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CUISINES
British, Scottish
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
features
Is this an European restaurant?
Details
About
Victoria's Restaurant at The Victoria Hotel
CUISINES
British, Scottish
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Table Service
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4.5
175 reviews
Excellent
92
Very good
54
Average
20
Poor
5
Terrible
4
smurfs76
Northumberland National Park61 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
We chose this place for our evening meal, it was upstairs above Ghilles , but i believe is ran by the same people.
We were given a window table which had great scenery , there was plenty to choose from on the menu, we had the pie and the meat was very tender. The tables were spread out to social distance everyone.
i would recommend booking to make sure you get a table
Written 15 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mcalisterr
Isle of Bute9 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
I use this restaurant frequently and food and service are consistently good at competitive and reasonable prices.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim D
Shefford6 contributions
Sept 2019 • couples
Excellent food, service and location. Very friendly staff. Spent one evening on island but would liked another one. Good choice of food, with good presentation.
Written 24 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr Owen Roberts
Kirkcudbright52 contributions
Sept 2020 • couples
When I go to a hotel restaurant I do not expect a "Pub grub" menus nor do I expect plastic table cloths.
My wife's starter was avacardo & prawns, but with extremely limited avacardo;my starter was muscles in sauce, and the muscles were decidedly "ify". That said my stake was excelent. When it come to wine I would hope to be offered a wider choice then "Red or White"
Overall I was VERY underwhelmed and the to be charged £75:00 for a very indifferent meal for two served in a room in need of a total redecoration
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
victoriabute
Dear Owen,
Thank you for your review and I am really pleased that you enjoyed the steak. I don't think we have ever been called third rate but there you go, there is always a first.
Since your adverse comments are in the public domain it is better that I respond.
Like most restaurants we have reduced our menu during the pandemic. Pub grub? Must say I don't think I have been in any pubs that offer scallops, salmon, seabass and many daily specials but yes we do macaroni, steak pie, fish & chips and many more which are highly in demand.
I am sorry about the plastic table cloths again this is the result of the pandemic. We normally have cloth, however the plastic allows us to do a quick change over and sanitize. Fortunately the downstairs bistro has hard top tables.
Now what about the wine? I am not sure what you were looking for, you ordered 2 glasses of wine for which we offer a very nice house wine which can be Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel Rose. We also offer single serve bottles from a range of 9 and we have a wine list containing
40 choices by the bottle. Once again this pandemic causes a problem and we do not leave the list at the table.
Having examined what you ordered including some not mentioned in your review I think £75.00 seems to be in order.
Now that seems enough response without indulging in every comment.
Yes, finally I have uncovered a mistake - you say the mussels were iffy and after tasting we don't think so but as is our policy if you don't eat it we don't charge or offer an alternative. Now we did charge and I would like to apologise. If you would like to contact us with credit card details we will refund the difference.
Regards
Ian
Manager
Written 13 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lover of quality food
1 contribution
Sept 2019 • family
What? An awful experience? Pray tell. Restaurant going to be busy so if you just want to come in on the off chance we might’ve be able to fit you in.
Upon arrival, the place is completely empty. Anyway, out first conversation with the staff, there’ll be a wait as we’re busy downstairs. Ok no problem we’ll admire the views.
Drinks and meals ordered. Then the experience begins. Steak undercooked. Wrong accompaniments served, the hand cut chips, anaemic and inedible. Food sent back only to be returned burnt to beyond recognition.
Well it does say chargrilled on the menu because it’s cooked on a chargrill!! Furness comes to mind. Oh and sometimes the steak is rarer in the middle as we can’t check every one.
Ah and the hand cut chips? Well they’re not quite hand cut but done through a cutter and then frozen and we take them out and cook them.
Cooked? They’re uncooked on the inside?! Well it’s the potatoes you see, it’s whatever the suppliers send us, but if you’re unhappy, I’ll see about taking a couple of pounds off for the chips!!
Fillet steak taken off the bill as didn’t eat it? Ah I hear you cry, what a kind gesture. Alas, it wasn’t to be. As I’d asked for that and the bottle of wine to be taken off as a goodwill gesture, I wasn’t expecting the sirloin steak, which was £4 cheaper to be taken off!! Needless to say, bill sent back.
After my first visit to the island, would I recommend this restaurant? Absolutely not!!
Written 27 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard W
Clydebank4 contributions
Sept 2019 • couples
My partner and I booked a table here for 8.15pm. We waited an hour and 5 mins for our starters. When the mussels arrived for my main, 60% of them were shrivelled up in their shells. They had obviously sat too long before being served. The waitress was apologetic, it wasn't her fault. We probably wouldn't go back.
