Thistle Inn Restaurant in Dumfries & Galloway

Food was ok. But the bartender was another story. Complained about finding a good bartender yet she couldn't make a drink. Left money for the bill then she chased me to the door and said I was a couple dollars short. When I pointed out I left her 180 for a 140 tab she recounted and said woops the bills stuck together. Pfft

We only had dinner here, but it was excellent across the board! Food, service and atmosphere were all phenomenal. We will definitely return when in the area again!

Oh, honey, let me spill the tea on our divine night at Thistle in Boothbay Harbor. Picture this: seven fabulous souls, anointed by the gastronomic god himself, gathered for a soirée of epicurean ecstasy. Enter Kourtnee, our server extraordinaire. Move over, mere mortals – Kourtnee's finesse elevated our dining escapade to a celestial level. The culinary symphony commenced with a rack of lamb so unctuous, it had us questioning if we were still on Earth. Seared scallops to die for? More like a succulent serenade to the taste buds. The filet, darling, strutted onto our plates with such swagger, even wagyu blushed in inadequacy. And the salmon? Fresh as a sea breeze, it practically swam onto our plates straight from Poseidon's backyard. Let's talk libations – the Thistle, a bourbon concoction so marvelous, it's practically a potion of perfection. The blueberry mojito? Sipping it was like lounging on a beach in Maine, sand between our toes, and waves of flavor crashing over us. As for the grasshopper, it waltzed with our creme brulee in a dance of dessert divinity. Thistle, you're not a restaurant; you're a culinary wizard's secret lair. Kourtnee, you're the culinary sorceress who made our evening spellbinding. Critics, take notes – Thistle doesn't just serve food; it orchestrates an opulent ode to indulgence. Bravo, Thistle, bravo! 👏

Went there for dinner. Delicious farm to table fare with a friendly wait staff. Really a wonderful night out.

Had a delicious dinner in the bar. Sharon, our bartender was excellent and makes a mean Old Fashioned!

Heartfelt thanks for the food (exquisite) 3 x vegans for main meal in the end. Nut roast was incredible, tasty, Christmassy with cranberries through it - panko Brie, oh yes, Christmas pudding cheesecake, what a way to end…!!! We had the most beautiful woman that looked after us all evening - bravo, bravo to our local family business & I got a free half pint glass to take home - HARD RECOMMEND - please go & support this amazing place & thank you xxx

Fantastic food and great, friendly staff. I can now see why this little gem is so popular. Had a great evening.

the thistle under the helm of chef michelle is going down a storm the atmosphere and restraunt are cosy and very well decorated and furnished and spotless the staff are very attetive and helpfull the menu is exceptionally good using local ingrediants and 2 local butchers the quality of all the food is very consistant from week to week great quality and an aray of tastes within the sunday roast is the best one we have no frozen yorkshires here fresh fro the oven the deserts again made in house by chef michelle id recommend this place every time again best give them a ring and reserve a table as can fill up fast best advive try a desert forget the diets

Hidden gem in Crossmichael. The menu is extensive & varied; staff are friendly & helpful. The exterior does not do it justice. We'll worth a visit.

The staff are very gracious and accommodating. The food is amazing and our room was clean, modern and spacious. There is lovely personal touches too. Nothing is too much trouble and we had a ball. Castle Douglas is just down the road and A74 to explore further. We'll be back for sure!! 😊

Not to be missed if you are in the area of Loch Ken! It doesn't look over fancy from the outside, so it would be easy to drive by. This would be a shame & a waste though. The food is great, & the staff really friendly & helpful. Food is usually served Thursday to Sunday, as a heads up.

We were staying at Loch Ken Holiday Park and thought we would try this pub. Doesn't look much from the outside which is quite deceiving because the food was wonderful. Excellent service, everyone was polite. I phoned ahead in advance to book the table.

None of the staff were masked. Made us feel very uncomfortable. Think about it. Left.

