Tall Pines in Highland

My husband asked what the soup was. Waitress said it was homemade vegetable soup. Blitzed. Ok so he ordered it when it came it was bright orange, he got a bit of stale crusty bread. The soup group was far from homemade. Mostly carrots. And tasted terrible, sadly he couldn't eat it Wasted money..I asked for the sweet menu. Was told the only thing that was homemade was the Apple crumble. Blatant lies again. It was shop bought. Because I know where to purchase the exact same one. No more of your dishonesty. AVOID we wasted quite a bit of money and left hungry. Never again...

Called in for a snack as all Dornoch restaurants were full. Very pleased we did ! Lovely bacon & egg roll for the gents. Coffee and home made shortbread for me.! Coffee was piping hot, and the home made shortbread was delicious. Best I have tasted. Very reasonably priced too.

Wow this place is absolutely fantastic wish we found it days ago service was fantastic food was lovely it was so clean and we were made to feel very welcome thank you so much for our lovely lunch will definitely be back x

The Tall Pines is a handily located cafe/restaurant on the A9 just before the turnoff to Dornoch if you are heading North. There is a reasonable amount of dining options and prices are on par with nearby Eateries. Service was quick and friendly and we enjoyed our meal

A jewel on the NC500. Excellent service and the food quality, portion size and value second to none...

Stopped on NC500 route to fuel up. We had 3 hungry children and noticed it had a restaurant attached. We are so glad we stopped there it was by far the breakfast we have had on our journey so far. Staff were great, food was piping hot and fresh. Will stop again on our way back home.

Shoutout to donna for doing her customer service outstanding. The food was delicious and affordable.

All the things that are wrong with Scotlands tourism service. The bored waitress took our drinks order and never came back. 3 other groups came in 10 mins later and had their food and drink orders taken . Walked out. Never going back with my invisibility cloak on.

Stopped for a breakfast on way up to Gills Bay. Between us we had bacon and egg roll and full breakfast, tea and toast. It was all very good. Hot, fresh and tasty. Cafe was clean and tidy. Toilets were also very clean.

All day breakfast was brilliant no Creasy spoon here quite busy served very quickly and piping hot plenty of places to park motorhome or caravan highly recommended

Had a evening meal here friendly staff. Food was lovely good sized portions and very conviently situated on the A9 would recommend

The fact that this place is attached to a petrol station may put people off, but we went for Sunday lunch and returned the following Sunday because the food was superb. Their roast beef and roast pork just fell away when cutting it. Massive portions and very tasty. Their home made mushroom soup was amazing, lovely puds too. Staff very nice and service quick. Would definitely recommend.

I've been driving the A9 for nearly 30 years and never stopped here! Goodness - what I have been missing. what great food, excellent service and nice clean toilets... Best chips I've tasted in ages!! Good menu and while not 'cheap' it's really reasonable prices for what you get. DEFO stopping here again!!

This is a very clean and well maintained establishment. New lady served, she had only just started and she was very pleasant and helpful despite suddenly becoming busier by the second. Food nice and my coffee tasted so good. Toilets and parking area. Covid precautions in place, well organised.

Had a late lunch here, the restaurant is clean and bright, staff were friendly and helpful.the food was really good, plenty of choice, decent size portions and very fair prices. Covid 19 protection is in place and very well organised. Toilets are clean too.

Food is on a par with top restaurants & hotels in the area . Lovely staff who make you welcome . The food is great, only complaint ....you get too much ! You will never leave here hungry

This spacious cafe was very clean,well laid out and we felt 'safe'. The food, a full breakfast, a bacon roll , tea and coffee was hot, tasty and ample. We definitely hope to return. I was assured that the faltering lights in the toilet would be attended to.

Delicious and affordable food. We called in for a late breakfast and it was fantastic. Definitely recommend this restaurant. :)

First time we had a meal in a cafe or restaurant since lockdown. The staff were helpful and well prepared. The food was good and reasonably priced .The chocolate fudge cake was delicious.

