The Clunie Dining Room

My boyfriend and I loved our meal here. The vibe was warm, chic but also not stuffy. We had spent all day hiking around the area and really wanted to treat ourselves. The sommelier was so approachable and her recommendation was spot on for us and our Beef Wellington! We enjoyed the food, presentation, the staff and the dessert. Overall a lovely evening!

My wife and I had a pretty ordinary meal in the Clunie restaurant recently. The menu choice was poor and the food was just ok. The wine list produced has the cheapest bottle on it at £34.00 where as the “sister” restaurant next door had much more competitively priced wines. When I asked for a bottle of Muscadet from the other restaurant the wine waiter made it clear he was not impressed. We had to ask for serviettes which were not provided for us. Overall quite disappointed and not cheap!

Eight of us had Sunday lunch in the Clunie, seven of us had beef and one had locally reared pork. The meat was superb! mouth wateringly tender and full of flavour (the beef is marinated in black treacle), the dripping roasted potatoes were caramelised crunchy heaven the Yorkshire pudding light and fluffy and the roasted veg and green superb. The icing on the beef was the marrow gravy. Some of us followed up with the baked chocolate mousse (perfection on a plate), one had the panacotta wobbly and light, and one had home made ice cream. Outstanding!

We visited The Fife Arms three times this week on our family holiday to Braemar. Last night we ate in the Clunie which was from start to finish a brilliant night full of excellent food, excellent service and of course excellent art and interiors. As we walked past a real Lucian Freud, Pablo Picasso, some of Queen Victoria and Prince Charles own paintings and drawings, Ben then spots a real Brueghel across the dining room! At first I didn't believe him so joked I would pick up the bill if it was...Of course being a true gent he wouldn't allow it when we discovered it was indeed!

We are visiting Scotland from San Antonio, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia USA. We passed by the recently renovated Fife Arms earlier and decided we really wanted to experience the Clunie Dining Room. What an excellent decision!We began with cocktails in front of the fireplace, then moved to a table overlooking the river. The hostess was very friendly and accommodating. Our waiter, Scott, was superb. Two of us had the lamb, one the flat fish, and the fourth had red deer. Every dish was perfect. The wine selection was extensive and delicious as well. We finished with desserts and left completely satisfied.

Having visited the hotel pre renovations and since again a couple of times the hotel is amazing. The whole fibre of the hotel and staff is second to none. Sunday lunch in The Clunie dining room is an experience not to be missed. The attention you receive from the staff has to be applauded. The food, we had the Roast Beef was exceptional...as was the rest of the meal....the ambience of the hotel is superb. From my table in the lounge afterwards for coffee i could have sat the rest of the day just people eatching. Alas i had to leave....BUT i shall return sooner rather than later...To all the staff my congratulations.

The food was really nice, one vegetarian option on the mains (this is in the Clunie room). When we sat down the waitress offered us water but didn't tell us it was bottled and £4, found that out with the bill. My wife looked enviously on at everyone's bread rolls as we didn't get one, until halfway through our main when we asked for one and realised it wasn't part of a starter and we had just missed out. Our coats were hung up for us but no offer to retrieve, luckily I saw where they were so got myself. I mean, none of that really matters normally but the restaurant is really expensive so it does start to matter then. Will just eat in the main pub next time.

We had breakfast in the Clunie Dining Room on each day we were staying in the hotel and dined once. The decor is spectacular, think contemporary art splurged across walls in a large room with acres of windows and the odd stuffed stag. Service was generally good and certainly willing and friendly but orders some times went adrift especially at breakfast. Chefs are in action amid the coals and wood of the ovens and grill behind a counter at one end. A lot of the food comes from these with the result that a lot shows evidence of the fires. It was good but my venison was fully done and a bit dry even under too copious a fruity sauce. Scallop starter was fine. Desserts a bit hit and miss.So, some...

We ate one dinner and three breakfasts, and it needs to get better.I disliked my 3 course dinner.Good bread and butter though. My cold Cod starter is ceviche style which is basiclaly a raw dish which I hated and should have been better described on the menu or by the staff. My Lamb was over cooked perhaps due to the kitchen birch wood stoves? My dessert of smashed meringue was just a dull mess.The glasses of wine we chose were not good value.Breakfast is OK without many star turns or looks.The full cooked breakfast is pleasant, see my photo. Partial serve yourself with the cold items. Porridge was rather fine, but one order for it was not put through until we we reminded staff and by that ti...