Mr Pook's Kitchen in Dumfries & Galloway

Im 78 year old severely disabled cripple i was feeling quite exhausted after walking about a mile to reach a place to sit down and have a coffee with lots of sugar, i found a welcome seatand got a coffee and lots of restorative sugar thats where the welcome part ends i needed to get a taxi to take me home but since my mobile phone battery i could not make a call so i asked the waiter if he could call me a taxi i told him my phone was dead and had plenty money to pay for the call if required . however he said no he wouldnt call but he would try get me a number ten minutes later i still waiting for that so mr pook i will not cross your threshold again for the remaing years i have. being revived by the paid for in advance i wiped my feet before stepping on the street. karma has its own timetable , sans malice william

Lovely staff great food will definitely be a regular. Food cooked for you and you can see them cooking. Spotless.

We went as a family of six adults and had a wonderful time. We were staying on holiday about twenty minutes away and this place was recommended to us before we went by a friend, so we booked in advance. All our food was absolutely delicious - between us we tried a fish dish, a burger, a venison steak, the mac and cheese, sticky toffee pudding, and plenty more! We all enjoyed starters, mains and desserts. Really reasonably priced for what was an absolutely fantastic meal. Loved that the chef came out after the meal too, and also gave us some tips on where to visit nearby! Could not recommend more.

Chicken and mushroom open pie with creamy mash and green beans. Very favourable. Looked watching the chef do his thing in the open kitchen.

WOULD GIVE ZERO STARS IF I COULD. WE BOOKED AN AFTERNOON TEA FOR A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY ONLY TO ARRIVE TO A LOCKED DOOR. AFTER CALLING AND KNOCKING ON THE DOOR FOR 20+ MINUTES WE WERE COMPLETELY IGNORED BY THE STAFF INSIDE. I EVEN SPOKE TO THE STAFF MEMBER THROUGH THE LETTER BOX BUT SHE CHOSE TO TURN HER BACK AND IGNORE ME AND CONTINUE PLAYING ON HER PHONE. SHOCKING TREATMENT OF GUESTS.

Lovely Lovely place, brilliant food and even nicer staff. Will definitely be back next time we're in Castle Douglas

I had heard a lot of great things about Mr Pook’s from friends, TV, social media, food critics so whilst up in Scotland working I had to check it out for myself. I wasn’t disappointed. The food was absolutely amazing and could tell that Mr Pook is truly a great chef and a gentleman. The restaurant was busy with some cool tunes playing in the background. The staff were super nice and knowledgeable about their menu and sources of ingredients. Highly recommend Mr Pooks to anyone who loves their food.

Had a fantastic lunch yet again. Food is always great, great wine choice, great lunch menu and special board options. Ed has a great time front of house, and I always await new dishes appearing.

Brilliant lunch , food superb and reasonably priced.

What a find for a perfect Scottish breakfast highly recommended

The food was absolutely amazing, everything i thought it would be . We will definitely be back

Very good food and the steak was cooked to perfection.

Outstanding food and service. We went last night for Christmas Eve the service was friendly and attentive the food was absolutely delicious we savoured every mouthful. And for the quality we thought is was good value. We will definitely go back

We visited Mr Pook's Kitchen last week whilst on holiday to celebrate my husband's birthday and it was absolutely fantastic! It had been recommended to us by a colleague and it did not disappoint. A wonderful menu with outstanding food and great service - what more could you ask for?! Thank you!

First time visiting Mr Pooks Kitchen and it didn't disappoint. The most incredible food was had. The beef was so tender and tasty and my partner had the turkey which they said was perfect. Both of us enjoyed the desserts. Staff were friendly and explained the food really well. Atmosphere was relaxed and we left, already looking forward to visiting again. Highly recommend Mr Pooks.

It was our first time here. Couldn't fault the service, the staff were very helpful and attentive. They knew two of us were vegetarian and made sure to double check on certain dishes to make sure they were suitable. Really enjoyed the variety of dishes and tastes. It was a very nice leisurely meal.

