Scarista House in Eilean Siar

We ate twice at Scarista House Restaurant during our recent trip to Harris. We have dined here before on previous visits over the last 20 years and this year it was better than ever. Beautifully prepared local food. First menu - Twice baked cheese soufflé, followed by Stornoway landed hake in a delicious sauce and some delicious vegetables. and then a chocolate roulade!. Second menu - goats cheese, courgette and cheese raviol with a nettle pesto (amazing!) followed by local hand dived scallops and the most delicious lemon tart with excellent pastry, lemon verbena ice cream and a strawberry and pink peppercorn coulis. Fabulous! Highly recommend the cooking here! An absolute delight!

Schöner Essbereich und motiviertes Personal aber das Essen entspricht keinesfalls des geforderten Preises. Wir waren leider etwas zu spät dennoch ist es untragbar dass die Suppe vor den Getränken serviert wird. In 30 Minuten waren wir mit 3 Gängen fertig. Ich hatte kein „ Fast Food“ gebucht! Die Bisque war vom Geschmack sehr stark und gewöhnungsbedürftig, der Keks war durchgeweicht, der Hauptgang bestand aus Lamm ( von der Qualität sehr gut) leider ertränkt in einer mir undefinierbaren braunen Sauce, das Gemüse war zu durch und fad, dem Kartoffelgratin fehlte Salz, kleiner Trost war der Nachtisch, der überzeugte. Völlig überteuertes Essen im Fast Food Service Stil!

Stayed here with my wife for three days. That meant three delicious breakfasts, and three delicious evening meals. First time we had visited Harris, after years of dreaming about it. I’ll come right out with it: I’m a fan. I loved staying here, and so did my wife. The purpose of this review is to let you know what we loved about our stay. If you’re looking for negatives, please peruse the reviews that highlight them. In my opinion, anyone who leaves a one- or two-star review for this beautiful place and its magnificent staff needs their head examined. That’s just my opinion… but, hey! That’s what this platform was created to showcase. The room was a delight, the bed was comfy, the linen was crisp, we read books and drifted off to sleep and woke up again and read some more. Then slept some more. Heaven. The breakfasts were sublime but it’s dinner, of course, that most people make the pilgrimage here for. I’ve seen some comments suggesting that the atmosphere in the house is stuffy. Trust me, nothing could be further from the truth. If you feel uncomfortable about having to string a few words together in the pre-dinner company of a handful of complete strangers, maybe Scarista isn’t for you. The library and the drawing room are perfect spaces for aperitifs and serendipitous conversations. We had different nibbles every night, and we enjoyed making friends with the rotating cast of diners. Most people (almost always couples) seem to stay for a night or two, with others plumping for three or four night stays. I think the remoteness of the location makes it more likely that if you’re a little bit “up yourself”, a one-night stay has the potential to disappoint. The charm of Scarista develops as you add a night or two to your adventure. The staff start to recognise you, and they clearly value and enjoy your continuing commitment to their restaurant, and to their island. Of course for the owners, your stay at Scarista House is uniquely personal, because it’s also their home. I felt like an old friend by the time I left. Hell, I felt like that when I first walked in. I completely understand that not everyone will feel that way. Those of you who drive white Range Rovers with personalised number plates, who fetishise black cod served on traditional rural Japanese earthenware platters, who have paid to have lip fillers or botox, or who don’t read books/listen to a wide range of music/appreciate art, architecture and culture, will detest it. But then you’re never satisfied, are you? Thus, leaving a negative review of this place is part of a pattern for you. A pattern of never, ever being satisfied. My wife and I were thoroughly satisfied by our stay at Scarista, and we cannot wait to return. It’s a location, and an offering (set menu!) that forces you to make a choice. Do you like it, or don’t you? It all depends on the sort of person you are. That’s what is so wonderful about it: Scarista gives you an unique opportunity to re-engage with who you are, and contemplate who it is that you want to become.

We enjoyed a delicious Scottish breakfast as non residents. Homemade muesli, preserves and bread. We enjoyed perfectly cooked scrambled eggs and Scottish kipper breakfast. Good coffee Delicious!! And set up for walking.

We were there just for dinner, so cannot comment on the bed and breakfast side of the business. The evening began with soggy canapés in a small sitting room. NB. Mingling might be OK, but here it is impossible to move around the furniture. Down to the dining room, where the starter was good. The meal went downhill with the main course. My dining partner has a food allergy, so we both had the centrepiece swapped out. The side dishes were not changed, so the result was a disgusting clash of flavours. For the amount charged it would surely have been possible to also change the side dishes. Dessert was unexceptional.

Scarista House has a beautiful and unique location and delivered a lovely dinner concept of one set menu and one seating. We started the evening with drinks and canapés in one of the lounges chatting to some other guests and then moved to the dinning room for dinner before retiring for coffee and petit fours. The venue and concept were unique and they clearly take pride in the location and offering. A really pleasant evening and something we would do again. They have rooms also but we did not stay there as they felt on the expensive side (although they may very well be worth it, we can’t say).

Home cooked local ingredients, thoughtfully combined and very well prepared. Patricia and her team put on two excellent dinners and two magnificent breakfasts during our stay. Tim the convivial host and sommelier ensured the pre, during and post accompanying drinks hit the spot.

