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4.5

Based on 15 opinions finded in 1 websites

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Nº 256 in 700 in Aberdeenshire

Nº 62 of 152 Other cuisines in Aberdeenshire

CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH..chickencoffeebaconbeautifuleggscookedoldsaladcreamsoupsandwichcaketapaschocolatecheese
Score
OpinionsNoteTripAdvisor154.5

comment_iconOpinions

We thought the bread and pastries looked very nice, and there was a very brisk trade going on. Very disappointed with almond croissants. Dry, no taste, over baked and very heavy. The same with the pain au chocolat. Heavy, dry, afraid we did not enjoy and threw them away. The seeded tin loaf was moist and well made however. The service was quick and efficient.

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26lillys . 2024-12-15

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We visited this Cafe after a long walk in the forest. Dogs are welcome inside the cafe. Inside there is a log burning stove, which was very welcome, the cafe had a nice rustic feel they do there own baking and my wife described the scone as the best she had. The coffee was lovely. We had visited the Cafe at the Cheese makers across the road which was very nice but had to sit outside with the dog. We will certainly be back here, probably for a lunch next time.

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Faraway802174 . 2022-10-29

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Popped in after cycling in Ballater. Lovely outdoor garden. Coffee was nice, cake was moist and tasty. Service great, friendly waitress :) If I'm up that way again I'll be sure to visit again.

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_gg_ . 2022-08-19

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The Courie Courie bakery makes the best sourdough bread ever. There is an excellent choice of pastries and savoury pies. Organic products, candles and gifts are also on offer. The staff are friendly and the delightful garden/tea room. Dogs are very much welcome here.

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Pesta1963 . 2022-08-05

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The new arrangement now has a lovely vibe when fully staffed and OPEN. Possibility of a great business here for casual outdoor/indoor lunches and snacks but very inconsistent in terms of staffing and availability. When fully staffed the front of house are friendly but a definite problem with understaffing which may be due to sick leave or spreading their staffing too thin on the ground.

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McKie5 . 2022-03-22

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Stopped in for lunch after walking forest trails. Possibly the best mushroom soup we have ever tasted. Very tasty sandwich on sourdough and the scone was lovely too. Pleasant outdoor sweating area and very nice staff. would definitely recommend.

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bubblecar55 . 2021-08-15

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Fine wee placey to hae a fly. Bitty weet, mair umbrellas needed for oot side. Scran wis fine inna. Aye worth a visit.

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349barclayd . 2021-07-10

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Courie Courie have the best soda bread rolls filled with delicious Brie with onion chutney. Make sure you have the coffee cake and enjoy an Americano coffee. In these Covid days it’s mainly take out but if the weather is fine (or you’re hardy) you can sit outside in the garden. The couple who run this little bakery are very friendly and helpful. Can’t go wrong here. We are regulars and just can’t pass with going in.

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RozzaDog . 2020-12-13

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Stopped in past for a quick lunch after a cycle at Cambus o May forest trails. We had 2 different flavoured soups and all agreed they were excellent. Look forward to returning very soon and would highly recommend a visit.

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W8889UIgailc . 2020-11-25

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We were amazed that this place has such spectacular food. The soup was amazing and the cheese scones were the best ever. We brought bread home and have also loved that. No doubt we will be back again tomorrow. It is a bit out of the way but well worth the trek, or drive from Ballater.

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901steve . 2020-10-29

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Nice cafe to enjoy breakfast or a light lunch. Lovely outdoor seating area with forest walks nearby.

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JAlex1966 . 2020-09-26

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Have visited Riverside for many years... visited today to find new owners having taken over in March just before lockdown.. cannot recommend highly enough.. we had the most amazing home made soup and sourdough bread sitting outside in the sunny garden...

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Emmy P . 2020-09-12

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Consistently excellent scones and yummy sourdoughs and more on sale in this friendly outlet near Cambus o May.

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567alexanderp . 2020-07-30

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We remembered this lovely wee place from our last time in Ballater. It’s conveniently situated about 3.5 miles along the Deeside cycle path which runs from Ballater along the old railway line. Having looked them up online it appeared they would be open 10 till 3 from Wed to Sun so we set off on that basis. We were lucky again on this occasion as the sun was shining and we got a table in the garden under the shade of a tree with no waiting. Plenty of room for the dogs who seemed welcome. Lots of thought has gone into the way the food comes to the table (recyclable cardboard plates and mini boxes for the baking) and the staff all wearing masks and gloves. Menu was lovely and who can resist a sourdough roll made that morning?? Great salad and we loved the unusual “twist of seeds” to garnish. Idyllic little interlude - thank you!

