The Real Food Cafe in Stirling

Every now and again you find a random gem. Whilst travelling back from Scotland to Yorkshire we stumbled upon this cafe on the long winding road at the side of Loch Ness. Needing a quick food stop we bought a fish with mussy peas to share. The food was beautiful! Unfortunately it's a bit far to travel for regular purchase but if we ever are back in the area I would definitely call again. Thank you for amazing food for 2 weary yorkshire travellers!

Some places are scruffy and sticky. This is the opposite. Clearly run by people who care with skill and attention to detail. Staff all smart in uniforms. Thoughtful touches abound.

Called in for a fish and mushy peas tasted great would call again if I was in the area.

Been coming for over 15 years and as always the food was great and the staff were friendly and very helpful. Wouldn't consider anywhere else for our lunch stops!

Hungry after a walk, perfect place to refill. Macaroni, their new addition was very homemade, very cheesy. Gluten-free fish supper was perfect, crispy, non greasy batter, peas, and even a warm crispy roll, perfect with butter. The place was busy but friendly. We felt welcomed by Jasmine, and she couldn't do enough for us. We will surely be back.

Very average food, coffee was lame. Convenient stopping point and would definitely visit again.

Delicious fish and chips, cozy nice place 😋

Food was nice but not the best fish and chips we have had

Such a friendly team of staff! I was hangry when we arrived at the cafe so it was a relief that we were quickly seated! I can only eat small portions and it was refreshing to see that they offered three portion sizes of their fish and chips. The meal was delicious, some of the nicest fish I've eaten. I was also impressed at their commitment to sustainability. Highly recommend!

Ate their while doing the West Highland Way. Good food and nice atmosphere. Would like to give feedback on two things: 1) The Chipotle Mayo is advertised as vegan on the menu, even though it is not. Dangerous for allergy sufferers. (I am glad that they have pointed out in their response to this comment that their new mayo is vegan. The old one definitely wasn't since my partner had an allergic reaction from the eggs) 2) A bit disappointing that they use single-use plates. It's 2022 and there are almost no trees left on the West Highland Way. Doing dishes is not that hard. Otherwise, lovely place :)

The food and service was amazing. Highly recommend the Melted Brie platter 👌

Hi. I'm a person who was helped by an employee named James a few months ago due to a tire puncture. James.. I really miss you. I'll send you a gift soon.

Good services and, nice place to stop on your way to Fort William. Good food. Warm inside.

Best fish and chips ever! Cosy atmosphere, dogs allowed and attentive service. Can't praise highly enough.

Delicious fish and chips, friendly staff and nice atmosphere!

It's a really great place. Stop as it was the o oy place open and boy was it amazing. Well down.

Good food. Good staff. Good prices

One of the best and nicest chippies/cafes I’ve been too. Nice decor, good food, friendly staff, clean, multi award winning, sustainably sourced, memberships of many relevant food organisations and they do charity work.

Pet friendly and clean place to be for fresh fish and chips and great customer service and amazing staff and very clean 🐶🤗🌟

Delicious food with the best prices.

Very good fish and chips! Great place for a stop off.

Lovely cafe, great food, coffee was brilliant and staff were great too. Went out of my way on my way home to stop here for breakfast. Thanks

I absolutely love this place .The food is delicious and it's dog friendly so perfect

We went here for breakfast and had a lovely breakfast as a family. The fireplace was wonderful and the toilets were extremely clean. The staff were excellent and we felt very welcomed. I would definitely recommend this place as a great stopping point to get something to eat

The deep fried Brussels are a culinary sensation. Also best chippy tea I've ever had! The mint in the mushy peas was insane 🤯

I have been going here for years - always looking forward to fantastic fish and chips after a hard slog up the mountains. Really friendly staff and dog friendly too.

Highly recommend stopping in. Cozy, inviting atmosphere with amazing fireplace. Staff was incredibly friendly & helpful and food was delicious.

What a great surprise! Lovely food in a really nice cafe. Plenty of parking, friendly staff and great views of the mountains. Will be back if passing again!

Had lovely slice of carrot cake, staff very friendly and helpful

Stopped in for breakfast on the way to Glasgow and again for tea on our way home. Staff were really nice, food was great and reasonably priced. Nice roaring fire too which is nice in these cold wet days. Baby changing area kept warm and clean. Making this our new pit stop in Tyndrum.