Enjoyed afternoon tea in upstairs drawing room. Exceptional cakes and sandwiches served by Catherine. Catered for gluten free meme et of our party and homemade and locally sourced ingredients made it special

Ate here for the first time while staying with friends at a nearby cottage - a bonus as we were able to walk to Scarista and therefore have some wine! Overall, the experience was a bit like being invited to dinner at a posh country house. Drinks and canapes in the lounge upstairs - in close proximity with others but I don't mind that as it's good to chat with other diners. It's a tasting menu so no agonising over what to have, and all guests are served at the same time. I thought the food was decent, maybe not the most exciting cooking we've ever had but certainly worthy of the fine dining label. Excellent wine list too. I would have preferred my food to be a little hotter and given they are serving everyone at the same time I don't see why this can't be done. And although the service was efficient, I did find it a little brusque and perhaps slightly lacking in finessed. Overall, however, a very enjoyable, if perhaps not perfect, experience - and I would say that some of the more critical reviews on here are very harsh and perhaps unjustified, certainly on our experience.

Nothing about this place would encourage me to return unless it had a complete revamp under new ownership. Looks in need of refurb from the outside and worse inside. The smell is musty, the carpets worn and the decor similarly faded. So not a good start. The upstairs lounge is crowded so unless you want to join in a general conversation with other guests this would be a turn-off for you as it most definitely was for us. The wine list was comprehensive with some unusual serving options so that was a (the only) plus. Attention from the maitre d’ was rough and unsophisticated to put it mildly. The canapés were doleful and not out of place as a supermarket “dine in” offering. The dining room was as per an average house so we were given a table wedged in the corner of the adjoining annex. First course was awful so what could go wrong with a salad nicoise - well tough hot smoked salmon instead of tuna saw to that. Main course not any better re the requested fish first course of my partner (bland overcooked turbot on a bed of strongly flavoured lentils - basic incompatibility) my choice of lamb was definitely better as the strong flavours were complimentary re the same lentils as per the fish serving! Dessert was ok but unexceptional. Couldn’t wait to get out of the place so passed on coffee. For a pretty hefty price tag, this was a lousy experience rather than the hoped for culinary highlight. Unfortunately there were no obvious alternatives in Harris, but fortunately better choices and one which is excellent are available on adjoining Lewis.

We booked for dinner as non-residents. Faded opulence is definitely the best description. Really awkward crammed into a small lounge for pre-dinner drinks and most disgusting amuse bouches - straight out of a jar/packet! We had a table in a dingy corner of the restaurant with no atmosphere. We even had a creepy crawly wander across our table - not sure where from! Starter was meant to be salad nicoise but contained a blob of hot smoked salmon - no tuna to be seen and other bits pretty tasteless with a watery dressing. Yuck. I’d arranged fish instead of lamb on set menu and got two triangles of what was described as turbot - tasted of nothing! Certainly didn’t go with mash potatoes and puy lentils. Yuck again. Finally dessert was tarte tatin covered with a sweet coulis of raspberry syrup. Not nice. Couldn’t wait to get out so passed on coffee. No point discussing with chef who appeared with bill - overpriced - difficult where to start! Won’t be back. It’s a shabby establishment - passed its best.

When you drive up you will wonder where you've come to. It is like going for dinner at someone's house, but like pop-up dining room. We were greeted and shown to an upstairs drawing room, shown the menu which we had previously been told on thr telephone that morning whilst checking to see if we had allergies ( we didn't). Drinks served albeit in very standard glasses but still good qnd timely. Wine list very extensive. Dinner was served on time as stated and was a nice souffle with beautiful fresh bread and proper butter. The dining room is like visitng my grandmother's with patterned china. Silver plated place mats. It made me reminisce. The main course was cod and it was nicely accompanied with artisan vegetables. Dessert was a champagne jelly with fruits, viennese biscuits that melted in the mouth and a delightful ice cream. You could for another course of scottish cheese and biscuits if you wished- we didn't. Afterwards we were shown back to the drawing room where we enjoyed a lovely cafetiere of coffee with homemade petit fours - which were beautiful. Yes the house us a little tired in places but if you like good food, nice company to chat to in the drawing room and like a little trip down memory lane with the crockery etc it's charming. The chef and host spoke to us all as we left and we did not feel rushed out at all. The only comment I would make is that ine of the staff was wearing a ghastly facial PPE mask made of clear plastic and sadly looked a bit like Hannibal. It was hard to understand what the was saying most of the time. He would be better with a paper mask. We would recommend dining there but don't expect clinical white crockery it's not that sort of place. 3 courses £58 four courses £66. Both courses have canapés to start with drinks and coffee/tea and petit fours after.

While one can sympathise with the pressures and difficulty experienced by the the chef and kitchen when, apparently, three staff were missing due to Covid, one has reason to expect a good place to help themselves handle the situations better. Why not reduce the number of guests by apologising to non residents and asking for their understanding when cancelling their dinner reservations. Why not produce a less demanding menu but ensuring tip top delivery of what is served. Having asked in advance to know about guests allergies and food preferences might it not help to make sure the place does not forget confirmed preferences? Is it conducive to the atmosphere when one of the few prominent staff is wearing PPE - he said he did not have Covid The amuse bouches were just adequate but the Caesar salad was sub-par in presentation and taste The scallop dish was greasy with bits of scallop cut off which impaired the appearance. Meanwhile, the hastily prepared substitute lamb dish was alright for something hastily prepared. The three choices of cheese worked alright as two suited our taste. Overall, the experience is best summed up as “sad”. But you cannot trade on past reputation alone and it is wiser to help oneself in times of unwanted difficulty. It did not help your reviewer to be told by wait staff that “we are meticulous” about logging and responding to details of dietary preferences, to imply diner error. And, note that this came from the member of staff who flamboyantly paraded the bottle of wine ordered only to have to be shown that he got that wrong too. It was sad and Poor.

