The Orangery Restaurant in Fife

First time our family has eaten here and we were all impressed. The parking is free if you are dining or staying within the hotel, let reception know and you can check your car registration in. Food and service The service from Charlie was excellent and the food from start to finish was extremely tasty.

Disappointed in the meal we had here. The food was average, considering it is now known as the Grill - you would think that the steaks would be top notch. However, I ordered steak medium rare and it was really tough - literally had to saw through it. My dessert was a quirky take on Cranachan, again I had to saw through it - it was like it had been made fresh then has been frozen brought out the freezer and put on the plate. My husband enjoyed his courses, so maybe I was just unlucky with my choice. You expect more for the price you pay though. The atmosphere was non existent, only one other table dining in a huge restaurant. One positive - the staff and the service they provide is really good! However won’t be returning any time soon.

Usually enjoy a visit to the Balbirnie for food but alas not this time. We visited the Orangery on Saturday night to try the new grill menu. We arrived 5 mins after our 7pm slot with the delay being trying to work the new parking charges via the app. I wont comment any further on that however my thoughts echo the other disappointing comments on this matter. The restaurant wasnt busy but there was a wedding on. The menu had very limited choice which was a disappointment. I had the burger and my other half had the lamb. Asked the server if the lamb came with potatoes and his response was "I believe so". Waited 40 minutes on our mains. We hadn't ordered starters and weren't offered bread or water, something that's standard both here and abroad. In the time it took the mains to arrive the other half needed another pint. Ordered that, but had to chase this up as it never appeared. Mains came and were just "ok". Nothing to rave about. Mashed potatoes arrived on a separate dish to which we later found out we were charged £5 for!! So not included as we'd been led to believe. I dont understand how having potatoes is classed as an 'extra'. There was very little on the plate otherwise. My chips (which were included) were not that palatable. Lots of crunchy unappetising scraggy bits. Desserts were nice enough, but not sure how Balbirnie justify £29.50 for 2 courses? Wouldn't have minded so much if the food was exceptional. Service was a bit lacklustre too. Felt like they were just going through the motions and saying what needed to be said. Don't mind a 10% service charge being added...if the service was of value. Didn't feel it was on this occasion. All in all, we won't be rushing back. Which is a great shame given I've always enjoyed visiting.

First of all, the food was very good and tasty, but the menu was so limited and very disappointing. To highlight the "Josper Grill" and only have 2 types of steaks and a burger to choose from is very poor in my opinion. Service was very slow, despite the restaurant being less than half full. Perhaps the wedding that was also taking place in another part of the hotel received priority. Several times we had to chase our drinks order. The atmosphere was very poor, it was like eating in a library, it was so quiet. We have been to the Orangery and Bistro (when it was available) so many times and had a great experience, It was really disappointing for us, it was so much better when "7 @Balbirnie" was available. Sadly, it will take a big change before I consider returning. Please also "Beware their cancellation policy".... On the morning of our reservation, one of our party wasn't feeling well, so we looked to cancel the booking, thinking that we had given them plenty of time to fill the table. However they called me to say that if we did go ahead and cancel then we would be charged £30.00 per person.

My husband and I were given a voucher for our Golden Wedding Anniversary by a good friend of ours for the Orangery Restaurant at the Balbirnie House Hotel. We were so looking forward to it as we had been here before to their Bistro. A couple of days before our visit we were telephoned by the hotel reception asking if we would mind moving the time of our meal from 7.30 pm to 6.00 pm, I told them this was not suitable so they asked if we would move to 8.00 pm as they had a number of people all arriving at the same time. Really, this wasn’t our problem but we agreed to move to the later time to accommodate this request. No incentive was offered by the hotel yet we were doing the hotel a favour by agreeing to this. First of all, the parking. I am registered disabled with limited mobility and the last time we visited this hotel, the disabled parking was near to the front door. However, since our last visit, this area of parking has been given over to electric charging points. There must have been about 10 of them but only one was occupied! As my husband was unaware of where he was going I accompanied my husband to the parking at the rear of the hotel. I must point out that it was a terrible night with fog and heavy rain. We were unable to find any disabled parking and ended up parking in a normal bay (though it was difficult to see in the dark). After parking, we followed a dimly lit gravel path through the hotel gardens to a ramp at the front of the hotel literally where the disabled parking used to be. Upon entering the hotel we asked the waiter who signed us in, where the disabled parking was. He answered casually that it was round the rear of the property. I pointed out to him that this wasn’t really disabled friendly, not only was it too far away from the entrance, but it was dimly lit and the gravel path was of no use to anybody in a wheelchair. He then told us that it was nothing to do with him and to take it up with the management, so management please take note! The incident with the parking did not get us off to a great start. The waiter we spoke to about the parking was our waiter for the evening. He showed us to a table and before we could take our coats off he asked if we would like bread and water. We replied yes, a jug of water and some bread would be good. He then brought us over the menus. About 10 minutes later he returned to take our order, he asked if we would like mashed potatoes or fries with our main meal and we both ordered fries. I pointed out to him that we still did not have our water (though he had brought the bread). He was back a couple of minutes later and put a bottle of water on the table. I thought this was strange as every other table had jugs of water. The starters came out and I thoroughly enjoyed mine but my husband was not keen on his but this was purely personal choice. After the starters were cleared away by a lovely young girl who smiled and chatted, we waited an age for our main meals to come out. It was 8.55 pm by then and our booking was for 8.00 pm! My husband chased up the waiter about the meals and they appeared a few minutes later. The quality of the meal was very good apart from the fries. The fries were served in a metal cone and I took a few from the top to put on my plate. Not wanting any more fries I passed the cone to my husband who poured the fries onto his plate, the cone was full of scraps which must have come from the bottom of the fryer, the type of scraps that a chip shop would normally throw out and should never have been served up in a restaurant to paying guests. Everything mentioned above was bad enough but worst was yet to come! We declined dessert and my husband asked for the bill. We were astounded to discover that we had been charged £5 for the bread, £3.95 for the water and £5 each for the fries. We wrongly assumed that when the waiter asked if we wanted fries or mashed potatoes, that this was included in the meal and not a paid extra. We have never been to a restaurant where such a basic commodity is not included. The extra charge for the fries was never pointed out to us at the time of placing our order. When we queried the bill, the waiter pointed out that the bread was on the menu as an extra but as we didn’t have the menus at that point, we were not to know this. He also said the fries were on the menu at an additional cost but again, this was never pointed out to us. We also told him that I had clearly asked for a jug of water so why did he bring a bottle? As for the quality of the fries, if I had been served these in a chip shop I would have cause for complaint, let alone a restaurant of this standing. The bill also included a 10% service charge which we would have been more than happy to pay for good service. However, the waiter never smiled or chatted, the service was slow and mediocre at best. To be fair, the quality of the food was very good apart from the fries and, after we complained about the various extras these were taken off the bill. However, the issues we experienced completely ruined what should have been a lovely night out to celebrate our special occasion. The lack of disabled parking near the front of the hotel is something that really needs to be addressed by the management as trying to negotiate this dimly lit path is an accident waiting to happen. I apologise that this has been a long review but I feel it important that we get our points of view across. This is a lovely setting for a hotel and restaurant of this calibre, yet the whole experience was far from enjoyable to ourselves. We did ask for a link to be sent out so we could leave our review, but this did not materialise. Hence the reason for using trip advisor.

