Woodlands in East Ayrshire

200 acre estate with some surprises, walled garden superb with knowlegable gardeners happy to give advice and some great places for kids interaction and learning

Invited here to celebrate a birthday lunch and wasn't sure what to expect. Not sure how lunches are served midweek or even on a Saturday but we were served a plated starter and dessert with the main course served on two massive wooden platters along with all the vegetables and was placed in the middle of the table so we could all help ourselves. Totally loved this ! The food was absolutely delicious and there was plenty of it but what was so good about this quirky system is that some of the elderly members of the party who no longer have big appetites were able to take less food allowing the more greedy amongst us to eat more ! The benefit of this was that nothing got wasted - brilliant ! Service was brilliant and we had a thoroughly nice afternoon there. Looking forward to another visit.

Visited on the 23rd with my parents and sister, we booked the table that morning. The service was fantastic, we didn't feel rushed and the staff were friendly.We arrived slightly early and were seated in a comfortable seating area where we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks.We all had different starters and in true family fashion we each tried what the other had ordered. For the mains I had a steak which was cooked medium rare toperfection- best steak I've had in a long time! For dessert I had chocolate brownie with banana ice cream, the brownie wasnot over poweringly tasting of chocolate and the ice cream was fantastic and went so well with the brownie.We then had coffee and in my case hot chocolate which came with tablet. The hot chocolate wasn't to strong and the coffees were enjoyed as for the tablet well that went down very well. The restraunt is comfortable and welcoming as well as being immaculately clean. Most definitely worth a visit despite not being the cheapest of places to eat I the area it is definitely worth the money, so much so that you forget that it is a training academy.

We went as our family of four for dinner on Saturday night (23rd) to the Woodlands Restaurant. This was our first visit to the restaurant although we are frequently at both the stables cafe and Dumfries house grounds.Upon arrival we had such a warm welcome from Megan and her team, we settled into some comfy chairs for a pre-dinner drink and had a look at the menu.We ordered and were shown to our table just before our starters were served.So to the food.....I had the Cullen skink, Jane had chicken liver parfait and the kids had soup of the day (parsnip) and wild mushroom arancini. In true family style there was a wee bit of sharing, everything was sublime!Two fillet steaks (with handcut chips), halloumi and salmon and basa were the mains chosen, again sumptuous! The steaks were especially noteworthy! Desserts, rice pudding, chocolate brownie (with banana ice cream), cranachan sponge with whisky Anglaise and local cheeses for desserts, impossible to fault!Rounded of with coffee and local tablet. Heaven!Why you should go here;Service is excellent, it is difficult to remember this is a training academy as it is attentive, charming and so pleasant (thank you Megan).It is a lovely location, not cramped but open and welcoming.Toilets are immaculate.This isn't the cheapest meal you will get in Ayrshire but, at the moment, it is up with the best.We will be back again (our eldest daughter is already wanting to book her birthday here)!

Delicious food with a large variety of extremely tasty vegetables. I had the vegetarian main course and it was superb. Impeccable service that managed to be both professional and friendly. Loved the decor and general atmosphere. What a treat it was!

We had a delicious meal here and were attended by a local lass who was so thrilled to have a job there and served us impecably with such a friendly manner. We highly recommend this restaurant.

Great meal last night. Had the parsnip soup, followed by the roast lamb. The lamb was probably the best I have ever tasted The service was very attentive, each course was well presented and all in all, a delightful evening. I have no problem giving this restaurant a five star recommendation

The restaurant is part of HRH's attempt to bring skills and training in catering (among other things) to the area. Very good food is provide by local people who will move on into the wider catering industry.

We booked up for Saturday night dinner and were delighted with the ambiance, the dishes and the excellent service. The reception at the door by the staff was a good starter and it just got better as we went on. The ambiance and decor are very pleasant and the tables are well separated from adjoining tables. Diners can see the food being prepared in the kitchen which occupies one wall of the restaurant. The food was nicely presented and of good quality, with portion sizes which were just right for us . i.e. not too large. Prices of the dishes were OK. The staff were very friendly and chatted to guests - always addressing them by name. A far cry from a recent visit to a four star restaurant in Ayrshire where we were addressed by one of the waitresses with " Are youse guys finished yet ?" We would certainly recommend the Woodlands Restaurant and will be back soon.