Good sandwiches but very impressed with Covid attitude. Spotless, lots of cleaning, social distancing

Tall pines is on te main A9 at Dornoch Sutherland the menu is fairly basic with a specials board friendly smart Staff I live only 15 miles away and can on Y compliment the food service and price

A very warm welcome from the friendly staff. We all felt that there was a good variety of meals at reasonable prices to suit everyone's tastes. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other dishes on the menu.

Wanted a gluten free light lunch, just a coffee and sandwich. They didn't gave a good selection of gluten free, only a meal, no sandwiches. Wont bother going there again.

HelloI wish to compliment your establishment after my first time visit to Talk Pines on Tuesday the 3rd December 2019.I was a part of a large group of people out for our Xmas meal together.The food was excellent, and service good.I would like to think I will return next year, and will definitely recommend to others.Many thanks for a lovely experience.Sandra

Had a group of 10 today for our Christmas lunch. Excellent food & service. Thanks to Tall Pines we had a lovely lunch.

I stopped in for a late lunch with my mum and children, having been there earlier in the year. I was really, really annoyed by the horrendous lack of service that we received on this occasion which was so spectacularly lacking that we walked out. When we arrived, nobody bothered to greet us so we found our own table. We were then ignored by 2 waitresses and 1 waiter who actually walked past us and ignored us on 3 or 4 occasions. Despite trying to catch their eye, nothing happened except that one of the waitresses served a table that arrived after us. We were then watched by the two waitresses as we got up to leave..... Will not go back and I am usually pretty easy going. And it wasn't even that they were overly busy. Just inept.

Always go here when I am in the area, had fish and chips which was excellent, although far too much for a smaller appetite.

Ate at the Tall Pines last night. Very good. Had steak mince with potatoes and vegetables. Could not fault it and followed with a pot of tea, strong just as I like it. Will be back.

Had a great cooked breakfast here. Looked like a good standard menu for lunch. Attached to the gas station, but definitely not gas station food.

Stopped to fuel up the caravan on our NC500 trip and realised they had a restaurant. Was lovely eating out for a change and stopped in for lunch, great coffee, good service and nice staff. Defiantly stopping here again when we do the NC500 next year with the rest of the family.

Wouldn’t serve a coach with 38 people, but took the money to fill the coaches tank. Seemed an odd welcome.

Come here often if I am in the area, always good food, good choices, busy place, happy to wait a wee while when you know its worth while.

I was shocked when a small breakfast (with items removed as I’m GF) and a half portion of mince & tatties, a shop bought desert and one scoop of ice cream came to £27!!

Tall Pines looks like a transport cafe from the road as its attached to a petrol station but don't be deceived as the food is of high quality freshly cooked to order and good prices.

We were directed to the Tall Pines by the owners of the Edderton Lodge. This establishment could appear as any Mom and Pop cafe being a part of a country gas station. The food and the people were everything we were expecting, even better. My son and grandson had haggis, I had a ham steak (that is called something else). Regardless of what it is called, everything was delicious and totally worth the experience.

The food is not too bad with daily specials but the service is very slow ,We are now going to another nearby restaruant because we got fed up of waiting

Ideal for a stop off travelling in the highlands. Good service by friendly staff, good wholesome food without the frills. We use this as a regular stop off

Today was my first visit to the Tall Pines for about two years. Nothing has changed. A no frills restaurant, a no frills menu and no frills lunches. However I mean this as a compliment.

Good breakfast there chips are crap tho and service is a bit slow but if we have time me and my workers have breakfast here sometimes

Pretty basic food stop, modern and tidy but pretty soulless. Food was usual food stop menu and service was fine.

Often go here when visiting the area and the food is always good. The staff are friendly and efficent. Had the special of haddock fish cakes and the following night fish and chips, both excellent

After scattering my Mam & Dad's ashes at a special picnic spot we shared as a family myself, husband, grandaughter, brother and wife and sister and partner decided to visit this restaurant for lunch as it was one of mums favourites. We entered about 1.20pm and place was full, however there was a large party just leaving so we were waiting for their tables. A young waiter came and told us we would have to move after we seated ourselves. We were then told that the chef was closing the whole section for cleaning( at the busiest time of day) and they could not accomodate our party of seven and there was one table for four in other section. Not one member of staff were helpful or were we told any of this information politely. Certainly not going back!!