Gobsmacked, Went for afternoon tea today spent £340 for our group, staff freindly and efficient, food at best ok.. sandwiches dry and cakes reasonable ( have had many better afternoon teas) Left feeling angry having had to faff about with their parking system and gauge how long we had spent in there eating ....3 cars £9 to park for our meal...l balbirnie house own this land....... this is PURE GREED

We decided to treat ourselves to some fine dining, and with limited options in the area (in reality no other close-by options for fine dining) went to Balbirnie. We've been many times to the Bistro and really enjoyed it, so decided to push the boat out and go to the Orangery. Service was attentive without being intrusive, the surroundings beautiful, but I was dismayed to receive a menu that was predominantly inflated priced pub grub - burgers, fish and chips etc, not the fine dining options I was anticipating and looking forward to. There was an interesting set menu of traditional/heritage Scottish dishes, and the Partan Bree was delicious, but as we were treating ourselves we opted for a steak for our main. It arrived with enormous chips that were unspectacular in taste and the steak was well overcooked. I ordered mine rare and it arrived more towards well done. It was also very fatty and gristly. I did point out to the head waiter that it was overcooked and received an apology but no offer of replacement. I couldn't eat it all in the end, battling with the fat and gristle on top of being overcooked put me off. The desserts were again the usual suspects on a pub menu (sticky toffee pudding etc), and the ice cream I opted for instead was fairly bland. Paying at reception, I was again asked if everything was okay and I again highlighted the overcooked steak, but nothing was offered in the way of further apology or reduction in the bill. If they'd even offered the water as complimentary I might be less disappointed. At £166 for two, including a compulsory 10% service charge - which I think should be my choice based on my assessment of the service - I expected a LOT better. Next time I decide to treat myself, I'll be going further afield as this is not what I would class as a fine dining experience. It was more of a pub meal prepared by an unskilled chef that costs twice to three times as much because you're in a lovely room.

Totally blown away with the exceptional food we had at the Orangery. The staff couldn’t have been more accommodating and friendly which set the tone for the evening. Seated without delay we had our drinks order taken very quickly and the waiting staff gave us time to peruse the menu which caters for all tastes and features local produce which is of the highest quality. Once we had decided on our choices, our order was once again taken quickly and we didn’t have to wait long till our food was served. The seafood is sensational and the steaks are well seasoned and cooked to perfection. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced the ‘wow’ factor when food is served so it was a genuine surprise when our meals arrived and I had that moment again. I can genuinely find no area for improvement in terms of the food or the service. The chefs are to be commended for their abilities, attention to detail, and for presenting us with the best food we have had in a long time. I genuinely cannot recommend the food here highly enough and it wont be too long before we return to try more of that tantalising menu. 5* experience with 5* food.

