The Store Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in Scotland

This is one of THE best food places I've eaten at on the NC500 and in the entire North of Scotland, it's well worth a trip on it's own or a detour to visit. I can't recommend The Store Bistro & Bar in Bettyhill highly enough..

I'm not a Bettyhill local but this is one of the only places I'm totally happy to travel a few hours just to eat and relax at. I've often made the couple of hours drive just to eat there and then drive back home, it really is that good.. plus a lot of the locals use it which tells you a lot about a place.. its not a big place so doesn't seat loads of people or get too noisy, but what it does have is a lovely cozy homely feeling with a real log fire and plenty of relaxed atmosphere, and great food. Also has different types of seating like some high tables and bar stool chairs, to bench type seats and larger sized tables and chairs for more guests, it all depends on what you prefer to sit at (and whats free when you visit), also has a few tables & chairs outside although they don't benefit from the lovely log fire

I only had the 'stew of the day' this time, it was absolutely delicious and there was plenty of it, big chunks of fresh veg and meat with two large chunks of fresh bread and some butter on the side (see photo).. I've had a few items from the menu now, from a simple toastie to a main meal and have always been impressed, its the high quality of the ingredients that counts here in my opinion.. I will definitely be back again soon to sample more of the menu..

While I was there I'm pretty sure they also did a few phone orders for take away too, although I'm not sure what food was ordered, its handy to know you could order ahead and then eat somewhere else if you chose to like a motorhome/ caravan/ car or suchlike, brilliant solution as not everyone likes to eat in public, but yet might still want a really good nutritious 'home cooked' meal to eat at the end of a long days drive..

I don't drink myself, but there are also plenty of beers and a few wines to sample and a few soft drinks on offer here. A few specialist teas and coffees round off the drinks selection nicely..

It may initially appear expensive when compared to other places, but this is really good quality fresh food, also the portion sizes are also larger than most places I've been to and they also use fresh good quality ingredients, some of which are apparently sourced locally, add in that lovely atmosphere in my opinion its worth the price, and when you actually break it down its only a few quid more than a fast food restaurant per person, I know which I prefer!

I was served a freshly cooked, delicious and nutritious meal at a reasonably good price, all in a nice homely warm n cozy atmosphere with some great staff, who were polite and attentive but not at your table every two minutes annoying you which was nice.. I've visited when it's been quiet, and when it's been busy but I've always left happy and feeling contented..

I will definitely be back soon, I've been here numerous times over the past few years and have never been disappointed, my only genuine disappointment is I don't live nearer and can use it more often, and I've never said that before about any place I've reviewed or visited.

The Store Bistro & Bar in Bettyhill is in my opinion too good to miss out on, the great tasting selection of high quality food, the nice relaxing cozy atmosphere, plus it's also open 365 days a year, all of which shows a REAL commitment to us the customer, and that level of commitment to the customer is hard to find these days..

Make 'The Store Bistro & Bar' a must visit place, whether you're on the NC500 or live a few hours away and want a decent quality meal, or just a quick light snack, it's all at a decent price and in a cozy relaxed setting.. and when you put everything I've said together, you really can't ask for more..

On the Northern Coast of Scotland 'The Store Bistro & Bar' in Bettyhill is THE place to...

WE visited this little Gem of a place back in 2019. We had been out exploring, we had been to the Strathnaver Museum along the road a bit and when we left there our bellies were rumbling. Time for lunch now where to go. We headed back to Bettyhill to find someplace to eat, we had been in the Bettyhill Hotel for lunch a few days ago but decided we didn't want to go back there. We turned down a road and came upon this place. It didn't look much from the outside but when we read their coffee menu on the board sitting outside we laughed and decided we have to go in. Walking in was like a step back in time but in a good way. The place looked like an old store shop almost like you see in the old westerns. A piano in the far corner just waiting for someone to play it. We went to the counter and were handed a couple of menus and told we can pay when we order or before we leave, whichever we chose. We sat down at a table to ponder over the menu and it all sounded good. We placed the orders and the food was soon served and it was some of the freshest looking food we had ever seen. Some of the freshest we had ever tasted too. While eating we noticed on the shelves next to us were cakes.......lots of cakes all cut into generous sized slices. We thought if the mains are this good then we need to try the cakes.

And we did, and they were very good indeed

The service was excellent, the food was excellent, the cakes were excellent. So yeah this was an excellent find.

If you are going to be around Bettyhill at a time when your belly is shouting feed me then stop off here and give tour taste buds...

Well, first off, let me say we didn't manage to eat or drink anything here! We figured we'd get coffee and a sandwich. Four locals were sat down, and 2 more were ordering at the bar, so we looked at the menu and decided what we wanted. I went to the bar to order (like the folk in front of me) to be angrily told to go and sit down, they were short staffed and too busy to take my order someone would come when they could. I said ok, no rush, we know what we'd like- we'll sit outside. Locals chatting away to us. It's a nice enough spot, all good. When the same woman came out I said hey we were after some food but it seemed like you're having a stressful time in there, should we just do drinks? I thought I was being friendly! Her response was "well actually the feeling is mutual!" And I'm not sure what she meant, but she then loudly and angrily shouted to other staff that she wouldn't deal with me being passive aggressive! She made quite the scene. The other member of staff & the locals we were sat with apologised on her behalf, but it wasn't necessary, I just hope the angry lady gets a break and a chance to calm down soon as she was clearly having a bad day & decided to take it out on the tourists! Trying to ruin a strangers day because you're stressed at work just isn't it. ... bit of a shame but there are lots of good options in the area where you don't get...