The Tall Pines is a "Does what it says on the tin" place. They dont charge ridiculous prices but yet they are not providing fine dining. You get what you pay for, if not slightly more and what you are served is warm, flavoursome and filling. Matches the expectation you have from both the menu and preconception.

Always pop into the tall pines when we are visiting family in Scotland. The breakfast is very good. Had two meals both salads beautiful presentation, had potatoes first time second time chips. Only moan is the chips very very dry, think they need too change the brand of chips. There’s one lady there who is really pleasant nothing is to much trouble for her. Will visit again.

Stopped here for breakfast. 4 x Large and bacon roll for the child. Really good butcher meat and coffee was good too, good value for money would recommend if in the area to eat here.

We ordered chicken curry and rice which was bitter in taste, chicken and rice soup that tasted like Luke warm salty water, and onion rings were just ok.

From the outside this looks like a franchise place attached to a petrol station - but nothing could be further from the truth. It is ratehr sparsely furnished and the menu is not long, However, the food is locally sourced and freshly made, and the service is very good. You don't get offered venison burgers or beef olives in your local Welcome Break! In February, when we were there, many local eateries were closed in the evening, but this was one we were more than happy to return to. Highly recommneded.

We have not visited for some time and there were changes. The restaurant is clean and tidy. The service was very good. I had the small breakfast with toast and coffee. My wife had gluten free breakfast. The meals were piping hot and very enjoyable.

An unassuming cafe restaurant behind a filling station but with an extensive eating area within, all very clean and bright; extremely helpfful staff and good quick service. Well worth a visit if you are passing OR regular visits as we prefer. Good value for money.

Have visited this restaurant on many occasions when in the area on holiday and have had brunch, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is a no frills road side establishment but have a good selection of meal and snack choices. All the food is reasonably priced and freshly made, with different daily specials. Service can be a bit slow but it is a large restaurant and can be busy, so as long as your not in a hurry then its a good place to chill out and fill up before exploring more of the area. Good parking, toilets always spotless and you can fill up your car at the petrol station as well.

Stopped here today for a snack while travelling to Caithness, sorry wont be stopping again.

(Lovely meal 🥘) Stayed in Dornoch for 7 days. Called into tall pines 🌲 twice. Both times meals were excellent. Presentation on the salad 🥗 was beautiful. Only draw back service a bit slow. But would not put me off going back.

Tuvimos una gran comida en pinos. Fue muy bonito, pero pedimos comida y dieron media y una hora más tarde. Después de la comida que quería pudding. El personal no ver que estábamos acabados y a media hora de que finalmente llegó. Creo que fue porque estaba ocupado en el tiempo. Pero probablemente volvería en un tiempo no muy concurrida.

Un restaurante encantador, muy bien al lado de una estación de llenado. Muy bonito, luminoso y ventilado, fotografías para la venta local encantador (hemos comprado dos frailecillos, hay algunos muy llamativos de cascadas y moros).

Very poor service. Plenty of staff, but got the distinct feeling they didnt want to serve. It was lunch time so no excuse for wanting to close. When the food arrived it was ok when they got the order correct.

Nice place to stop for a break, clean and good food, not the quickest of service but it is always hot and served by nice staff

Al principio estuvimos aquí para el combustible, pero en el restaurante abierto pensado ver un desayuno preparado sería un buen comienzo. Pedimos con nadie más. Esperamos 20 minutos. Lo cual me parece excesivo. La camarera trajo a nuestro té de salida que era una piedra fría en el momento de la comida llegó. Sabía muy bien, pero creo que si tienes prisa evitaría este restaurante. No decir toda la comida es preparada a la orden, así que por favor sea paciente cuando hay mucha gente. Pero sólo tenía yo y mi marido para servir.