Delicious delicious delicious. We had filled rolls and chips, and my favourite moment was when my pal turned to us and went "the Chipologist deserves a raise"

Really friendly service! Perfect stop along the way to Skye and Glencoe as it’s right on route. Food was better than you’d expect. Tasty fish soup, breads, and fish & chips. Also tried the curry gravy for chips (yum!!) and curried chick peas. Soup of the day was also great. Clean. Nice basic washrooms. Everything you could want. Fireplace during the cold weather days. Highly recommend. Went on the way up to Glencoe and also on the way back to Edinburgh/glasgow.

Perfect place Julia was so helpful when we arrived Diego was a lovely guy very kind and sweet And Zander was so friendly helpful and professional Thank you all The food here is amazing We really enjoyed ourselves and had a nice hour here Coffee was tiptop too

Fantastic that they have certified gluten free options! Staff seems to be very clued up on coeliac also. We dropped in for a quick snack after seeing gluten free on the sign outside. We were a bit surprised to see how minimal the gluten free menu was after seeing a much bigger one in other reviews! I tried to order a roll but this was apparently not available during lunchtime (I didn't see this mentioned on the menu!). That then cut the already fairly small gluten free menu almost in half. Ended up just getting chips which were lovely! Just slightly disappointed at how much the gluten free menu and options seem to have shrunk in the last 7 months it seems.

During a scenic drive with my wife through the stunning Scottish landscapes, we stumbled upon The Real Food Cafe, a hidden treasure that made our journey even more memorable. Drawn in by its inviting charm, we decided to try their fish and chips—and what a delight it was! The fish was flawlessly cooked: golden and crisp on the outside, with tender, flaky perfection inside. The chips were equally outstanding—hot, fresh, and beautifully seasoned. Every bite reflected the care and quality of freshly prepared ingredients. The cafe’s warm, welcoming atmosphere added to the experience, making it the perfect spot to pause and savor the moment. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this gem for a truly satisfying meal!

Great gluten free fish and chips!

I visited a few months ago, it was awesome! I visited during my trip and I still miss it! The staff named James was so friendly. Does he still work there?

This is my 'go to' place whenever I am travelling to and from the Isle of Mull and have been coming here since Sarah and her team opened 20 years ago. It has been a real privilege to watch The Real Food Cafe develop and grow into such a successful business and to enjoy the tasty food they produce and serve. My favourite guilty pleasure is the snack size fish and chips with mushy peas, curry sauce and a cup of tea. Over the years I have also enjoyed breakfasts, cake and coffee and at my most recent visit a bowl of delicious fish chowder with mara seaweed soda bread scones. The Real Food Cafe is so much more than what the name suggests and I wish Sarah and her hard working team every continuing success for the future.

They served to undefeated U18s, the food was amazing

Lovely dog friendly cafe that serves a wide range of food, from cake to fish and chips, hot sandwiches, burger and much more. Open from early till 8pm. Food is delicious and staff friendly. If you are passing through or staying in Tyndrum then definitely worth a visit.

The waitress at the Real Food Cafe completely spoiled our whole trip just by visiting this cafe. She was incredibly rude and provided terrible customer service. I hope they can improve because this experience was really disappointing

Great fish and chips and nice and clean shop even though the floor could do with a replacement. The staff were attentive and the food was made really quick. Well done to the person who does the social media post as they have created a great hype about this place but all true.

This place saved me. After walking a ridiculously long time in the rain, completely soaked through, we found refuge here. After my friend decided to continue walking, while I was making my decision - staff saw me sitting there and offered to heat up my burger and was overall very caring and attentive. Felt bad I couldn’t eat it afterwards either because I felt nauseous. Onion rings were huge which is always a plus in my books. The cafe was also certified for many food related things and seemed to be very coeliac friendly and allergy friendly.

I went to the real Food cafe with my friend and have coffee. The coffee taste and price is amazing but if I’ll say something about staff it’s up to the mark. I felt that they are all family member. I’ll ask one of the staff member that are you guys running a family business and she felt very happy that someone taking about them like that way. And my final words are the cafe and environment and staff all the things are amazing. 🤩 keep it up guys. God bless you. Your well wisher Ali.