Today was supposed to be a treat for my Mothers 81's birthday. Taking her for Afternoon tea, at what should be one of Fifes Crown jewels. Arrival was ok, staff did have to ask us to wait, that was fine as we were early. Then invited to our table. Pointed to the table by staff member. Pulled the chair out and food crumbs on the chair. Was then asked about drinks. We all had tea / coffee / hot chocolate. When it arrived at the table the tea cup was filthy, and hadn't been cleaned. Staff member was asked to exchange. When the food arrived presentation was if anything very amateur. The actual food taste was poor and bland, and if anything not what we would have expected from what should have been out of this world. Brought all of this to staffs attention, and was happy to pay for what I thought it was worth......... However they had the cheek to apply a "discressionary service charge"............ Staff unwilling to understand their poor performance, and the little value in monetary terms of their efforts. Duty manger more interested in stating we never get a review like this; than trying to understand the real issue. Did offer what I thought it was worth. She didn't have the authority to accept or authorise it would seem. Total cost for this abysmal 45 mintues of poor food and attention to detail was £101. In my humble opinion, your money would be better spent at somewhere other than the Balbirnie. Not worth the time effort or money.

As frequent visitors to Balbirnie’s Bistro which is now only available for private hire we instead opted to visit The Orangery for family meal for 5. This is now being marketed as The GRILL (yes, all upper case) in recognition of them having err, a grill. Mea culpa 3 of our party were ten minutes late but the restaurant wasn’t overly busy. Our drinks order was taken fairly briskly despite not having been provided with a drinks menu but my request for tap water was overruled by the waitress who insisted we have bottled water. The drinks arrived without delay and our order taken. Nothing in the entrees attracted any of our party and the main courses were two meet options, two fish option, two vegetarian options and burger, steak and meat for grilling. We all chose from the grill options on the menu. Fortunately we were able to make polite conversation for the 35 minutes until our food arrived. There was no explanation or any other contact with waiting staff during our wait and merely unfortunate that tables near us seemed to have priority. Having said that the food was mostly warm on arrival, the exception being corn on the cob which was tepid. Also it had been cooked on the grill and oiled leaving it 3 of our party struggling to eat it, it was too oily to be handled and no other implement was provided to deal with it. The grilled food was good with the minor over cooking of a steak, a small issue. Side serving of fries came presalted, which may not suit everyone, especially someone with my blood pressure. Two of our party opted for dessert which was unexceptional. We departed after two courses and two hours not thrilled by the food, the ambiance or the service.

We ate last night from the seven course tasting menu. Food overall was very good indeed. In particular the amuse Bouche or salt cod brandade in a pie shape tremendous flavour. Pigeon lovely flavours. Tortellini was outstanding. Sorbet was very good indeed. Parfait was good but the little puff candy was hard. Blue cheese to complete was very good.. Flight of wines complemented the food. Waiting staff were outstanding. Bar service was very good too. Such a lovely building it's not surprising that the hotel constantly receives awards.

We came for the 7-course tasting menu. Upon arrival at hotel reception we were greeted warmly and professionally and taken through to the Orangery restaurant. We were seated and the first of the accompanying wines was served. Thd first of the 7 courses was quite prompt in arriving, but then the wait between each course dragged on a bit longer each time. At the end, we clocked up 2.5 hours sitting at the table. It was 6 courses, but the 6 courses are all very small. I commented on the wait when paying and the waiter told me the chefs had not heard some of the waiters calling for the next course. Probably easily fixable. I believe Specsavers now do hearing aids? Anyway, the food itself was gorgeous. My least favourite was the Fife beef, which was a little dry, but I'm quibbling. Wines in the accompanying flight were good and well matched. A special note about service: it's difficult to hit the right balance between friendly and professional, and Balbirnie needs to err on the side of professional, as it's that kind of place. This is especially difficult with young staff, who often lack the confidence to smile and communicate clearly. Balbirnie has done well here, with chatty friendly young staff making guests feel welcome. It maybe drifted off towards too informal at times but overall, good.

Staff unhelpful,no lifts, disabled parking only 2places, electric 4 spaces, ramp to the hotel not sufficient, won't come back to this place for wedding or afternoon tea

We hadn’t been to Balbirnie House for a while but heard great things about the 7 course tasting menu. I’d also been given a voucher so my birthday in March seemed the perfect time to use it - we weren’t disappointed. So much had changed from our previous visit - it was excellent, from the cocktails (and champagne at the table - cheers!) to the fantastic meal. We thought the food was really lovely, from the tiny first morsel to the cheese which I couldn’t finish - it was a delight throughout. Plenty of staff which was good to see, when we were leaving we complimented two of the waiters on the food and one said “the chef loves making it” the other “and we love serving it”. So nice to see happy staff and a busy restaurant, thanks to all.

Booked the 7 course tasting menu which was very enjoyable. Disappointing last course of small mince pie and slice of Brie which was a bit random and a poor way to finish. The others courses were great, nice atmosphere, staff were friendly and helpful and the table was ours for the night and it was great to not be rushed at all.

Went for the Seven at Balbirnie and oh wow, the food was incredible and so was the service. We came to celebrate with family for my engagement and made it a lovely memory, thank you!

My partner and I went for the new 7 course tasting menu this evening (9th October 2021). To start of with the positives, the food was absolutely sublime. The highlight for us both was the beef and pigeon courses, which were two of the best plates of food we have ever eaten. However, the standard of the service completely let the food down. We were consistently forgotten about, my partner's drink order was forgotten twice, there was a 45 minute wait between the 2nd and 3rd course, and we had to repeatedly ask for the drinks menu. Overall our evening was good but would expect much better from a highly rated venue.

