SMUGGLERS Bar & Bistro Christmas Menu 2025 — Restaurant in Scotland

Positives first, waiting staff were really nice, menu good. Maybe a wee bit heavy on the beef. Atmosphere OK. Wine OK. Hubby said his steak pie lovely, burgers and fish were OK. However one of us ordered a medium steak without mushrooms and it came REALLY well done with mushrooms. Someone took the mushrooms to save it going back to the kitchen. Steak however was over cooked and chewy, they tried a few different bits and tried the thicker end to see if it was better but nope. So sent it was sent, politely, back. Didn’t ask for another. However at end the steak was on the bill. Lesson learned don’t send it back without a photo otherwise they will try to say you ate half of it and try to make you pay for it. Things go wrong in a busy kitchen and it’s rare for one of us send back food, it’s no biggie. However the attitude of the manager, when it was queried was immediately hostile. They checked with the waitress who confirmed it was sent back, they went to speak to the chef who apparently said half had been eaten, it was not! Neither was much of the sides eaten. Apologies were made about querying and it was pointed out that everything else was OK. Got told she was just passing on what the chef said.

Sorry but if you do something wrong just apologise and make it as least embarrassing as possible.

However upshot is that we won’t be back, not because of the food or the waiting staff but because of the way this was handled. We’d be embarrassed to go back. I’m sure they will have a different story but can assure you that half of that steak was not eaten and do not see why you should pay £20 for a steak you don’t eat. You have to try a couple of bits before you know it’s just not right and send it back. As Judge Judy says if you ate the steak you can’t then say you won’t pay for it. We didn’t.

Hope the waiting staff got the tip we left because they...

I am super upset. Walked in and ladies who worked there were sitting down, and the place was empty. One of them didn’t look too happy, but took our order. The other seemed pleasant. My food came in a reasonable time and was ok my sons order took forever.

He waited patiently Order was for a dinner and One part was to go. The to go order he changed. Eventually the to go part arrived but not the original dinner order.

When he politely asked she suddenly got exceedingly angry and said he cancelled it, but only the go go order was changed but not the actual dinner. She lost her mind shouting angrily. Very Accusingly and extremely nasty. He remained calm for a while but she kept on and on till I finally said that’s enough. Still She carried on till he finally got upset and said maybe it was because he was black and or American. That’s when the owner came out and said order was cancelled but that was because she told him it was. Tried to tell him no it wasn’t but he defended her, though he wasn’t unpleasant. This was totally horrible experience and Never in my entire 70 years of life have I had worse service or any waitress shouting like that. If I could give it a zero I would I have travelled all over the world and this was the worst customer service of my entire travels. How in the world is this woman in the...

Had good feedback about the quality of the food at Smugglers. Decided to pop in for a meal in the passing. Unfortunately no tables available. Was informed that a lot of tables were booked for later. Carried on and went to The Woodman Restaurant between Alva and Fishcross. They also had a lot of reservations for later but gave me the option of a table providing it was vacated for 7.00pm. This was ok by me. We had a lovely meal with excellent service and were heading out by 6.15 leaving the table 45 minutes before the reservation. I would suggest Smugglers review their policy as every Restaurant that I can recollect that have turned away walk in customers is now closed down due to lack of income. I have also had this option at the Chinese Restaurant at the top of the town with a vacation time which has suited all parties. Empty tables lying unused waiting on later reservations does not make good business sense. Hope they do well...