This place was just too old-fashioned for us and the food was not that tasty. It seemed like it was staying to a well tried and tested style but lacked anything to justify the price. The best bit was certainly the staff who were very welcoming and accommodating.

We need to preserve this traditional way of dining, as its fast disappearing. Everyone arrives a 7 pm for canapés in the elegant drawing room followed by a set menu (£58 for 3 courses plus the canapés and coffee with petit fours) You are asked if you have any allergies and dislikes when booking and as I am gluten intolerant they did a wonderful job of providing delicious alternatives when needed. We had a beautiful salad niçoise followed by gorgeous local lamb with puy lentils and a delicious hazelnut meringue with sorbet, raspberries and cream. The service was very efficient and charming. We would definitely go again.

Meals were so thoughtfully prepared, with tremendous pastry on the tarts (starter), wonderful fish and seafood, and memorable desserts. Good cheese selection and lovely wine list, with something for everyone. Highly recommended! Thank you Patricia and team.

The first point is that there is no choice, you are asked what you do not like and everyone is served the same. The reviews had been ok some were poor especially in relation to a scallop main course. It is 4 courses for £60 and £52 for 3. The soup and dumpling was good. Then yes you guessed it we were served 3 little scallops not cooked well or carmelised with one potato cut up and some asparagus with some sauces. It was as bad as other people had said. The dessert was ok The cheese course for £8 was so small we were given 4 tiny crackers not the full sized ones and yes this was enough for our cheese. My advice is make sure you say you do not like scallops and ask if this is on the menu then do not go. Also go to uig sands restaurant on Lewis 3 courses incredible food which includes lobster for £45 and there are choices which is an alien concept at Scarlista. Lastly I think profit is at the forefront of this restaurants priorities not good food. Also there is the taste n sea food truck again much better food and value.

Quaint Period Fine Dining in Warm, comfortable Country House. Welcomed as non residents into Library for canapes and drink before invited into one of two cosy, candlelit dining rooms. Food was superb with reasonably priced good wine choice. Very well presented and served with gracious...

Wonderful location, superb food and wine but our evening was blighted by a party of 10 loud house guests. There were two couples tables us included and the owner had decided it was ok to locate us with the table for 10 in a small...

We had pre-booked a meal at Scarista House before arriving in Harris on a friend's recommendation. We loved our meal so much we then emailed them again and asked us to let us know if they had any last minute cancellations, and we were lucky...

We booked here before we travelled to Harris as we knew it was always busy. As we were stsying nearby it was ideal and within walking distance of our accommodation. On arrival we were welcomed by the host and shown to our table which had...

Restaurant is open to non-residents of small hotel that attracts life-long devotees. We chatted to a couple who got married there and have been returning annually for twenty years or more. But as first-timers, we too got a warm welcome. A single set menu is...

Went here 38years ago and decided to go again with our friends who have never been to Harris. The food was amazing. Delicious and freshly cooked. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was lovely. It is a set menu with no choice so if your...

We had great expectations of our meal here. Fresh local produce beautifully cooked…. Well it was fresh, it was fine but certainly not exceptional. The fish dish was very bland. The dessert was the best part of the meal. Wine though was excellent. The dining...

Excellent meal at Scarista House. So much effort by the team to produce a unique meal. We got really lucky with fresh lobster on the menu. Set menu, so be sure to check samples. Great value.

Be assured the art of producing good food is not dead. Our family got the opportunity to dine at Scarista House because a vacant table became available at the eleventh hour. Covid control measures have meant that table numbers are limited. The table d’hote menu...

We were initially disappointed when we emailed and Patricia said they were fully booked all week, however as promised, Patricia emailed to say they had a cancellation, which I was delighted about! She emailed the menu for the night over to us and I was...

Patricia and the team at Scarista House offer a wee slice of heaven😀 - Great food , attentive service, genuine hospitality and knockout views .

The drive to Scarista House in the evening was lovely. The house is lovely. Upon arrival we were escorted to the second level - it was a bit awkward as there were 8 of us and a couple we did not know and apparently didn't...

We had a great night at scarista house. We walked there from northton and then we went up to the drawing room for some champagne which was very good. The menu is fixed each night but when we booked on the day they told us...

Wir waren auf den Western Islands von Süd nach Nord mit dem WoMo unterwegs und sind am Scarista House vorbeigekommen....

We enjoyed a delightful dinner at Scarista House. We were shown to a very comfortable sitting room where we were able to relax with a preprandial drink and then we moved to the lovely dining room downstairs. The food was extremely good. Somebody in the...

This is a lovely hotel with very friendly hosts. Our room looked over the sea, so we got the full benefit of the beautiful sunsets. Hosts couldn’t have been more accommodating. Terrific home cooked breakfast. Comfortable beds. Great hub from which to enjoy Harris.

We received a delicious set menu, using fresh local produce while being surrounded by the most incredible, dramatic views - despite the stormy weather. Extremely attentive service, alongside providing informative local knowledge about the food that was being served. We would highly recommend Scarista House to experience the amazing food that the Isle of Harris has to offer, as well as the friendly hosting service from the owners.