Written 22 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul C
Edinburgh34 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
Arrived without a booking but it was early on a Sunday evening Despite being told there was a table available, we were shown to a sitting area. Thereafter ignored until we decided that there were plenty of other options in Rothesay and left. No menus, drink, update or even recognition. Shame, as it had been recommended by a local. Customer service - must try harder
Written 10 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fernando D
Portland314 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
An unpretentious hotel restaurant offering traditional and inventive menu options. The Victoria is a survival from an earlier era. It must have been very elegant in its day. During our stay on Rothesay, we visited the Victoria two times and were not disappointed. The service was excellent, and the was food delicious. Great View!
Written 27 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chas_ekc
Shrewsbury204 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
Located in the main hotel and upstairs from the Ghillie's restaurant with which it shares a kitchen, the Victoria Hotel restaurant offers diners superb sea views and a nice upmarket dining experience.
Our family of three had a very nice meal with a delicious cherry Tomato & Fresh Basil Bruschetta (with Balsamic Glaze), followed by Surf & Turf (6oz Rump Steak & Scampi), Seared Pan Fried Sea Bass and a Spaghetti Carbonara. The Bruschetta was absolutely delicious and the Surf & Turf and Sea Bass were also well received. The Spaghetti Carbonara was a different story as it was way too creamy and the 'bacon' was more akin to lumps of tinned luncheon meat and were quite a few off-putting fatty lumps. I noticed a diner at an adjacent table had also ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara and like me, ate less than half of it.
Otherwise, the meal, service and general ambience were excellent.
Written 25 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobnimmo
Glasgow151 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
Last minute booking on a Sunday night , just off the Ferry!. No problem with the kids.....nice Resturant , lovely views over the harbour. Food was good if a bit pricey, good service. Bob
Written 18 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JanetLambert
Midhurst91 contributions
Jul 2019 • couples
My husband and I have been coming to Bute for many years and a visit to The Victoria for a quiet meal whilst Grandma babysits the children is something of a tradition. We have previously received excellent service and food and have left reviews to that effect, however sadly this year things have taken a real down turn.
We arrived around 7.50pm on Tuesday evening. Upon asking for a table, the lady behind the desk made a grimace face and said "I think we're fully booked but I'll check". She disappeared and brought an older gentleman (presumably the manager) to the reception area who said they were busy but we could wait if we wanted. We said we'd go downstairs to Ghillies but he said "it will just be the same - we share a kitchen" He suggested we try the Esplanade Hotel just along the street and called them to see if they had space (despite us saying not to worry). Whilst continuing his conversation on the phone (with no indication that they had space or not) we decided we'd wait and having been to The Victoria before made our way to the lounge and ordered drinks.
We were given menus and within 2 minutes of looking at them a table had become available. Upon entering the dinning room, there was a party of 8 and a few other couples who left very shortly after we sat at our 4 person table.
I ordered the scallops and black pudding starter and home made beef steak pie and chips. My husband had Trio of pakora and Tandori Chicken.
My scallops were brought out on their own and after a few minutes my husband insisted I start as the scallops would get old quickly. Eventually his starter was delivered and can only be described as HUGE chips in flavoured batter!! They were literally half a potato deep fried in three flavoured batters.
Our main meals were delivered and although my steak pie was very nice and well cooked, I would have liked my chips not to have been swimming in the gravy.
My husbands tandoori chicken was nice but he was unable to finish the vegetables (peppers and aubergine) because they continued to cook on the sizzling metal plate and were carbonised by the end.
Our dinner plates were taken away and we waited, and waited and waited....... for about 10 minutes. We'd both left space for pudding (knowing from previous visits how good they were). We gave up waiting and asked for a dessert menu. The reply was "sorry, the kitchen's closed, you can have tea or coffee" !!!!!!!!
We were really shocked and very disappointed. At no time did any of the waiting staff say the kitchen would be closing at X time (presumably 9pm as we are now at 9.02pm). How hard would it have been to have checked that our main meal was OK and to mention that the kitchen would be closing soon and did we want to pre-order a dessert?
We got the bill, which again after a significant wait I was told it could only be paid for at the bar and resulted in waving the card machine around in order to get a wifi connection(!!!) and we left.
Upon reflection, I believe that actually they didn't want us to stay (hence calling the Esplanade Hotel) and didn't want to keep the kitchen open for us (all other tables were nearing the end of their meals). Their loss, not just for the £12 they could have made from our desserts on this visit, but all future meals (around £60 a time) we would have had there as we will now go elsewhere. I would have preferred it if they had just been honest at the start. Told us that the kitchen closed at 9am and given us the choice of ordering earlier.