We visited the Farmers' market in the grounds of Dumfries House today. We had booked a table for lunch at Woodlands restaurant. We very much enjoyed the experience. The main course roasts were first class, and were served with a large, varied selection of fresh market vegetables. Service was very friendly and cheerful. The restaurant is well worth a visit for Sunday lunch.

Dumfries House is somewhere that you can easily spend an entire day visiting,. and there is something for everyone.

While staying at Dumfries Lodge we could not miss the opportunity to dine at this restaurant. After a glorious stroll through the grounds we arrived and were warmly welcomed and seated after being offered a drink in the comfy armchairs chairs before dinner which we declined.The menu is not large but everything on it looked appetising and was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. The young waiting team were knowledgable and chatty. We had a great meal which we thought was reasonably priced with wine and coffee.The fact that during the early part of the week the restaurant trains young people in catering and hospitality therefore giving them opportunities made our meal taste even more delicious. Well done and thank you.

We had dinner there on 5 July. We were given a table hidden away in a corner and our main course - braised beef cheek was over cooked and inedible and vegetables were non existent. However the evening was saved by a young trainee waitress who was delightful and had a smile like an angel - our special thanks to her and we wish her every success in her chosen career.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The front of house staff were delightful and very helpful with one member of the family who has a nut allergy. The service was relaxed and the meal was excellent. The sticky toffee pudding was one of the best we'd ever had! Thank you.

Great food, good value, beautiful setting and friendly staff. This is a hidden gem that would be rated a gem if it was in a city centre. Well do e HRH for your efforts at Dumfries House and estate!

The restaurant offered a varied menu and drinks list at affordable prices. The staff were extremely polite, informative and remembered your name. The meal was superb, would we go back again.....a definite yes!

Lovely Sunday lunch with my family. Veggies are marvellous!Will be back soon again Service is excellent. Warm and welcoming.

A beautifully appointed dining room, serving excellent food. The service was excellent, and the warmth of the welcome first class. The menu was superb and the only problem was what to chose. The starters were excellent, the main course first class and the desserts irresistible.. .

We just had light lunch and coffee and it was good - the coffee was excellent. It's a great place to walk with the family, the house is interesting and the surroundings and gardens are gorgeous. Perfect for a week-end visit

The square room is well decorated but perhaps over lit, and when it is only part filled does lack a bit of charm.

Not our first visit to the Woodlands restaurant for Sunday lunch and it will not be our last.

What a lovely Sunday lunch. From the minute we stepped through the door we felt comfortable and relaxed.The staff are marvellous,friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Our party of 4 all had something different and it was all excellent. Will be back most definitely.

We were staying in the Dumfries House Lodges and decided to have lunch in the Woodlands as it is within walking distance. The staff were a delight and made you feel most welcome. We both decided to have the beef which was cooked to perfection. The meat was served on a large wooden platter with Yorkshire puddings and a selection of vegetables. I would recommend this restaurant and we will be back.

At times you read reviews and are sceptical that they are in fact correct. Can we say in this case and our experience completely agree with the reviews. The restaurant decor compliments the location. The introduction to the restaurant was a fabulous welcome by the maitre de and her staff. They were so attentive without being over pushy. We were shown to our table with drinks offered.The menu was presented in a picture like frame. We decided on a Smoked salmon starter followed by belly of pork and sirloin beef served with vegetables,roast potatoes,and fab Yorkshire puddings.. The food was 5 star and plentiful . You really must try this restaurant. But because it is so good you need to book well in advance. Well done to all at Woodlands look forward to seeing you again soon.

I can not rate this restaurant as it was not open at mid day on a Wednesday.

... though two suggestions. Firstly, it's worth considering how a blast of cold air can be prevented from entering the restaurant when guests come and go. Secondly, we did not dine late but the kitchen staff did not enhance the atmosphere by closing the shutters at a certain point.

Just about everything was faultless, the welcome was superb, staff are friendly and efficient and the food was very good indeed.

Sunday lunch here is a special treat. They use vegetables in season from the gardens and meat raised on the estate farms. Delicious.

Delicious meal and staff were absolutely lovely from the moment you enter restaurant. Lovely place for that special meal on that special occasion. Never rushed and meal is served at your own pace. Yes would definitely recommend for that special meal.

From stepping in the door to the end of the meal, this was a lovely experience. The front of house ladies make you feel so welcome and their training shines through. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were pitched just right so we could manage all 3 courses! Very good value for the standard of service and cooking. Just a pity we don’t live closer!