My family and I have been coming here for over twelve years, stopping off on our way to our favourite holiday spot. The Real Food Cafe always delivers the goods. The food and atmosphere is invariably outstanding. From the succulent fresh fish and perfectly golden chips to the hearty breakfast, each time we look forward to, and are never disappointed by, our meals together in this cosy corner of Tyndrum . Our most recent visit was made extra comfortable and hospitable thanks to our smiley server, Jasmine. She made us feel very welcome from the get go, swiftly finding us a great table right next to the fire. She even gave our dog an extra sausage on the house! Thank you, Jasmine, and The Real Food Cafe for ensuring our annual visit was as warm and welcoming as it was tasty.

Loved the food and the service must have a special mention. I can't believe how friendly the staff are and would recommend this eatery to everyone

Great breakfast Great staff - highly recommend

Stopper for fish and chips They were spot on, and would stop there again

Don’t miss this! Unique cafe with very kind staff. Had a lovely breakfast. Great vegetarian option available

I had a fantastic breakfast at The Real Food Cafe. The atmosphere was cozy, and the staff were warm and welcoming. I tried the Bacon Rolls which was fresh and flavorful—truly a perfect start to my day. They also serve great coffee, which was a nice touch. The menu has a little something for everyone, and the quality really stands out. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great breakfast spot!

Great food, lovely place and excellent friendly staff. Always visit when up that way. 👍🏻👍🏻

Great fish and chip for dinner, and wonderful scone for breakfast. Straightforward place with good food.

Large Fish & Chips was massive and the fish big flakey pieces. Just the job.

Excellent fish and chips and great desserts. Lots of people

Dear friends, Daniel and Malcolm very much enjoyed excellent fish and chips in the comfortable atmosphere of the Real Food cafè and making sure to finish it all off. Perfect:-)

Had a venison lorne sausage and fried eggs breakfast...2 of each...wife had vegan banana loaf thing, which she said was very nice..all good...great coffee...

Crowded and bustling but does an excellent job of providing great cafe staples. Portions very generous and coffee strong and very drinkable.

So good, everything here is great. Ideal for coeliacs and gluten free. Prompt service and happy staff.

Delicious breakfast and very friendly staff.

Great fish & chips plus other menu options available. Had a 15min wait to get a table, then had to return to the counter to order our meal, which could have been done while we were waiting.. had it been suggested!

I was served by Diego and a lovely cashier (sadly I didn't get her name!). Both were really friendly and offered fantastic service. The food was also great - everything was hot and came out promptly. If you are a coeliac and need gluten free options this is also a particularly good spot for that, including baked goods like brownies and cakes. Cosy atmosphere, good prices and I will happily come back here.

Lovely food and coffee. We were delighted to find somewhere on our way up to the highlands, and the quality and cosiness of the cafe was a wonderful surprise. Incredibly helpful and friendly staff. Seems to be a small local business which is always nice to support. We were lucky to try Halloween special of spiced pumpkin, which was gorgeous. Also recommend the fish and the mac and cheese.

This place is super good! It has a super nice fireplace, has gluten-free and vegan food. It prepares its meals with local products and fish from sustainable sources. Pet friendly. It is perfect for replenishing your strength after a long walk through Galen Coe.

A mass feeding facility, no trace of comfortable eating.

The staff was very friendly and immediately pointed out to us that there were only seats left at the middle counter. We were here just after twelve, peak lunch time. Our food (tandoori chicken burger, large portion of fries and small portion of shrimp) arrived relatively quickly despite the high volume of people. What bothered me a little, however, was that the menu didn't show that the "shrimp" was breaded and fried. From the text I expected 5 prawns with lemon and tartar sauce - no greasy nuggets. We deducted one star for this misdirection, because otherwise we were very satisfied.

Lovely food and it was served quickly. Staff were really welcoming. If people are sat at the big central table near the area you have order, there isn't a lot of room to get to the order counter.

Been coming here for 15 years but this review is on behalf of my 11yo son, who is very happy that they gave him a plate of free tomato slices after a week of not many vitamins in the Highlands!

Vert clean staff friendly food brill

If you're in the area, eat here.

Great dishes, you eat a lot, and value for money is good.

