18 Restaurant & Bar in Argyll & Bute

Freshest best seafood in town. Having seen a couple dine on this feast the night before, we pre ordered (do so) a platter for us the next day. Lobster, crab, langoustine, scallops and oysters. Clean, fresh.......devine

We had read reviews about Restaurant 18 at the Macrae Golf resort and was hoping for a good meal. The selections were good but the food wasn't great. The prices were pretty high, especially for liquor. That was disappointing as I would have had a couple of drinks but at almost $20 each, that was too high. The views from the restaurant are really nice. You can watch the sunset over the golf course and Islay hills. I'd heard that the general manager had been fired just a week or so before our visit and that the focus was going to be more on the golf vs the hotel/restaurant. Whether that's true or not, the meal was good but not fantastic and the prices were too high for Islay.

My wife and I took an older relative and other family here for a special lunch in August of this year. THe hotel itself is very nice is was the restaurant and the staff were very friendly and helpful. For the higher prices the food was not worth it. The portions were small and the food was equalivalent to average pub grub rather than what would be expected of this kind of establishment and price range. The vegans in our group were offered a limited choice-which was not unexpected- but the portion sizes were ridiculous and the food on offer did not in any way reflect the cost. After 3 courses we had to stop at the Co-Op on the way home so the vegans could get sandwiches and snacks. So, emptying the bank account to pay for below averag food only needing to then fill up on supermarket sandwiches. But nice view.

Had previously read negative comments about waiting staff on various websites. Cannot say this was an issue, every single member was very attentive and treated us like royalty. Food is delicious, perhaps a little overpriced - but on a stunning evening with a great view it feels just about worth it.

We stayed at the Machrie for my partner’s birthday. The hotel’s location and the view from the spacious rooms are spectacular, however. We ate at the restaurant for a special birthday dinner but were spectacularly disappointed. Five of us ordered the £40 beef. It was the worst piece of meat we’d ever been served and not worth £4. The soup was bland, the risotto was undercooked, the staff were disorganised and inattentive. We had to complain and received a partial refund.