The Thistle Inn had the atmosphere of a Burger King in a distasteful Massachusetts city during a birthday party, due to the disagreeable family of one of the staff. Unfortunate, because someone in the kitchen is a genius (though it is clearly not whoever thinks a saccharine lemon cream belongs in every dish but salt doesn’t). The tuna tartare was an experience out of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant. There is real talent there. And the FOH were fabulous.

What a great place. The food is divine, the staff is perfection and the atmosphere is what you would picture! A perfect date night spot!🥂

Food and the service are superb. Our favorite restaurant in Boothbay Harbor I would highly recommend it

Food was absolutely outrageous! We came here for Thanksgiving dinner...everything cooked to perfection. The owners are wonderful and engaging. We did a wine pairing and they were spot on & so knowledgeable. Service was 100% Excellent food & service. Great atmosphere too!!

The food was outstanding. The salmon was really an amazing dish — balanced, composed flavors and ingredients. Charming atmosphere and service. Great clam chowder and bottles of wine for a good value, too. I work in fine dining and I was really impressed. For the location, value, and quality, this was worth a visit and a trip back next time I’m in the area.

Stumble upon this place after visiting gardens aglow and let me tell you, this place did not disappoint. Everything was cooked to perfection and the service was amazing! I will definitely be back.

Excellent appetizers- the chowder was one of the best I have had, the salad was delish, and the risotto and lobster were cooked perfectly. Also, if you are bourbon fan, THIS IS YOUR PLACE!! The bartender is from Kentucky and can talk bourbons ALL. DAY. Hi LONG. We are collectors and appreciate good selections and also ‘interesting’ options, and this did not disappoint. Normally we are bourbon straight, neat. But he offered ‘the best old fashioned’ with a fantastic bourbon, and did not disappoint. One of the only restaurants open year ‘round, and as this was our first ‘off season’ trip to ME, and were struggling for great food options, we would highly recommend!!! CHEERS!! K&T.

Excellent service, quality menu items cooked to perfection however items on website and in the menu were no longer available as the season was changing and new items introduced

Great spot for a romantic dinner! Had surf and turf, amazing cocktails and awesome service! Get the creme brulee if it’s available.

First time going here when we came into town from Lisbon Falls to see a concert at the Opera house. Love the setting and the lobster cooked perfect. Well be back when we're back in town.

Poached lazy lobster and lemon risotto was delicious

Excellent restaurant. The ambiance, the quality of the food, the selection, service. Everything perfect. I obviously recommend seafood dishes, appetizer or main dish. You won’t regret trying this place.

Food and atmosphere are outstanding. Always a favorite.

We have traveled a lot of NH and Maine in the last 9 days and this is by far the best restaurant we enjoyed. Highly recommended! Food and atmosphere are both awesome!

The most amazing fine dining experience I’ve had in years! Ben was an excellent server, and I cannot say enough about the grilled Caesar!!!!

Second time in a week we had dinner at the thisle inn. Did not disappoint. Fresh seafood and great tasting risotto made for a wonderful meal. My husband had the chicken which he said was delicious as well as a large serving. Finished up with the chocolate cake — perfect. Service and staff was great.

This is a Five Star restaurant. Priced accordingly, but the food and service were excellent.

We had a table of 9 and most of us got something different. Not one bad/unsatisfactory word was said about any of the food and the service was top notch!

I really liked the place the food is very good. I enjoyed it a lot ... I recommend it

Bartender was awesome and so informative. Dinner was fabulous. Has the special pasta with seafood. Yum!

The Thistle Inn in Boothbay, is a wonderful place to meet friends for a cocktail. The bartender serving my friends and I during my very first visit was named ''Kentucky.' Why? Because that is where he comes from. He was funny, accommodating and made everyone at the bar feel welcome and special. This is a place where most of the guests at the bar engaged with others, even if they had never met before. The indoor dining areas are beautiful and the decor is warm and relaxed. There is also a large outdoor dinning arda as well, set under lush trees, with beautiful table settings and a very elegant atmosphere. I did not stay at the Inn but would have no qualms about doing so as the ambiance, the service and the people I met( who were strangers to me ) were gracious and fun. In fact, i have already met two for lunch. When does that happen? The menu is also well planned and creative. Be sure to call ahead to confirm the hours. Enjoy this wonderful Boothbay establishment! Tell Kentucky, Fran says, 'Hi."

