Cow Shed Restaurant in Aberdeenshire

First time eating here. Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff. Food not bad. Not overly flavoursome but does the job. Gravy quite bland as was the soup. Okay for a one off meal but not tasty enough to make a repeat customer. 😐

We visited for a birthday. Food was good as was the service. This is a really nice place to eat. I would go back again. Thank you.

The restaurant and takeaway are both excellent. I am gluten free and the gluten free options on the restaurant menu are the best in the area. There are lots of options and they are happy to talk through the menu to make adaptations. We are also frequent visitors to the takeaway, again because of the gluten free options. I’m allergic to fish too but the gluten free chicken fillets are incredible! The staff are super friendly and the kids menu is great as well with lots of options for the smaller diners!

Absolutely fantastic! My son had the macaroni cheese, I had the beef burger with bacon and cheese and my husband had the chicken skewers. The quality of the food was superb, the chips are proper chip shop chips and so tasty! Staff were all lovely polite and friendly. I wouldn’t hesitate coming back thank you!

Returned after a year and the food and standards are equally as good as they were.Staff were attentive but not intrusive.We sat in the restaurant not in the consevatory.We had prawn cocktails then i had the Cowshed Pie which was steak and haggis in a rich gravy,others had the small fish and chips and the Gluten free chicken.Everything was piping hot but my veg could have been cooked longer.Desserts were Cowshed sundaes and ice creams.It was a very nice dining experience which we come to expect from this place.

Another first class meal, lovely food, with friendly and efficient service and as a bonus a great evening view of the Hill of Fare

First time we have ever visited this restaurant and have to say we enjoyed our experience. Friendly staff, beautiful decor and view is amazing. Food was fantastic, I had a cheese and bacon burger and my wife had the pate. Burger was delicious and perfectly grilled, our chips were also great, proper chip shop chips. Price reasonable considering the price of everything has risen so dramatically. We would definitely return. Thank you.

Not as good as usual,Had fish and chips from the takeaway but the chips were dry and a bit hard.The fish batter was soggy.Had to wait ages for it as well! The Ashvale in Banchory is much better than the Cowshed now. Use to be the other way round

We held a private event at this venue and the service from start to finish was exemplary. Susan and Joy helped us with suggestions for menu choices, timings and table layouts, mostly via email. On the evening itself the service and food were perfect. The team led by Joy, Louise and Pedro were friendly, efficient and exceptional at managing dietary requirements. Our family and friends had an excellent night, and had many compliments about the venue, staff and especially the food.

Take-away service and portions have gone downhill at the Cowshed. Over £11 for a haddock supper yet noticably smaller portions (consistent from our last 2 visits), Seems like they are trying to recoup losses during the pandemic. Service is also poor because the desk that gives your order doesn’t speak to the crew at the fish bar giving your food. And…a 40p admin doesnt get you a bag, that’s another 20p and you have to ask for it. Not great anymore all in all.

Really looked forward to chips from the Cowshed Takeaway! Sadly opened the box and most of the chips were stuck together in one big clump! Any others were like eating rocks! Only good for bucket! Such a shame! Just told a friend and they said that they could have told me that?

A venue well off the beaten track. Plenty of parking available. A modern, clean and tidy venue. The food was excellent for each course. The fish and chips were very good as was the chicken dish. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. Overall, an excellent experience providing good value for money. Well worth a visit.

Would recommend this restaurant w, we where a small wedding party who had a fantastic meal , the staff went above & beyond to make our experience special . We will be back

Would suggest booking, as we did shortly before arriving on a Sunday, as it filled up fairly quickly. Without exaggeration, we had the most tender and delicious beef picanha we’ve ever tasted. The raspberry and white chocolate bread and butter pudding was excellent too. Very nice staff.

Service and meal could not be faulted but having to wait 40 minutes for our meal after our order was taken was very disappointing.