Food and service excellent sited near the beach rooms excellent staff very good prices very good well worth a bisit or stay

The first thing I'd like to say is that the staff were absolutely lovely from the minute you walked in they make you feel very relaxed . It's not the sort of food I would normally go out for but it was absolutely delicious. I had lamb for my main course and it just melted in my mouth . One of the biggest surprises was the bill . Everything is very reasonably priced and I would thoroughly recommend giving this out of the way place a try

We had a delicious Sunday Lunch in Woodlands restaurant, which exceeded our expectations. We received the warmest welcome and had the menu described by the most pleasant and enthusiastic waitresses. Sunday roasts were served on sharing wooden platters and the meats were cooked to individual requirements so it was a bit difficult to find medium or medium rare lamb amidst the medium and medium rare beef etc. However the struggle was worth it because we all cleaned our plates and declared the meal quite delicious. Starters and desserts looked wonderful too. The ambience and atmosphere is informal and very comfortable with enough space to relax in. We were beside a table of around 14 including children and friends in our party with their backs to that table said afterwards that they hadn’t realised there were more than 4. Maybe they were exceptionally well-behaved!

Birthday lunch, food was fantastic and service spot on. Place is small enough that there is no wait on service but not too intimate so you have plenty of space to enjoy your meal. Portion sizes are pretty large so we were beaten by lunch! Food all sourced locally and a lot from the walled garden in the estate.

Lovely Italian food with some modern twists. Good variety for those fussy eaters too and portions large enough to satisfy most.

Fabulous sunday lunch and the chef made a separate lunch for a very picky granddaughter. Staff were wonderful

We returned to Woodlands as we enjoyed it so much previously, and we were not disappointed. The food is excellent and the staff friendly without being intrusive. This is my favourite Sunday lunch venue whenever I am in the area.

Simply an amazingly good restaurant. I've been to high class restaurants in Edinburgh, Paris and elsewhere and this rates along with the best. On entry the welcoming front of house team really work as a team, which makes a huge difference. They remember people's names and look after everyone in a friendly and efficient way.

Our wholehearted thanks to front of house staff: Liz, Megan and Sean; you really know how to make visitors enjoy their time at Woodlands. Why isn’t every establishment like Woodlands? Also, big thanks to chefs, throughly enjoyed our food over the week-end.

The Sunday lunch was a delight - generous portions of delicious roasts. The Yorkshire puddings are as big as your head!

Don't think I had ever eaten chateaubriand steak before. Not cheap, but clearly a signature dish at Woodlands. It was absolutely melt in the mouth - gorgeous. And beautifully presented. As were our starters - hard to describe, involving pork belly and langoustine. Pear tarte tatin with prune and armagnac ice-cream to finish - one of the nicest puddings I have ever eaten. Pleasant and competent service. East Ayrshire is very lucky to have a restaurant of this quality on their doorstep.

Visited recently for dinner, the food was delicious and they catered to my vegan requirements. Great service, nice friendly staff. Will definitely go back again.

Whilst we only ever write good reviews (unless deserving of serial lack of care), we have to applaud our last minute Sunday lunch at Woodlands. The food was good, the front of house team especially the manager, enthusiastic and welcoming, we couldn't fail to enjoy lunch. We liked the presentation of Sunday lunch on the big family-style board, choice of vegetables fantastic with a real mix of seasonal, homey ingredients. Food was tasty and very fairly priced.

The rejuvenation of Dumfries House in Ayrshire by Prince Charles and the House trust has been one of the most important economic and cultural developments in a part of Scotland where the decimation of so many indigenous industries had led to a once thriving community having to fight hard to progress. Its tremendous success, with the whole hearted support of the local community, has also made it a number one attraction for locals and tourists alike. One of the many features we had never experienced was the Woodlands Restaurant which is part catering training facility and part top class restaurant. Our visit this week for dinner was a revelation. Four of us, by common accord, voted it one of the best dining experiences ever. Fabulous food, delightful service and a warm and welcoming environment in a woodland setting all added up to a memorable evening. This facility scored on every level with a lack of piped music only serving to create an atmosphere of calm where we could talk without straining to hear. The kitchens and the personnel, which can be viewed from the restaurant, are immaculately presented. All of our party commented that while the portions were not large the quality and the ‘nouvelle cuisine’ approach of the chefs ensured a sufficient portion of perfectly cooked food presented with style and aplomb. Three courses were taken and every morsel eaten. The service was exemplary and welcoming and we cannot wait to return.

