Restaurant review: The Knowes Hotel, Market Street, Macduff

Location

Set high on a hill in the Aberdeenshire fishing port of Macduff, the Knowes Hotel, with its extensive glass front overlooking the Moray Firth, is the perfect place to enjoy sunset.

First Impressions

Welcoming, bright and modern, with a stylish interior this restaurant, has panoramic windows and is fully disabled-adapted. It also has a function room for private gatherings.

The Menu

The Knowes’ chef is known for imaginative use of the finest local produce – from fresh seafood and game to fruit and vegetables – to create mouth-watering dishes.

Taste

Just a short drive from the village of Cullen, this eatery was not only serving its signature creamy fish soup Cullen Skink, but also Cullen Skink risotto.

We couldn’t resist trying both for starters, along with crispy langoustines. All three were delicious. Our mains included a crispy Katsu curry – a hit – as well as hand-breaded monkfish scampi with homemade tartare sauce, side salad and hand-cut chips and a “Hamish” burger – a 6oz handmade steak burger topped with haggis, bacon cheddar cheese and onion ring, in a brioche bun.

The scampi was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside while the homemade sauce was lip-smacking good. But the Hamish burger stole the show. Bursting with flavour, it was the best my guest had tasted. We finished with chocolate Delice, treacle tart and sticky toffee pudding – all scrumptious.

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Ambience

Chic, light and airy while warm and friendly. A lovely spot for a romantic dinner or for family dining. The loos are smart and squeaky clean.

Price

Our three-course dinner for three with drinks came to just over £113, which we considered fair at about £37 per head.

P.S. Stay at the Knowes overnight and see the sunrise. It has seven en-suite bedrooms, five of which enjoy stunning coastal views.