Duncans Bar & Bistro in North Ayrshire

I want to be fair but honest with this review. We first visited Duncan’s in February and decided on the Cajun salmon, only to be informed later by our waitress that it was 86’d. I ended up ordering the vegetable tacos instead, which were fresh and full of flavor. We returned last weekend and we both had starters. Mine was the lentil soup, a classic that I really enjoyed, while my partner had the calamari tempura. Unfortunately, the batter on the calamari was slightly undercooked, giving it a doughy taste. For mains, we both ordered the Cajun salmon since it was available this time. Unfortunately, the salmon lacked flavour and had the texture of fish that wasn’t fresh—disappointing, especially given the restaurant’s proximity to the water and several fish markets within a 10-15 mile radius. The rice was slightly undercooked—not inedible, but it could have used a few more minutes. The sauce was also quite bland. On both visits, the service was relaxed yet attentive. The waitstaff couldn’t be faulted, and the pricing felt fair—I had no issue with the bill either time. Unfortunately, the kitchen was the weak point of the experience.

Popping in is always a pleasure. Great service and the staff are fantastic. View over the harbour is good.

Was staying in Irvine for a night, and went looking for somewhere to eat, this bistro was right beside where we were staying. The food was lovely, drinks were flowing, quick service and all the staff were lovely, nothing was too much trouble. Would say maybe book as it can get busy.

Bad, bland food, not a great selection on the menu. Chips are edible and the staff are nice though.

We came upon Duncan's Bistro,after a lovely drive out to the Beach Park. They were able to seat the two of us,without a reservation. Good for families too,with highchairs available on request. We had Duncan's Speciality Burger,it was absolutely delicious,fresh ground steak,fresh mayo and cheese, fresh coleslaw,tomato,lettuce and caramelised onion,with sweet dill pickle(gherkins),crispy homemade chips and a fresh orange juice and lemonade,everything homemade on the premises. The whole meal was utterly delicious. The staff were lovely and friendly,attentive,but not overly so. The ambience was great,the view amazing,the company,my Hubby,as always captivating, funny,and loving. The prices were reasonable,considering everything is made fresh. We had a lovely time,and we will definitely be going back again. Highly recommend.

Only had coffee which was lovely

we had a delicious lunch here today and the service and food was fantastic , really tasty and really well priced Lisa and her team were very friendly and very professional despite the Bistro being packed to the door will definitely be back soon thanks again Ewan

Just back from our Christmas Eve dinner.food cold plates cold service could.nt care less very disappointing.How hard is it to make good fresh food!

Lovely restaurant. Food is very tasty.

I had a fantastic time and food and drink experience here. The place has been remodelled and the food well it was great. Service has always been good here but now it is all just great. Fantastic views over Irvine harbour. Looking forward to visiting again soon.

Arrived and the staff seemed almost unhappy to see us, offered us the stools and when we accepted just pointed and said "have a seat then"... it wasn't particularly mobbed or rushed, perhaps they were having a bad day but this level of service was carried through to all staff. When the coffees arrived, another server seemed to be having issue removing them safely from the tray to put them on our table. My uncle attempted to help by removing the final latte by himself, and was rudely and abruptly told to "leave it!!" and that she would get it herself if simply left... we were all taken aback by this; completely unacceptable. The menu had a disappointing lack of options, the soup was bland and the sandwiched overpriced with lack of filling. 2 stars purely for location and the hope that potentially the other a la carte items on the menu might have been of better quality. Serious staff training needed.

Really good food and excellent value for money. Vegan food was delicious. The first class friendly service just added to the very positive experience. Duncan's Bar and Bistro is set to be one of our favourite local eateries!

Lovely restaurant with fantastic view, friendly staff and good amount of food options. Went for lunch and, had never been before, but will definitely return as was impressed with the whole experience.

I recommend you order the buffalo chicken, it's delicious. I tried the iced coffee with caramel, my god it was just perfect. Not to mention that the service was extremely friendly, they give you the necessary attention and you enjoy an excellent atmosphere.

