The Riverside Restaurant in Highland

A cosy atmosphere, superb service and one of the best meals I have had out in quite some time. Variety of choice is of top quality.

Beautiful food. Amazing service. One of the best meals ever! Drinks were lush. Everything was fresh & tasty!! Soooo perfect !!!

This is a compact restaurant but the plates pack big flavour. The portions are great, if a little expensive, but the flavours combined with great staff make it well worth a visit. £207 for 4 people with some of the most expensive dishes is not bad value, give it a try, I will on my next visit up North.

Small intimate and excellent food presentation… “boutiquesh” , quality was outstanding… great location… parking is a challenge … all over Inverness.. but easily walkable… Highly recommended👍

I booked by phone at lunchtime greeted by a friendly voice. The establishment is in person compact and bijou and just like the initial telephone call, the staff are indeed very pleasant indeed. The setting is centrally located scarcely 5-6 minutes’ walk from the station, overlooking the river, and everything is presented beautifully. The menu isn’t extensive but the choice is more than sufficient and varied. There was a reasonable choice of wine and spirits too, everything carefully selected it seemed to allow for a range of budgets, including the opportunity to splash out! We were in a hurry as doors open at 17h30 and we were heading for the 18h52 train back to Edinburgh. I had the venison, it was sublime, perhaps the best I have ever had, and my wife was delighted with her festive Turkey, cooked equally well. Both meals were served quite promptly and were beautifully presented with very well cooked accompaniments. We were sad the train timetable meant desserts weren’t an option, never mind, this means we have to return! Overall this was fine dining standard served unfussily and unpretentiously and whilst not cheap, nor was it expensive for what we received. My only sadness was that when the bill came the card machine wouldn’t allow us to add a tip and in our increasingly cashless society we were unable to do so in the traditional manner either. Another reason to return!

Food was outstanding. Everything we had was superb. Duck was cooked to perfection Service was excellent. Best meal out for a long time.

Great service, good menu, food was served beautifully and was cooked perfectly. Very small restaurant with limited number of tables so would advise booking ahead.

Me alegro de que todavía estaban abiertos después de un viaje en tren algo retrasado, y tenía espacio en un sábado por la noche. Solo alrededor de 10 mesas, agradable ambiente acogedor. Menú variado, y opté por las clásicas vieiras y luego por el característico venado, ambos encantadores. Buena elección de vinos también. Hace hincapié en los productos de la región local. Sin duda uno para recordar!

Menu choices will definitely bring you in and the service will leave you feeling satisfied. I had the sea bass main. My wife selected salmon.

Lovely fresh locally sourced food. Lovely presentation and good portion size for what you pay. Make sure you leave room for dessert.

If you’re trying to find a sublime dining experience with an ambience that just makes you feel good, you’ve found it. The food is creatively prepared, with superior flavor. The Pre-theater menu presented a good variety for a very reasonable price, including a very unique and tasty vegetarian dish. We throughly enjoyed all aspects of our evening out at this family-owned establishment.

Mcbain’s is the only place we go when we have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner out. The food and service is the best in Inverness, it’s always flawless and great value in comparison to their restaurants. Today we had the soup, seabass and linguine mains all the flavours were on point and well balanced, we both finished with the fudge, toffee & banana cheesecake which was another level taste and aesthetically too😍

Absolutely outstanding. Called the restaurant on the off chance for a Saturday night dinner while in Inverness. What an absolute gem! The restaurant is small but perfectly formed with a lovely view across the river. All three wait staff were friendly, professional and extremely efficient. Starter of goats cheese tart was melt in the mouth the pastry was lighter than air! Hubby chose the mozzarella salad with peach which was also excellent. Mains were absolutely delicious my halibut was cooked to perfection and the sauce was divine, sea bass with salmon and mussel risotto was amazing too, fussy teenager wanted steak and veg with potatoes (not on the menu) but nothing was too much trouble. Prawn and scallop linguini was also amazing. The restaurant was busy all evening with tables being refilled as soon as one emptied. I'm not surprised it's busy, the food, portion sizes, friendly staff, cocktails, wine list, and delicious desserts (lightest sticky toffee pudding I've ever tasted!) are all excellent. I'm so glad we managed to eat here, it was delicious! Fantastic restaurant - cannot wait to return!

My daughter booked us in for Mothers Day lunch at Mc Bains Restaurant {first time visit) and WOW, service, standard of food and portions were wonderful! We will be back....sooner than later!