Where do I begin? For starters, this might’ve been one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. Our server Jersey went above and beyond for our party, as well as our birthday guest. Some of the best service I’ve experienced to date. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was elegant and homey. Can’t say enough good things. GO HERE!

Delicious food, drinks and service. We have found the restaurant’s in Boothbay Harbor to be lacking in ambience although having delicious food. The Thistle Inn has both a beautiful setting and delicious upscale dining.

We were disappointed by The Thistle Inn. At the time when the Delta infections are rising, it’s hard to understand how a responsible business would not require their employees to wear masks to show that they care for customers and employees. Tables in the dining room are very close together, there are partial dividers — that is nice— accept for the two tables that are just next to the main entrance. It makes no sense — hordes of maskless people are streaming by these two tables while they dine. Food and wine were yummy, but VERY pricey. Presentation was excellent! But the service was B-. Our server clearly had too many tables to serve. We had to repeatedly ask for lime slices for our water, my chowder was served with no spoon so while I was waiting for it, the chowder was getting cold. This place is listing itself as a “fine” dinning. While their prices are at the level of “fine dinning”, their services are not.

Food was fantastic and the service was the best we’ve had in quite a while. We will definitely be back.

Amazing food and amazing service! We cannot wait to go back!

Great atmosphere and food was perfect. Highly recommend

Far and away the best restaurant in BBH. Food is awesome, drinks are on point and the service is great. 100% would recccomend.

Delicious. Upscale. Very enjoyable.

Excellent service. Definitely recommend the sauteed mussels.

Online system allowed us to book a reservation on a Monday.. they are closed on Monday.. we even got a text reminder to confirm our reservation the day of, which we confirmed! We walked 20 minutes one way, out of the main strip where we were staying and the place is all dark. We call, leave a message and let them know that we were stood up.. days later still no response, phone call to apologize, nothing. Fix your reservation service if you’re closed on Monday!!

Excellent, speedy service. Sauteed steamers were among the best I have ever eaten.

They saved the night by helping us get a good dinner nearly at close! Hospitality, atmosphere and sensational food. A well stocked bar was a special treat. 3 cheers for John behind the bar for making it all worthwhile!

Love this place! Great food and outdoor seating. The service staff were all 10/10. Cant wait to return

Fabulous service, great atmosphere, food is good but nothing to write home about. Steak was bad, lobster was good, risotto was great. Bartender is super-friendly and put together off-menu non-alcoholic drinks for us, no problem. If you're in-town for a while, I recommend going at least once.

Special, intimate, fun experience. The service is incredible, casual, friendly and refined. Food is delicious. Get the specials and grab a drink after dinner outside at the fire pit.

Amazing. Vegan friendly too. Ask for Jersey John

Finally taking the time to review this great place. The Thistle Inn is a consistently awesome experience. Not only are the food and drinks excellent but the service is above and behind. Our most recent server Kim (spelling?) was attentive, helpful and also nice just to chat with. When I asked for a cocktail that wasn’t on the menu, he and another nice and helpful server collaborated to come up with a reasonable facsimile since they didn’t have all the typical ingredients. I would argue their version was even better than what I was looking for! Although we don’t frequent the Thistle Inn as often as we should, it is still one of our favorite establishments in Boothbay Harbor.

One of the best dinners I've ever had! Highly recommend the muscles appetizer, the seafood trio for the entrée, and the blueberry pie for dessert! Service was excellent, especially Brittany our waitress. Thanks for a great experience!

Excellent meal and service. Great atmosphere for a pm dinner. Will Definitley come back again soon.. Also .. The bartender makes a great Sidecar!!

Great food, fabulous and fun people. Took reservations which helps.

The food was amazing and the place has great atmosphere. Recommend sitting outdoors on the deck weather permitting. Service was very attentive and friendly!

