The Barrel — Restaurant in Scotland

Where to start. At the beginning I suppose.

The drive from Edinburgh to Balleter is absulutely stunning. What wasn't so stunning however was driving on the left side of the road for the first time on largely rural, thin roads. After a long journey of not feeling super confident behind the wheel while wearing my wifes patience thin with it all Balleter was a sight for sore eyes.

The town can only be described as cute as a button. Checking into the inn was a surprise as we had accidentally booked for the night before. Obviously it was our fault. We asked if they had a room available for the evening and the lovely host, Carrie, checked with the manager and they did... Win!!.. I pulled out my card and they explained that it was not problem and that we didn't have to pay for that night as well. Let me say that again, when I pulled out my card to pay, they explained we didn't have to pay for that night as well.. Small businesses have razor thing margins, and the mistake was completely ours. We were pleasantly shocked. Things only got better from there.

They had a beer on cask that I absolutely adore. The hospitatlity was above and beyond and above all else, genuinely heartwarming. The bar was filled with regulars who seem to be a permanent fixture and overhearing lively and at sometimes provocative conversation added a unique charm rarely found. Not coarse language mind you, just more then gentle ribbing of one another that seemed to come from a place of love.

The camaraderie amongst the staff was amazing. People ending or starting their shifts asking how one another was and seemed to really work as a team all the time. That is a hard thing to fake.

The room was also cute as a button. Top end linens with everything one needs for a nights stay.

I caught a bug, probably from the plane ride and we had to cancel our breakfast we ordered for the next day. When I walked downstairs to talk to the chef so he didn't make it (wasting food is the worst) he asked me if he could make me some soup instead because I wasn't feeling well. That actually happened.

If I had unlimited resources and didn't love my own city, Philadelphia, to the moon and back, I would move to this town simply for the hospitality. A top flight experience all the way around. We are already thinking about coming back and just wondering if we will bring the kids next...

Tonight we thought we would visit The Barrel, a very authentic, very local Scottish pub. Lots of men at the bar, loudly talking about sports and politics. Every other fookin' word out of their mouths was an "F" bomb, we absolutely loved it!

Apparently their is a more "subdued" dining room, but we loved sitting at a table next to the bar and absorbing the local ambiance.

I ordered a Tenant's ale which came out right away. At this point I have to give a sout out to our server. I didn't catch her name, but she appeared to be the only one working. She tended bar, waited/bussed tables, ran the food, and appeared to do all of this for the bar area as well as the dining room. Truthfully I don't know how she kept her sanity, let alone serve everyone with a smile and a sense of humor.

Stacy ordered the fish and chips, which were accompanied by peas and a small salad. The fish was moist and flaky and the batter adhered to the fish really well. It was not overly greasy and tasted delicious. The fries were good. Stacy didn't care for the peas, out she prefers mushy peas with her fish and chips.

I ordered the steak and ale pie. It was accompanied by fries, carrots, and peas. The meat was tender, the gravy rich and hearty, and it was covered by a light and flakey crust. It was delicious.

We were somewhat full, but wanted to try the sticky toffee pudding. It was served with caramel sauce, fresh cream and vanilla ice cream. It's a good thing we shared because the portion was huge.

The price was among the most reasonable we have had so far in Ballater. All in, our meal was £37.

If you want an authentic Scottish neal in an authentic Scottish pub, definitely check...

Great overnight stay in the heart of Ballater

We stayed here for a night and couldn’t have asked for a better location—right in the square, making everything easily accessible. The room was freshly decorated and spotlessly clean, with immaculate bathroom facilities and crisp, freshly ironed bedsheets. Despite being just one level above a lively bar on a Friday night, we were pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was—had a great night's sleep.

A big plus was being able to bring our little dog without any extra charge, which made the stay even more enjoyable. Parking was plentiful nearby, and the staff were warm and welcoming both during our phone booking and throughout our visit.

The only minor downside was the shower pressure. But for £100 in Ballater, it’s a solid choice and great value overall. A fully cooked breakfast was on offer for £10 / person but we didn't try this so can't comment.

Thank you for a great...