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drcarol66 . 2020-07-25

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Very disappointed that the cafe was closed. On the website says open Wed-Sunday from 11-3pm. Double checked with the Tourist Office in Ballater they advised us that itwas open from 12-3pm. We walked all the way from Ballater to find it was closed !!!!!We found 2 other people there also disappointed. Have been visiting for some yearsnow food was always fantastic but think will give it a miss in the future. The word in Ballater was that the opening times is not dependable.

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Ronniem375 . 2020-02-05

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Visited for lunch and was made very welcome. There was a good lunch menu, we had jacket potatoes served with a great salad. Dog friendly and could not resist the ice cream.

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Roger-hants . 2019-09-25

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We conventiently stumbled across this little gem on a long walk in the area. Popped in for a warm drink but the menu was great, so we stayed for lunch. Really friendly service and lovely food (generous portions). We enjoyed it so much, we returned for lunch again the following day.

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LizCB77 . 2019-09-08

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We were in Ballater .we drove past this place so we went in for a late lunch lovely welcome.very quick service I had a baked potato with tuna my husband had one with cheese and pickle both came with a lovely salad we had home made cakes and coffee.thanks for a lovely lunch will return soon

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evelyn2384 . 2019-09-04

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We live locally and visit Riverside fairly frequently for the delicious bread and lovely atmosphere, however on this occasion we were really disappointed. The cafe was incredibly busy on the last day of the local school holidays, and staff were clearly under a lot of pressure. That’s a shame for them but I was more than willing to wait for service... however (after our lunch and waiting +10 mins for someone to come and take our ice-cream order), my two kids started to queue beside the ice-cream counter, another 15/20 mins went by and my kids seemed to be being overlooked so I asked one of the staff (I believe he’s the owner) whether I could order an ice-cream. He rolled his eyes at me! No humour, no smiles and aggressively said “I don’t do them that’s “her” job”, pointing at the other member of staff who was in the middle of serving the biggest queue of customers. Was possibly the rudest service I have ever encountered in a cafe or restaurant. I appreciate that the cafe was really busy that day but there was no need for me to be spoken to that way or met with that attitude. However he came back over and asked what I’d like to order and when I told him it was a sundae (v expensive at almost £10), he rolled his eyes again! At that point I said “it’s ok, don’t bother, we’ll go elsewhere”. His retort, an aggressive, “I don’t work on the floor, I’m supposed to be in the kitchen”. Still no apology. Saving grace - when it was my turn to pay, the young woman (Amy?) who was working at the counter, apologised profusely for the wait and explained they were short-staffed. She was lovely and I was able to tell her about the dismissive, rude and aggressive service. She apologised again and deducted the cost of our drinks. It’s thanks to her that we may consider going back... but not for a wee while. I have no end of sympathy for places that are busy and can’t keep up with demand - as long as the service is polite and the food good. Unfortunately the Manager of Riverside would have done better to have simply stayed in the kitchen and away from the customers on this occasion! Ended up going to Ballater and visiting Shorty’s ice-cream shop for delicious sundaes at less than half the price... and lots of smiles!

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LS1977 . 2019-08-22

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Advertises serving food until 4pm but after spending time stopping and reading menu, Selecting then got told they were no longer serving at 2.30pm on a Thursday. A waste of time so Will not be back. The least they could have done was to tell us before we sat down and read their menu.Awful!

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Kayakbiker . 2019-08-15

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Great on a warm day to sit outside. lots of dog bowls and water. Afffogato (ice cream and coffee to pure over it) is good and makes a pleasant change from milky coffee. Bacon buttie good and toast with eggs

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Yvonneanddog . 2019-08-11

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Indoor and outdoor seating (with tree shade if needed). Dogs allowed indoors or out. Lovely Sundaes and great choice of flavours and toppings. The main meals looked awesome and we were so tempted to loiter for an hour or two for an early dinner. Fabulously friendly staff and quick service. If you’re in the vicinity of Ballater it’s well worth stopping here.

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Simon G . 2019-07-30

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Family of six. All different meals. The young man that served us was very helpful. The food was very good and we cleared our plates. The toilet handle in the gents wasn’t working. In fact the toilets in general could do with a face lift. I would eat here again. They could put more seats outside, the garden was big enough. Plenty of parking.

