North Harbour Bistro & Tearoom in Eilean Siar

High gastronomy well hidden in what looks like the casual seaside café. The staff was very nice to us and we could watch the sunset on the sea while enjoying our seafood plates that were amazing. Will probably never come back again but highly recommend it.

Fantastic lunch and dinner venue for a family. We stumbled across here after visiting the lighthouse on Scalpay and it was so good we booked to come back again for dinner the next evening. Excellent service and fabulous food. Kids menu (pizza/burger) and a fabulous local seafood/meat menu for grown ups. Staff were all attentive and lovely (chef came out to talk/joke with us and the kids) and made for a great atmosphere. Would highly recommend and so glad we found this place!

This bistro is advertised as dog friendly but it is not. We went with our 3 small dogs. The serving staff were lovely and the food was good and beautifully presented. However, our dogs did start barking when another dog entered. We decided we would leave to sit outside but before we had the chance to, the chef came out and shouted in front of the entire restaurant ‘ This is a restaurant and not a kennels’. We felt embarrassed and humiliated. Had someone had a quiet word, this would have been fine and we would have moved outside ( as we were going to anyway )The way it was done was not. Disappointing.

Wow! What a meal. Took a drive down from Stornoway, and so glad we did. My brother had been a few times before and suggested we try it, what a great shout! For starters we had pork belly, salmon and i had probably the best Cullen skink i have had. For mains, it was Tarbert/scallops/king prawns, sea trout and venision. Amazing. You get a wee jug if fish creamy sauce as well and the side veg & chips were very good. Presentation and taste were 5🌟, even the coffees were delicious. Staff were great, and even sorting the booking through their FB messenger was easy. I would definitely recommend if you are on Lewis & Harris as its the best of local fayre.

An absolute gem of a restaurant looking over the harbour. A warm welcome on arrival and an extremely good dinner. The scallops and smoked salmon starters were superb and we followed up with cod, halibut and pork belly every one of which were genuinely delicious. I can’t recommend a restaurant more highly.

Don’t know why it says on here that this place is vegan/vegetarian friendly. Was suppose to dine here recently but told on arrival that they do not cater to vegetarians. It would be helpful if they ask for any dietary requirements when booking

A beautiful setting overlooking the harbour. Booked a table in advance, warm greeting on our arrival, shown to our table next to the window with views of the fishing harbour. Amazing menu and 'Specials' board. Bottle of chilled water on the table for us, ordered drinks which arrived promptly while we were deciding which of the fab choices to go for. We opted out of starters and went straight for the main course, Liz had the local halibut and I went for the fillet steak, presentation was wonderful, and the taste backed it up, perfectly cooked, one of those meals where you did not want it to end.......More drinks ordered, perused the dessert menu, I had pavlova and Liz went for white chocolate mousse.....again, beautifully presented and tasted fabulous. All 3 staff that served us were very friendly and attentive, a wonderful dining experience in a beautiful setting, we will be back....

Nous nous sommes rendus dans ce Bistro , unique restaurant situé sur l'île de Scalpay. Accueil plutôt convivial certes mais un peu froid malgré tout alors que nous avions réservé bien à l'avance. Compte tenu des prix très élevés, nous avions choisi une seule entrée de poissons qui nous a beaucoup plu. Cependant, au moment de payer la note, nous avons dû nous acquitter d'un pourboire non annoncé sur aucune carte d'un montant de e 5,45 livres. Ceci est absolument et nous considérons cette pratique comme une véritable arnaque et même plus. Nous ne recommandons pas cet établissement qui prend ses clients pour des pigeons. Michel et Marie Moulin Lyon

Bursting with colour and flavour! Amazingly talented chef with fantastic support team. Exceptional quality of ingredients put together with such imagination. Thank you for another unforgettable experience

I can only say……………… amazzzzzzing Booked a night for dinner and enjoyed so much they fortunately had space to take us again that week. So dog friendly which is a bonus but the food was the some of the best we have had…….faultless

The food was delicious - we had haddock, mussels and scallops in a cream sauce - excellent! The deserts were also excellent - all in all the best meal out we’ve had in ages.

The chef clearly knows how to cook. He uses the same method/ingredients in different dishes and varies things a bit. The portions were quite small. Nice setting. Quite expensive overall. Service was variable. A good night out but not great.

The reviews can't prepare for you for finding such an oasis of fine food in an isolated location. The choice on the menu highlights the local seafood, but don't worry, there is meat available. The bistro is a friendly, cosy, small well run restaurant which we thoroughly enjoyed. We will be back when we're next on the island.