Had a delicious breakfast. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, super friendly staff and very reasonably priced

Visited for dinner with other half. Chicken Tempura was lovely and hubby said the tomato and chilli soup was the best he'd ever tasted. Fish an chips lovely and hubbybenjoyed his fajitas although the spice could be a little less on the hot side. Berry sundae was nice but could perhaps have had more cream or a wafer with it and some fresh berries but still very nice. Drinks were reasonably priced and waitress was very good. Nice location on the harbour. Was all very nice, only constructive comments would be that we felt food perhaps came out too quickly so didn't get a short break between each course and it would be nice if salad had fresh iceberg style lettuce rather than the mixed leaf salad which doesn't keep well, and much less mustard seeds in the dressing. Bar that, well done guys!

Enjoyed our meal, before going to see a play in the same venue.

A modern bistro overlooking the harbour of Irvine. Tastefully decorated sharing an entrance with an art centre. Bathrooms also very clean although they are part of the centre. The bistro offer two menus. The first is a short menus offering a starter and a main for £15.95 extending to a dessert for £19.50. I went for the main menu of a carrot and courgette homemade soup followed by fish and chips served with pea purée along with some of crispiest chips I have had in ages, all served piping hot by server Lisa. Tuesday was also 25% off the main menu prices - a real good deal! Very very happy withe the service and the food - we will certainly return.

Clean ,comfortable and food was hot and tasty

Good service and quality food, although last visit I had a cremated burger. Prices are up so no longer as reasonable as before. Would recommend to anyone looking for somewhere to eat in Irvine.

Good food, great service, rather quiet on a Saturday night.

Was in today service and food were very good .I will be back and have no hesitation reccomending youre restaraunt .well done all .x

Visit this restaurant from time to time and on each visit the environment is clean and pleasant, staff are friendly and attentive and the food is delicious. As an added plus the meals are good value for money. It’s great when you have a good visit to a restaurant but Duncan’s consistently deliver a very high level of service which is awesome!

Decor is nice, service is very efficient however food is so so with very small portions. A few chips in a tea cup being an example. Ordered a salad as a main. Arrived with tired looking looking lettuce in a heap with no dressing. Dressing was underneath I later discovered. Would have been nice to have fresh Iceberg lettuce Partner had tacos that looked more like a starter. For price, not very good portion size or quality. Staff & service was excellent but attention now needs to be focused on food quality & portion size. This was second visit with much the same experience on first. Will wait a while and maybe be back to see if food situation has improved

I booked online for a Sunday which was good as the restaurant soon filled up. It’s in a nice location overlooking the water. We both got their homemade burger which was very tasty indeed. It was fragrant and well cooked. My husband loved this chips topped with cheese and bacon. Made all the difference. The mozzarella garlic bread side was nice too. We’ll definitely return.

Good choice of food and friendly staff. Had the cajun salmon and it was both tasty and well presented.(8/10) Feta salad starter was nice (7/10). Food was better than some other surrounding eateries. Price-wise it was good value we thought. This was our 3rd visit and will go back again.

We love Duncan's, we are both vegan and there is a good choice... Macaroni, 2 different burgers etc And desserts!! 😋 Always lovely service, the staff are so nice. Never disappointed 😁😋🫶

A nice cafe’ / restaurant located within the “HAC” . We were there tooo early for lunch, so we had a breakfast starter while we waited for the lunch menu to kick in. But they made allowances for us. Nice place, good food at very reasonable prices, lovely people, nice atmosphere …. should I go ??? on or should you stop reading this and go and book it for yourself !!!!

As a coeliac vegetarian I have struggled to find somewhere nice to eat in Irvine and often end up with Domino's in the car. I was delighted therefore to discover Duncan's who had a number of veggie and GF options. I had veggie fajitas and chips and was delighted with both items. As a bonus it's in a lovely location facing the harbour.

I loved my food (steak sandwich and chips) however the other diners thought their meals were decently tasty but not amazing. Which is a shame because we do eat here a lot and Duncan's is always known for good food. Try the mac and cheese if you are visiting, it's amazing.