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ShebaRebel . 2019-07-22

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Lovely and kind people.Pleasantly served outside,fully recommended.Plenty of parking, nice menu-got vegy

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kapurraj108 . 2019-07-19

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better than average hot chocolate and lovely coffee with icream. Though on a main road - these roads are not that busy and especially if walking / cycling on the route - worth a stop

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Yvonneanddog . 2019-06-27

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Stopped off here after walking our dog in Cambus of May forest walks close by. Husband had the soup and "home made" garlic bread, he said it was the best garlic bread he had ever tasted! Lovely small cafe, excellent friendly service! If weather had been better we would have sat outside in the garden area, although the owner did say that well behaved dogs were made welcome inside. We will definitely be back and highly recommend to anyone travelling in the Ballater area.

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blaclorn . 2019-05-30

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Excellent family run restaurant with a varied and reasonably priced menu. Staff and owners are always friendly and welcoming. Great for a refreshment after walking the Cambus O’ May trails next door.

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ColinRcr . 2019-05-25

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We stopped here after encountering the great”the kitchen closed at 2 “ from a nearby hotel. I wonder when these hotels will realise that people want to eat at different times. The Riverside staff were very friendly and the food tasty and hot which was exactly what we wanted. Added bonus was the garden where we sat in glorious Scottish sunshine.

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jock1957 . 2019-05-15

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Large roadside sign "Food served all day". Unfortunately, this doesn't include Monday & Tuesday. I wonder how many travellers have pulled off the road, only to be disappointed?

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JohnScott48 . 2019-05-07

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Visited with partner and our daughter,

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Deeaberdeen . 2019-05-04

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While touring Scotland last year we stumbled across this little gem. Just looking for a place to stop for a bit of food and a comfort break but wow are we glad we stopped. Fantastic food and drink at a great price for what you get. I had an amazing bacon sandwich. Think crusty bread and not skimpy on the amount of bacon!!! Super friendly staff and a wonderful cosy atmosphere. Will definitely be returning when we come back to Scotland even if it’s 100 miles away.

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RCPW1997 . 2019-04-19

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During our week long stay at Ballater, we visited the Riverside Cafe twice. Great welcome from the staff. Warm and cosy atmosphere ( the log burner was lit and a sunny but chilly autumn day) and the coffee and cakes were delicious

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SjSwift . 2018-10-12

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Stopped off as usual after a day's walking on the way home. Really nice coffee and fruit scones. Nice staff and great service

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wyfew0 . 2018-08-23

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Na een wandeling in het bos zijn we hier hongerig naartoe gegaan (hoewel op internet stond dat ze gesloten waren). We hebben de Angus burger genomen met extra toppings. Zowel de burger als de frites waren heerlijk en de salade was vers en knapperig.

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Meez47 . 2018-08-21

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Having been twice previously with a friend on recommendation, I stopped here with my mum on the way west. Lunch was fantastic- faultless BLT and a very good cheesy vege burger. Coffee - strong americano (my favourite!) - was spot on also.

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ronaivy . 2018-08-16

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We have been staying in nearby Ballater and dropped in to Riverside Cottage 2 or 3 times for lunch. A real gem! The people are lovely, the place is homely and slightly quirky and the (Equi’s) ice cream is to die for! Have it with the warm chocolate cake - oh my goodness.

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768timp . 2018-08-15

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Lovely hidden restaurant with amazing ice cream. Friendly staff and good quality/price ratio. Located just besides A93.

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Martijn K . 2018-08-01

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Popped in yesterday with my girls and dog after a walk at Burn o’ Vat, we hadn’t been before so didn’t know what to expect. We had coffee, milkshakes and “fine pieces” which were all lovely. The restaurant was busy with people coming and going along the Deeside tourist route. There’s an open grassy space outside with lots of tables which look very inviting and would be perfect with dogs. The kids are looking forward to another visit to sample the range of tempting sundaes !

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adelek2017 . 2018-08-01

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We stopped off for two chicken and bacon sandwiches, a ham sandwich, three drinks and we were just under £30!!!!!!! No salad or crisps with sanny either. Absolutely astounding how they could charge those prices. The kids ham sanny was a joke as they only got half a sandwich. Only thing that made up for shock of price was taste. It was the finest chicken and bacon sandwich I have ever tasted. Worth a visit but only as a one off unless you want to bankrupt yourself.