The whole package. An excellent fine dining meal in a beautiful house. Always a warm welcome from Tim and Patricia.

I booked Scarista House for myself and my wife for my birthday.We got a warm welcome at the hotel. We were directed to the upstairs lounge where we ordered champagne and were served canapes in front of an open fire. Dinner was served in the dining room. A lovely 4 course dinner using, I believe, all local ingredients (I didn't know Scotland produced so many cheeses!). The hotel has a really good wine selection. They l kindly made me a small birthday cake, without us asking, which was a nice touch. And after coffee in the lounge Patricia the owner even drove us back to our holiday home. All in all a perfect evening. Couldn't have asked for more.

Something magical about Scarista, probably the combination of amazing location, great service and superb food. We had bisque langoustine, Aberdeen Angus beef and pear panacotta. Even the petit fours are perfect attention to detail. Outstanding in its field.

Hotel was recommended to us and we were not disappointed. It had the air of a well organised ship and the whole experience was delightful. We were served canapés and drinks in the drawing room where we met other guests and chatted before dinner. Starter was a spinach soup with a chicken and coconut dumpling which also had an aniseed flavour. Unusual but tasty. Main meal was monkfish which was slightly firm in texture but with accompaniments was tasty. We opted by this time just to have the pudding which was a stack including raspberries and a really tasty sorbet on top. Had coffee/tea in drawing room with petit fours. Service was excellent, well timed and professional despite mainly young staff. Only thing I found rather annoying was the price of the wines...not many reasonably priced which was a shame considering some really good food wines these days can be moderately priced.

The night we were there the set menu was cullen skink, loin of venison and a cheese board that would not be out of place in France - but all the cheeses were from Scotland, and all the better for it. We had no room for the dessert, which did look tempting. Friendly, efficient service and the owners talked everyone in the dining rooms. A great start to our holiday in Harris! Highly recommended.

We just came here for dinner - we did enjoy our evening - the food is very good indeed but the service is “spotty” from very inexperienced and young waiting staff. The food is really lovely although for a no choice meal at £50 I thought the choice of Hake a very low cost ingredient for the main course was a little “tight” . Hake goes soggy when a sauce is poured on top and loses all it’s structure. I am really not keen on that! The starter, dessert, cheese bread and other offerings were great. I am not sure why I had to give up my plate of cheese biscuits for another table ...surely we can all have a small plate each!! That had the feel of a faulty towers moment.

Très bon hôtel un côté sympa comme à la maison des gens vraiment très accueillants et une cuisine fabuleuse!

Had dinner here during a recent visit to Harris .The whole evening was a fab experience starting with drinks and canapés in the lounge chatting with fellow guests then on to dinner where all the courses were very well cooked,presented and served ably supported by a fine wine list.Then back to the lounge for coffee etc etc and more pleasant chat.All in all the whole evening was the experience not just the food.

We stayed and ate three nights at Scarista house and the food was top quality every time. I have an allergy which was taken into account at every meal and I did not feel I missed out at all.

Patricia has been helpful and patient throughout every enquiry, both over the phone and face to face. We stayed nearby so booked for dinner which was imaginative and extremely good, enjoying Harris gin as an aperitif. Husband very impressed by Scottish cheese board. Even though we didn’t stay overnight (this time), on popping in to check our dinner booking, Patricia sent me away with ‘sea sickness provisions’ for a trip to St Kilda! Allowing us to meet n greet Brodie dog was also welcome to relieve the home sickness of missing our own cocker spaniels!

Visted this evening, second time, newly and tastefully decorated, great ambience, meeting other guests pre-dinner and for coffee after. Great food.

Lovely house party atmosphere and fantastic food. We returned after staying here previously--we found a better place to stay but the food here is the thing. Service is terrific too.

Pre-dinner drinks and coffee served in a lovely setting allowed conversation with other diners. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and served by lovely staff. Well worth a visit!

We visited the restaurant three times. Beautiful food, excellent wines and reasonably priced given the quality. Friendly staff and good service.

Heard much about Scarista and it lives up to its reputation. We visited on a squally stormy night when the glow of lamps and fires welcomed us. The food was superb, smoked venison, divine monkfish and floating islands. We had coffee in the drawing room...

We had a lovely evening here. The food was delicious and served in a great setting. We loved the pre-dinner drinks and canapes and post-dinner coffee and petit fours in the drawing room. Service was great and the owners were very friendly and kindly allowed us to park our hired motorhome in their car park and sleep there for the night...therefore we could all enjoy the very nice wine. I would love to go back there one day

スカリスタ・ハウスの宿泊客以外も利用できるダイニング。その日に仕入れた新鮮な魚介類を基本として日替わりのコースメニュー。...

We had booked for dinner here but luckily also visited for afternoon tea a couple of days prior. Afternoon tea...

Aunque hay algunos más opciones en estos días vienen Harris ninguno cerca de casa. Scarista Lamentablemente, el resto permanece oscuro deprimente promedio o peor con sólo el fondeadero en el por encima de la media en Leverburgh camp. El Martins han sido brindar coherente, comida...

Hicimos un viaje de ida y 130 km de Ardroil, Uig para cenar. Bien vale la pena el viaje. Menú fijo con sopa de espinacas, deberá un montón de locales y el mejor podrá encontrar pear Panna Cotta con peras (muy bien cocida en Muscat)....