As a gluten free person, finding the Cow Shed was stumbling on nirvana. GF Fish and chips were delicious, the side salads freshband gourmet. The food my husband and son ate were equally generous in portions and delicious. The views from the restaurant are fabulous too, over to the Hill of Fare. It was so good we went twice in a week while staying locally. It was a big draw for us to rebook another holiday in the area. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They will provide GF takeaways online at weekends or if you phone any evening the main restaurant is open. 10/10 5 stars.

Wonderful out of town restaurant with take away fish and chip shop attached.We were sat in the conservatory which is very bright and airy with lovely views but was very noisy and sound echoed.This lovely establishment have a separate Gluten Free menu which my wife has to have as she suffers from Coeliac Disease.We were with a friend so ordered the Pie of the day which was steak and white pudding with flaky pastry top,chicken schnitzel and for my wife buttered chicken.All the meals were beautifully presented and hot and tasted great.We did have room for pudding which was Cowshed sundae,ice creams and sorbet and GF rice pudding with compote and sorbet.A very relaxed evening except for the loud table.I have booked again for next week but inside the seating area.They have very modern toilets and a flat car park.

What an absolute find the cowshed was! We visited on the most perfect evening and sat in the conservatory overlooking fields and forests! The food was delicious and service friendly and efficient! Highly recommend.

Excellent meal - staff were fantastic- lots of happy vibes in the beautiful restaurant with lovely views - highly recommended

Out for anniversary lunch and having passed the restaurant many times decided we would visit the Cowshed restaurant and have our lunch also find out if the excellent reviews were justified . On arrival the Restaurant looked excellent with bright and airy conservatory. Met on entering by a cheerful and very helpful member of staff . Shown to a table in the conservatory which was scrupulously clean. Service Food and drinks were of the highest quality. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough .

Young family trip at 5pm - staff were very attentive and understanding - great service and food. But the Steak 'PoA' we weren't given an estimate for and ended up much more expensive than we expected. No big deal, but worth knowing.

Third visit now and never fails to please. Reasonable prices for excellent food. Fish and chips to die for. Chip shop chips knock the socks off usual restaurant chips. Very friendly and attentive staff with excellent service. Fourth visit soon.

We took our grandchildren for fish and chips at the Cowshed Take Away this evening and were delighted with the experience. It was busy at 7pm on a Monday night which is always a good sign. Our order was taken immediately and we had about 15 minutes to wait, which we did outside. There were several tables and chairs set out on the grass so we brought our own tomato ketchup and drinks, which reduced the cost.The haddock fillet was thick, white and melted in the mouth. The batter was the crispest I’ve ever tasted. The chips were delicious, crisp and dry, not in the least soggy. We greatly enjoyed being able to sit outside in the sunshine, surrounded by beautiful scenery as we tucked into this feast - fish and chips at their best!

Waited five minutes to be seated. Eventually greeted by a bad mannered, surly, blonde woman who refused to seat us at our requested table even though the restaurant was EMPTY!Small, poor menu. Service absolutely appalling. Starters took 30 mins to arrive, mains even longer.Food was good but portion size poor.No sweets (no time to wait again), just asked for bill. This came quick enough but no-one came back to collect payment . Got up to leave - someone noticed quick enough then!Overall impression - poor. There are far better restaurants in the area, we certainly won't be back here...

Stopped at the Cow Shed for a gluten free fish supper which is a real rarity for me with being a coeliac (gluten free diet). Couldn't be faulted, lovely fish and chips, what a treat! However I was charged 60p more than the listed price of fish and chips. If the gluten free fare costs more than the listed prices, then come on chaps, get your prices up on the wall and make it clear otherwise it might well be Trading Standards might end up making a call to ensure your prices aren't being misunderstood. Great food, great that you guys cater for gluten free and it's well worth a visit, even from distance, but don't let yourselves down by whacking on extra cost and not showing the difference in prices

We visited this restaurant on a bleak wet Monday at the end of June. The staff were very friendly and welcoming.The dining areas were spacious and comfortable.The food was excellent and we certainly would not fault the quality or the presentation. My only gripe is being charged £1.50 for a portion of peas with my fish and chips--just a bit pricey for something that normally is served with this dish.