I'm not sure if it's change ownership in the last year but the food and certainly the service are definitely not what they were.
Written 1 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phemiemac
Glasgow100 contributions
Jul 2019 • couples
We enjoyed an evening meal here. The views are lovely and the scampi and steak pie were cooked well. Decent bottle of wine not overpriced.
Written 21 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dunyazade
Arlington458 contributions
Jun 2019 • couples
Our B&B host recommended that for seafood, we should eat at Ghillie’s rather than at Victoria’s although they share a menu and V’s has a fantastic view of Rothesay harbor. Now I know why. Although the food is good, the service is awkward and the ambience, if you’re not looking out the window, is stark and depressing. If it weren’t for the view, I’d want to give this place 3 stars
First the food: I satisfied my seafood craving with the scallops, bacon, and black pudding as a main — 6 big scallops, delicious and well presented. My side, a mixed salad, had a good variety of greens etc. My companion had the Sunday roast as a 2-course meal and enjoyed his main. He ordered a cappuccino to go with his pudding, but it never came. We waited and waited, with no attention from the server, not even to present the bill, and finally gave up and we to the bar counter to pay.
Our arrival was even more awkward and off-putting. After climbing the stairs, we saw no indication of a restaurant. Instead, there was a man sitting at a table with what appeared to bunch of receipts and a woman in an office behind him. She summoned a colleague to greet us, but instead of taking us to a table, she escorted us to a lounge packed with heavy dark seats. We had no idea whether we were waiting for a table or for how long, but it was Sunday evening with few choices so we stuck with the strange (to our ways) program. Drinks were ordered and brought, and we made our selections from the menu. Finally, with some relief, we were conducted to our table — getting our first view of the unadorned dining room — and were delighted to find that our table was by the window. The food came out immediately after that.
How hard would it have been for the server to ask whether we wanted to wait in the lounge — a very unappealing room — or enjoy our drinks at our dining table without having to move in the middle of our visit? I think there is a training issue here, but also an overall lack of attention to the ambiance. It’s not just about the view.
Written 6 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
victoriabute
Thanks for your review and I am delighted that you enjoyed your meal. Whilst we do have an extensive menu our focus is on seafood and Ghillies Bistro & The Victoria Restaurant do indeed share the same menu and staff which offers a choice for dining with the restaurant being a little more formal.
I am sorry that you found the service lacking which is not our normal and without having all the details it sounds like it was busy. Yes you can go straight to your table (if it is ready) or have a refreshment in the lounge whilst your table & food is being prepared. This is your choice and we normally always ask.
Great to see that you gave us another visit this time in Ghillies, so we must be doing something good.
Honestly we get mixed comments same say upstairs some say downstairs, the main thing for us is to continue to provide good food & service.
We look forward to seeing you again.
Written 7 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kim S
Glasgow37 contributions
Mar 2019 • couples
My partner and I visited this restaurant after a long walk to Port Banatyne and back. In all honestly it was one of the few places that were open on a Sunday and we wanted to enjoy the beautiful view it had on offer. When we went upstairs we were greeted by a young lady who asked us to have a seat as she needed to set the table. We obliged and waited. Then she proceeded to bring the menu’s over to us while still sitting in the waiting area. After having a look she then cane over and asked if we’re ready to order yet (we found this very unusual as we were still in the waiting area and not in the reastarant itself. She took out order and our menus and after pouring out drinks asked if we would like to follow her through. We did and there was only one other couple in the whole place seated at the table next to where we were seated. This was all a bit odd. Why so much of a wait when it wasn’t busy and all of the tables there were set. Anyway the food we had was delicious and plentiful and the view was fab so we still enjoyed our time there.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian B
I am very pleased that you enjoyed our restaurant and agree that the views are something else. Sundays can be a little quiet during the months of January and February.
I suspect that the young lady serving you was just new. However our procedure is to assist with coats ect and invite you to sit in our comfortable lounge with a refreshment whilst your order is taken. Once your food is ready to be served you are then escorted to your table.
Next time you visit just let us know you would like to go straight to your table. The choice will always be yours.
Thank you for your review
Written 4 March 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jean Baptiste
Paris5 contributions
Dec 2018 • couples
Disappointing if I am honest with you, the best thing about Bute and the surrounding area is usually the hospitality but our experience here was nothing special as was the food.
Written 28 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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