Food was amazing but the actual restaurant was chilly.

What a fantastic meal! We had such a good time and really enjoyed trying everything from the cocktails to the puddings. We would all recommend you give Mr Pooks Kitchen a visit, the food is truly outstanding.

Aside from some very lively bottled beer and a poorly printed menu (both addressed promptly and without issue) I can say the food was some of the best I have tasted. The local scallops were divine, as was the local venison. My friends enjoyed the duck egg and salmon starters, and guidance was given on which dishes could be made, or were, gluten free. The service was excellent and a chat with Mr Pook himself rounded off a great night out. I particularly enjoyed reading the framed reviews from various notables in the food world on the wall close to the open kitchen and tucked in amongst them was the single 1 star review from this site, and Mr Pooks excellent response! I would happily eat here again, and will do so if I am in the vicinity in the future.

Outstanding, amazing value, super friendly service, super tasty food. Will be back. One if the best places to eat in Dumfries and Galloway

Went today for the first time - it definitely won’t be the last. Food was delicious and the service and atmosphere, excellent. Highly recommended. Thank you

Had such a lovely evening, food was excellent, staff were very friendly and attentive. Added bonus of being dog friendly too. Would definitely recommend and will be back if we are ever in the area.

We had an outstanding meal at Mr Pook’s Kitchen. What a fabulous way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I had the chicken liver parfait. Others had the hot smoked salmon pate & the beetroot and goats cheese risotto (from specials menu). All were fab! Mains we chose were the flat iron steak, mushroom pasta. Also, off the specials board: My daughter had ox cheek (which was beautifully presented and was melt in the mouth), while my husband and I then shared the chateaubriand - which was cooked perfectly, served along with blue cheese and peppercorn sauces, onion rings and chips. In addition we were given some ox cheek and a gravy as a surprise addition. Choice of cheeses for a cheese board, tiramisu and really nice coffees. All in all, it was superb!

Exceptionally delicious meal last night. Everything delicious and served perfectly. Very lucky to have Ed and his team on our doorstep.

After reading a Grace Dent review of Mr Pook's Kitchen we travelled from the midlands in England to Scotland to check it out. Outstanding experience: the food was beautifully cooked and presented. This Chef knows his craft the food is mouth watering to the eye and does not disappoint on the pallet. The ambiance hums with contented groups and the service is brisk, friendly and professional. We enjoyed our meal so much we returned the following day for lunch and the experience mirrored the night before. Highly recommended.

Mr Pooks is housed in the old Clydesdale Bank, an imposing red sandstone building at the top end of the High Street in Castle Douglas. Savoury courses are prepared by Ed and his sous chef in the main dining room, with the pastry section in the bank vault, complete with six-inch thick steel door (!). It was fascinating to watch Ed and his sous chef prepare the dishes … effortlessly moving together round the small space like ballet dancers, making it look very easy. Front of house staff were both professional and delightful in equal measure. Everyone was very friendly, with my wife chatting with Ed afterwards and both of us chatting with the pastry chef at his high-security station. All this made for a lovely overall atmosphere and dining experience … you’re not just sitting at a table and food is brought out from somewhere hidden at the back. It was late October when we visited, and the menu reflected that. The printed menu was supplemented by almost the same again of specials on the board, focusing on in-season local produce (at this point in the year that means beef, venison and shellfish) with autumnal flavours of truffle, red cabbage and so on. Looking at other reviews, I would expect this to vary during the year to reflect the seasons. Our table had a mixture of shellfish and venison dishes. Scallops were exceptionally well cooked (it’s not easy to get them just right), and likewise the venison loin was spot on and nicely complemented the braised venison alongside. Flavour-wise, the “posh boiled egg and soldiers” starter was the outstanding dish for me, with a cheesy-truffly-savoury bread soldier setting the whole dish alive. Overall the quality of the food would not be out of place in a high-end restaurant in Edinburgh, but with a much more relaxed and friendly vibe. Portions are generous – so if you’re a dessert lover, you might want to consider what you do regarding starters … there is an amuse-bouche, which means you don’t launch directly into a main course anyway. Our replete table managed one dessert (a frozen chocolate marquise – think frozen chocolate truffle) which was as pretty as a pin, and delightful. A genuinely enjoyable dining experience and one I intend to repeat.