Excellent. Reasonable priced. Staff lovely

After reading decent reviews, sadly and disappointingly our dining experience didn't live up to the print!! Despite my dog having an assistance dog harness, I was told only guide dogs were admitted inside. This is not the case, it's actually any working dog for any disability and law which applies to Scotland, England and Wales. As the restaurant was busy, I didn't want to create a scene and argue my case, also my husband was crabbit and hungry so I just went along with being seated outside in the small dining area. After ordering, we kind of regretted the decision as it was rather cold and not the best environment to enjoy a meal. However, the worst was yet to come!!! It just hit rock bottom when our food arrived. The whitest colour battered fish I've ever seen in my life, think it could have done with an extra 10 minutes to be honest, the consistency inside was gungy and resembled a mucus like substance. And the chips? Resembling McDonald's fries were the driest and hardest excuses for chips on the plate. I actually couldn't eat the fish, the state of the batter made me nauseous but I'm sure the birds enjoyed it. Extremely disappointing and suffice to say, I don't recommend nor will we return. Note: I'd usually speak up regarding the food but my husband goes in a mood for hours if I embarrass him!

Had a lovely evening meal, food an service were great. xx

Visited for the first time recently and actually was mad with myself that I hadn’t been in before! Was very impressed! Food was amazing, had the light breakfast and it was so yummy! The coffee was delicious and the staff were very friendly and helpful! Will definitely be back!

Visited for the first time this morning and will definitely be back. Quality food, friendly service and a chilled atmosphere. Croque Madame was a particular highlight!

Food was superb, service was fantastic , ambiance was perfect, overall experience was excellent as always. This is my/ family/ friends favourite restaurant. Can’t be beaten.

First time I've visited and I'd definitely go back. Really nice food and great service. Best to book ahead as it was quite busy and we were lucky to get a seat.

Had Amazing 3 Course Lunch Today

Had tea and toasted scone, scone was very good.

Great homely restaurant breakfast and dinner excellent. Great choices good quality food served promptly by polite efficient and friendly staff. Reasonably priced menus and well worth a visit.

Excellent value for money. Great service.

Sunday lunch. Roast beef was exceptional. All agreed the food is top notch. Restaurant was comfortably busy with the staff buzzing around keeping everyone happy. Just had a refurb and is looking fabulous

Wish I’d known how good this place was. Lunch with friends, service excellent, frequently asked if everything ok. One lasagna, one veg fajita (requested no chickpeas) and lamb Koftas. Food delicious only wish there had been 2 flatbreads with the koftas as one wasn’t enough. Lovely setting, Prosecco and wine really good quality. Will definitely return.

Really nice place to eat or go for coffee n catch up.

Great food and lovely atmosphere!

Excellent breakfast today, the poached eggs with avocado and feta cheese on toast was perfection , need to come back for more Great combination perfectly produced

We had a great birthday dinner and allowed to bring our own birthday cake.

Good range of food a few items were a bit different but very tasty. Good service and reasonable prices.

Fantastic atmosphere, food and service. We hadn't booked a table but they squeezed us in which was much appreciated. Food was absolutely delicious and fresh, we are already planning our next visit to try out the other gorgeous sounding food.

We had a lovely meal here at recently, the staff are very nice, food was lovely and the outlook was beautiful. It's one of our favorite places. Only 4 stars for atmosphere because the coffee machine - unfortunately it makes any conversation impossible when it's being used (great coffee mind you). Really cannot fault another thing about this venue, it really is lovely.

Food and service was just amazing. Prices reasonable we were going to the Geeza Break panto in the Harbour Arts which was fantastic and the restaurant is brilliant you can even pre order drinks for the break Decor is lovely and out look on to harbour at night in December was beautiful 10 out of 10 for everything