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618louisew . 2018-07-16

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In the late - middle part of a day-long 13 mile walking/hiking trip (without having brought food) we noticed (after taking the Pine View trail in Columbus Forest across from Deeside Way) this small restaurant with outside seating! We ordered BLTs (on toasted multigrain bread) with fries, small salad and something to drink. They were great! Families, people with dogs, young and old couples/groups all appeared during our delicious break. (Extremely nice, attentive and helpful staff as well.)

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Sunapeesoul . 2018-07-16

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Indor and outdoor dining on major highway. Small cafe style restaurant. Good meals, friendly staff, wide variety of desserts

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RobertGlenn . 2018-07-10

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Some good sandwiches on delicious bread and salad with "John's dressing". Friendly staff and tasty food. Some of the tables were rather dirty with bird droppings but, other than that, a nice light lunch.

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Dave S . 2018-07-09

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A wonderful place for great snacks, excellent service and the ice-cream is so very good. Such lovely friendly people and congratulations Julie and Chris on the birth of your baby daughter.

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918alant . 2018-07-09

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Situated midway between Ballater and Dinnet, this place is a great stop-off point if walking or cycling on the Deeside Way. Great menu and some wonderful ice cream sundaes. A place I visit regularly.

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Mustang1955 . 2018-06-24

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Hier gestopt voor koffie en lunch. Het geadverteerde artisan gehalte viel ons wat tegen. Soep was vast zelfgemaakt maar het brood - hoewel stevig- was niet heel speciaal. Scones misten beetje brosse textuur en kwamen met boter en frambozen jam. Misschien was cream en aardbeien ook mogelijk, maar dat werd niet gevraagd noch zichtbaar getoond op het bord. Decaf thee was alleen in rooibos. Kortom, alles gewoon goed voor wat je mag verwachten.

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MariaOdilia . 2018-06-16

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This cute little cafe just outside Ballater is a must. They do lovely lunches and the ice cream is gorgeous! The staff are all very friendly. It was a nice sunny day so we sat outside in there gardens and they have a lovely view of the river and hills.

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Trudy C . 2018-06-04

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For over 8 £ I expected chunky bread and fresh chicken. What we got was thin Brown bread with processes chicken bits, just about covered the bread. Wimp green salad served on large heavy canteen dinner plates. What shame after the Artisan bread and cake sign sounded so inviting. If you are a cyclist I would not be stopping here to refuel.

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saupward . 2018-06-03

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Had lunch here after a family event and they catered superbly for the 20 of us. The food was fresh, local and beautiful and the service was excellent. Would not hestiate to recommend it .

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Graeme S . 2018-05-05

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Walked from Ballater to the suspension bridge (which is closed), on the return, called at the tea rooms and enjoyed tea and a lovely scone. Very friendly service, clean and tidy and a lovely spot to sit outside after a long walk.

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THIBlackburn . 2018-05-03

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We have visited the riverside cottage twice this week while on hoilday. The menu offers a wide choice and the food is excellent and the staff are very friendly and helpful. There is a lovely garden that you can sit in ideal with dogs.

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mumphy555 . 2018-05-01

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We thoroughly enjoyed our short time at Riverside Cottage. Mein Host made us so welcome and treated us to lots of Glasgow patter. I had ice cream ( Equi's!) and it was brilliant! Maybe it was a little expensive but in my view it was worth every penny. John is EXACTLY the kind of person who should be running and enterprise like this. He is fantastic and I wish him and his team every possible success.

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Mogsy45 . 2018-04-28

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Extremely expensive for a simple bowl of soup and sandwich, for the two of us it cost £26!!! A small bottle of water cost £2.10. The salad consisted of a tiny few bits of lettuce and small tomato cut in half!! Sat in a very cold room with the door open!! Noticed a short journey away in Ballater we could have had the same meal for half the price. Will not return to the Riverside again.

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Jenny A . 2018-04-12

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This is my favourite outdoor spot for lunch on a hot day. It has a fantastic large greasy area with tables and is great for dogs. Perfectly situated near the deeside line and also near cambus O’May woods. A nice stopping point when walking from Burn O’Vat.

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yulifer . 2018-04-12

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We visited for lunch recently, with high hopes. The food was OK, but prices were extortionate. 2 sandwiches with chicken, lettuce and tomato and tiny salad, £17. Three teas, and 2 small apple and cinnamon cakes, the size of a small muffin, and one of them with a single scoop of ice cream.....grand total of £35.40. I never complain about prices, and firmly believe you get what you pay for and willingly choose to pay good prices for good food over cheap food. But, very sorry to say, the prices here are a rip off.