After 35 years as a chef and having eaten in some incredable hotels and resturants all over scotland i can honestly say the 7 course tasting menu is the best meal i have ever had. the menu shows the best of scottish produce from Loch fyne salmon to pidgeon shot on the balmoral estate scottish hake served with roast cauliflower incredable angus beef cheeks that melted in the mouth then what can only be described as heaven in a dish rhubarb gin sorbet totally incredable followd by hazelnut and chocolate with a cherry puree again totally out of this world finished with a strathearn cheese damsom gel and unbelievable soused grapes that didnt taste of grape lol this meal was truely world class and happily we where told a new 7 course menu is due on the 21st october add in the staff where attentive but not over bearing it was without doubt the best evening you could wish for

After downloading the App we ordered drinks...after 10 minutes they arrived. There was no lemon/lime in the G & T and no way to add it on the App. We have always loved The Orangery and in the past, the food has been excellent. My Thai vegetable curry was tasteless with soggy vegetables, my husband's burger was small and equally tasteless and we paid £5 for 4 slices of white bread and a thimble of balsamic and oil!!! What happened to the lovely Balbernie homemade basket of rolls? Any condiments had to be ordered on the App and were an extra charge (even McDonald's gives free mustard, dressing and ketchup). It was such a shame as we had been looking forward to it for weeks. It's important to say that the staff were universally charming and very helpful and the hotel looked a lovely as ever. The food was poor quality and over-priced.

All food received at Dinner and breakfast was five star excellence. The restaurant is very elegant and perfect. The staff are a level above really made you feel,safe,comfortable and most welcome. Truly a great dining experience overall and would highly recommend

Our Meal in the Orangery was as good as you can get.The food was delicious and well presented. Though service was obviously a lot different than precovid it was very well done and we felt relaxed. As other diners left it was good to see the cleaning precautions taken before others arrived. The staff were pleasant and efficient. We did not enjoy the breakfast quite as much but still it was acceptable and ,once again,the staff were exemplary .

We had booked a table for two just before the Covid 19 virus situation really kicked in and were a bit apprehensive wondering if it would be open and what would be the situation re table layout. We should not have worried as it was pretty full however the tables were generously spaced out over three metres apart and the only person we came in contact with was out waitress who was courteous and respectful of the new guidance.The meal a was excellent and started in the Library area where we enjoyed a good value glass of fizz served with a couple of tasty canapés.We were shown to a very nice table and enjoyed a super meal followed by coffee and sweet bites. The wine list was good and we could have chosen a few to suit our dishes. This is where our daughter got married ( and we know how good they are at weddings) and where we have often eaten over the years but more recently had dined in the Bistro. We won’t hesitate to dine in the Orangery again soon.Unfortunately, the next day, the PM announced a total shut down of all restaurants so we consider ourselves very luck to have got in and had a great dinner before lockdown became the norm !!

Had such a great meal. The Orangery is a lovely setting, the food was delicious, the drinks were good but most importantly the service was 5 star & worth every penny. I would definitely recommend the Balbirnie for a meal

We stayed at the hotel on fri 7th Feb it was a xmas present from family so very important that we enjoyed ourselves When we booked in there was a wedding taking place and a lot of people in every public area we went into and we felt we were intruding on their big day. There was a mistake made with the dinner booking and unfortunately we were unable to eat in the orangery and were moved to the bistro I would like to say that with the quick thinking and total professionalism of your assistant manager David we had a fantastic stay in your hotel. That young man with his friendly and professional manner is an absolute credit to your establishment Our room, meal service and infact total experience was fabulous and we will be definitely visiting again

I inadvertently posted this review on Balbirnie hotel page. Should have been here. Food was delightful and the service excellent. Will definitely be back.

We have been going to Balbirnie to celebrate family occasions for many years, however our latest visit earlier this month didn’t live up to expectations. The food was very good, but canapés should be served in the lounge with pre-dinner drinks, not at the table immediately before the first course. Why has this changed, or was it an oversight? There seemed to be too few staff in the Orangery and those that were there would have benefitted from some training. Our drinks order was taken and immediately forgotten about. The other issue was that a wedding reception was also taking place in the hotel and the noise from this event could be heard in the restaurant. Rowdy wedding guests seemed to be all over the hotel. I think you need to find a way of keeping wedding guests in one area of the hotel so they do not spoil the evening for others. I wouldn’t say that I will never return to Balbirnie, however I will certainly look at other options when planning our next family celebration dinner.

A great place to have on our backdoor and we always like to bring visitors here for the experience. However I hope they don't/aren't resting on their laurels! Some poor customer service experiences in recent times; booked through their website, booking confirmed then last minute cancellation. No good will gesture offered by way of an apology for the considerable inconvenience. No longer make Singapore Slings and rather than take a two minute drive to the local liquor store to replenish ingredients they said they were out of, they simply couldn't make slings for our group. Very slow bar service. Food is nice but not remarkable. These are the negatives but there are many positives. Too many negative experiences though will start to make regular customers like us rethink our options.

The room setting and service are second to none with a fabulous menu which is changed on a frequent basis.

We are lucky to have such a beautiful place near home and the whole experience is amazing. Romantic for a special meal. Great for a stay and wedding with great pictures in garden and outside. Ballroom dancing and Christmas parties as well as hognaway for new year. Just special.