Always enjoy meals,snacks or just a drink .....staff lovely too

Definitely not a good experience. Very keen to hover over you on arrival before we even sat down, to “get our drinks order and tell us the soup of the day”…..let people sit down first! My crispy Korean burger was sent back. Not at all crispy, just a chicken fillet dusted in cornflour…..the Koreans would’ve been horrified at the description. Minimal horrid coleslaw with big pieces of red cabbage only fit for the bin and a tiny portion. Small portion of frozen chips. Got the fish cakes instead which were not bad, but served on a bed of rocket, whereas spinach would have been much better. My partner’s fish n chips was just weird. Fish automatically done in a gluten free batter, it was not traditional fish n chips, and again chips were frozen and skimpy, mushy peas incredibly small portion and consistency of wood filler, and about as appetising. Huge, hard, inedible pickled onion. We ordered strong coffee and charged for extra shot…..most places don’t charge for extra shot. My chocolate torte (bought in) was delicious but the empire biscuit my partner ordered was as dry as a bone. A couple of waitresses were pleasant enough but one other grumpy one who told me “we don’t have a cloakroom you’ll just need to hang your coat on the back of your chair”…..they could invest in a coat stand for winter especially. I had a similar experience a few years ago, I will never return

Nice small restaurant. We had late breakfast / brunch. Apart from my daughter finding the eggs benedict to have a slightly unusual taste, but not unpalatable, the experience was very positive

Nice restaurant, friendly service and serving decent food.

Booked in for lunch before an event at the HAC, friendly courteous staff and the food was fresh, delicious and cooked to perfection. Great team. It was so good had to nip back in and take home a few cannolis! See you soon hopefully after a beach walk!

I was there for two visits duncan’s was recommended to me by a friend My first visit was with my wife I opted for the macaroni cheese my favourite was very disappointed the dish looked like it had been under a heat lamp The top layer of macaroni was very dry and the cheese sauce was nonexistent my wife had the scampi which she enjoyed lucky her ,not to dismiss the other meals on the menu I noticed a table close buy had opted For the ciabatta and minute steak and onions looked nice a week later we Retuned to sample the aforementioned steak sandwich and was verydisappointed with it the meat was dry and tough the onions were rationed the bread was dry I requested some butter to soften the bread but It was tasteless I made my comment to the waitress who discounted the Price of our meals needless to say we will not return to this restaurant I have had better lunch from a burger van

Very good service and food excellent

Excellent carbonara best I’ve had for a long time will be back for more staff were excellent looked after us well

Great wee find when out for the day, staff are fab and food to die for. .top quality Great vegan and dairy free options too!

Schön gelegen mit Blick auf den Hafen. Umsichtig nettes Personal. Wir hatten nur Getränke daher kann ich die Küche nicht bewerten.

Friendly warm welcome. Excellent choice of menu to suit everyone s taste. Reasonably priced, great food and great service. Will definitely be making more visits. Thank you

Lovely food in a lovely setting

Visited here after a spontaneous drive at the start of September, review a little late. Didn't have a booking, but they were able to accommodate me. Staff were very friendly and the place was spotless, atmosphere very welcoming. Had the Lentil soup and Lasagne. 110%, the best Lasagne I've ever had. Every bit melted in my mouth like butter and it went down a treat. Chef has a knack for it, its a MUST try if you're ever in.

Just had a really good Scottish breakfast at Duncan' Bar and Bistro. Good service, good food in a nice relaxing atmosphere. Thoroughly enjoyed and will be coming back. Great to be back here for a really good Scottish breakfast, as before great service and good atmosphere. Well done 5 stars, well deserved. 👏

Delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere

We came up from london, an experience as clean and efficient as this would have been considerably more expensive and we would have been made to wait. This place is fantastic. Despite the fact that it was quite busy the service was rapid and outstanding.

From previous visits this was poor. Given 1 sea bass fillet served on dried out slices of potatoes with minuscule vegetables. My friend had that cheap salt n chilli mix you buy I big tubs all over his food. ..

Nice small restaurant good service and food

Excellent place for a light lunch. Really nice soup and sandwiches made to order. Very reasonable price too. I would recommend it to anyone.

Really tasty food, efficient, polite and friendly service. I ate the goats cheese main meal and it was absolutely delicious. The desserts sounded really nice, but we were so full from dinner we didn’t order any this time, but we’ll definitely be back. All fabulous!

Didn't think the food was of great standard Salt & pepper chicken was the same as my starter of tempura chicken with salt & pepper seasoning over it also the salmon for £15 was very small and also seasoned with a cajun salt no sauce and very dry.. anyone could cook to this standard you dont have to be a chef to cook like that... we won't be back .

