was style over substance and for locally sourced ingredients why does it have to be so expensive? Surely local produce should be cheaper? But then again Inverness is a tourist town which sadly gives restaurants a licence to overcharge because regardless wether or not your food is excellent or average you're always going to...

What an excellent chioce this was for the last step in a holiday to Orkney, dinner at McBain's during our one night stop over in Inverness. It was a typically damp day but on seeing the menu, where it was clear this was not a laminated thing from some chain but as it says on the sign, a family run restaurant, it boded well and beat our high hopes let alone expectations. There was a great selection of wine available but we opted for beer - I know the black isle a little and Cromarty is a great place but I didn't know they had a brewery (Crmarty that is - I know the Black Isle Brewery), very nice it was too. The meal was really fantastic. You simply can't produce food of this quality cheaply so don't expect very low prices but this was really good value. I'll put a picture of my main course so you can see the presentation and typical portions but it doesn't do the flavours and textures justice. The service too was fantastic. This was not a hurried meal but the service wasn't slow at all. The waiting staff didn't intrude, nor hang around and hover but were there when wanted somehow, they know what they're doing. The place has class and elegance yet isn't stuffy or intimidating but welcoming and pleasant. We had a great time and really hope they survive the recession from the virus, they don't have a chain to support them. Go there if you can and go now, you won't be disappointed and it'll be there for us to go again when we return...

During my recent trip to Inverness, I had the pleasure of dining at McBain’s, a restaurant that now holds a special place in my culinary heart. From the first taste, the exceptional quality of the ingredients was evident, a fundamental aspect for any respectable establishment.

Each dish served was a perfect balance of flavors, meticulously crafted to create culinary experiences that delighted the palate without ever becoming tiresome. This attention to detail and flavor subtlety is something seldom encountered and deserves to be highlighted.

What particularly impressed me was how each ingredient was showcased, allowing their freshness and quality to be fully savored. The dishes were not only a delight for the palate but also a feast for the eyes, presented with aesthetics that elevated the entire dining experience.

Additionally, the ambiance at McBain’s contributed to making the experience even more enjoyable. The staff was welcoming, professional, and attentive, creating a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, ideal for enjoying a quality meal.

In conclusion, McBain’s is not just a restaurant, but a culinary destination not to be missed for anyone in Inverness. It’s certainly a place I wish to return to, a gem that merits a...