Wee Bear Cafe — Restaurant in Scotland

Enjoyable visit from start to finish. Warm, friendly welcome from the young lady who invited us to choose our own table from those available which I always prefer to being ushered to somewhere of someone else's choosing and invited to come back up to the checkout area to order when we were ready, again, something I like as opposed to feeling rushed to order or being left too long and feeling forgotten. Only a small thing but it's a nice touch, it gives the customer the option to make the decision when they are ready to do so. It was quiet when we arrived as just opened but it soon started to fill up but despite this, it maintained a very welcoming and relaxed vibe and the staff were always friendly and welcoming whenever new people arrived. They seemed genuinely happy to welcome people, not forced like other places I've been with people showing a lack of interest. Lovely vibe to the place and the staff only enhance this. The friendliest of all was the wee dog (one of two) that kept coming to visit. Pre food arriving and during us eating. Now, some people might think that the dog was looking to be fed something but not once did the gorgeous wee pooch even look up at the table or towards us when we were eating. Just lay at my feet happily enough waiting for an ear scratch or belly rub. Such a couthy wee thing who I would have bought in a second. What about the main reason for our visit. The food. Oh my days. I had the Sir Douglas sausage sandwich. Now I don't know who this is named after, maybe it's whoever thought up the combination of the sandwich but it is easily the best sausage sandwich, or just the best sandwich I've had. The quality and flavours of it are sensational. A warm, fresh ciabatta with lovely tasting pork sausages, chilli marmalade and mustard (a choice of dijon or English) I went for the dijon but next time, and there will be a next time, I'll try the English) and all of the different flavours just come together so well and had me wondering where Sir Douglas had been all my life. As a side note, my friend had the Blueberry Scuffin and was equally as in awe of that as I was of the knighted Dougie. Whoever came up with this sandwich need a monument raised for them and a national day named after them. Keep your Robbie Burns and his Burns night and William Wallace, Sir Douglas is the true national hero of Scotland in my eyes. I think you can maybe tell that I like this place and can't recommend it enough. You might also be able to tell I can't sleep. But if you are in the area, or even if you're not, you need to visit. You honestly won't regret it. It would be impossible not to love this place. Oh and the selection of cakes is plentiful and they also look ridiculously good. Is it possible to propose to a cafe? If so, I'm first in the queue. See you again soon hopefully. Its only around 22 miles away so no excuse really. Wee Bear Cafe gets...

Lovely looking cafe with gorgeous views. However, while there's lots of blurb online about how they can cater for various dietary requirements, we were very disappointed to find that there were no gluten free or dairy free options in the cakes/biscuits so those in our party who stopped for a cuppa and who had dietary issues had to settle for tea and no cake. The tea was very strong, there were no artificial sweeteners available, and it was served in black chipped mugs which were not filled to the top. Teaspoons were small, plastic affairs which were stuck in a bowl in the middle of the table with the sugar sachets - missed at first due to their small size. On the day of our visit, what remained of the vast array of cakes, looked a bit soggy and messy. Some of our party had cake but were not impressed, with the cake being dry and the buttercream filling sitting like a large, solid slab between the sponge, not moistening either the top or bottom bits of sponge, seemingly separate from the whole. The small jug of milk arrived on a tiny plate, on which we were told to put our used teabags. The milk had been spilt on the plate and the teabag issue was messy. At £2.20 for a partial mug of tea, it seems extremely expensive for what it is. Lovely building, gorgeous setting but the food was very uninspiring. Also, all cakes/teas, etc, have to be ordered outside - in all weathers - at a covered area which is open to the elements. Hate to think what the cakes would be like in high summer. Menus are dog-eared bits of paper on clipboards which, apparently, you've got to ask for at the ordering/till area. The majority of our party agreed that they wouldn't be back, preferring instead to stop at Peel Farm just a few minutes down the road where they cater for various dietary requirements and all food and beverages are served in bright, unchipped, crockery and the cakes sit on clean, unmessy plates and look extremely appetising - even if there isn't quite the same range on offer. All in all, the Wee Bear Cafe appear to be putting quantity over quality with a huge range of cakes sitting on messy plates. Perhaps they should follow Peel Farms obvious philosophy of quality over...

Bit of a hidden gem this one. I stopped in while on a cycle back in April. The atmosphere and decor were both great. There was a lovely sitting area with windows and given it was still cold there was a nice fire that added to the atmosphere.

I had sausages on a croissant which was fantastic and powered me for the rest of my ride back to Carnoustie.

The best part…there was a small dog (very possibly Bear!) that wandered between his bed in front of the fire and welcoming guests. He would come over every so often for a little pet and was absolutely adorable. Not to worry for those not fond of dogs, he wasn’t intrusive in any way, just incredibly friendly.

I’ll be trying to incorporate more cycles up this...