Well well well, what an absolute treat this place was. A relaxed atmosphere with decent music in the background to add to it. To start I had the beef short rib and my husband had the scallops. Then I had the fillet steak which was a special and my husband had a halibut special. No room left for a pudding sadly. A lovely touch, the chef came out to say hello to the tables. A lovely experience. Would highly reccommend! I attach photos of the menus from 29th July 24.

A fantastic meal and beautifully presented. We visited in April shortly after they had re opened . The food was some of the best I have ever had. The presentation was lovely but the taste was sublime. The staff were really friendly and made the whole experience really nice. If I lived locally I would make this a regular.

Quite simply one of the best seafood restaurants I have been to and I've been to several all over the world! The outside of the building isn't much to look at but by 'eck there's magic inside! Highly recommended if you can get a reservation

What a contrast, between an uninspiring exterior and a cosy interior with views across the loch - and simply amazing food. We went for dinner, both had starters and mains and it was seafood to die for. No need to desiccate the menu: everything was tops. I love seafood and this was possibly the best meal I've ever had. Well worth the trip across to Scalpay.

Love this place. Discovered it in 2022 when looking for somewhere to go with our puppy. He’s now been three times. We loved it so much we went back a second time the same week in ‘22. We immediately booked to go back when returning in summer 23. 2 lunches and one dinner so far. The food is close to Michelin star level for me. Loved it. Well worth venturing along the road to Scalpay to find. A scenic drive to boot.

Stunning little fish restaurant Superb cooked food we had the monkfish it was to die for. Atmosphere was nice, staff were super friendly portion sizes were good what more can I say. 5* from us.

What a fantastic place, the sea food is superb, service second to none. We ate here twice during our stay on Harris and both times it was fabulous. Don’t be fooled by the outside you will not find better food in a Michelin stared restaurant, the chef is a very talented cook If you are on Harris this place is an absolute must.

I can only imagine how rewarding it must be to create beautiful dishes with fresh ingredients. This could be a great dining experience as long as you keep your head down and don’t annoy the chef!

Das war ein unerwarteter Genuss! Wenn man das kleine Bistro von außen sieht, kommt man im Leben nicht darauf, dass im Inneren ein Gourmetrestaurant steckt! Und trotzdem ist die Atmosphäre total angenehm und entspannt. Wir waren in einer größeren Gruppe hier und auf zwei Tische aufgeteilt, weil das in den Räumlichkeiten nicht anders geht. Das Menü war ganz große klasse, genau wie die Weine. Ein wirklich besonderes Erlebnis!

A magnificent meal from George, again, and a superb welcome from the team, again. I had the signature monkfish with curry sauce, both puddings were magnificent and all the vegetarian dishes for my vegetarian partner were stupendous. This is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. We will certainly be back.

Went here based on a recommendation…and how right they were! Based in an unassuming place in the harbour, you’re seated overlooking the water with a glimpse of the kitchen and a clearly experienced and passionate chef Service was perfect: friendly, chatty and genuinely interested despite being full and busy The food was delicious, well thought through and beautifully presented. We ate Cullen skink & seafood plate as starters,Venison and Halibut for mains….just perfect.

A very modest building perched on the harbour with the furnishings basic , clean and serviceable and the welcome from the staff is very warm and friendly. The chef came and explained any dishes that customers were unsure of, giving details of how he’d created the dish. The food served was of Michelin standard, outstanding with flavours and textures only a true master chef with a love and complete understanding of these principles could create. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Thank you to the hard working staff for 2 wonderful evenings here, our favourite meals around Harris. First class food, presentation and ambience. Delicious and fun. We even had deserts which we rarely do :) The seafood was perfect and so beautifully presented, but also enjoyed the venison. I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you chef!

We came here with another couple for dinner. The food was terrific. There were a couple of things that soured us on the experience, though. Firstly, it was cash only. That was kind of surprising for a high-end restaurant, but no big deal. Fortunately, the couple we dined with knew and informed us in advance. The more annoying policy was the chef's starter/mains policy. I wasn't terribly hungry, so for my meal I wanted to order a bowl of their seafood chowder and the side of vegetables. The server went and checked, and the chef said, "No, starters are starters only and can't be ordered as the meal. WTF? My wife and I shared a bowl of the chowder and each ordered a main. All were wonderful, and the chowder and veg would have been perfect... We didn't go back during our stay.

This bistro has a very modest interior. The seats are cheap plastic, like the kind of Ikea -type chairs you would buy if you are a second-year student and barely able to afford shampoo. But the food!!! Oh my God!!! It is something you would expect at the highest-end restaurants in London. The quality of the produce, the design of the dishes, the preparation, the plating, it is all AMAZING!!! If you are visiting any part of the Western Isles you need to take a detour to this place to try the food!!! A must visit!!!