Fabulous meal fabulous service!

Awesome food and great service from entire staff, but especially our waiter Jersey.

We've always had great meals at the Thistle. This is a great place to enjoy a romantic dinner, especially in the Fall when the heartier meals come out and the wood stove is glowing. Make reservations for sure!

Had dinner at this restaurant last night and everything about it was fantastic. We had a drink at the bar before dinner and both of our cocktails were delicious and carefully crafted. We sat in a booth of the quaint front room which on a rainy night was perfect as the restaurant is made up of several small rooms each allowing for a comfy, warm feel. I would recommend the outdoor patio on a nice weather evening. The food and service was the best we have had in Booth Bay. Perfect evening for parents who FINALLY found a babysitter and had the opportunity for an adult-only evening out.

When driving up, The Thistle Inn was unassuming, and was the type of place where you would assume pub food was served. Instead, it is a fine dining scratch kitchen. We sat outside and the ambiance was great. The food was fantastic, we recommend the carrot and polenta fritter and my father in law had "the best duck of his life" with the seared duck breast. Our server, Jersey, was charismatic, gave great recommendations for the food and area, and we will definitely ask to sit in his section in future visits. This is a must go to restaurant in the area.

Great food in beautiful surroundings with friendly staff. Highly recommended….

I've dined here three times and love the food. Friendly, prompt service as well.

Great food, charming New England ambience and excellent service

The restaurant is such a gem amazing food and a beautiful quaint setting (Especially given most of the other restaurants in the harbor are a bit “touristy”). The chefs oh real attention to detail. The wine list is selected carefully from small producers l. The service is amazing Jersey our waiter was so attentive and helpful even though they were so busy. Can’t wait to go back!

Stayed for one night while up on business, room very clean and huge, simple check in done with trust, never asked for card details etc. Couple of pints before supper , food great. A decent prawn cocktail followed by a fab steak pie. Breakfast had superb bacon with eggs, sausage and mushrooms. Very genial host. Will def stay here again if I’m this area

I ate at The Thistle Inn 2 years ago and fell in LOVE! Then last summer they were closed so I waited a full year and a half to eat there again to see if it was just a fluke. IT WAS NOT 🥰. I told my husband that if for any reason I was ever on death row I would want the lazy lobster as my final meal. My husband had the scallops and risotto. Both were truly amazing. I should also mention our starters (garden salad and crab cakes) and desert (chocolate cake) were equally as good. Last but not least, their craft cocktails are SUPERB. No, this is not a friend of the owner or a paid ad. This is a groupie of this restaurant and Chef!

Amazing seafood trio w lemon risotto that was the best I've ever had

Good food fair prices nice atmosphere good service at a historic property

Unbelievable food. Been coming here for years did not realize they allow dogs. Had the best meal of scallops with maple glaze, bacon and risotto and spinach. To die for. My wife had delicious salmon. The cucumber lemonade was absolutely fantastic. Very creative and delicious. Kudos to the fabulous creative chef.

Our go to place in town, always good

Our group of 8 could not have enjoyed our dinner experience this past Tuesday any better. The pasta dish was exceptional and everyone thoroughly loved the roe meal. Jersey our waiter and Davis his helper were so attentive and helpful. I highly recommend it.

We absolutely had the best dinner. Our reservation was a bit messed up, yet they corrected it and made our experience top notch. Menu selections were excellent, drinks fantastic, service hard to match. Jersey and David made the entire night so much fun, thanks guys!

My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful meal at The Thistle Inn & Restaurant last Saturday in celebration of our 8 year anniversary. We loved the food, ambiance, staff and of course the entire experience. We look forward to returning next year when we vacation in Boothbay Harbor.

Great waitresses delivering excellent dishes a with helpful hints on sharing meals.

The food and service were amazing!

Great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Great service. Excellent food!

What a wonderful experience in a historic inn. Excellent dinner, lobster, duck, muscles, and crab cakes. Everything was delicious. For dessert we tried one of everything! We would highly recommend.