I visited the Cow Shed for the first time recently and was not disappointed. We were welcomed and seated quickly. The layout is simple but comfortable and airy. The fish was some of the best I had eaten in recent times with equally good chips. The peas were a little expensive though. We ate different meals but every plate was cleared and we all agreed we would be likely to visit again.

The Cowshed always offers rather nicely cooked food, prepared from fresh ingredients and often with a local touch in terms of the dishes on the menu. It’s an attractive place with a lovely view of fields and hills. The service is also always charming, but it’s certainly not fast. Of course, one doesn’t want to rush nice food and hopefully the timing means freshly cooked food (but why then scaldingly hot plates?), but it does seem to stretch things.

Enjoyed our family meal with a good selection and excellent quality of the food with the fresh fish a treat. Service very good. A bit pricey when taking children however overall well worth it.

It was a Monday lunchtime and the haddock was well, a little tired and dry - they say never order fish on a Monday but I had hoped for something better so left slightly disappointed. £1.50 for a portion of peas to go with the fish seemed rather avaricious, I thought it would come with the order. Others had enormous portions of gammon steak and steak burgers both delivered with excellant chips and were very pleased with their choice. Service was a little slow given the place was quiet but the staff were pleasant and friendly.

Restaurant is well located just on the edge of Aboyne. Good range of wines and beers and food is traditional, well prepared and good size portions

We had heard of this place from locals and were hoping for a good find, but although the take out business was bustling and had long lines, the restaurant itself was less than impressive. The prices were average, but the food, not so much.

Went for lunch on Father’s Day. Couldn’t fault the service staff. Very attentive. We had fish and chips and my child had sausage and chips. The chips were great, fish was small on my partners plate. For dessert we had brûlée and chocolate fondant. Both desserts weren’t up to much . I make tastier fondant at home. Bill came to £60 for 3 two course meals, 1 pint, water and orange/lemonade.Just to add, went to the chipper last night and ordered a child’s sausage and chips along with other stuff. Was gobsmacked to find that I’d been charged £4.50 (kids meal) for 1 sausage and small portion of chips, no drink or other extras that you’d normally get on a kids meal. To sum up, beautiful surroundings, great staff but over priced mediocre food.

Called mid afternoon and secured a table for 6pm that evening. 5 adults and 1 child, everyone really enjoyed their food. Fish was well cooked and fresh, kids menu had fab choices and the burger was gone in seconds. Great alternative vegetarian choice than the usual pasta offer in some restaurants and highly recommend the courgette schnitzel. A few of us squeezed in dessert, cheesecake and creme brûlée were very good. Clean plates all round. Staff were really friendly.

Visited with my daughter for lunch. Good menu choice, tasty and well presented food and efficient service. Would certainly recomend.

We had lunch at the cowshed for my step father’s birthday. There was a large group of us plus two young children. The restaurant is beautifully decorated & fresh. We all had three courses, the service was great, very professional & the food was lovely with generous portion sizes.

Had a lovely meal here today after reading reviews here and elsewhere. We both had delicious starters, then fish n chips and the roast beef. Will be back to try the takeaway fish n chips in the summer!!

Fish & chip take out great & fresh . Check opening times as take out is limited. Restaurant good. Tasty menu with good selection of meat & fish dishes with specials. No dessert menu.

Had lunch here today as a special treat for my husband's 80th birthday food was excellent and staff very friendly. Will definitely be back.

5 of us went on a saturday evening, about 5.30pm. There were only two other tables but service was very slow. There was a member of staff but they didn't greet us and we had to stand for about 5 minutes until someone else came and showed us our table. Once we were sat, our drinks order was taken and drinks arrived quickly but then it took awhile to get out meal ordered.