Delicious food. Well worth a visit-busy even on a Wednesday evening.

Been meaning to eat here for a while.Eventually managed it On a Friday lunch menu ,food was superb and ambiance was relaxed and pleasant.

What a lovely evening we had. The food was absolutely delicious (see previous review as we had practically the same dishes). My husband had beautiful hake. The staff were friendly and attentive without being in your face. Not the cheapest but worth every penny.

Found this place after a Google search of local restaurants. What a discovery. Absolutely amazing food. One of the best meals I've ever had. Staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful. I would recommend this place highly.

Visited Mr Pook and his team for dinner last night. The restaurant was full and the staff were all coping well. We kicked off with a cocktail, Ninefolds rum daiquiri for me, delicious and a little canapé to tempt the tastebuds flowed by a little cup of sublime mushroom soup with a dried mushroom dust. Then olives, bread, smoked trout & scallops for our starters. I had the most delicious scallop, fig & langoustine risotto for my main, cooked to perfection & so rich & creamy. The rest of the party had the Potterland lamb, ox cheek & pork belly dishes. Lots of oohs & ahas as we savoured the seasonal flavours. The polenta mash with the ox cheek was a big hit. Stuffed to the hit we found a tiny space for the elderflower posset with rhubarb compote, yum!, the panacotta with rum infused pineapple & a honey & oatmeal affogato. Absolutely delicious meal, Thank you Ed & team once again, I’m grateful you are here in Galloway. Oh & the thrice cooked chips went dow a treat too!!

The best grub near me Borgue ( hate driving) every thing was perfecto seasoned to perfection .am back from a 5 week trip in Sydney I ate fine dinning every day as my son is out there chefing a foodie holiday Ace . mr Pooks and crew are worthy in my experience of 3 chef hats ( Aussie ratings ) my fam really enjoyed it . Pushed my 14 yr old daughter out of her food comfort zone .

Bit over rated, or was it a bad day? Staff on view cooking, never my idea of relaxing ambience one looked relaxed the other a bit rattled wore a tea towel on his shoulder, very unhygienic odd coating on the duck egg, supposed to be panko, but looked as crunchy as bread dust hardly an element of taste it was super thin, tasted ok, the risotto was 5 mins away from cooked unless you like al dente rice, overall the taste was good, however let down by slow service and lack of atmosphere the wait staff were friendly would prefer a carrot stick and dip to the pre meal offer of popcorn tho, May return out of season

Utterly gorgeous lunch. I’m very lucky my sister and her husband took me to Mr Pooks, we all had fabulous food, my sister and I had Pea and Broad Bean Risotto with Scallops, followed by Salmon and Halibut, my brother in law started with foraged Mushrooms on Sourdough toast, followed by Belly Pork, our plates were extremely clean by the end of the meal. Mr Pook is brilliant and so nice, and his staff chefs , waiters and waitresses are very friendly and helpful. This restaurant really deserves a Michelin star, thank you so much. Believe me I really recommend this restaurant.

Mr Pook is a talented chef - great lunchtime menu and a happy team of waitresses, chef, commi 1 and 2 all working well together and happily interacting with each other and their customers. Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and only wish home wasn’t 150 miles away- if we were closer we would be here more often

A delight, both in terms of quality and service. Some amazing cured fish and local scallops, and delightfully well balanced and perfectly cooked mains. Nice use of acidity, fermentation and umami. Go visit.