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John_Dundee . 2018-04-03

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I previously reviewed this cafe and said “What really lovely staff! Friendly and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble.” and after a recent visit, I can confirm that this is still the case! Such a warm welcome and the burgers were very good as were the ice cream sundaes. Lovely staff and wonderful food. We will be back when next in the area, thank you.

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Kay C . 2018-03-16

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Visit in summer for a lovely outdoor experience. Fab food, well pr scented, served fast. Great staff. Incredible ice creams!

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Louloubrs . 2018-01-13

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So I've eaten at Riverside Cottage several times now and usually have the amazing Tuna Melt (you do have to ask for it to be toasted) however, this time I followed my Mum's recommendation and tried the BLT. Oh my! What a good decision and what a lovely toasty!!! Great little side salad and a shared 'bucket' of chips - yummy. Mum was singing the praises of her Americano, saying it was the best, smoothest coffee around, so I just had to follow my sandwich with a cake and latte. The latte was lovely and definitely very smooth. I decided on a chocolate brownie and was encouraged by the staff to have it hot with a scoop of ice-cream. The staff definitely know best - wow! This is not a big place and it can get very busy but very, very worth it... Maybe a little more expensive than you'd expect to pay for a toasty but you won't be disappointed!

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1804Ems . 2018-01-08

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This is a great place to load up on calories when hiking or biking nearby!

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puremagicman . 2017-11-18

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After a long journey and a long time of trying to find something to eat, we saw a sign on the side of the road saying "food served all day". Unfortunately in this place 4.30 is the end of the day apparently as we got informed that's when the kitchen closes. Not to mention that when we got back to the car we checked the time being 4.30 exactly. False advertisement all the way and the most annoying kind - promising something warm to eat when you cold tired and hungry.

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Kasia M . 2017-10-27

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Stopped for lunch before heading back to Glasgow. To start £2.50 for a can of juice really. A bowl of soup, one tapas (which was 3 tiny bowl) a bacon sandwich, Fish fingers and an ice cream was over £40. Food was ok but not worth the money. During our weeks holiday this was the most expensive lunch we had. We won’t be back as we feel totally ripped off. Sorry but sort your prices and portions out.

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Denise143 . 2017-10-21

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Lovely little cafe with great cups of tea, all served in bone china cups. Lovely selection of local cakes too.

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Debbie O . 2017-09-21

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自駕遊經過這裡見有露天座位而且環境不錯,於是停下來吃午餐,我們坐在樹蔭下㸃了法式洋蔥湯、芝士烤紅椒三文治及焗薯,食物都很美味,麵麭很出色,再喝杯咖啡享受一下這裡的悠閒氣氛,這是一頓舒適寫意美味的簡單午餐。

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HenryYMW . 2017-09-07

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Lovely place. Friendly staff. My partner enjoyed a full breakfast which was cooked and presented very well with lovely toast and I had a mini lemon cake which was delicious. Looking forward to going back to taste some more 😉

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Theresa V . 2017-09-01

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Agree with Susan G. Turned up for a pre-booked table to find restaurant closed with no explanation. Wouldn't be so bad had we driven here but chose to cycle. Disappointing as we have had a number of good experiences here.

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Duncan C . 2017-08-29

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Excellent service and food. Highly recommend the bacon sandwich on the home made bread. Wonderful. The tea made with leaf tea was very good

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David B . 2017-08-23

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Riverside cottage is a cheap eat between Aboyne and Ballater. It offers nice table for a lunch outside. The food is between pub food and fast food. Unfortunately all waiters take turn in the kitchen to prepare sandwiches and some are clearly not very gifted when it comes to cooking... But more worryingly at 1pm they were already missing ham and chicken and half of their menu was not available anymore.

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X5185OMthomasm . 2017-08-16

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The roadside signboard says "artisan breads" which is why we stopped. But they didn't have any. So we decided to have a mid afternoon coffee and cake. Not a great decision. Service took forever. And then our coffees were ho hum, and my apple-cinnamon mini-cake tasted like it had come from the supermarket.

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Alpaca19 . 2017-08-10

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Having dined in many places around the world this has to be the worst customer service I have ever experienced, and makes me embarrassed to be Scottish and from the North East of Scotland.