Had an amazing dinner. Fantastic food beautifully prepared & presented. Would highly recommend a visit.

Great place to eat. Good selection of menu and special dishes. Well cooked by craftsmen. Relaxed atmosphere with very friendly team and competitive prices

Wow! Amazing food. Just overwhemingly good. Worthy of a Michelin star for the amazing flavours and freshness. Recommend the puddings too.

Out of the way, unimpressive exterior, casual dining - but don’t be put off by all this. We had the most amazing meal here. The fish and seafood is straight out of the sea and the chef knows his stuff

Excellent meal prepared to an exceptional standard using locally sourced ingredients. Fully deserving of all the five star ratings. Service from the staff could not be faulted in a very busy restaurant. Also an excellent wine list at reasonable prices. Highly recommend.

Never judge a book by its cover! This is a superb restaurant specialising in locally caught sea food. Much better than most Michelin stared restaurants I have visited and well worth the money. Deceptive understated exterior lead to a pleasant interior with bespoke driftwood polished...

We ate here twice while staying on Scalpay. The food was wonderful both times, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Great little place.

Can drive past without any idea of exceptional dining experience going on inside. Great food beautifully presented. Would ever have thought to look in without reading other reviews on here. Not great for veggies or vegans but as long as you like fish or meat...

Lovely food -really friendly staff and delicious gin. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal . The scallops were particularly good . Would recommend.

Had a fantastic and memorable meal here. The food is fairly fancy, although the restaurant itself is not. It was busy when we visited, a Tuesday evening in June, and the poor staff were rushed off their feet, so service rather slow. The menu was...

The food is excellent and the waiting staff were generally friendly (and one in particular very helpful) albeit overstretched- we had to wait 40 minutes to place an order and then a couple of things were overlooked or forgotten. Lovely views over the harbour for...

This is a wonderful restaurant on the island of Harris. The food is so delicious. We enjoyed halibut, sea bream, scallops, monkfish , Stornoway black pudding all presented beautifully and the desserts are exquisite-pavlova, sticky toffee pudding. The menu also includes venison, steak and pork...

Really great food, especially the fish and seafood (not surprising, given the location). I had scallops served with Stornoway black pudding (again to be expected), followed by monkfish, both beautifully cooked. Reasonable prices, so very good value.

Mann kann es ja kaum glauben, dass es so bösartige Menschen gibt. Meine Frau hatte am 20. Mai Geburtstag und...

My Fiancé and I booked into the North Harbour Bistro, Scalpay, after a recommendation of colleagues. The whole experience was first class. Expectations were met and surpassed. Service was friendly, relaxed, the restaurant was comfortable, and relaxing, not stuffy or over formal. Excellent sunsetting views...

Hard to believe anyone could drive passed this amazing bistro and not know what lies beyond the door. Quality - outstanding! Service - second to none, Options - hard to pick one thing. We’ve eaten in many Michelin star restaurants and this beats them all....

Another fabulous meal, and a delightful experience, at the North Harbour Bistro. Would be a must visit in any cosmopolitan city centre, so a real ‘hidden’ gem in the Isle of Harris.

Best food in the islands by far - unpretentious place with food that is sublime Can’t recommend this place enough - well worth the drive over from Harris which in itself is beautiful- Scalpay is a lovely little island well worth visiting in itself

This restaurant was recommended by one of the staff at Harris Distillery and what a recommendation it turned out to be. Fantastic menu with something for everyone but particularly seafood lovers, given the restaurant looks out on to the harbour in Scalpay. I’m had the...

On Scalpay its THE place to eat, as there are not many places to choose from, book up as it gets very busy for its excellent, but slightly pricey food.

This is a smallish restaurant on the Island of Scalpay, a bit of a drive to get to, but well worth it (and driving from Tarbert, the views over the bay and the islands are amazing). It is a seafood specialist, with really wonderful cooking,...

We visited for dinner with family, every single course was outstanding. All 7 of us enjoyed every bite! The staff are extremely friendly and professional, if I could eat here every night I would!! highly recommend. In the words of my husband the meal was...

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. It was both pleasing to the eye and wowed the tastebuds. The kind of food you savor. I ordered the fish on special and it was the BEST fish I have ever had (my father was a...

We ate here on one night and the food was lovely and the staff were all very friendly. Plenty of parking but you could walk if staying locally.

We had a lovely meal here. Very busy but service was smooth and friendly. Deliciously flavoured main courses. Meltingly tender belly pork, but the fish and scallops were a little overcooked. Tasted amazing though. The chef kindly catered for our vegetarian friend, even at short...