We came across this restaurant as we were looking for a nice lunch, after just arriving In Inverness, the restaurant was quiet so we were very lucky to get a table. Food was delicious, very fresh ingredients and full of flavour, excellent menu. The lady who attended to us was lovely and friendly. We would certainly go back and recommend to our friends

One of the best meals I've had in Scotland. Staff were so attentive and helpful. There were plenty of GF options on the menu. Beautiful decor and setting.

Had to write a review as my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch today. It was a difficult choice as I would’ve had all the dishes in the menu. However I decided on the pear, walnut and feta starter followed by the moroccan beef tagine. My husband had prawn cocktail followed by pan fried chicken in a Parmesan crust. Everything was delicious and the wine was so good we had two glasses each! All topped by lovely service and chat.

The best food in Inverness by far. Been a good few times and Mcbains never disappoints. Always top quality food and superb service.

During my recent trip to Inverness, I had the pleasure of dining at McBain’s, a restaurant that now holds a special place in my culinary heart. From the first taste, the exceptional quality of the ingredients was evident, a fundamental aspect for any respectable establishment. Each dish served was a perfect balance of flavors, meticulously crafted to create culinary experiences that delighted the palate without ever becoming tiresome. This attention to detail and flavor subtlety is something seldom encountered and deserves to be highlighted. What particularly impressed me was how each ingredient was showcased, allowing their freshness and quality to be fully savored. The dishes were not only a delight for the palate but also a feast for the eyes, presented with aesthetics that elevated the entire dining experience. Additionally, the ambiance at McBain’s contributed to making the experience even more enjoyable. The staff was welcoming, professional, and attentive, creating a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, ideal for enjoying a quality meal. In conclusion, McBain’s is not just a restaurant, but a culinary destination not to be missed for anyone in Inverness. It’s certainly a place I wish to return to, a gem that merits a special visit.

We came for lunch ,the food was outstanding service excellent lovely staff good atmosphere better than some of Inverness favourites! Highly recommend and will definitely be back Thank you 🤩

We booked three couples for a night out and paid a deposit. One couple had to pull out but 4 of us still went and spent a decent amount of money over drinks and dinner. Yet the restaurant still kept the deposit of the couple that pulled out. I find this appalling service given the money we still spent. I would understand if we all cancelled. The food was ok, I've had better, and worse. Up to paying the bill it was nice but the whole experience was closed out by a feeling of greed.

Comida y ambiente excelente. La atención es cuidada y todo el tiempo nos trataron de la mejor manera. Mi hijo pidió una bebida que no conocían y sin embargo la prepararon muy bien. Quedamos encantados y volvimos un par de veces más.

Having dined at most of the “renowned” eateries in Inverness, MacBains is definitely a contender for the top spot. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly, welcoming and efficient. We will definitely be back!

Had a really nice meal and the staff were very helpful and accommodating. We are looking forward to returning for another meal. Great wine, local beers and a very cosy restaurant.

Nice enough food. Nothing fancy. Helpful staff especially over diet requirements reasonable value. Food well cooked. Service a little slow initially but a pleasant experience overall. (Theatre menu was good value)

Lived in Inverness for 2 years but this was our first visit and defo won’t be our last. McBain’s is a lovely, relaxed, intimate restaurant with a great menu. The staff are friendly and helpful. The portions are a good size. It’s not a cheap restaurant but I’d say good value.

Very friendly staff. Good food. Nice wine. Great location. As it is a small restaurant with a pretty extensive menu, the wait was about an hour. But we had no rush and enjoyed our dinner very much.

The signature venison dish was cooked to perfection and the stornoway blood sausage served with it was a perfect accompaniment. The smoked duck starter was lovely and the desserts (Eton Mess and Dark Chocolate Nemesis ) were thoroughly enjoyed.

Enjoyed delicious warm soup in a warm, cozy room. My husband had the scallops and they were also very good. Friendly staff. We were able to get a table without having a reservation.

We dined here twice in the same week, and would return with no qualms if ever back in the area. A compact dining area, but customers are not crammed in, so a feeling of space around diners. The menu is not fussy, nor with too much choice, but it’s done well with food quality ingredients. Try the specials as these will not disappoint, nor will the mains such as the seafood risotto and the linguini, both of which were not lacking in flavour. Staff are very friendly with nothing too much trouble to assist or to explain the menu & wines. It’s just a real shame that they’re 500 miles away preventing me returning in the near future!

