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Reviewing in Edinburgh & beyond since 2003
Trusted, local, independent and telling stories that
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From whisky supper clubs in Dornoch to langoustine feasts in Fort William, Bite’s Highlands & Islands section celebrates the culinary soul of Scotland’s north and west. Discover immersive travel diaries, restaurant reviews, and local producer tributes across Skye, Barra, Tobermory, and beyond. Whether it’s a flooded tent turned Hebridean feast or a tasting menu that dissolves into sea herbs, this collection blends rugged adventure with refined dining. Curated by contributors who live it, taste it, and tell it with heart.
Michelin-starred Loch Bay to close - chef Michael Smith speaks to Cate Devine
After a decade at the helm of Skye’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, chef Michael Smith is preparing to close the doors of Loch Bay for the final time. Despite a fully booked season and a thriving business, the acclaimed chef says the decision is not driven by financial pressures but by the chance to embrace a new chapter after almost 40 years in hospitality. Picture, if you will, a whitewashed 18th-century former crofter’s cottage in a tiny Thomas Telford-designed fishing
Cate Devine
Oct 164 min read
Sean Kelly at Station Road, The Lovat Hotel, Fort Augustus
Sean Kelly’s cooking confirms what we all already know: Scotland has the finest larder in the world. Nestled above the Caledonian Canal in The Lovat Hotel, this Highland retreat is where Sean forages, crafts and experiments with a deep respect for Scotland’s culinary past. His avant-garde tasting menu recalls volumes such as A Caledonian Feast by Annette Hope , yet feels utterly of the moment. He tells me he would like to “not cook with lemons at all,” responding to
Sharon Wilson
Dec 13, 20252 min read
Western Isles Travel & Food Diary: From Flooded Tents to Hebridean Feasts
Just outside Castlebay An arrival on a campsite, this summer, at the immaculate Borve Camping and Caravan Site on Barra, oft visited by...
Anne Pia
Sep 8, 20255 min read
Crannog at Garrison West - a Seafood Pilgrimage to Fort William
Mallaig Langoustines If you want to eat Scottish fish and seafood in Fort William, there’s only one place to go: Crannog at Garrison West. This beloved seafood restaurant has temporarily relocated to Cameron Square, while major repairs are underway at its original home on the Town Pier. The square itself is a lively hub—home to the excellent Highland Cinema, complete with a wood-fired pizza oven and a crowd-pleasing bistro menu, and the equally welcoming West Highland Museum,
Sharon Wilson
Jul 14, 20252 min read
The Three Chimneys: a fresh start for renowned island eatery
Cobost, Skye A long-term feature on the culinary wishlist, on a recent visit to Skye , my partner and I finally made it to The Three Chimneys , keen to see if this destination dining venue can live up to the hype (spoiler alert: it does). On arrival, the vibes are cosy and welcoming, in keeping with the traditional cottage exterior (this place is nearly as old as I am after all). We are running late due to a combination of island-related factors – slow campervans, confused t
Diana Turner
Jun 10, 20253 min read
The Dipping Lugger reviewed by Cate Devine
David Smith - Head Chef at The Dipping Lugger When I was young, family holidays in Ullapool meant dad buying my brother and me simple...
Cate Devine
Sep 23, 20243 min read
The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum
This iconic roadside pit stop is in Tyndrum, the busy gateway to the Highlands. Mr Bite and I have driven past the cafe many times and...
Sharon Wilson
May 10, 20242 min read
An Cala Ciuin: a celebration of Scottish cuisine
An Cala Ciuin, The Mishnish Hotel (yellow building) An Cala Ciuin, situated at The Mishnish Hotel on the vibrant main street in Tobermory, offers a captivating tasting menu curated by chef Ross Caithness. One of the standout dishes is the Crystal Bread, which delicately dissolves in a whimsical puff, leaving behind a burst of fresh crab and sea herbs. This unique 'snack' sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. We have informed our host Jamie that it may be nece
Bite
Dec 30, 20233 min read
The Ninth Wave,Fionnphort, Mull.
The Ninth Wave The Ninth Wave first appeared on my radar about four years ago. I bought chef Carla’s eponymous restaurant book for a friend knowing she would appreciate the recipes based on seafood fished from the turquoise waters around Mull by Carla’s husband John. So, to be sitting on the actual croft sipping an Apricot Bellini with her on a late summer evening is cause for celebration. Fionnphort is in the west of the island facing Iona (a ten-minute ferry ride) with its
Sharon Wilson
Sep 2, 20212 min read
Rocpool - brimming with life.
If you are in or around Inverness and want to dine, Rocpool is the place to go. It occupies a corner site by the river and parking is...
Sharon Wilson
Jun 23, 20212 min read
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