Este es un lugar maravilloso dirigido por gente maravillosa. Servicio no podría haber sido mejor ni podría la comida. Así que ignorar a la gente miserable que escribir comentarios miserables y ver por ti mismo. Usted no será decepcionado.

Desde canapés hasta café y petit fours, fue una gran experiencia, deliciosa y relajante

Dinner at the hotel - tried to stay but booked up months in advance as this was summer half term.Fixed but stunning menu.Crab and cheese soufflé to die for - quite the best crab shuffle I've ever tasted.Braised lamb and beautifully prepared vegetables, again scrumptious.Chocolate torte and raspberry coulis.Delicious wines by the glass.Aperitifs before and coffee and petite fours afterwards in the upstairs drawing room.

The Scarista House is an excellent place to enjoy not just the food and service but to enjoy all that is good about Scotland. Best to book as it is normally in great demand, especially in the summer. The owners are the ideal hosts and we would certainly go there again if we visit Harris again.

We have both read the book on this establishment, how the owners renovated a run down manse and overcame problems sourcing food. It was on our must visit list for many years and fortunately we were able to book a table for 3, even though it was four weeks in advance. The dining experience is for those who are not in a rush. Starting with canapes and pre meal drinks in the lounge,and meeting other diners. It was all very civilised. The meal itself is a gastronomic experience. Everything freshly cooked to perfection. Our host (Tim) was kindness itself and the waitresses were lovely. If you can, give it a try.

Beautiful hotel/restaurant overlooking the stunning Scarista Bay. Really beautiful old house which has been decorating very tastefully. The menu is set but you're asked allergy/dislikes etc when booking. Menu of either three or four courses, all were utterly delicious, beautifully fresh and well cooked. Wine menu was great and very reasonable. Overall a very reasonable meal for the quality and the ambience. The staff were very friendly also. Highly recommended.

A really nice evening, a thoughtful fixed menu, a delight, and our two chihuahua sisters were made welcome in the lounge for coffee.

I've reviewed this as a place to stay but because I love it so much, I wanted to write a separate review for the food. If you don't like not having a choice of what you eat - don't come here. You're asked when you book if there is anything that you are allergic to or would prefer not to have, so you shouldn't get anything you don't like. On arrival, imaginative canapes are served with drinks in the library or drawing room where it's nice to chat to fellow guests. Dinner is served to everyone at the same time but on separate tables. The food is consistently excellent. After dinner, homemade chocolates are served with coffee in the two sitting rooms.

What a lovely experience Scariest is. The location and views with the sunsetting are delightful. On arriving we were shown to the drawing room and served a drink and nibbles which set the tone nicely. After which all of the guest were called to dinner and the food was absolutely wonderful and really reflected Harris produce. What is more the owner gave us a lift back to our lodge. An absolute must for anyone visiting Harris!

Wir haben einen wundervollen Abend mit ausgezeichnetem Service und gutem Essen hier verbracht.Ein besonderes Erlebnis.

What a fantastic evening at Scarista House. From the minute you walk through the door and are greeted by the host, until you've finished coffee and petit fours, its a special experience - like something out of a Poirot novel, just without the drama . The food and wine list are fantastic and we'd love to have been able to visit again during the week. Next time.......

We booked in for a dinner here after it was recommend to us by friends. I knew that they worked on having one menu that everyone there would be served. On booking I was asked if there were any foods that we wouldn't eat or were allergic too. My Husband hates prawns. On arrival we were taken to a room and shown the menu which had prawns as the main course. We were also given a plate of canapes which were lovely (3 each) and the wine list. There was plenty of choice on the wine list.At the table however the staff offered my husband a choice of 2 other dishes. We had a 3 course meal and were moved back to the room we were in at the beginning of the meal. We were served coffee and a selection of sweets to finish there.The food was good the service was good and we had a lovely night.

We were a party of 8 and so they very kindly opened the restaurant for lunch for us. Couldn't have been more hospitable, very dog friendly, and the food was delicious!

Dined here on our last night in Harris. As others have mentioned, the house serves one set menu for all diners, and you congregate in the drawing room for drinks and canapes beforehand. We were immediately impressed by the quality of the wine list, which was impressive and extensive to say the least. It also represented far better value than in some places we'd eaten during our trip. I loved the haggis canapes and it set a lovely tone to our meal.For our starters, there was a veloute with either a chicken or a cheese dumpling for the vegetarians. Wonderful homemade bread accompanied this. The soup needed more seasoning for me, it wasn't something I would have chosen of my own accord but that is all part of the experience. Mains were superb - local langoustines with either halibut or turbot. One of our group wasn't so keen even though the kitchen had very kindly tweaked the dish for him. Again, hard to keep everyone happy with the one menu for all. Personally, I was in heaven with the dish! I finished with Scottish cheese, superb selection of artisan cheeses, I could easily have had seconds.We retired to the drawing room for more red wine, coffee and liqueurs and joined by the resident pug. We really didn't want to leave!Dining at Scarista House is a unique experience and it may not be to everyone's taste. It was one of the more expensive meals we had during our trip but a truly memorable one. The views are stunning, the house itself has a huge amount of character, and even though we weren't staying overnight, the staff made us feel very special.