The Orangery is a brilliant restaurant if you are looking to treat the love of your live Not too stuffy and not to expensive but first class meals and exceptional customer serviceThe staff can’t do enough for you and when it cold and miserable they invite you to have a seat in front of the roaring fire

On a jaunt north of the border we looked for a quality place for a good meal. The room was lovely and staff attentive but things weren’t as good as they should have been! Firstly the wine was warm, we asked for it to be changed and it came back the same temperature. 2 starters stated sourdough and brioche but both came with a big standard roll. Rib eye steaks were however excellent and cooked to our expectations. creme brûlée was average as was the cheeseboard. So everything was ok but just not great. Price was not bad to be fair and I would recommend.

Lovely food. My wife enjoyed her mussels in chilli and coconut. My ribeye was cooked perfectly. We shared a dessert and cocktail which were very nice. Nice atmosphere in the restaurant. Would highly recommend.

Been a few times in the past, always found food and service to be good. Once again we weren't disappointed. Found it to be good value.

Lovely atmosphere and service was excellent. Staff were excellent. Food was well presented and plenty choice. Will definitely be back.

Balbirnie is absolutely gorgeous. The staff are very professional and extremely helpful. The decor and surrounding gardens are beautiful. I have visited many times before with my husband. We were a table of eight and service was very good. The menu is wide ranging and offers a good choice. I was disappointed by the pate, it looked like a slice straight from a supermarket, the toasted brioche was not a good accompaniment, fortunately there was a super fresh sour dough bread on the table. I then chose the Piri Piri Chicken, which in itself was moist and tasty. However the presentation was poor. A small basket of chips, a ramekin of coleslaw and a small amount of relish, all on a white plate. It just looked so plain. The chicken was tasty and I applaud the sensible portion sizes. A little salad on the plate would have done wonders for plate appeal. My friends had steaks, and said they were wonderful. Served with chips, mushroom and tomato. Not quite the lovely dining experience I was expecting. The g&t; was excellent.

Quite disappointing. Offer was not as expected. Food was not as described. Partner found a foreign object in her food which was very disgusting. Service was slow.

Had an amazing dinner here, staff where polite and helpful, when our food was presented it did not disappoint,

Excellent and reasonably priced dinner served by friendly efficient staff. Spoiled only by the loud and inappropriate music which took a lot of effort to get turned down. We came down for breakfast about 30minutes before service ended and the food available was desiccated and over-cooked. The potato bread was so hard I could not cut it with my knife! For a place of this standard the bacon should be back bacon and not greasy, streaky strips and please get decent sausages.

Very good choice for breakfast. Buffet was a good temperature, and staff were very attentive (because we were part of wedding party?).

Me and my Husband, Charles, eat here almost twice per week as we are old and can’t stand cooking much these days! Superb staff, superb food, superb ambiance. Can’t rate it highly enough!

We have liked and enjoyed Balbirnie since it opened. We don’t go here as much as as we should and the hotel has focused mostly on the Wedding market. It doesn’t seem to promote itself as a local eatery which is fine as they have got a niche market. We have tended of late to eat in the Bistro which is good but can be noisy if busy. We opted this time for the Orangery for a quieter atmosphere. It is a lovely restaurant in a contemporary style. We were a bit surprised the menu was basically the Bistro menu and not a fine dining menu as they had in the past. It seemed odd eating a burger in such surroundings! However, the quality of the food was excellent as were the waiting staff who were all attentive. It was also good value for money. It should be used more by us locals.

We had our breakfast in The orangery. Beautifully set out dining room. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. The breakfast buffet was fabulous

My wife and I booked to have a few drinks and some fine dinning at this lovely hotel it’s local and the staff are alway warm and welcoming.

The Orangery Restaurant is a lovely old world restaurant, fabulous food but its the service that stands out - wonderful attentive staff

Tasty choice of sandwiches, scones and cakes. Surprised that all could be replenished as you like. Service was very attentive, friendly and professional. Would recommend.

Usually we eat in the downstairs bistro - however we have eaten in the orangery. A bit more of a classier experience. And beautiful in the sunshine

Food and service were very good served in a beautiful old country house setting. Ideal for a special occasion.

We (4h had a lovely dinner which was of the highest standard with terrific service by all members of staff. The Steak Pie will be on re-order on our next visit,the quality of the beef was simply a joy.

Came here in December 2015 with my now husband and we had a very memorable anniversary dinner celebrating 5 years together. The evening was made very special by the staff who took our photos on the stairs on arrival, presented us with complementary cocktails in the library and were generally very welcoming.

Usually very good food, but not as impressed on this visit. We both had the Mushroom crumble starter, struggled to finish it. Salmon was ok , but not great. Even steak was not as good as I have had previously. Pudding similarly unimpressive. So not up to the standards of previous meals here.

I was here last night for my 30th Birthday meal which to my surprise ended up with not only myself and partner but his whole family there to surprise me!! It was a very special night and we were treated incredibly well and I even had a wee card saying happy birthday! I cannot rate this hotel high enough as everytime I have been it has been fantastic. The food was amazing!! The service was amazing!! What more can you ask for? Thank you so much for making my night extra special!! Xx

I recently had a fantastic dinner at The Orangery, when returning with my wife to Balbirnie House for an overnight stay. As in our many previous visits the menu and wine choice are refreshed, interesting and very extensive. The meal itself was excellent quality, and...