Two visits to this excellent restaurant, so good. A lot of restaurants surrounding but McBains proves itself with its simple but perfect menu.

Great food great service. Freshly cooked so so don’t expect fast food expect quality and skill. Everything I had was delicious. Smoked salmon then haddock.

This is a small restaurant but absolutely perfect, I was particularly impressed that all the food was locally sourced The service was excellent, the choice on the menu was varied , something to suit everyone. We had the salmon risotto which was exactly what we expected. We didn’t really have room for dessert but just had to try the cheese board, a selection of local Scottish cheeses, very good

Piccolissimo ristorante lungo il fiume Ness, c’è bisogno di prenotazione visto il piccolo spazio. Ambiente accogliente, personale veloce e cordiale, molto buona la qualità del cibo, prezzo leggermente alto.

Lovely cosy restaurant with such lovely staff. Four of us all enjoyed our meal. I'd the scallop & king prawn linguine & hubby the sirloin steak. Cooked to perfection.

When booking we were forewarned there was a party of 12 booked on the evening (7th September) and it is likely to be noisy. We arrived at the appointed time and shown to our table. None of the large party had arrived. Once seated we waited 10 minutes before any attention. It was a very hot day and either there was no air conditioning, or it was totally inadequate. The first course was adequate but nothing special, the main course of chicken and haggis was poor the chicken was overcooked and hard, some of the dish was edible but not of a quality expected in line with the prices and expectations of the trip advisor ratings. The amout of uneaten food on the plate was a clear indication of our dissatisfaction. We are regular holidayers to Inverness and having experience of many restaurants in the area, Mc Bains will not be on our revisit list in the future. Hopefully our experience was a one off bad ni.ght.

Service was great and the food was amazing. Would recommend this restaurant to couples and/or groups of four or less as the seating space is small. Definitely get reservations during the major summer travel season.

What a wonderful find! We were walking around Inverness, without a reservation, after arriving into town early evening. We happened upon McBain's along the river and asked if they had any openings. They were able to fit us in and it turned out to be one of the best dinners of our trip to Scotland. Owned by a brother and sister, we received wonderful recommendations from the brother in the duo. I ordered the venison and cannot say enough about how delicious it was! A great dining experience in a cozy space on the river, with wonderful hosts.

We were looking for fresh fish and seafood and had a very good meal and wine with excellent and friendly service. Hands down the best scallops I've ever had in a restaurant. Superb setting and good value for money. Highly recommended.

We were lucky enough to get a table in McBains without having a reservation but I’d definitely recommend booking as while we were there at least 10 groups of people were turned away. The restaurant is small and cosy. The staff are lovely and the...

Lovely meal out with our two young children. Both food and service was brilliant, booked in advance and asked for table near the window. Can’t fault this restaurant, a must for Inverness!

This is our second visit and again was not disappointed! Food was amazing and service was great, staff very friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back!

Fantastiskt god mat och utmärkt service. Gemytligt. Gourmetmat utan att vi blev ruinerade. Kom ihåg att boka bord innan!

Lette le recensioni decidiamo di fermaci. Non rimaniamo delusi ne dalla cucina ne dal bere, ottimo primi e secondi e...

Food excellent, imaginative and portions plentiful. We all had the venison, cooked to our individual tastes and they got all of our orders just right. The desserts cheescake and Sticky Toffee pudding light and tasty. Only downside is that all toilets are upstairs, so maybe...

Visited here whilst up on holiday, great menu authentic local food and some of the tastiest food I’ve had, served quick and hot, absolutely first class

They just managed to squeeze us in between bookings and I’m so glad they did. The chicken with haggis croquette was superb and the duck with a hint of mint was genius. The service was pleasant with 2 young girls learning the ropes under the...

The service along with excellent food and wonderful flavors ensured that we will be making a return reservation. Even though we were last in the restaurant we felt no pressure and the lovely waitress was encouraging us to try their deserts.

always a pleasure to go for dinner at this restraunt never a bad experience. friendly staff. food amazing.

Heavenly food, excellent menu, much needed meal and thoroughly enjoyed, thank you to everyone involved and we shall return

My husband, our toddler and I went for lunch . The food, staff and view were all fabulous. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and were very glad we chose to dine here.

Abbiamo soggiornato a Inverness per 4 giorni e questo è stato il miglior ristorante dove abbiamo cenato. Il personale è...