Thank you very much! Everything is perfect, kindness, speed, atmosphere and it’s good! 😍

Amazing and friendly staff really welcoming and wasn’t to long to wait for food

Just the place we needed at the halfway mark of our West Highland Way walk. Great food and a cosy fire to warm up at the end of the rainy day. We went back the next morning and had a nice hot coffee and cake before setting out.

The vegetarian haggis is a must. Breakfast to die for.

Only stopped for hot chocolate Sadly the drink was lacking a good measure of chocolate Size was good and it was hot Bit disappointed But it may be one off It's obviously popular there and the foods looks good

It takes ages to place an order, the food is brilliant

Burgers tasted lovely there. Great stop off point.

Lovely warm fireplace place, nice fresh blueberry white chocolate scone and lattes (and they have Soy milk) Great menu.

Stopped in for dinner during our hike of the West Highland Way. Portion sizes were generous and everything we had was tasty.

First Visit here and we enjoyed it very much, food was great, staff friendly, reasonably priced, food quality great. will definitely return here when in the area.

Great food and staff. Really enjoyed the veggie haggis and it was a really homely vibe. Couldn't ask for more on a long trip.

Highly recommend a visit to this cafe. We enjoyed the snack portion of fish & chips - just right with a can of Loch Lomond pale ale. We were back next morning for excellent coffee, delicious, freshly baked cheese & sage scones & granola bar. Also appreciated the genuinely lovely, kind staff and cosy, clean interior.

Great fish and chips and mugs of tea after a drenching in the hills. We arrived cold, wet and tired and left warm and happy!

Rich and tasty food. And best of all the staff, very friendly and answered all questions. I definitely recommend it.

Sweet potato curry soup was excellent but accompanying bread was sad. The side of Scampi was OKish, hot, crunchy but a slight mushy texture. The Black pudding roll had ample black pudding of reasonable quality but I prefer my black pudding a little fancy. Raspberry and White Chocolate scone looked freshly made and unmissable. Great texture, plenty of raspberry but lack any taste of white chocolate. 4-5 people were serving and seating customers, 4-5 people were preparing meals, 2 people were taking order and making coffees. So the queue for placing orders was long and frustrating. At bust times I would take one person off the seating of customers {most of the table were full so no seating was necessary} and put them on making coffees. This would speed up the "placing the order/taking of the money" line.

Excellent service, will definitely be coming back!

Amazing stop on our journey through the Scottish Highlands. Lovely staff and the most incredible vegan breakfast. Definitely worth a visit!

Amazing scones fresh out of the oven, and friendly staff. <3

The cinnamon buns are absolutely amazing. We called in here by chance on the way to Fort William and had one of these each. They were so good that I set the address in the satnav so would remember to call in on our way home…. We did and they were still delicious.

Good food with a cozy atmosphere

Without doubt THE best fish & chips we have ever had and we live near the seaside back home. The service was first class, the staff were chatty and the well decorated cafe was lovely and warm from the real fire. Would highly recommend.

Very crowded when we arrived, but we totally understand since the food was amazing! Hardworking and friendly staff

This place has got it right! Great food, great service and hospitality. dog friendly, family friendly and offers gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options. A lovely cosy cafe with great decor, a log burner and lots of bird feeders that you can see through a panoramic window at the rear. It was very busy when we arrived but all the staff were welcoming and clearing tables to make way for subsequent diners. They are also licensed, offering cider, beer and wine. We had full Scottish breakfast that was delicious. Would thoroughly recommend this place. Highland hospitality at its best. Thank you.

Nice place! Blueberry filled croissant, Venison and Eggs - 6/5⭐ really delicious. Separately should say about beetroot ketchup - soo nice and interesting 👍 Sausage roll and filter coffee - 4/5⭐ I guess you will find something you like and it will be good enough here like everything we tried. For me there is not enough "healthy🌱" kind of food on the menu, but it's ok, not everywhere it should be.

Staff were really friendly and food was great. Stop by here to take a break from a long drive.

Went for breakfast on a Sunday morning.Had a long wait.

The food is very tasty, but the wait is long

The best fish and chips we've had. Made to order, fresh and really tasty 👌

Absolutely recommended. The two of us were there on Friday evening. It was very crowded but we got a seat. The food was very tasty and fresh. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Vegan Blueberry Croissant! Not often I can find a croissant that doesn't have dairy in that doesn't have unpleasant consequences or me but this was a delicious rarity!