Restaurant REVIEW

the Beech tree, Dumgoyne

1 Location

It’s on the main A81, next to the Glengoyne Distillery.

2 First impressions

It’s really homely, with a bar/restaurant area and a nice, bright conservatory where we found ourselves seated. There’s a big family garden at the back, with a wildlife area for the kids, which is understandably always packed on a nice day.

3 service

Attentive, friendly and couldn’t be faulted. A late-ish change of order – when we saw the size of the steak and ale pie heading for another table – was cheerily accommodated.

4 menu

Really wide choice, with pizza, pasta and burger sections as well as a huge selection of starters, mains and desserts. The latter includes everything from a healthy fresh fruit platter to a deep-fried Mars bar with Irn Bru ice cream. Extensive glutenfree options and the Beech Tree is on Coeliac UK venue list.

5 taste

The promise is of good-quality, home-cooked comfort food and it didn’t disappoint. The sharing combo platter of chicken goujons, haggis fritter, pakora and nachos was scrummy and the mains of the pie and the chilli were hearty and tasty.

6 price

With the shared starter, a couple of mains, and a round of drinks, it came to just under £40.

7 ambience

Lovely buzzy feel, plenty of families and couples enjoying a drive out in the country.

8 something speciaL

Burger fans will be in heaven. Specials include are kangaroo, venison and wild boar varieties!

9 toiLets

Small but clean.

10 verdict

Unpretentious and all the better for it. With the big portions, no one could possibly leave hungry. In fact, we saw several of our fellow diners get what they couldn’t finish boxed up for them to take away. 16/20