We really enjoyed all the food and drink here, and there were some really interesting options on the menu. The only thing letting it down was the service. We were brought canapes, bread and butter, and an amuse bouche before our ordered courses, and we weren't sure what any of these were as the servers did not announce them clearly. I was also surprised they served what we later found out was salmon canapes before knowing if we were vegetarian or not. The other thing was we'd booked a table, but they just showed us to whichever empty table they had, so I don't know if they checked the booking to see that it was for my Dad's 60th birthday, which I hoped they'd have recognised. The wine list was a bit odd, in that it was cheaper to buy individual glasses rather than a bottle. Overall a nice dinner, but some more confident servers would make all the difference.

Lovely food in an atmospheric setting. Could not fault either the food or the service, BUT why oh why do you allow dogs into the restaurant. Dogs do not belong in an eating environment. I feel so strongly about this I will not be returning....

Had a wonderful dinner here last night with a group of friends. The food was amazing, great local produce expertly cooked and presented. Delicious wines and friendly, professional service. Thank you everyone at Mr Pooks Kitchen

Fantastic food on a few occasions. Worth a trip to castle Douglas if you are in the area. AND dog friendly!!!

We visited this restaurant on a busy Saturday lunchtime and all I can say is the food was delightful. The men shared the venison which they said was really tasty,the pork belly was very good and my steak toastie was delicious. We had starters and...

A special evening meaL for a 21st birthday. Superb food. We had pork belly and Ox cheek. Brilliantly executed, served by friendly knowledgebul staff. Highly recommended.

Question-What is better than dinner at Mr Pooks Answer-TWO dinners at Mr Pooks. Yes I was fortunate enough to spend two evenings eating the very best of Scottish produce cooked with love and enthusiasm by Ed Pooks and Giacomo . The starter of scallops with...

Superb dishes made from local produce. The Potterland lamb and Kircudbright scallops were simply divine. Decent value too. Will make every effort to return. Highly recommended if staying in the area or passing through. Revisited a year later and happy to say the food is still magnificent with the slow braised Ox cheek a particular triumph!

Excellent dinner with friends, highly recommended.

The service was warm, friendly welcoming and efficient. The dinner menu was a treat to read and digest, showcasing local produce as well as exciting flavour combinations. The presentation of each dish was a delight to the eyes as well as our tastebuds. Mr Pooks...

Well what an amazing experience from start to finish, table of four and we had 3 courses plus wine, cocktails and local beer. There wasn’t anything to fault! All of our selections were visually stunning, and everything had so much flavour, between us we had...

First time I’ve been and wow the food was amazing. The service friendly and amazing. I. Would certainly be going again as I’ve done fine dining but it does not compare to this. Would totally recommend absolute fantastic chef can’t wait to go back Thankyou

Fantastic place for lunch, nice decor, bright and airy. Staff very attentive and friendly. Fresh flowers were a nice touch. Food looked inviting and tasted good. Specials board with lots of choice. Lots of local produce. Price point more than I'd usually spend for lunch...

An excellent meal made from local produce that was cooked, presented and served exquisitely.

Me and the wife called here as l thought l would treat her as it was her birthday, wish l hadn't bothered as this place is really overrated, we both had the toasted steak sandwich which came with chips and salad, for £14 each it...

Not local to this area, I chose this restaurant from the consistently excellent Tripadvisor reviews, and we were not disappointed. The delicately presented amuse-bouche was delightful. We had the venison carpaccio, and scallops for starters, which were well presented and tasty. For our main courses...

1st time , but won't be last. It's fine dining at its best in castle douglas. If you want pub food, go somewhere else. 1st class experience from start to finish from the entire team at Mr. pooks.

Excellent restaurant, food superb and staff very friendly.

We've been in Scotland for the past week, both on the East and West Coast. This has been the best (and most expensive) meal we've had. By far the best and worth the additional cost. Pat and Bridget. Galway Ireland

Once again, a really tasty lunch was had in beautiful surroundings and with lovely, attentive staff. It's great that the menu is made up of what's in season/locally sourced where possible and the attention to detail is first class...supporting local artisans too. Even the mocktails...

I booked dinner here after reading some great reviews and it has been the food highlight of our holiday. The menu is innovative and it didn't disappoint on the plate. I had the Panko crumbed duck egg followed by braised Ox Cheek and both were...