A nice place to have a meal that doesn't break the bank.The service can be a little slow depending on if it's busy.The standard of food is always good and the staff friendly.

We have had many visits to the Tall Pines over the years and have never been disappointed. The café is located on the A9 near the turn off to Dornoch. It has a transport café feel about it, being situated beside petrol pumps and a small shop.The café is bright and airy. Service was reasonably quick and friendly and prices are on par or possibly slightly cheaper than nearby competitors. Our food was fine with good sized portions.Recommended

Not fancy but serves the purpose with straight forward cooked food and friendly staff.Often full so that speaks volumes.Handy right on the A9 going North.

Decided to call at the Tall Pines while visiting family staying at Grannies Heilan Hame caravan park. A no frills restaurant offering a good menu selection at reasonable prices. Our order was taken quickly by a pleasant waitress. Would definitely call again when next in Dornoch.....

Great stop off on way to Grannies Heilan Holiday Park, Service is ok, but nothing fancy, it's not expensive, yet food was spot on

Please try this restaurant , we went and got petrol at the pumps and decided to try out the food in the restaurant , well , the food is GREAT , tasty , just yummy . We go there a lot now , most sundays ,but be quick as it gets busy at lunch times , the sunday roast is so tender and plenty off it .. The macaroni is the best I have tasted and I have also converted my friend to there macaroni dish .. try it its lovely the service is friendly ,and quick...ps ..the desert menu is yummy , the triffle is well words don't do it justice ...go and try for your self .great value for money .we will be back ,again again and again ..

Been in this restaurant many times in the past, on way home to Inverness after being up North, no complaints till now. When we arrived there was only three tables occupied and our orders were promptly taken, the waitress writing everything down on her pad. She then went to get our drinks order as usual, however instead of bringing our soup, she stood daydreaming ,leaning against the table that held the soup kettles. This went on for at least 10mins until her colleague asked her if we had ordered a starter, probably prompted because of my staring in their direction. She did however apologise for forgetting the soup . When the main course arrived, my husband's gammon steak and pineapple looked delicious and it was .....but my mince looked absolutely disgusting ! The mince looked as if it had been mashed of flattened with a fork,or to be more graphic "chewed and spat out". There were no visible vegetables in the mince and the carrot batons that were served with it, were so over cooked they were pliable , like warmed up plastic.. Obviously cooked for too long or reheated numerous times. I did try to eat this but after a couple of mouthfuls of mince that looked like cat food and tasted what I would expect that to taste like, I had enough and was happy to go hungry rather than eat this disgusting mess . I don't like writing bad reviews but I don't like paying dearly for absolute rubbish, which is what I got on this occasion, unfortunately .

This is located at the side of the petrol station...looks pretty plain from the outside and slightly old fashioned in the inside....but the food is very good! Home made platefuls of sensible options! I had the lasagne...delicious! No need to stop for anything on the trip home (almost 4 hours away) waitresses were polite and knowledgable about the menu etc - and the place is so very clean! You don't be disappointed!

We were on our way to Inverness shopping and decided to go here for a full breakfast and we were not disappointed! The hit the spot and just the right amount of food on your plate. The black pudding was to die for. We did ask where they got it from and they said it was from the local butcher so we are now going to go and buy some. The place is very clean and tidy as well as the toilets which is always a bonus.

Superb family restaurant, great value for money friendly staffLasagne is wonderful great portions Love love love it ..

Lovely restaurant. Homely food and great value for moneyVery very family friendlyAlways a table, plenty of seating but not to crammedLovely

The tall pines is adjacent to a petrol station on the A9 near Dornoch. The restaurant is very clean and bright unlike most restaurants there is a partial view of the kitchen which looks equally clean. Both the food and service were very good (especially when compared against more expensive Dornoch restaurants ) . For a family of four the a final bill was very reasonable and I would recommend this restaurant

Good tasty food friendly staff the lasagna is very good. I would definitely recommend it to family and friends. Will definitely come back. Good place to stop at when traveling