This was the venue for a family wedding celebration. Staff were very attentive but not intrusive. Food was excellent. Beautiful views from the windows and lovely garden if the weather is nice.

Ein sehr einladendes Haus mit persönlicher Betreuung und gutem Essen. Zimmer meeresseitig ausreichend groß, wie ein Privatraum, Fenster teilweise defekt, schließen nicht ideal, Badezimmer klein, noch ausreichend, zwei sehr schöne Aufenthaltsräume mit Drinksservice, Restaurant sehr gute Qualität.

Staying (as a group of seven) just four minutes down the road we booked to come here towards the end of our time in Harris, because it was nice and local.Not being a big fan of shellfish and certain types of fish, this wasn't the ideal place for me, but when you're in a party of seven you tend to have to go with the flow. The menu was essentially fish, fish, fish and more fish. As a result, the highlight for me was the drawing room. It really was a lovely place to spend some time after dinner with some great friends.The starter of asparagus was good, but I had to give the fish to someone else as I couldn't really eat that. My main, I don't really remember much about that, (it was either Turbot or Halibut) I couldn't eat that either. For a reasonably upmarket venue, the dinner service wasn't brilliant. I wasn't drinking but my wine glasses were left on the table, the bread basket was very slow to arrive, wine for our group was topped up occasionally (if you were lucky). Service was curt, soulless and dispassionate. Pretty poor actually. The staff were starting to annoy me but I was asked to bite my lip.Not a great place to come if you don't or can't eat fish or shellfish (or if you come with a group of seafood eaters). For me, I'd have been happy with a steak or a piece of chicken so again, for me, it was a complete waste of money, but coffee in the drawing room was excellent!I wouldn't come back here, again, ever.

Visited for dinner as a birthday treat for brother-in-law. Booked up a week beforehand. Dinner is a set, no choice menu so care is taken to discuss preferences and allergies when booking and these were all followed on the evening we visited.Started with duck pate and mini fishcake canapés before heading down to the small dining room. Smoked venison salad starter followed by a herb crusted cod then chocolate fondant with ginger ice cream. All very good. Cheese selection excellent. The crowdie and cream was fabulous. Coffee taken back upstairs in the lounge.

Lovely meal, great service and Patricia was most accommodating. Definitely worth a visit if you in the area.

Stayed here while working on the island. This place is such an amazing experience. Superb view and superb food, I have seen some people complaining that it is a little costley for a set menu, but people must not forget that the service and attention to detail is outstanding! Thank's!

Outstanding food, excellent service, well worth the money . My son and niece cleared their plates. Staff were delightful but unobtrusive, lovely ambiance from the minute you walk in, from the canapés in your drawing room to dinner then back for coffee and petite fours and chocolates.

No choice set menu. This won't suit everyone but they ask when you book if there is anything you don't eat and the night we were there one of our party had gluten free bread specially made for him which was fantastic. We have stayed in the past and loved it. Dinner was, once again, a treat. Huge local scallops, vegetables from their garden. Really yummy hazelnut meringue and the most delicious blueberry sorbet I have ever had. Lovely friendly staff. The head man comes across as a bit solemn, but if you chat to him he's really friendly too. Great to have a chat to other guests too before and after dinner and a snuggle with the hotel cat was a wee bonus. It'snot cheap but it is amazing value. You would pay twice that for a meal of that quality in London or Belfast!

Wonderful dinner at Scarista House, perfect place for a special celebration or just spoiling yourself.

Our umpteenth visit. Always good but this time it seemed a little tired. The food is always good but never brilliant. It is an experience; the sunset, the other visitors, the setting etc etc but I wonder whether, ingredients permitting, the food could be a tiny bit more innovative. Perhaps I nitpick, but after about ten visits in ten years the food does not seem to have moved on.

Ace meal. Lovely experience all together. Went as a family and enjoyed pre drinks and canapés in sitting room. After our delicious meal back to the sitting room and for a fun chat with fellow diners. Location is terrific, staff very friendly and helpful.

I have wanted to eat here since I read the book twenty years ago. I was not disappointed - even though I didn't really know what to expect! It is a beautiful house, in the most spectacular location and the food was divine. It's a complete experience, not just a meal out.

Having planned a visit to Scarista House for many years we were not disappointed. Fantastic location and a lovely welcoming house with friendly staff. A lovely relaxing welcome with pre-meal nibbles served in the lounge. Then a great meal served in style by friendly staff, homemade bread good food, also a wonderful cheese board...

We felt like guests at a house dinner party, yet we still had our privacy. Loved this very homely house, a typical family home, full of tasteful knick knacks and Victorian furniture. Host and waitress lovely, you're taken to one of the two drawing rooms for pre dinner drinks, canopies and given your menu ( it's a set menu and you are told this on booking). The food was ample and delicious, we omitted the. Coffee and petite femurs and they deducted £8 from the bill. It was expensive but worth it. However I do think you should have a choice for the price

We had been recommended to eat here by someone who was so enthusiastic about it we couldn't turn down the opportunity.We were not disappointed by our experience. On arrival we were taken to the upstairs drawing room, offered drinks and canapes and were left to our own devices to introduce ourselves to other guests. This was a very pleasant way to start our evening and in fact we also ended it back here albeit with a different set of fellow guests - though I suspect some first time visitors could find this rather disconcerting.You are given a fixed menu - no choice - from which you have a choice of 3 or 4 courses (cheese and puddings are alternatives if so wished). The food was well presented - main was fish with a lovely sauce - and pleasantly served.The coffee and petit fours afterwards were also fine.You may detect a lack of excitement in this review and you'd be right. It was pleasant, nice food and a pleasant nice experience and I'd happily recommend it.The reasons for 4 rather than 5 stars? At the prices charged I'd expect some sort of choice; and although the service was pleasant there was little engagement between us and those who served us though I did notice much more conversation and interaction with residents. It would be interesting to compare Scarista House with another similar quality restaurant on Harris but unfortunately we didn't have time.