Was underwhelmed after Grace Dent review in Guardian. Interesting menu but disappointing results. Queen scallops gritty risotto rice undercooked. Mains salmon and turbot dishes sauces bland, turbot portion small. Service friendly and efficient but long wait between starter and main.

Absolutely amazing in every way. Honestly blown away by the quality and expert skills of Ed and his team. I was lucky enough to take my elderly father out for his birthday meal and he is still talking about how much he enjoyed the whole experience. I will honestly go as far to say this has to be the finest restaurant in Dumfries and Galloway, by far!

Visiting the area we saw a recent Guardian review of Mr Pook’s Kitchen and decided to treat ourselves. Wow from the moment we entered the young friendly team were essence of Scottish hospitality. The kitchen is open to the small dining room so you can...

I love the whole ethos of Ed's cooking. Mr pooks is a fantastic restaurant, great foods,amazing wines, and desserts are the thing that makes you return. Great care and attention goes in to the dishes, passion too. The pea,broad bean risotto was amazing not lacking...

Wow, what a brilliant place. Had dinner here with friends. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal with none of the pretence you can get with other fine dining establishments. Make no mistake - this is fine dining - every course was a delight. A great experience, loved by locals and the national press alike. I'll be back.

What a brilliant experience at Mr Pooks! We had read a great review and expectations were high - our evening was a wonderful treat. From the stylish surroundings, the excellent cocktails and snacks to the amazing food which is locally sourced. The service was exceptional...

Big city style food and , nice little cup of pea and mint soup with compliments of the chef followed by a smooth tasty chicken liver parfait and a main of venison. Good and well priced wine list. Open plan kitchen with 2 hard working...

Really great food well done. Local sustainable produce cooked to a fantastic standard. From Tim at Four Season Farm in Borgue

Fantastic find on the last night of our holiday. Loved the little extras, smoked trout on a potato tweel and the mushroom soup which was an amazing flavour. Starters of smoked salmon pate and scallops, both yummy! Followed by Lamb and halibut, then a shared...

Just returned to our holiday accommodation after an excellent experience at Mr Pook’s and felt I had to post a review From the time we walked in we were made very welcome it was also great to be able to bring our dog We both...

This restaurant definitely lives up to all its good reviews. Our visit was so enjoyable from start to finish. Every member of staff was helpful and friendly throughout and made us feel very welcome. The food was exceptionally good. From the amuse bouche, through the...

When you get an amuse bouche as perfect as this one you know you’re in for a treat. Almost without precedent in Scotland every course was as near to perfection as it could possibly be . A tiny cup of wild galloway cep soup followed...

Splendid food....worth the journey!

We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Mr Pook's on the first day of a recent mini break to Dumfries and Galloway - Scotland's hidden gem. The setting is excellent with well spread out tables. You can observe food being prepared and my goodness the...

Wonderful. Excellent quality and 2nd to none service

Exceptionally good food and fantastic warm, friendly service from all the staff - including Ed himself.

We've been to Mr Pook's 3 or 4 times. As a result of Birthday and Christmas presents we've also been fortunate to have been to fine dining restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast. In every aspect Mr Pook's is one of our top two . We are so lucky they are in Castle Douglas.

Starters were nice and seasonal however the toasty and kids meals were not what you would expect. The toasty was a standard white pan loaf smothered in butter, not earths crust sourdough which seems to be used in other dishes. The kids menu was limited,...

Drove over from Glasgow to eat at Mr Pook's. Was not disappointed! Absolutely fantastic. Painstakingly made, all ingredients were locally sourced and the open kitchen was a treat to watch. Edward has really elevated the dining scene in the region and beyond! Word of advice; book well in advance!

Had a wonderful evening. From the moment I arrived I was warmly greeted. All the food, including amuse bouche and a pre-starter were excellent. The specials board had numerous interesting options; I could easily have chosen 4 or 5 dishes. Service was friendly and efficient....

