Smokey Trotters Kitchen — Restaurant in Scotland

EDIT* - Actually, no it wasn't made clear. I was told "Bookings from 7:30 onwards" otherwise common sense would prevail. This is exactly why I questioned upon arrival "Why are tables already reserved?" Look at your CCTV as I pointed to the table in question. I see that you always have something to say when reviewers are honest, with much of what you say more or less puts fault on your staff. You're either delusional or you truly believe in most of what you write here. I had to laugh at one of your rebuttals regarding prices. Look at your competitors who are similarly priced and offer chips with their burgers. You could try being less passive aggressive with your reviewers. In the interest of transparency; tipping is something I always make sure to do, but on this occasion I felt as though it wasn't warranted, which is somewhat rare as I try to see past the minor details in hospitality, but this wasn't my complaint. Also, If you review your CCTV you'll see just how close smokers' are to the tables and not at the end of the alley where customers arrive. From what I understand, this is a lot more frequent than you'd like to acknowledge.

Having phoned prior to arrival I was under the impression that reservations prior to 7:30 were not possible and it was walk in only. When I turned up it was then clear that tables were reserved from 5pm onwards. Not well explained. Anyways, decided to sit outside and order food despite the weather. Not really a great overall experience given that people are seemingly allowed to chain smoke in the alley and so the smell was off-putting to say the least.

Food was okay, and the staff were nice.

You should probably enforce a no smoking policy given that it is a relatively small area outside.

Patio heaters wouldn’t go a miss either.

When we left it was virtually empty and so could’ve easily sat inside and left at the time of a scheduled...

There was a big queue of folk wanting to go in and we initially weren't too keen on waiting the quoted 30 minutes but the family in front of us told us to wait as the food was sooooo worth it. Three members of staff on and they never ever stopped and the young slim dark haired chap-total legend by the way- kept us all in the loop and I can honestly say that I've never seen such hard working staff in my life. They all had fantastic personalities and the young lassie server was an absolute darling. Nothing was too much trouble and while we had a bit of a wait we were also suffering from a massive dose of food envy on seeing others food coming out. The last thing I'd have ever expected were a bunch of grannies getting wellied into their food while listening to Snoop Doggy Dog Dr Dre and Blackstreet but young and old were all tucking in and this young lad was celebrating his birthday when out of nowhere the server put on Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder came out with a caterpillar cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday to him! Lovely touch, and although I didn't think the portions were particularly big, they'd done their homework because everything came out piping hot, and we were absolutely stuffed. Several diners got theirs put into a takeaway container and got to take it home. Whoever the chef or cook is are amazing, and the whole place had a great vibe. Loved it and would recommend it a thousand per cent. Would come back for the craic alone! Worth the 400-mile round trip, and thank you one and all! I'd the macaroni cheese with pulled pork and BBQ sauce. My beloved had the fish chips and pickled onion plus crushed pea mayonnaise, then a Vietnamese coffee and I'd an Irn Bru float. Clean...

This past Saturday, my partner and I ventured to Smokey Trotters, lured in by their reputation for epic burgers. Stepping through the doors, we were immediately greeted by a welcoming vibe that felt more like a friend's place than a restaurant. For a hip hop fanatic like myself, it was like finding a kindred spirit's living room. The walls pulsed with vibrant murals of hip hop royalty - Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, and Notorious B.I.G. The soundtrack perfectly complemented the décor, pumping out classic and contemporary hip hop beats that added an undeniable energy to the atmosphere.

Now, let's get to the main event: the food! My partner, a burger purist, dove into the Classic. I, on the other hand, opted for the intriguing fish tacos and fries. I snagged a bite of the burger, and it lived up to the hype. It was undeniably juicy, with a perfectly seasoned patty that earned a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. The fish tacos were flavorful as well, boasting fresh ingredients. However, they did veer a bit on the oily side, which wasn't quite what I was craving. The fries, however, were a revelation! Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they were seasoned to perfection and disappeared quickly.

Despite the slight misstep with the oiliness of the tacos, the experience at Smokey Trotters gets a solid 8 out of 10. The atmosphere, fueled by the hip hop music and artwork, truly elevated the entire dining experience. While the burger may not have been a life-changing revelation, it was still a satisfying choice. Next time, I'll be sure to explore some of their other offerings, like the loaded fries or maybe even a chicken burger, all while soaking in the infectious energy of this...