First time at the Thistle but it will not be the last. Lovely food and a great 'local' but worth driving out to as well. Proper pub meals, very generous portions and we were really well looked after. Thank You.

We liked the food in this lovely restaurant so much we went back a week later to celebrate our 49th Wedding Anniversary. It was only my wife and myself but what a wonderful evening. The food and service were top notch. Jim was a fine host and made us very welcome. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are staying in the area.

What a lovely place this is . Warm welcome ,great service by Mine Host and a beautiful meal and so reasonably priced for what you got.This Inn was absolutely spotlessly clean, and following all the Covid instructions. Thanks again .

We (my veggie wife, 10yo son and myself) had dinner in the thistle while staying nearby in New Galloway. The meal was very good and my wife had a huge vegetarian selection to choose from. I had the steak & ale pie. It was excellent with lots of lean, quality steak filling - the only problem was that after polishing it off I had no room for dessert. However my wife enjoyed the strawberry and vanilla cheesecake though. Definately recommend eating here. It was also very reasonably priced. Regarding COVID, felt very safe in the Thistle. The tables were generously spaced. There was hand sanitiser at the entrance and exit; also in the toilet where there were wipes available. Felt like a safe environment.

We stayed in the Thistle's lovely family room and had a delicious evening meal. The food is clearly freshly home made and the portions are very generous. In fact, having had the yummy vegetable soup, I struggled to do justice to the great chicken curry! In these Covid times the whole establishment felt very safe, with proper attention paid to sanitising and social distancing.

Grreeaatt booze and food and service! If your a whiskey lover go there the first Wednesday of the month. They have a very knowledgeable host named Jeremy who talks about each whiskey, the smells, the flavor, its history and your able to sample a big variety each time. Then stay around for amazing food. They serve everything from steaks to seafood. It's one of my favorite nights out.

Food was five stars if i could would give a sixth for the service. Server named Kahn (forgive me if spelling is wrong) Two thumbs up for food and service.

Cozy and warm. Good drinks and mussels were great!

Excellent food pretty pricy,not a menu for kids.

Mixed reviews. Seafood trio was excellent haddock was not. Service was good.

Great experience. I loved the duck. Great service, great food.

The room was lovely and we will definitely stay there again. The food was very good and the staff very attentive. Couldn't figure out how to work the TV but then we were there to see Gardens Aglow and not watch television.

This place is awesome and the owners are great people. We really enjoyed chatting with both of them. My wife Valentina and I went there this summer and we forgot to share how amazing our stay was! Cozy little bar with great food service. Hi guys hope you are well!

Food and staff were Great. Been there many times and always worth the drive. The new owner, Richard, is very pleasant and makes sure things are running smooth.

Friendly people but the inn seems to be supported. Needs to be populated as a social point in the village. New owners deserve to be supported by the locals and visitors. We were made very welcome and enjoyed our lunch on our last day.

We love love love this 6 bedroom Inn. Great food, and the owner Dickie was super friendly and also the Chef. So quaint and walking distance to the town. Such a beautiful place. We will definitely be going back!

Great food. Better than anything but the bistro.

My husband and I stayed here on our honeymoon, only one night but we wish we stayed longer! The room we booked was called Victory Chimes, it was beautifully styled and the bed is super comfortable. The on site restaurant is delicious and convenient especially if you are staying at the inn! We tried the crab cakes, peach salad, and "a taste of Maine" on the reccomendation of our server. The food was perfectly cooked, and served quickly. We would love to stay here again!

They get way over booked, and people are encouraged to stay for too long. Walk in is basically impossible even a bit out of season. Food is pretty good, but not amazing.

It is a very cozy establishment with a pleasant bar. Older crowd attended. The food was very good and the price point was reasonable. Not a lot of vegetarian options.

Had a few afternoon drinks here from time to time And had a very nice lunch in the restaurant on our last day of our holiday.

Our meal was amazing!! Service was warm and friendly! Looking forward to our next visit!

Meal was excellent and so were the drinks. If you're looking for a great meal this is a nice option