Wow super delicious food here with really great service. Lovely friendly gentleman served us. The vegetarian dish the chef created was amazing! There are many fish dishes here to chose from I had sea bass which was delicious! Deserts so many to chose from too!...

This meal was absolutely amazing. The best seafood restaurant we’ve ever come across up in Scotland!! Wonderful service with friendly staff, could not fault anything. Well done to the chefs on providing such excellent cuisine!! If we’re ever up this way again we will call...

We were advised by our B&B owner to book which was excellent advice ashore are few places to eat nearby, Not surprisingly it was very busy as the food is excellent with very fresh seafood expertly cooked. The service was friendly and good.

Outstanding food even with the restaurant being slightly short staffed. You also need to tackle a slightly scary bridge to get there from Harris but well worth it.

This restaurant should soon be making an appearance as a Michelin recommended restaurant. It is a fine example of what local produce, ambition and intelligent service and cooking can do if the northern part of the British Isles wants to show what they have to...

If you want vegetarian food phone in advance, as the chef was rude and temperamental when I asked about a vegetarian main!

Incredible food in this tiny wee tucked away bistro - recommended to us by several friends and so grateful - the food was exceptional as was the service (and sense of humour of the staff!) and a warm welcome for a four legged friend in...

We've visited Lewis and Harris three times now, and been lucky enough to visit North Harbour Bistro on two of those occasions. An entirely unassuming place, the food is Michelin star-worthy (the last time we visited (July 2022), I was served probably the best meal...

Wow what a surprise this was. Didn’t expect such fabulous quality hidden away. Superb cuisine, attentive staff and the chef came out to speak with customers. Photos are a true reflection of the high quality presentation. Highly recommend.

We visited the Isle of Harris in September and struggled to book a restaurant anywhere on the islands of Harris or Lewis. Thankfully, however, North Harbour Bistro had tables, and will be for a very long time I imagine the best restaurant experience we've had....

Our experience at Scalpay bistro was a highlight of our Hebridean trip. The food was the best of our holiday (and there was stiff competition). Starter of tempura squid and king prawn, and beetroot and goats cheese salad were divine, and the main courses were...

Excellent meal and atmosphere. The service was friendly and the food first class, these guys would be competing with the best on the mainland. Luckily for us we were on Harris and didn't need to book months in advance.

We stopped for a family lunch. The service was very friendly and courteous. We sat by the window with great views the bay and harbour We enjoyed some lovely wine and gin, beautiful seafood, venison and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. All super fresh and...

Excellent meal with great service… Seafood was all really good, had a mix of the specials and the normal menu and it was all very good. They were busy and understaffed but it never affect the service or quality, by far the best meal we...

From the wine to the 3 courses we had we had the best meal ever, it was a very special end to an amazing holiday, we would thoroughly recommend going, but would advise to book as it’s very busy, compliments to the chef and staff...

Lovely restaurant by a beautiful harbour. Wide range of really interesting dishes, brilliant service and a feel good atmosphere created by all the staff.

We ate at North Harbour Bistro one evening in April. The food was excellent and the service brilliant. The chef went round the tables to check everyone was happy. Highly recommend.

Absolutely outstanding food! We had chowder then halibut and scallops and my partner had the monkfish with south Asian spices with scallops. This must be one of the very best seafood meals we have ever eaten. Staff were so friendly and it was great to...

I really liked the atmosphere inside of the Bistro, though the chef's mood did seem to change like the proverbial yo-yo. At one moment making sure everything was ok, the next snapping at anyone near him. However, the food (predominantly seafood) was excellent and we...

The North Harbour Bistro is a gem of a restaurant. We first ate at the restaurant in 2018 when we were staying on the Isle of Scalpay and were wowed by the quality of the food so were keen to return when we got back...

We were staying on Scalpay but this small popular harbour front bistro is well worth taking time to drive to if you are not staying nearby. The drive to the island from Tarbert is very special. We were well looked after by the friendly cheerful...

What’s not to like? We struggled to book a meal here as it was so busy during our stay on Harris. After contacting them via Messenger they got back to say they’d fit us in for lunch. That’s a point in their favour as several...

Found via Facebook ahead of visiting Harris - this was top of the list to go to, also due to it being dog friendly. A normal looking cafe from the outside - it served up to us some of the best food I’ve had anywhere....

Just been for an evening meal(6 adults). Managed to book this morning and the service has been excellent. The choices were very good but when the food came we were all blown away. Not enough adjectives to describe all the meals. Brilliant. So good we...