My husband and myself enjoyed a DBB stay at Balbirnie Hotel in October. We had dinner in the Orangery restaurant. Firstly, our room, no. 204 .... absolutely beautiful. Stunningly decorated, huge, and extremely comfortable. I had the best nights sleep for some time in that...

We came here for an evening meal with family, it truly is a beautiful place, the food was fantastic and the service was also very good. Would definitely return.

As a family we are scattered all over the world. We were in Scotland for our sons wedding. Our three children decided it would be nice to have a dinner together as a family.

Been to this restaurant at Balbirnie House now a couple of times, food has been excellent on both occasions. First visit service was excellent, but unfortunately not so good on second visit, though this could have been due to a large party at time of visit. Great venue for those special moments or just a relaxing meal.

I can thoroughly recommend the chefs table! We went there for my Dads birthday treat and everyone really enjoyed the whole experience. The chefs Terence and Lucy were friendly and chatted with us and it was really interesting to watch them at work. Watching the frantic work to get meals out on time was facinating- like your very own "Masterchef"! The food was excellent and kids meals well very well received by my two as well -always makes any meal more relaxing if the kids are happy! The waitress Laura was friendly and chatted about the work of the kitchen, nothing was too much trouble and it was so nice to fell welcomed and treated so well. We will be back and Dad loved the meal and the whole experience -don't tell everyone or it will get too busy!!

We were here for our wedding anniversary, the surroundings are very nice and the staff were attentive throughout. My only slight criticism would be that I feel the menu could be broadened. That would not stop us going back again.

Food was as expected very nice.

We have visited Balbirnie several times over the past few months. We have booked the garden room in the past for larger group (14), recently for small groups of 6 people (plus grandson). No charge & beautiful room. Service was fantastic- from the bookings, to paying the bills.! The staff were attentive, friendly; the food lovely; surroundings beautiful; value for money; excellent. Its always our first choice whether its for a cocktail , a bistro visit or the Orangery.

Great food however the staff are not experienced enough to run this type of operation.Two aperitifs were forgotten and the staff had to be reminded twice and one of the waitresses giggled at our request for the missing drinks.Also the wine was opened out of our sight and the cork was pulled through the seal on the bottle!Nothing a bit of training couldn't rectify but it needs to be done!

Booked a family meal for 4 in the Orangery ,excellent service from the moment We walked through the entrance doors.The food was was delicious and presented beautifully The staff were attentive and professional,our waitress had our coffee/tea waitingFor us in the lounge ....a truly relaxing experience!

Enjoyed a meal at Balbirnie for my wife's birthday. It has changed but still really enjoyed it. Also had excellent service. I would recommend going here it's such a nice atmosphere.

I booked dinner at the Orangery as our previous experiences have always been excellent and special. I booked on this occasion to treat my sister who is over from Australia on holiday and I wanted to do something special for her.On arrival I sensed something wasn't quite right. There were no staff around to take our drinks order, I had to approach the barman who was busy chatting, to request our drinks. When ready to go through to the restaurant I had to request someone to help carry our bottle of champagne. We were then led to a table, which was not the one I booked but after insisting we got the requested table. When the meal arrived the "fondant potatoes" were raw! The service was slow, but after complaining we did get our meal free and only had to pay for the champagne. I would rather have had a good experience. Sorry Balbirnie the change is not for the better. Don't think we will be back.

Poor quality food, slow service, disorganised. This used to be the best Hotel and Dining experience in Fife. Sadly they've changed it to what can best be described as an upmarket Bistro and its now in the same league as any other local fast food restaurant. Sorry Balbirnie Hotel you've `lost the plot' we will not be back to the Orangery.

My husband and I enjoyed our 30th wedding anniversary meal at the organery restaurant at balbirnie. The menu was varied and great value for money. The food was excellent and more refined than the bistro. The staff were very attentive but not over bearing. I ordered a starter which the waitress returned from the kitchen to say it was no longer available. I am very fussy and there was no other starter to my liking. The waitress was apologetic and made a lovely gesture of not charging for my wine. We also received a glass of prosecco free to celebrate our anniversary. If you are looking for excellent refined food, reasonably priced and attentive staff then try the Orangery. We enjoyed it and will definitely return.

Perfect dinning experience. Very friendly staff and a lovely room with great ambience. Will use again without hesitation.

Our first time at the Orangery restaurant and it wont be our last.The food and presentation was outstanding.The service could not have been any better and very helpful and friendly.We live a fair distance away in East Lothian but we would certainly be willing to travel and recommend to our friends

On first arrival we were very unsure about the new dining format, if not a little disappointed. There was always something special about a dining experience at Balbirnie House and this change felt like something had been taken away. The pre-dinner drinks option is still available, but it's your preference.All worries were soon forgotten, as the dining experience in the restaurant was first class. Nothing has been lost in service, the food quality is as good as its ever been, with an expanded menu selection and very reasonable prices. The Orangery was busier than we've ever seen.Highly Recommend

Booked a table for two here to celebrate a special birthday. As usual we were greeted at reception by a friendly face, who took us through to our table by the window. Dining room is spacious and tables are not on top of each other. We were given water and presented with the menus and wine menu. Fabulous choice on menu and of wines. Staff every alert to all our needs. Food presentation and taste outstanding. Wine complimented food perfectly. Another great dining experience. We will be back

We booked some time in advance for Sunday lunch in The Orangery but they had omitted to tell us that the menu had changed to a less formal style. There was a wedding on at the hotel at the same time as we were having lunch and to be honest they would be better not taking bookings on days like this because they simply cannot cope with it all. Our food was acceptable but we had a long wait for our starters and an even longer wait for our mains. Our empty starter plates were in front of us for 30 mins before it was noticed and staff were conspicuous by their absence during that time, presumably assisting at the wedding. It may be wedding venue of the year but it certainly won't be my choice again for a lunch venue.