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ChazT1975 . 2017-08-08

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Our large group arrived for breakfast and the lady was just fab. Wonderful setting, people and food. :):)

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1607amanda . 2017-08-06

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We were travelling in the Balloter area with friends and wanted a nice breakfast to get my birthday off to good start!The Riverside was perfect. The staff were lovely, great service with a sense of humour too. The interior is beautifully presented in a quirky style that represents the tapas / ice cream parlour fusion.The breakfast menu is splendid. We enjoyed classics such as smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, bacon sandwich etc,, while the kids were free to mix and match to suit their own special tastes. The bread was locally baked and delicious and the food looked as good as it tasted.Some friends had had the tapas there earlier in the week and very much enjoyed it too and I hope I have the chance to return next time I'm in the area.

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Paul T . 2017-08-05

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A pleasant and relaxed atmosphere for a tasty lunch. I would recommend this eatery for lunch or a nice coffee. It beats the rushed and unpleasant atmosphere of the well known coffee houses.

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Michael M . 2017-08-03

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This place whilst promoting themselves in part as an ice cream parlour essentially just have a small selection of ice creams.As a cafe they don't do a great job. The food is poor and the tea and coffee is not up to the same standards as nearby competitors. They seem to rely on you not wanting to go to Ballater. Inside you are shoehorned in and very much treated on the perceived size of your wallet.As a local I can tell you that you can do much better.

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Rob P . 2017-07-25

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This is a lovely little spot. Menus etc outside under the tree in front if you want to eat outside and some tables inside if you're not so lucky with the weather. It's also handily close to a meeting of the Deeside Cycle path and the main road on which Riverside Cottage sits so cycle along (3miles from Ballater) and cross the road and have lunch - perfect for families.Lunch was lovely but I have two irks: you can't put spicy tomato sauce on chips and call it "patatas bravas" and it was a bit pricey so I've docked a star.I'd go back though!

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drcarol66 . 2017-07-25

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We stopped there on our way to visit the Balmoral Estate and it was a great surprise. Very good sandwiches and fantastic desert. And very friendly staff.Don't miss it

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Franck A . 2017-07-20

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We had a delicious lunch here. The bread is home made and the sandwiches were very tasty. We followed this with a scrumptious ice cream sundae. Service was very good. Definitely a place to return to.

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Vancatwoman . 2017-07-19

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Out for a run in Deeside on a fine summers day and popped in for lunch. We were not disappointed. There is plenty of outside seating for a sunny day. We had delicious homemade soup that was served with the homemade bread. Homemade cake and coffee for afters. A definite place to visit if you are in the area. It's close to the railway track (bike track) for cyclists.

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Damamaaberdeen . 2017-07-18

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There are always some people who are quick to complain. We have been going here since it opened and staff have always been friendly and welcoming including Archie the dog, If you don't like dogs then the answer is simple, don't go!The food is always freshly made and good portion sizes are more than enough for even a big appetite. The coffee was nice and hot and Mocha was lovely and creamy.The service was swift and friendly without feeling rushed despite being busy.Look forward to returning soon.

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ColinRcr . 2017-07-15

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We popped in for lunch after walking in the Cambus O May area. The weather was lovely and there were lots of people sitting outside - we had the dog with us so intended to sit out too. Despite being busy the service was fast and efficient. The food was lovely and fresh - the bread they use is delicious and the sandwich selection is fabulous. Definitely worth a visit!

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Heather B . 2017-07-12

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First visit. Took Australian visitors here and they enjoyed it. Good filling sandwiches and soup. Staff friendly. Good country spot especially if you are out in that area for the day.Would recommend.

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sylbar17 . 2017-07-11

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I visited this restaurant on 27/6/17 on a horrible dreary day, but was greeted with warmth and friendliness that certainly warmed me up.The menu is amazing, and has something that will suit vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores.The bread is homemade that day, and tastes incredible.Parking is free and spacious.Would highly recommend.

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Rachel C . 2017-06-27

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Sat outside service with a smile Even treated our dog like a Princess Had soup and sandwich delicious this was our second visit and will be back when in the area

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shielhill5000 . 2017-06-19

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Nice to sit outside and eat food. Soup great. Lots of bread ( I like also what fizean tea room do I.e. Oatcakes and small slices of bread). Man owner wasn't that friendly this time to us.Would recommend for lunch especially on a hot day for sitting in a country spot with lots of birch trees. Dogs allowed

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Yvonneanddog . 2017-06-14

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Great food here - good quality, home made, artisan bread, lovely ice cream and good coffee. Offers a bit more variety than other local cafes, albeit at higher prices. But worth paying the extra for better quality and a great setting. Service was great too.