We visited here twice and would definitely recommend it. Both days were sunny which gave lovely views of the sea and the harbour from the window. The service was friendly and welcoming- we were even allowed to bring our well behaved Labrador in which was...

We visited North Harbour Bistro for dinner and we absolutely loved it. There is a varied menu, a great selection of ‘specials’ and a good drinks menu. The food was absolutely delicious, full of flavour, incredibly fresh & beautifully presented. We had 3 courses and...

Visited here as a spur of the moment while in Tarbet and decided to visit Scalpay……. what can I say food was of very high quality and delicious. Service was very courteous and professional highly recommended

Food was beautifully cooked and presented. Portion sizes were quite small though and unfortunately two of our groups were tucking into some toast on our return to our cottage.

It took an hour - a lot of which was on single track punctuated by sheep- but it was worth every blind bend. Delicious seafood served with imagination and flair and a tempting dessert menu makes this certainly a destination restaurant.

Fantastic find. Beautiful fresh produce prepared into terrific menu in magnificent location The seafood chowder was sublime as was the halibut main. Really pleasant staff and all at a reasonable price. If you like your seafood make sure you get booked in here - you...

We stayed just the other side of the bridge so was just a short trip to this great little restaurant. A friendly welcome and a great offering of local seafood and produce. We enjoyed the squid, scallops, John Dory, monkfish and halibut accompanied by some...

A wee hidden gem on Scalpay. Thankfully this was recommended by our hosts otherwise we may have missed a chance to eat at this wonderful restaurant. The chef produced some faultless dishes. Both the cod and halibut were cooked to perfection. Our starters of goats...

We only booked NHB because another establishment had failed to confirm our reservation. We were so impressed that we booked again before we'd finished our mains! The selection of at least five starters, mains and desserts plus three "specials" meant everyone had a choice, particularly...

I was recommended to visit NHB during my trip to the Outer Hebrides and it was insanely good! Some of the best food I have ever had. It is worth making time to visit this treasure. Thank you for an amazing dinner and dessert.

A lovely restaurant run by a friendly team. The menu is superb - difficult to chose between the many options of locally caught fish and venison. We had a fantastic meal - thank you!

The food was amazing, simple as that. I'm quite particular when it comes to dining and this ticked my boxes. Wonderful presentation, great flavour balance and fresh ingredients. The portion sizes were just right and while not inexpensive, you get what you pay for. One...

Went with friends for lunch on Friday and had the “ Christmas menu choices” . I had the Sea Bass which was delicious and my husband had the Venison, excellent. The flavours were delicious and the presentation is lovely too. Would highly recommend a visit...

We had a wonderful meal here on a quiet October evening. A very cosy atmosphere even with only a few other diners. The food certainly delivers on presentation, flavours, and textures and feels deserving of AA Rosette or Michelin recognition. The menu highlights the key...

By far the best seafood we have had in the Highlands and Islands so far. Wonderful scallops in particular. Lovely service from the waiting staff too. Thanks, Clare and Rhona!

Perhaps a strange place for us to eat particularly as neither of us are big fish eaters. But the restaurant had been recommended and there was a limited choice of non fish options. So after a walk on the island we had booked a table....

We had dinner at the North Harbour Bistro tonight. The combination of the main menu and the specials menu provide a surprisingly extensive choice. The Bistro very much specialises in seafood and the choice tonight included Scallops, Langoustine, Prawns, Cod, Turbot, Halibut, Monkfish and Salmon...

Unassuming forum the outside, warm and welcoming inside! Staff helpful, knowledgeable and very friendly. The best meal we’ve had in a long time. We had the Shellfish Bisque as a started (amazing) and the fish mains were outstanding, beautifully cooked and presented. We’ll definitely be...

As others have said don't judge a book by its cover. The food was of a very high standard and very tasty. My only gripe was how the starter was served, the narrow black plate was too small but other than that I'd highly recommend.

Amazing food - cute restaurant in the small town of Scalpay. Beautiful presentation as well. We enjoyed turbot and rock cod with scallops and shrimp. Dessert was chocolate creameaux - amazing! Highly recommend if you are staying on the Isle of Harris!

Unassuming exterior and simple interior but friendly welcome and clearly very popular place. The Staff were lovely and the food was superb. Very reasonably priced for such expertly prepared and presented food. Probably the best dining on the outer Hebrides! Would definitely return.

The Bistro doesn't look anything from the outside, in fact looks pretty plain on the inside. and is in one of the most isolated locations possible on Lewis and Harris (which is saying something). Don't let any of that fool you. The dinner we had...

Well worth the visit and booking a table ahead of arrival to avoid disappointment. Food (quite pricey) but well cooked and served by pleasant staff