Lovely restaurant, but extremely mediocre food.

We went to Cow Shed for lunch and both had the beef sandwich but the sandwich only had 1 slice of bread and a small amount of thin beef slices.

Six of us had dinner here on Saturday. The food was good however the service and especially the drinks service was not great...First of all we had to hang up our own coats as no one greeted us on arrival. Then we were told that fillet steak and venison was off the menu, fair enough this can happen. However trying to order whiskies that were stated on the drinks menu proved a challenge..we were on to our fourth choice before we found one in stock. The waitress really struggled to provide an acceptable level of service. We did not complain as the management appeared to be aware of the issues but did not intervene. Finally we retrieved our own coats and jackets at the end...A level of detail in the service was unfortunately missing.

We met friends for dinner at The Cow Shed, having heard excellent reports of its fare. We received a very warm and friendly reception from the delightful waiting staff, for whom nothing was any trouble. Everyone present was really impressed by their choice of dishes. Excellent food served with a beautiful presentation. The wines were also excellent. On first approach the place doubles up as a take away but do not be fooled by that as the fare is second to none in this area. We cannot wait to return to The Cow Shed.

Had a lovely fillet steak, perfectly cooked, good size. The salmon dish was excellent also.Staff very pleasant.

We visited again today and chose to have the sharing board once again. The food is unbelievable, it really is cooked to perfection! The beef was perfect! We cannot wait to return!

Made a booking in advance, not sure what to expect as heard mixed reviews over the years.

This time last week we were on our way out to find somewhere for Sunday lunch and came across The cow shed , we went in having heard the Sunday lunches were good and were not disappointed. Stater and puddings were lovely but the roast beef was superb, it just melted in your mouth.

All daily fresh fish cooked to order, cooked to perfection and served with quality products Staff were efficient and quick The only place for fish and chips in The area by a long way

Best Fish and chips in Banchory coupled with a great restaurant. Only place to go for a fish and chip takeaway

I have been to the restaurant on several occasions, the first few times were lovely but the last two times has made my mind up to save my time and go to the take away.

Heard mixed reviews, but most recent ones have been good.

Had lunch in this wonderful relaxed restaurant the food was fantastic great flavours the service was very good helpful and professional we enjoyed it that much

Probably the best take away fish and chips we've had. We have been a few times now and its always at a high standard

Had a very good meal at the Cow Shed, we all had the fish and chips which was truly fantastic. All in a very nice setting with good service.

Our first visit to The Cow Shed and very pleased we were too. Surroundings are great and the food was first class. Service was very good and the restaurant itself was very comfortable. Excellent recommendation from friends so well worth a visit and I'm sure we will be back.

We turned up early one evening (at about 6pm) and fortunately they were able to fit us in for dinner. The food was delicious, especially the steak and desserts. Would recommend to friends and family.

Having been to the Cowshed several times we were so disappointed in our last experience.

stopped by for lunch and again was impressed with all aspects of our visit pleasant and well mannered staff first class food and wide ranging menu, all in a beautiful restaurant, prices were set correctly .

Fish and chips for 8 - fresh fish and great chips and well priced Very nice location too and beautiful chip shop

Aside the restaurant, they have a fantastic fish & chip shop on site! Always a queue as very popular but great service and efficient so goes down quickly - definitely worth the wait! Tartare sauce and mushy peas are homemade and taste delicious - we won't go anywhere else for fish & chips!!

A regular visit here for the take away fish & chips. First class food. At peak times you have to stand in line but worth the wait. We shall return for our regular take away.

Food was very good and reasonably priced. Staff were also very nice. I would recommend to others. The views are stunning too.

Our first time in this restaurant and certainly not our last !