Exceptional food, friendly staff who were very accommodating to us considering it was a Friday evening and we hadn’t booked. Good selection of dishes and drinks. I would thoroughly recommend.

The staff were exceptional, all very kind but not overbearing. Younger lad serving us was very sweet. Food was amazing, great portion size and lots of flavour. Definitely would come back and would recommend to anyone.

Incredibly delicious, was our first meal in Scotland and set the bar really high. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a meal.

Came here for our 3rd anniversary dinner and were not let down! We married on the day lockdown started so our do at night was cancelled but Paul and the team managed to accommodate 8 of us for a beautiful post wedding meal. It was...

My husband and I visited this lovely restaurant on Saturday night based on the amazing reviews I had read. It did not disappoint! The staff were extremely friendly and the young waiter was so polite and helpful. We both had the steaks cooked exactly how...

Just home after lovely meal in relaxing surroundings. Being mid week it was very quiet but just felt so chilled. Staff were really nice with no sense of being rushed. Food was lovely , venison for me and steak for my husband followed by cheese...

My wife booked a table for my birthday and we went with some friends. Food was lovely and value for money but we never knew till we got there that we had a time limit on the table. was fine but felt a little rushed...

Wow, we heard that McBains had excellent reviews, our first experience was amazing. We are a family of four adults, celebrating a family birthday. We were lucky enough to request and obtain the window table, which overlooks the river. Which is a delightful spot. We...

We all had 3 courses (unusual for me!) each course was just amazing! My steak was cooked perfectly! Friendly staff all really lovely and attentive! Can’t wait to come back again ❤️

Food, wine and service was excellent and I am very much looking forward to returning. The venison was the best I have had and perfectly cooked. This restaurant is a hidden gem and definitely worth a visit.

Good food and service, was a friday lunchtime so very busy but didn't have to wait too long for food,

We were looking for a really nice night out and this did not disappoint. The name and the outside decor might give the appearance of pub fair but this was a fine dining experience. McNains offers a quiet, intimate atmosphere. The presentation and the food...

I have here previously albeit many moons ago. Love the cosiness and intimacy of the restaurant. I had the 2-course, pre theatre menu and was not disappointed. Looking forward to coming back again soon.

Great choice, delicious food and lovely friendly staff, enjoyed the expression martini too! Made extra special tonight by witnessing a proposal! Brought a tray to my eye, the bride to be was so surprised!

Had a lovely meal here. It's a small cosy restaurant. Staff very friendly. Would definitely recommend. Had a steak with all the trimmings 💕

Excellent lunch of baked tatties . Excellent service and nice ambiance. Dropped in past for lunch when the rain came on , such a great find ! People were queuing down the street to get a table as we were leaving . Cakes looked so...

We went here after finding it on Trip Advisor. I wanted to go to a restaurant with a Scottish feel and local ingredients. One dish was venison, and the other was a scallop and prawn linguine- fabulous; they changed the linguine to exclude the chilli....

The service we received here was very personal yet first class. It was a daughter's 30th birthday meal and we had a spacious table by the window looking out over the river ness. Everybody was served beautifully cooked, well seasoned food. First class - thank...

First time here and it didn't disappoint , easily up there or surpasses the more established best eating places in town. Lovely cosy environment, lovely staff and a great menu which tastes delicious. 5 stars definitely.

Kleines, gemütliches Gasthaus mit vielfältiger Karte, speditivem und sehr freundlichem Service. Das Essen war ausserordentlich lecker und toll angerichtet, Preise...

Three wonderful evening meals in this restaurant. Quite an accomplishment by the chef given that I have an Allium Allergy. I would thoroughly recommend McBains to anyone with allergies, they really pull the stops out to give safe and varied choice to us who frequently...

Fabulous quality food and lovely staff. We visited on Sat 1st October. I rang last week to book and lady I spoke, to was so helpful and accommodating to fit us in. The restaurant has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. We both had starters and main...

Absolutely first rate restaurant. Unpretentious, attentive staff and imaginative home made dishes at a reasonable price.

What a fabulous wee restaurant! Booked based on good reviews on here & it was every bit as good as the reviews said! I have a garlic allergy which is a right-Royal pain in the butt. I phoned to advise and they said they’d definitely...

Lovely food, and a lot of it, in a small restaurant. Best meal we’ve had in ages. Was very busy up to around 8pm but the much quieter but would still recommend booking.