I come here often with family when I'm up North & I've never been disappointed in the food :) it's always tasty at an affordable price & is situated in a bonnie location outside of Dornoch. I know I'll be returning soon & I look forward to it :)

We use this transport cafe in the winter good service pricey for a cafe I had a panini a chicken one it was served with a dry panini rock hard with chicken inside also dry nothing else and chips on the side one of the worst tasting cardboard lunches I have ever had I will not be returning

On stopping at Tall Pines for food at 5.00pm on a Sunday evening, our son who is Autistic wished to sit at a table with his Dad for two people, at the window, so he could watch the cars. Myself and our other son sat at a table for four people. There were another 10 tables or so for other people who came in for food to sit at. While perusing the Menu a young waitress came over to us and asked us could we all sit at the same table because they are normally busy on a Sunday night. My Autistic son would not move and was getting very stressed with the situation therefore we had to up and leave and go somewhere else for food. I find it utterly shocking that we were treated in this way, given that there were absolutely no other people in this end of the restaurant and in the time that we had ordered and eaten our food, there is no way that another 60 plus people would have come in and needed that table, for two, that my Autistic son and his dad were sitting it (Getting It Right For Every Child does not seem to apply at Tall Pines!!!)

Unfriendly older waitresses who are incapable of any form of customer service - no smiles, completely unwelcoming. Found this to be the case on my last few visits. Food average. Nothing enjoyable about this place other than paying and leaving.

Food quite tasty fresh vegetables limited vegetarian options .Never have fish again tasteless and over cooked its a cafe with restaurant prices very expensive

Tasty food with good portion sizes but very limited choice for Gluten Free Diet - even the chips were not Gluten Free!!! Basic restaurant and if not on a special diet then good selection of food on offer. Easy to miss as looks like it is only a fuel stop with cafe but good sized seating area and helpful staff.

Large menu with daily specials. Generous helpings, fresh, piping hot. Easy disabled access. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices.

Generally average food, service a bit slow (over 30mins for main course to arrive, no starters ordered). Cafe 75% full at time. Soft drinks and tea came quickly, no ice in or offered for soft drinks (Room temp). Sunday roast silverside was good with just a nice helping of veg and potatoes. THE FISH!!! Well straight out of the freezer, breaded, undercooked and tasteless, pretty small as well, chips were ok and you really can't go wrong with a bit of side salad, that was fine. Come on guys, buy some decent fish, stop kidding folk. 2x nice full size fresh haddies from the fishman only costs £5.50, but I'm sure Woodwards or Brakes can offer you a better quality alternative for far less. I left most of my fish (Waitress did not ask why, maybe she knew what my answer would be), a waste of £8.75. Some nice background music wouldn't go amiss as there was absolutely no atmosphere whasoever in this cafe. Your 'something to rave about reputation' was not on show on this visit. We might come back when we hear things are improving.

On our way down to inverness thought we'd stop at tall pines for dinner as it used to be good... We ordered fish & chips what eventually came out was frozen breaded fish over cooked chewy & tasteless.. It's actually the first time Ive ever had to send food back as it was inedible!!!! And for £8.75 not worth it. Was asked if I was paying for it...(after 1 mouthful I thk Not!!) Paid for coffee which wasn't great either and left. We then went to chippy in Alness and had fantastic fish n chips for 5.95 bargain!!:) will not be recommending tall pines to anyone & won't be back!!

You could do worse than eat here, then again you could do a lot better. Food is average, should really be cheaper for what you get. Make a short detour and drive into Dornoch.

Their soups, entrees and desserts are very good and their portions are rather large. You will not walk away hungry. They have a very good selection as well. Their prices are reasonsble and keep us coming back for more. But be forwarned, there is no atmosphere.

The tall pines is a basic cafe style restaurant. They have an extensive menu and do roasts at the weekend. The food, for me, is filling and tastey but very basic. Service is a bit erratic, but a good place to stop off on the A9.