Popped in when they were closed and was greeted by the friendly chap who I assume was the manager he was happy to book us for an hour later after they opened and we were really pleased with the layout and the decor for this lovely restaurant the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was great the steak was big juicy and delicious we will certainly come back again when we are in the area. Thanks for a great meal

We found this restaurant while looking for a wedding reception venue. Our two main criteria for selecting a place were : 1. Food had to be great 2. Location had to be great. The Cowshed fulfilled both nicely and took great care of us during our big day. Thank you all!

Excellent food to sit down or take away the best fish and chips in the North east of Scotland great staff with a friendly face

The Takeaway offers great selection of foods. However the fish and chips are absolutely fabulous . Tartare sauce home made , deliciousl,

Tried to get a table in the restaurant last Sunday at 7pm however could not as they close at 6:30. Instead we went next door to the take away for fish suppers which we both agree is the best we have had and was served by a friendly and clearly well organised team-looking forward to returning.

Lovey setting to have a leisurely lunch. Superb fresh food of fish n chips senior's portion ample size and open sandwich with fresh prawn marie rose. Good price. Staff keen to be of assistance and pleasant manner. Dessert a bit on pricey side with not a great selection but will return to try other dishes on menu.

This restaurant has, so far, been faultless. On every visit we've been greeted by very friendly staff and served excellent local food in a wonderful setting. Menu selection is brilliant and our recent choices of fish and scampi both served with "chippy chips" are absolutely amazing!! and the beef & haggis pie was "one of the best I've eaten". I would not hesitate to recommend The Cow Shed whether it's couples, families or friends.

Staff and management couldn't have been more helpful in organising a celebration for my friend's engagement. A bespoke menu and the private room made the evening extra special. Hiring a cocktail making class was above and beyond any restaurant's duties and we are all very grateful for such a wonderful experience.

The staff, especially Susan, gave my friends and me an unforgettable and wonderful dinner and experience. Great communication in crafting a bespoke menu and service. Lovely private room. Thank you!

Never had a bad meal at the restaurant, but the chippy is to die for. Lovely batter & brilliant chips. Recommend the home made Tartar Sauce.

We happened upon the Cow Shed last night when the restaurant we were going to was closing. We had wanted to go before but had never been. It's setting is lovely. Looks like the countryside but has urban surroundings nearby. The food is great. My sister loved her burger, and my fish and chips was perfect. They have two sizes of servings. They also have a take away fish and chips shop.It's near The Barn which makes it a terrific place to eat before a show. Upper mid range our waitress, Kamila, was wonderful!

Right off the beaten track and associated with a fish and chip shop - but don’t let that fool you.

went for sunday lunch, waited ages to be served, very expensive £ 16 for one course, staff seemed uninterested and disorganised on in particular was quite rude to customers. Table next to us had to ask for their table to be cleared, waitress was trying to serve deserts on dirty table !!! Also heard them asking several times for another glass of wine which eventually came about 30 min later. When the food arrived it was nice enough but not worth the money, nice building and nice location but poor service so wont be back

I visit this restaurant frequently and find it a great experience. The place is very nice,the staff friendly and helpful and the food amazing!!

After meeting some family in the area, we turned up at The Cow Shed, without a booking, and the staff were very accommodating. The setting was beautiful. Plenty of space between the tables. Excellent table service by the friendly staff.

We have been here a number of times and I considered it the best one in or near Banchory.

Visited for the first time at the weekend. Must say was very impressed with the choice of food available and together with the outstanding views of the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire from the inside of the restaurant made it a very pleasant dining experience. Another fact to mention is that they have a menu for people who have a gluten intolerance, which one person in our party has.

Good food here, but there seemed to be quite a lot which was not available such as two of the specials and the catch of the day. Nice atmosphere, staff friendly but somewhat distracted at times.

Was looking forward to our lunch. The restaurant is lovely and the views gorgeous.

Fathers Day lunch this visit and, as before, just brilliant! Well worth the 3hr drive!!

We visited as a family for lunch today.

