The Whitehouse Restaurant — Restaurant in Scotland

One of the inescapable facts about holidaying in Scotland is that homemade soup and white baps with cheese are still widely believed to be a meal. But in 2003 Jane Stuart-Smith (Hugh's wife) and her friend Sarah Jones started a restaurant in Lochaline close to the water, and named it The Whitehouse. At that time it was difficult to source produce; most of the shellfish was sent straight to Spain and France and it was almost impossible to get hold of any for local consumption, but Jane and Sarah persevered and Ardtornish now supplies the restaurant with beef, lamb and venison. It is also part of the mission to use local materials, so local fishermen have been enlisted and small producers on Mull and at Lochaber are favoured. Perhaps most importantly they have employed two talented chefs, Mike Burgoyne and Lee Myers, who have very impressive experience in London. Head chef Burgoyne has worked at The Savoy, Claridge's, Café Royal and Chez Nico. During the long winter they migrate to warmer places. It seems like a perfect arrangement. An outstanding restaurant has emerged. It is a surprise to find a menu this good in a village on the edge of the known world, serving the finest plaice, beef, scallops, bouillabaisse, langoustines and wonderful puddings. Now yachtsmen from many countries tie up outside and the restaurant has won all sorts of accolades - Best Restaurant in the Highlands and Islands 2012, and runner up as best restaurant in Scotland in the Observer Food Awards. I made a note of what we ate one night: ravioli pillows with a lobster sauce; whole, spankingly fresh plaice; wild salmon; 'beastie' (which turned out to be beef), and a sensational panna cotta. There were also sorbets of blackcurrants and blaeberries, known south of the border...

Great food! Waiters was very nice, but needed training taking the price into consideration. When paying approx. £60 for food I do expect a certain level of expertise, I guess they where unlucky as well. The positive: Amazing food (5 star!), smiling and friendly waiters and cozy restaurant. The negatives: White wine was warm and they served it. The system for taking orders was not good, and should have been done different. We didn't get a bill but just a receipt with the total amount of for 10 people not showing the service they included, the deposit we paid and so on. They did give us a hand written one when we asked, it would just have been a lot more professional to get a detailed bill.

We where a hard crew of 10 people, but where the only ones in the restaurant. Recommendations: Learn the waiters to present the food, know the wine, fix the wine fridge, serve food in the order as on the menu, a bit smaller servings, learn waiters to collect plates and cutlery. Reaching the next level, also have a wine menu ready. I believe this place is very good, but we where unlucky. Food was still amazing and the waiters was very friendly and welcoming, just needed a little bit...

Don’t get me wrong but this restaurant is a special occasion place. It’s a four course set menu and nothing else I got it wrong when I looked at reviews and thought it had a blackboard with specials I was wrong and sadly mislead by old reviews.I think must have been before it changed hands. No bar it’s a restaurant only. You can get drinks with your food. I suggest you view the up to date menu because it really isn’t everyone’s taste. It only has 3 starters 3 mains and 3 desserts on it.We had the four course set menu because that was all there was and I had 2 drinks one lager in a tin and a bottle of ginger beer. Hubby had a IPA and two red wines not expensive ones and the bill came to £200 pounds.so yes special occasions only don’t think hubby was impressed at all . I think they do lunches but not sure about them because we were there on an evening. So may be a different menu...