Travelling south from Caithness stopped in for an evening meal with my wife. Busy and I just missed the roast beef which is usually excellent. Took the pork instead and it was not a disappointment. Great food and great service. Thoroughly recommended. I'm surprised at the comment on it being pricey - it certainly isn't especially compared with other establishments not too far away!

Situated on the main A9 at a petrol station about 100 yards past the Dornoch turning when travelling north. Good menu and a varied specials board caters for meat eaters and non-meaters but I can only recall one veggie meal,The portions were good and they serve wine or bottled beer.The meals we had over 4 nights included deep fried haddock, smoked haddock fish cakes, scampi, gammon and a macaroni cheese. Meals came with either salad, chips or potatoes and peas. Tables and floor kept clean by effiecient staff. Service was quick.

Tall Pines I would regard as an average roadside stop. I have visited here on several occasions and the quality of the food varies vastly day to day. The vegetable are not the freshest and some of the sauces are tasteless.Overall I'd only go if you have to

Had to wait here for 2 hours whils being rescued aftyer a breakdown.Had a sandwich and a coffee. Sandwich OK but did not realize thatyou could still get tired/brewed ages ago cona coffee like this.Service cheerful though.

We stopped both heading North and South here for our main "pitstop" on the motorbikes. Lovely food, great service and the perfect location for us on our travels.

The food is very good not greasy but pricey service is very slow i watched 3 people walk out yesterday after a long wait just not good enough can not fault the food in any way hot plates hot food nice tea

Not impressed poor quality mince used waiting staff rude they think they own the place handy location on the plus side

This place is great and better than what you would expect given the location. I feel it's unfortunate it has had a previous poor review from a bus tour who didnt have the foresite to phone ahead!

This restaurant is perfect. Food is gorgeous. Don't know who the chef is but I wish I could take them home with me. Very friendly. Always served very quick. Very friendly staff. Made myself & my mum & kids very welcome. There is no way anyone can say anything negative about this place. Like I said just perfect.

I hate to be negative after a number of good reviews which rub salt into the wound of our rejection. Our bus party of 28 were turned away peremptorily last Friday morning about 10 a.m., because "they didn't have the staff". Considering there were only two other people in the restaurant which appeared to have room for 50 and that all we wanted were coffees and teas, this was somewhat difficult to understand - especially since our bus driver filled up with £350 worth of petrol at the pumps! If the owners don't want buses, then perhaps they should display a notice to that effect ... We certainly won't be stopping there as independent travellers.

Make no mistake - this isnt perhaps the place for a romantic candlelight dinner, but,as a clean,friendly stop-off for eats if travelling, I think most people would agree it is EXCELLENT! Quick friendly service,good food - I use it regularly even though I live nearby! PS The Baked Potatoes with Prawn Mayo & Salad are superb!

But not because it's a breath-taking experience. As you walk through the door to this place, you may be assailed with the smells from the toilets. If you make your way through the miasma, you may wonder why you bothered. This place is terrible. The service is definitely the worst thing about it. The wait staff are dour, grumpy, and rude. They rarely smile. Half of them mutter and you can't understand what they are even saying. Staff lounge against one of the food service counters, and don't bother to address the needs of the patrons. The food is reheated frozen, at best, and the menu is, like so many others around this area, the same old same old. Prices are ridiculous considering you are eating on the forecourt of a petrol station, basically. When we asked to speak to the manager about our dismal experience, we were told that the manager doesn't actually work there. Is that some new kind of management technique? NEVER AGAIN. What a waste of time and money. The road from Edinburgh to John O'Groats is a long one, especially where there seems to be nowhere worth stopping. Ah well... back to the days of packing picnics.

My self and my wife stopped at this restaurant on our way to Caithness, there was ample parking, table service by 3 very pleasant girls, I had the lasagne which was home made and delicious, my husband had the roast beef and our 3 children all had macaroni and cheese which again was home made and my children all thought it was the best they had ever tasted (so much for my wifes!!) and it was all very reasonably priced and what a plateful! The place was lovely and bright and very clean, the toilets were immaculate only downside is if pick a window seat you face onto a petrol forecourt but that is the only downside great place highly recommended.