We called in here for Sunday lunch and had the best beef we've ever eaten followed by a delicious chocolate fondant dessert. My husband also had a prawn cocktail starer which he enjoyed. With 2 diet cokes our bill came to £55.40. Not the cheapest sunday lunch we've ever had but worth it for the quality of the food. Delicious.

We used to go here when it was fine dining and it has restricted hours during the week now but the place was looking great and the view over to Hill of Fare from our window table was lovely.

Lunch out for our Aunties 76th birthday and as the restaurant wasn’t busy we got to sit outside & enjoy the sunshine. Lovely food, good portions (although chips are extra with sandwiches or panini’s) so we had a burger (toppings are extra) haggis & apples sauce panini & a gammon open sandwich all delicious. My only gripe is that for two glasses of prosecco (the small bottles) we were £18 which was daylight robbery in my opinion but enjoyed overall. (The prosecco is more than a main course).

We were here for the first time to celebrate a 70th Birthday and this place is fantastic. The staff are kind, courteous and professional. The food was exceptional and good value. Would highly recommend this place. Only wish we stayed closer. There is a great taxi service from the centre of Banchory. For those travelling by public transport there is a bus 202 leaving Aberdeen regularly. Although we live in Brechin we will be back.

My wife and I had a great Sunday lunch here.Both of us shared the beef and gammon combo.Really delicious. Also had the excellent raspberry crumble as well. Would throughly recommend. Service was friendly and attentive.

We have been to the Cowshed chippie takeaway a few times and every time it has been excellent, with all things we have had.

On a very busy Easter Sunday, we thought it might be a problem to increase our table from six to eight. “ No problem “ was the response and although the restaurant was full we were accommodated.

We decided to try the Cow Shed as we’ve passed it on many occasions. Lovely restaurant with good sized car park. We were greeted by a very nice young lady who showed us to our table. The menu and specials sounded delicious, I went for the Cowshed Fishcakes, Buttered Leeks, Citrus Crème Fraiche, Lemon Oil, my husband had the Atlantic prawns with rustic bread, lots of mmmmm’s. The mains were beautifully presented, I had the chicken breast with onion marmalade, sliced potatoes and Skirlie, the gravy was devine. No room for anything else, but very satisfied. Will definitely be back, great food with lovely surroundings.

this chip shop is the best I have ever tasted. The fish had the finest batter and also chicken fillets chips were also cooked to order lovely and dry. The place was very busy and not much wonder. Staff were very good

We visited on a VERY busy Mothers Day and were shown to our table in the conservatory by an extremely pleasant man. He then quickly returned to pop a colouring sheet and crayons on our granddaughters high chair and take drink and food orders. Drinks arrived quickly, friendly words for our granddaughter who was enjoying her colouring, shortly followed by our starters.

Five of us recently visited the Cow Shed for lunch. I love the roomy, relaxed feel of the place. Our lunch was delicious, food kept simple but the taste was amazing. Really good value for money, we had five main course, four desserts, soft drinks and five tea/coffees and the bill worked out at £20ea. Can't wait to go back.

This is a high end restaurant which is modern both in the decor and food - delightful for the family birthday lunch we had or an evening meal. Separate from the restaurant there is a fish and chip shop (with a range of fish options). The "fish and chip shop" does not intrude on or take away from any of the high end dining experience - separate entrance etc. The location at the edge of Banchory is a pleasant rural setting - with adequate parking facilities for all the diners and very convenient for anyone wanting to get a fish and chip takeaway. The fish and chips are arguably the best in the area!

A repeat visit for us and this time had Sunday lunch over the Christmas period. Lovely friendly and attentive staff. Really super food, will definitely be back again :)

The best in Banchory for takeaway fish and chips. The restaurant food is also excellent, although slightly pricey.

We’ve just enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Cowshed. I started with fish cakes with leeks, which were beautifully presented, crisp on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside. The other members of our group had carrot and lentil soup, which was well flavoured and even the ‘small bowl’ was a generous size.