This was our one night out from our self catering trip and we arrived on a rather blustery evening to be net by a George who showed us up to the lounge where the peat fire gave us a glowing welcome. The wine list was excellent and the set menu delivered up an excellent meal with the huge Langoustine main course an absolute delight, yummy indeed.The chef spoke to us afterwards and was genuinely delightful and unprentious. This place us a must visit for anyone visiting Harris.

Final evening trip out to scarista house on our hols to Harris .As foodies was really looking forward to this event...Food :Evening meal was good but at £43 is a bit steep for a three course event. ..However wines and drinks are not overpriced and very reasonable.Decor is a bit tired and in need of some attention. On entrance we were shown to a library where there was a coal fire but sadly was unlit. what a pity as in any room where there is a coal fire it ought to be lit especially in such surroundings.What a difference a roaring coal/peat fire would have made.Seemed to me that owner Patricia should if ,not normally ,should definitely be front of house and this would have made a difference to our experienceMm m. Not convinced about this one on this experience and sad about that truly as was really looking forward to a great experience,!!!

We booked our table at Scarista House one September evening whilst on our honeymoon, on the recommendation of the guest book in the cottage that we were calling home for a week whilst on Harris. We were delighted by the service, the atmosphere, the food and the wine and would thoroughly recommend visiting Scarista House to treat yourselves!We arrived early, were welcomed and invited to take a seat in an upstairs living room where we were offered amuse-bouche and our wine order was taken. This beautiful house was a wonderful setting, and felt very cosy. Whilst it might not be everyone's cup-of-tea, we were delighted to chat to some of the other diners whilst our table was prepared. Being fans of seafood, and with few 'dislikes', we were more excited than concerned about the set menu, particularly as you are told this when you book and asked about any special dietary requirements, so were excited to discover what we would be eating. The food was delicious including some locally caught wild salmon, and presented very nicely. The service was great and the cheese board is a must when you are given the option!We finished our evening back in the living room with coffee and petits fours before heading back to our cottage, and were made to feel extremely welcome by all the staff. This restaurant is full of character, focuses on locally produced food and matches this with friendly staff and excellent service. Given the standard of the food and service we felt the pricing was appropriate relative to other restaurants in the area; thoroughly recommended and look forward to returning with our families!

We stayed at Scarista House for three nights and I comment on the hotel elsewhere.We enjoyed the food greatly even though it is all a little quaint. Canapes and drinks before dinner in the library and coffee and petit fours after dinner were both good and gave us a chance to speak to the other diners and residents. The Library is an attractive, if cluttered, room.The food was excellent and made largely from local ingredients. We had salmon mousse, smoked ham and basil tart as starters; halibut and lamb as mains and panne cotta and hazelnut meringue as desserts. There was also a cheese course, which we never had.The food was very well cooked and served to look extremely attractive. The cost for three courses is £43.50. The wine list was good and fitted the food.The servers were friendly, well trained and helpful. This was reputed to be the best restaurant in Harris but one of our fellow eaters was not happy with the food. We thought it was worth the visit just to taste local produce well prepared.

Our second trip to this small family-run restaurant, first in November and now in June. Such a lovely setting, delicious food and the unusual chance to meet other diners before and after dinner, which on a small island like Harris means you are likely to see them again on a ferry or in a shop. Lovely and highly recommended.

We dined here on 8 June. What a disappointment. We understand the challenge of cooking vegetarian meals in a remote location and had alerted the manager to our preferences when we booked, months earlier. The welcome was civil but perfunctory. We were ushered into the library (the upstairs sitting room being apparently reserved for residents). The menu for meat-eaters was displayed. No-one mentioned what we would be eating – and there is no choice on the three course dinner menu (£43.50), save for the option to take cheese in addition to dessert. The food was pedestrian and seemed to us to offer poor value. The vegetarian starter was a diminutive salad topped by a fried quail egg. The main course was an artfully arranged but insipid layer of squash and parsnip, enlivened only by two small blobs of purée flavoured with baharat. Accompanying vegetables were carrot sticks wrapped in a sliver of courgette and a couple of boiled potatoes. Cheeses were good, but portions were not generous. The atmosphere was, we felt, strained. Staff kept checking the hatch door while diners waited in hushed expectation. After dinner, back to the library – where at least the friendly company of other non-residents brought the evening to a pleasant close. From what we could see (and we did not see any bedrooms), the house is becoming quite dilapidated – cracks in the ceiling etc. Other reviewers have described the atmosphere as shabby-chic: the first part is certainly true.The setting is utterly spectacular and visitors should not be deterred from Harris, which is absolutely magical. But our expectations of Scarista – so far as the restaurant is concerned - were utterly dashed.