The food was really good and the staff were really helpful and friendly

This was the second time we have visited and we were not disappointed. The first time was with friends for dinner, excellent. This time lunch with a family member. The food is excellent and the staff courteous and friendly

Yummy food for eating I would go into detail but I fogor

Brought our drinks but forgot our cakes

Were out for breakfast for a family breakfast. Food was outstanding, cannot recommend that enough. However, the attitude of the manager really lets this place down, so much so that I don't think we would return. From the moment we arrived it felt like we were an inconvenience to her.

Lovely restaurant. Staff friendly and good delicious.

Dropped in for coffee as another establishment couldn't accomodate. Glad we did, a lovely find.

Arrived early for our table but were accommodated without issue. Staff were polite and friendly. Very knowledgeable about dishes. Our order taken promptly. Food arrived, not only was the presentation outstanding the taste was even better. Would absolutely 100% recommend Duncan’s to anyone.

Great place to meet. Lovely menu. Excellent service. Best staff ever.

As always … lovely food served with a smile! Staff are great in here and the food served quickly and is always delicious. A favourite for us!

Food and service was second to none. Most impressed 👏

Enjoyed a nice lunch on the sunny terrace after a cycle. Attentive service and good beer selection. The Irn-Bru mayo had a lovely sweetness and worked well with the haggis pakora. Fish burger with Cajun fries was excellent. Could not resist the red velvet cheesecake, a wonderful combination too good to share. Would come here again.

Visited for a birthday meal. Very quiet when we arrived which meant our order was taken without any delay by a friendly and chatty girl. Food and drinks were delivered really quickly , with portion sizes just about perfect. The standard of the food was exceptional, very tasty and piping hot. Would definitely recommend booking as by the time we were leaving it was becoming busier.

We visited for a late lunch with our wee grandson this week. The service and food were excellent. The staff were really lovely. Thank you!

Went here for lunch was a very nice meal, great portion size not to big and not to small. Very good staff made sure we were well set with a push chair making space for it at the table and then also checking if we needed any thing for the baby and then also asking to make space when they needed past and didn't just push through.

Lovely lunch sitting outside in a small outside area. New menu which was lovely. Never been disappointed with any meals I’ve had here, good fresh food, lovely service too! Not well signposted so need to follow signs for harbour art centre. Happily return when next in Irvine.

Loved it here. Away for work. Excellent service!! Food delicious

Moat of the food was really nice, soup was very bland, desserts were great. Staff were really good.

We had our dinner here tonight. Absolutely gorgeous food. Well worth a trip. Food was lovely. We had nachos, soup of the day, feta and olive salad, chicken masala, chicken tempura and fish and chips. Totally delish. We will be back here again. Well done Duncans service was great too. Attenative but not too attenative that it's over powering.

great place to eat. plenty to choose from great service from staff very attentive all round great experience

Quality dining experience, great service and fabulous harbour views. We shared the beef nachos which were amazingly tasty. Mains were cod and chorizo with sauteed potatoes, and salmon teriyaki with stir fry vegetables and brown rice. Both 10/10 Only sorry we didn't find this place...

Sadly we were late, almost 15 minutes misjudged time to walk from B and b. Told that a minute later we would have lost our booking, understand that, hut not busy and most going to gig. Foid ok. Salmon teriyaki with stir fry veg had...

The restaurant is in a quaint space overlooking the bay. Beautiful space to be in on a sunny day. The restaurant is well maintained with friendly and attentive staff that help you choose the right food. Parking is spacious It is Pocket friendly. Washrooms are clean and hygienic. Despite not having many options on the options, the place was quite full. The food is good.

One of the best breakfasts I have had cooked perfectly thanks to Will,Lisa,Bonnie and the rest of the staff very friendly and nothing is a problem will definitely be back again

Went for a meal before going to see a play at the Harbour Arts Center. Food was great, staff very friendly. Not been for ages, but will definitely be back.

All the staff were very attentive and lovely. Food was excellent! The GF chicken tempura burger was amazing, I can't wait to go back next time I visit family here.

Great food, great prices, great location. I'll be back soon

First visit here & thoroughly enjoyed our food from the limited menu due to problems with mains gas supply to the restaurant. Definitely the place to go when visiting Irvine.