We managed to get a last minute table and were not disappointed. A great selection and catered for vegetarians and dietary requirements. Portion sizes for me were the right size which meant I could have a pudding too. The restaurant is quite small and the...

Cute restaurant by the river with Great variety of dishes in the menu and excellent service. The food has great quality and nice presentation. I had the scallops starter and pasta scallops as a main. Both amazing.

A great welcome and very tasty food using local ingredients where possible in this small ( about 24 cover ) restaurant. A credit to Inverness and a reason to return to the town. Service was unobtrusive and timely and nothing was too much trouble. My...

Sehr nettes kleines Lokal: Personal war sehr freundlich und aufmerksam und das Essen super gut und schnell da. Die Sessel...

We were lucky to get a table on the same day and so pleased that we did! This family run restaurant is small but well run with friendly attentive staff. The food was outstanding ( we had venison) - perfectly cooked and beautifully served. Our...

For me - tasty starter of Honey and Harissa spiced chicken skewers with carrot, almond and coriander cous cous topped with a citrus yogurt. £9.95 Followed by a delicious Scallop and king prawn linguine with cherry tomatoes, spinach tossed in a garlicky c and chilli...

We had a reservation at another restaurant in Inverness which was unexpectedly closed so our B&B recommended McBain's. This was a wonderful find. It was a short walk from our B&B right on the river in Inverness. Very cute inside. The service and food were...

Mcbains hosted our group of golfers for dinner, all of the food was excellent, the smoked salmon appetizer was just unbelievable. Friendly service, small place so book ahead of time

Mooie uitgebreide kaart en heelvriendelijk personeel. Makkelijk te vinden en uitzicht op de rivier. Eten was lekker, wel wat hoger...

We enjoyed a great romantic cozy dinner here in this quiet restaurant! Great location on the River Ness, food was reasonably priced & yummy, cocktails were fun & delicious. The wait staff was friendly & very efficient. A nice evening out on the town!

The restaurant staff were very helpful and kindly found a table for two hungry and weary travellers. The meals were both delicious and freshly cooked. There was no problem about adjusting my choice to take account of my cheeses allergy (they cooked the chicken without...

I had the venison and sticky toffee pudding, both were absolutely amazing. Others in our group had steak, which was also fantastic, and seafood linguine followed by cheesecake and chocolate nemesis. Everything was delicious and the staff were very pleasant and helpful.

We were a table of 11 as part of a work event. It’s a small, cosy environment which would be nice for a romantic meal with your partner. I ordered the following: Honey and harissa spiced chicken skewers- I only got 1 skewer and the...

Went to this restaurant on Saturday having read the reviews one gave them just 1 star. He does not know what he is talking about the meal was excellent as was the service my only small thing was we ordered brandies and they did not...

Popped in to McBains today for lunch with my wife. This is not the first time we have eaten here and won't be the last. Had an excellent meal from their Lunch menu, Salmon roulade and Asparagus and blue cheese soup to start then on...

Tog sen Lunch som var toppen, risotto med sparris och ärtor och Pork belly båda var goda. Bokade även bord...

We werden vriendelijk bediend. We hebben heerlijk gegeten en een kaasplankje toe. Daarvan was het jammer dat we geen uitleg...

Liten gömd resturang trotts läget. 30 stolar och fantastisk mat. Lunch sparris risotto mycket god. En familjerestaurang med bra läge...

Saw this restaurant when I was out an early morning walk. The menu looked appealing. We entered the restaurant at just going on 6.35pm. Handed menus, 1 of which was the evening menu. Ordered beetroot salad off the evening menu, only to be told it...

What a wonderful restaurant and dining experience. Experienced, warm staff in a gorgeous small setting with exquisitely crafted food. We had the scallops, sea bass and venison and everything was delicious, including the drinks and desserts. Everything was well within reasoned pricing when including the...

A party of four, we had fish cakes or chicken terrine with black pudding, followed by sea bass with prawn and chorizo risotto or chicken on black pudding mash and green beans. Everything tasted superb. The staff were helpful and friendly. Excellent value lunch deal....

Dit restaurant zou je zo voorbij lopen als het niet hoog op Tripadvisor staat. Het eten was lekker en redelijk...

Have visited family in Scotland from Brisbane Australia and whilst here, came for lunch at McBain's. Found the atmosphere lovely and all food and drinks were amazing, with the whole table completing every meal. My mother in law and wife have the McBain name so...