Excellent throughout. Food, staff, atmosphere. Very relaxing no rush but not too long. Staff very knowledgeable on food as my wife was pregnant but was able to have the goats cheese for starter and cheese board for desert. Reasonably priced as well for what you get. Would highly recommend.

Organised a birthday meal for my Mum along with several family and friends. A relaxing drink in the Lounge started the evening off in a relaxing environment. Although there were a lot of staff around, it took a while for drinks orders to be taken at the table. After a short while we were led through in to the Orangery and seated. Great new Bistro Deluxe menu with a wide selection of some traditional favourites such as local fish, steak, ale & haggis pie along with mussels, sea bass. A good selection which should keep even the most difficult of palates happy. Some of the diners commented that some of the portions were a bit on the small side - with the sea bass in particular perhaps justifying either a larger fillet, or 2 smaller ones rather than the one served. The setting and environment was great. However I got the impression that the waiting staff were still getting used to the new menu as I think previously it had been a set menu which would have been easier for them to deal with. There were no real "problems", just a few minor issues - such as the pre-appetiser bread being delivered after starters had been finished (I think one of the staff noticed the side plates hadn't been used and rushed off to get the bread); attention to where people were with water and wine was also a bit hit and miss and we had to ask for a bottle of wine on the table to be opened at one stage.However those are minor issues which I am sure will work their way out as the staff get used to the new menu. The quality of the food was excellent and the overall ambience and setting of the hotel, particularly on a sunny evening such as we had really add to the sense of occasion.It is no surprise that Balbirnie have recently been given an award for the new Orangery menu - with some minor tightening up of the service it will be faultless.

We had very well prepared and presented meal, served by excellent staff in lovely restaurant. I would not hesitate to recommend Balbirnie House to anyone looking for a very good meal at surprisingly reasonable price. The staff are all brilliant. Never hanging over you, but always there when they see your drinks/water are getting low, plates need removed, welcoming,friendly, attentive, knowledgeable. We usually go to the Bistro, but this time went to The Orangery. Standards were even better than we remembered. We will definitely be back soon.

We had a fantastic 4 course meal at The Orangery, Balbirnie House Hotel, Markinch. The food was excellent and the presentation first class.Big thank you to the wonderful staff too who were so attentive and courteous. They made our evening such a wonderful experience. Top class Balbirnie House.

We had an excellent meal in the orangery. The food was superb and all such great value for money! Couldn't fault it.

my husband and i got a voucher for a 4 course dinner what an amazing time we had from the moment we arrived we felt welcome wasnt sure if we would get the same service as we had voucher for free meal but throughout the evening we were treated in a warm and friendly manner the staff were excellent very attentive but not there constant they just seem to arrive at the right time we werent rushed through our meal just left you to enjoy each course after our meal we were taken back to the library to relax it was just the most amazing experence we felt like royalty all the staff were so lovely we had never had food like that amazing best meal ever.

My wife and I treated ourselves to a much needed evening out and couldn't have chosen a better venue. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left we felt special. The staff were very polite and attentive without being pushy. We were shown into the library for drinks and canapés where the evenings menu was given to us along with the wine list. Once ordered we were shown to our table in the Orangery when the meal was ready. Our four course meal was excellent and was served over a good period of time leaving sufficient gaps between courses. Once finished we were again shown back to the library to enjoy coffee and tablet. At the end of the evening the receptionist called a taxi for us.I would highly recommend Balbirnie House and will certainly return.

The staff were welcoming from the moment we arrived, friendly, attentive and professional. There was a lovely atmosphere and the pace of the evening was perfect, at no time did we feel rushed by the staff. The food was exceptional from the canapés to the coffee and tablet. There was a varied menu with sufficient choice on each course. The courses were served in a relaxed pace and every dish was beautifully presented. The portion sizes were perfect for a four course dinner and the food tasted amazing. It was certainly a most enjoyable evening, one which we will definitely repeat in the near future. We would definitely recommend to family and friends.

Lovely relaxing Sunday lunch - a varied menu, wonderful service, and the staff were very attentive about non-dairy requirements.Looking forward to our next visit!

I was with a group of around 12 people, we had pre ordered weeks earlier.The food was extremely slow in coming out. Some people had finished their starters and some of us still hadn't received ours. Eventually two of my colleagues took mushroom soup (which they hadn't ordered) just to keep things moving. After a number off times talking to the waiting staff and around half an hour's wait - I was told that my choice was no longer available. I was offered an alternative but declined as everyone else was finished. The main course was turkey parcel and trimmings. We waited on the veg but it seemed the 'trimmimgs' were the veg. Not much turkey mainly sausage meat and very little veg. Desert was OK. No apologies from any of the staff for the wait and they were not particularly pleasant.I must say that i have visited before for dinner and the food and service were both good. This was a few years ago - it is a shame that it has gone downhill!