I'm afraid we were fairly disappointed with the Scarista, especially at the hefty price we paid.For the first 20 minutes or so we were sat in a rather formal drawing room with a couple who were also dining that night. We do try to be as sociable as the next lot, but the conversation and necessary small talk is rather stilted at such times.We were rescued when asked to go for dinner, but again the atmosphere in the small dining room was more formal and stuffy than we'd like. It all seemed quite a dated concept, much in keeping with the jaded, faded look of the house overall.The set menu seemed to serve us well enough with a nice scallop soufflé to start. This was followed by a strange mixture of lamb on a bed of heavy lentils, with solid Dauphinoise potatoes, a couple of sticks of asparagus and a very small roasted beetroot. The beetroot was lovely. Sadly the lamb failed to taste of anything at all, and the kitchen didn't have any minty sauce to enliven the proceedings.Given that we were all on a set menu I'd have expected the chef to have done rather better with a decent cut of local lamb, which wasn't help by the lentils at all.The cheese board was good, with a wide selection of cheeses. This was followed by a heavy chocolate torte with lovely ice cream, then coffee back in the drawing room with "other people" again!I'm sad to say we wouldn't go back as we could only really recommend the beetroot and the cheese. Overall it was too much food of too little quality for too much money :(

We were hesitant about the fixed menu, being stuck in a small dining space with people that might have spoiled the atmosphere and because we had read some previous negative reviews. However, we learnt there was absolutely no reason for our hesitation. The food (including the canapés presented on arrival) was divine and cooked to perfection. We were amongst strangers who turned out to be delightful company and had interesting stories to tell about their vacations. The owners spoke to us after the meal and were very welcoming.Mouthwatering food, good company, lovely wine ..... An excellent evening.

well presented, good choice and excellent hosts. very comfortable lounge for use before and after dinner. A bonus - no television.

Hadn't been for 20 odd years and loved the ambience and the innovative dished using local ingredients. Enjoyed the veggie option too which was provided at short notice by the welcoming owners. Seems the best eating houses are driven by the boss in the kitchen and this is no exception. For a bit of luxury on Harris give it a try.

We booked into Scarista House for dinner as it is just down the road from the Blue Reef Cottages where we were staying (also amazing). Not sure of what to expect, we were shown into what is probably thought of as the "lounge" where we found ourselves sitting on sofas with other guests waiting for dinner. After a slightly awkward silence, everyone got chatting and the atmosphere became very convivial (helped by the arrival of wine & beer).Lovely canapés were served whilst we chatted. The menu was fixed in terms of price and dishes on offer. There was one starter, one main, one pudding, and cheese & biscuits. No stress of choosing then. The dining room was smallish, with only 4 tables, but each with enough space around to feel very comfortable. We had the most superb salmon mousse, followed by roast fillet of beef which was stunning. There followed the most delicious bread & butter pudding and then some excellent cheese with the world's best oatcakes according to my wife.Service throughout was very personal and excellent. We were even given a lift back to our cottage after dinner what was above & beyond the call of duty.

Having booked Scarista House for our wedding anniversary in July, we had high hopes. Sadly, from beginning to end it was really disappointing. None of the courses was up to the standard you would expected on a £50 per head fixed menu - in particular the gloopy main course of "seafood stramash". Service was poor, and the hotel itself is pretty run down (to an extent some way below shabby chic). The only plus point was decent banter before and after dinner with the other diners.

We had a totally stunning meal at Scarista House for a special occasion, the soup was absolutely delicious and plentiful. next I had a steak which was cooked to absolute perfection followed by poached pear which just topped the meal off making it one of the best meals I have ever had. Will definitely return to Scarista house where the staff are so helpful and friendly

My wife and I have holidayied for the last 3 years on the island of Harris. We tried, for the first two years, to have dinner at Scarista House but were unsuccessful. It is a very busy restaurant. I only wished we had failed to get a table this year. To start with; finding the entrance into the hotel was bad enough. we were then herded upstairs to a sitting room that was over flowing with people. Canapes were thrown in our direction by a waiter as though he was dealing cards. The canapes were fair. The service from the waiting staff was a disgrace. They do know how to handle people. I think the problem was they were never trained. The dining room we were placed in, was congested. The seats were as hard as rocks. Dinner was the biggest disappointment of all. starter was a form of seafood mouse. It was bland. Main course was lamb which was well cooked. Vegetables were soso; the potatoes were awful. I was placing all my hopes on the sweet. It was my favourite, bread and butter pudding. That was the worst course of them all. M&S do a very good bread and butter. Scarista House did not come near M&S. For the money they were charging it was very poor fare indeed. Needless to say, we will not be going back there.

The shellfish were fantastic and the menu unfussy but very high quality. Book in advacne unless you want to eat early.

The food was tasty but no finesse. Service is stiff,slow and unfriendly. Too much fuss made of the cheese. Best parts were the canapés and homemade bread.

This small hotel and restaurant is one of the most isolated in the UK, right next to one of the best beaches in Scotland. For good quality food you would expect to pay a premium in a place like this and you do here - £43.50 for 3 courses. When we were there, we were offered a soup and dumpling starter, the main course was Halibut from Stornoway (which was superb); the desert a fairly standard chocolate torte. The place is beginning to show its age a little, but is still very comfortable and we certainly had no complaints. But with no real competition within a sensible driving distance, there was just a hint of resting on laurels. A little more imagination with the set menu would be very welcome, although you do have to remember where you are when dining and recognise how difficult it is to source fresh ingredients.