Nice place with good ambiance, food is excellent, but not inexpensive, staff friendly and attentive but not overly so, we shared a starter and a pudding but had a main each and a bottle of wine the bill was over£110.Great if you can afford it...

We have visited Mr Pooks a couple of times and each time has been marvellous. I had the scallops to start then pan fried brill for mains, my partner had the Korean pork belly then lamb for main. The scallops were locally sourced and I...

We visited this restaurant for dinner. We were on holiday nearby and had read the excellent reviews so decided to give it a go. we are so glad that we did as it was wonderful. the choice of food was amazing. Everything we had was...

Faultless from start to finish. Dog-friendly, warm welcome, beautiful and very tasty food and a good wine list. Great value too. If you're in the area do yourself a big favour and visit Mr Pool's.

Really delicious meal. Not inexpensive but different and beautifully cooked. Lovely staff too. 👏

Having had a brilliant dinner at Mr Pook's Kitchen some two years ago we booked a table for 8 for lunch. We were not disappointed - and our friends were equally impressed -by this sophisticated restaurant. We were there for a light lunch - so...

Fantastic food and service, pricey but worth it, had a great evening

Is my 2nd time, my family and I go to this Mr.Pook's Kitchen. The food is awesome. The service is fantastic. Servers & Chefs are very helpful and friendly. Highly recommended. A place you should not miss.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Went for a few cocktails! Absolutely perfect

Outstanding lunch, great service and reasonable price- what more could you want! Really enjoyed the experience; the food selection, commitment to nose to tail and foraged goodies was outstanding- we will be back 👌

Sensational .Worth coming down here. Scallop pea risotto Pasta Miso carrots Atlantic coley Excellent provenance which is what you need. Lovely Roussanne/marsanne wine. Mr Pooks please stay here forever. Vegan friendly.

A pleasant dining experience. We booked the table through email from the night before and had a response back the next following morning.. the food was excellent had given a complimentary appetiser and soup which was a surprise and a nice start for the meal. Ordered pea and early season garlic risotto for starter it was amazing and slow braised ox cheek to tasty.. can't fault it however the only thing we noticed is one of our server put our cutleries on the wrong position but it's nothing major over all would recommend this place and would definitely coming back again..

Great ambience! fantastic food! deliciously tasting and perfectly cooked meal on this occasion. Will definitely recommend and we will visit again if in the area.

Really beautiful lunch. Food was excellent value, top quality, flavours were enhanced by the cooking, not reduced by too much messing about. The ox tongue was super. Scallops exquisite. Service was really friendly and efficient. We will be back in May.

We went to this restaurant by chance. It looked stylish and after speaking to the very charming owner/chef/manager (I think) I decided to book dinner to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. We were blown away from the start. The service provided by a young man and...

Great service and food. Love that wine was by-the-glass. Mr Pook himself was a delight, very friendly and welcoming. Thank you for a lovely evening! Highly recommended.

Food that tasted like the chef really cared. My risotto tasted like spring itself and the lamb was devine. I was very happy with my premium experience.

A recommendation from friends, we booked for the opening night of the new season. A beautifully appointed restaurant with plenty of light to see the menu and your food. The menu had plenty of interesting choices and started with a complimentary mushroom veloute which was...

Twice we have ordered there take away. Twice we have not received our full order. Also expensive for average food

First time here and pleasantly surprised. Staff friendly and helpful. Food excellent with a good menu choice. We were a party of 6 who walked in and were seated no problem at an extendable table.

Everytime I have visited I amazed by the flavours of the food that comes from chef. The menu covers all aspects, and also too for non meat eaters. I love to try veggie foods,alongside traditional fish or meat dishes. Wine list perfect choices, and front...

Best fine dinning experience in Dumfries and Galloway. Always excellent food and service with wonderful wine pairing. Just enjoy!

We had to book early to get in - booking was via email (3min response time so don’t be put off!). The place was lovely - spacious contemporary bistro feel, excellent food and very nice staff. We were pleasantly surprised to be able to take...