The service was excellent did not rush you and the atmosphere was calming we had a lovely time and would certainly go back

Lovely food lovely staff, but they appear bullied. I have dined here many times. We prefer lunch now having experienced a "romantic " dinner with extremely noisy wedding guests making the night a disaster.

My husband and I enjoyed a delicious dinner for two in the Orangery .Staff were efficient and the food was excellent -felt like we were in a Masterchef final .Coffee in the lounge afterwards was a little noisy as we were beside the kitchen doors but they kindly closed the door when asked to do so .

Have been here a few times and as always the food was excellent. A nice selection of starters, main courses and sweets with a intermediate course as well as canapés before the meal and coffee or tea and tablet after the meal. Every one enjoyed their dinner with excellent service through out the evening. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Ate in both the Orangery and also took a group of friends to the Chef's Table. This is a 'room' within the kitchen that is open to the kitchen. The food is really great, it always has been, but now has reached new highs. Their skills and use of local food are fabulous, eating here is a great experience and one that I can thoroughly recommend. The service is also excellent.

Went out for my birthday meal this evening with hubby and all I can say is - WOW! I've written a review for this restaurant before, but every time it surpasses itself from happy, genuine, helpful staff to the most amazing food and the atmosphere and beautiful surroundings in between. There is absolutely nowhere else we would consider for special occasions now as my hubby works away alot, to be treated on such a special way for a might is priceless - thank you again Balbirnie House Hotel x

Had not been to Balbirnie for a couple of years as standards fell & we had a couple of bad experiences. Well....things have definitely changed for the better & we had a fabulous meal in the Orangery. Staff were lovely from the moment we arrived at reception & that was the case all evening. The food was amazing & my steak was the best i have had in a long time. Lots of nice little touches made it a very special evening. The only negative comment was not the fault of the hotel....although website states that mobile phones are not permitted in the restaurant, exceot to take photographs....bad mannered guests at quite a few tables with phones out all through dinner.....so rude, especially for their dining companions & the effect it has on the ambience of the restaurant for other diners.

My husband and I enjoyed a four course meal in the Orangery Restaurant. We were warmly welcomed on our arrival. The staff were very friendly and attended to all our needs efficiently. The Orangery Restaurant has a lovely warm and inviting ambiance and the dining arrangements were set out nicely. The food was served in a timely manner and arrived freshly cooked on hot plates. There was nice soft lighting and candles lit around the room. The food tasted amazing and the portion sizes were just right. All in all it was a very enjoyable dining experience, one which I hope to repeat in the not so distant future. Would definitely recommend it to family and friends.

The dinner was excellent and beautifully presented. The Orangery has a lovely atmosphere and the service was excellent.

We had a lovely meal at Balbirnie Orangery Restaurant. The staff were excellent .As for our food it was excellent thoroughly enjoyed it, nice surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere. Had a great night.

Visited for a meal after being given a voucher as a gift. The whole evening was lovely from start to finish and the meal was delicious. You are made to feel very special and we hope to return again soon.

Our first visit to Balbirnie, and far from the last. The food was amazing, the staff friendly and attentive, and the interior of the Orangery Restaurant was beautifully designed. Highly recommended for any special occasion, although we'd go every week if we could....

Had dinner here recently during our stay in the Hotel.Service always very slick here.Food just so lovely.Decor very nice and just a very comfortable atmosphere always.

Recently had a meal in the orangery @ Balbirnie, had an excellent meal with great service from the wait staff. Well worth the visit and will be back again soon.

We are fortunate to live near the Balbirnie Hotel which has this excellent restaurant and have taken advantage of several Itison deals which allow a wonderful dining experience for two (or more) in the evening.You can leave your coats and are led to a high ceilinged library or lounge where you can order drinks, decide on your choices from that evening's menu and are presented with canapés. When they are ready you move to the stylish Orangery Restaurant. We have never been disappointed with the four courses chosen and the service is as you expect from a top hotel. When finished you return to the lounge for coffee and tablet.It is a relaxed, civilised dining experience that we highly recommend.

From the staff greeting, to the food and service Balbirnie cannot be faulted.The hotel is fairly local to us and we visit the Orangery and the Bistro regularly.Have never been disappointed as their many accolades testify to.

We have been customers of Balbirnie Hotel for many years and have celebrated the special events in our lives there. We have never been disappointed in the service or the food - we have even been the only customers in the Orangery on a couple of occasions but the service has not been comprised nor has the food. The welcome at reception is always warm and courteous, the service in the lounge is helpful and gracious. The staff take time to describe the menu carefully and confirm that the dishes will be to your taste and will suggest an alternative if something is not to your taste. Coffee with tablet in the lounge is relaxing and not rushed.

We came here for a Valentine's meal. It was 5 star from start to finish! The staff were fantastic and the food was absolutely delicious. Every course was perfect! Absolutely loved our visit. We'll definitely be back very soon.

Balbirnie House Hotel is so beautiful and we loved relaxing before dinner in the lounge next to the fireplace with our drinks and canapes. The service was fantastic and so was the food - we loved it all. After dinner coffee in the lounge was the perfect way to end a perfect evening.