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DB303 . 2017-06-06

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Great place for a light lunch although chips are available if you need a bit more carbs. Home made soup and sandwiches or their own lovely bread. Lots of sundaes and coffee variations and of course cake.

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Sandy C . 2017-05-12

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We visit the area every year and walk from Ballater to this place for lunch. As the place, with previous owners, had a reputation for erratic opening hours, we checked on the website for the Riverside to make sure it was open today. It said from 10-5pm. We walked there from Ballater to find it was closed for two days! Once again, despite a good start last year it seems the owners are not committed to customers.

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Susan G . 2017-05-08

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A lovely bowl of soup after a walk and a nice cake with coffee - all grand. The kids liked getting an ice cream - blankets for those sitting outside a nice touch

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Blinkbonnies . 2017-04-12

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Would not want to be in a hurry, waited an age for coffee a sandwich an a bit cake ( pricey compared to the others) service was average

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David C . 2017-04-10

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An outdoor treat, if you are walking, biking or driving the area. A red squirrel made a guest appearance.

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MikeChurchill1234 . 2017-04-09

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We stopped off at the cafe while cycling along the old railway. It was a hot sunny day so we chose to sit outside. Inside is also lovely though.This was one of the highlights of our holiday. Our BLT sandwiches were the best ever, washed down with a Deeside craft beer. There are lovely walks close to the cafe so you can combine lunch with a healthy walk.I'd definitely recommend this cafe.

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FergusA . 2017-04-08

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As always the food is good and the atmosphere is relaxed. Was so looking forward to the holiday me made toffee with my coffee but they don't don't give you that now....shame lol. Secretly, it's what I went in for!

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JSDeeside . 2017-03-31

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Cosy, funky cafe.Excellent service and great value. We both had a baked potato which was ample for our needs.Looked like a fab selection of ice creams which we would try next time when we have more time to enjoy them.

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stevenjblack1985 . 2017-03-30

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We stopped and had soup and muffin. Sat outside . Wonderful 2 types of soup: tomato with chilli, beetroot with horseradish . Wonderful. Recommend . We sat outside, surrounded by trees. 19c ouside - great

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Yvonneanddog . 2017-03-26

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The Riverside Cottage is right along the mai road and therefore really convenient to stop for a quick lunch when visiting the numerous attrations on Royal Deeside. There is also a nice outdoors seating area for those precious sunny days. The full breakfast was very good and everything was home made. Didn't get to try the icecream but there was an extensive menu that included many Sandeas and other icecream creations. Looked really good. Only problem we had was that they had a problem with their card machine, so I had to cover the bill for all my friends that didn't take cash along. We were however assured that this was an unfortunate exception.

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Toni M . 2017-03-21

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Excellent little gem at the side of the A93, useful for both walkers and drivers. Good selection of produce as well as teas & coffees in a nice cosy environment ..... does not open to 11:00 in the winter.

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heike0range . 2017-02-26

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This was a great place for lunch with the family. Nice selection of sandwiches, soups, jacket potatoes and the like. Didn't have time or space for proper desserts, but the ice cream to takeaway was lovely. And the staff were very friendly.

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Isuzu78 . 2017-02-16

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We ate lunch twice at Riverside Cottage while in the area recently. The soups were delicious and the homemade bread was the best I think I've ever tasted! Staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

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Jackiee19 . 2017-02-06

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Easy walk along the old route of the railway line from Ballater and you will find this wonderful place for a bowl of soup and a warm welcome. Staff are friendly and very attentive. Great ice cream dishes if you visit in warmer weather!

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Steve M . 2017-02-02

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Very nice place lovely soup and scones service was perfect very good coffee a very good value for quality

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Devonshiredevil . 2017-01-29

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Perfect place to stop after a lovely walk along the Deeside way from Ballater or a walk in the Cambus O May forest. A warm welcome and a lovely choice of home made soups and baking as well as a good plate of food - and it's licensed.

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JeanBryden . 2017-01-04

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Friendly helpful people, excellent food, embarrassed not to have tried before now - will certainly be back!

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Brian M . 2017-01-02

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