An incredible quality restaurant, excellent food, and service at a very reasonable price. One vegetarian in our group, excellent meal and choice. Must visit restaurant if you are visiting Dumfries & Galloway or Ayrshire.

Muy pobre No alcohólicas cerveza, Coca-Cola Light, las aguas no eran tonic agotaron su. La carne estaba recargado. El personal era encantador. Aparentemente no se permite director clave para bebidas en la tienda! !

Service excellent. Steaks and hand cut chips excellent. I had sea bass. Fish tasty and well cooked but very small portion. I am not a big eater but was still hungry. Desserts again were good but tiny.

El restaurante woodlands en la madera y jardines de Dumfries House fue una intrigante lugar para comer el domingo. La comida se sirve en una gran fuente de madera que sirve para compartir. La carne que teníamos era un poco insípida, pero el cerdo era magnífico. Excelente, y un pudin oaty esponja fue una revelación. Sin Gluten Catering gratuito era un poco impredecible. La habitación en sí es cómodo con puertas de salida a un balcón con vista al bosque. Los muebles de madera y accesorios eran preciosas. El servicio era rápido - todo el personal eran excelentes, los adolescentes más alegre que he conocido en años! En general, una experiencia muy agradable. Muy recomendable si se visita la casa o no.

Fuimos por nuestra cena de aniversario y nos pareció que era muy bueno, se lo recomendaría a cualquiera de la zona, es un lugar especial y los alrededores de la finca es preciosa. Una de las preferidas por el príncipe Carlos, que estaba en residencia en el tiempo.

Este es un restaurante en el medio de una finca de campo que merece la pena una visita. El menú todos locales y algunos elementos de en la finca. El parfait de hígado de pollo rico y delicioso, lubina cocinados a la perfección, piel de pescado fresco y húmedo, el Panna Cotta perfectamente cremosa y suave fijo.

Vivimos cerca del restaurante y pensé en ir por un tiempo. Decidí reservar para el cumpleaños de mi esposa y estoy encantado QUE YO. El servicio era excelente y no intrusiva como de otros restaurantes.

We had visited the house before and saw the restaurant so decided to go for dinner there. It was wonderful. Friendly welcome and service and the food is wonderful and very tasty. Could not fault it at all and they want tro please yoou and give you a great evening and you can sense that in everything they do.

Loved my first visit here on my birthday. Delicious food, excellent service and I would recommend going on a Sunday for their carvery lunch. Huge sharing platters with delicious choice of meats. Highly recommended.

Dinner for two, early evening. Very good food, high end dinning experience. Very good staff, attentive but not pushy. Food was very well cooked and very well presented. Prices were fair and I felt we got very good value. A good place for a special meal.

Woodlands is a strange kind of establishment and the first of its kind I've come across, but no matter, it works!The commercial part of the restaurant operates in exactly the same way that any other does, however, behind the scenes, Woodlands also operates as part of The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust's training programme for hospitality and catering students.The restaurant is located within the estate itself and operates on three evenings a week, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays, along with a Sunday lunch service.It's signposted within the grounds, but with the rabbit warren of roads and paths, it's not hard to get lost. There is plenty of parking right outside the building and it also affords level access to the building itself for wheelchair users.From the outside, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's rather 'shed like' in style, but that's quite intentional in order that it blends in with other estate buildings.Once your inside, it's an open-plan dining experience. This could appear a wee bit soulless on quieter evenings, however, at the time of our visit, there were another 20 covers so it had some ambience. Decorated in rich reds and golds, a selection of prints and cast-iron chandeliers it was inoffensive. We had our jackets taken and offered to be shown straight to our table, or to a lounge area for a drink and to peruse the menu. We opted for the latter.There was two waiting staff on duty, Liz, the restaurant manager and Megan. They were the epitome of quality front-of-house staff. Professional, polite and courteous, helpful and attentive. Not much more they could have done if I’m being honest.After being shown to our table, the starters promptly arrived. We had both chosen the smoked haddock sitting on a bed of wilted spinach, topped with a poached egg and dressed with a cheese and leek sauce. It was a delight to the eye, and presentation was spot on. The fish was a nice piece of Aberdeen boneless, light, succulent and flaky with just a hint of that oak-smoking it’s famed for, it was cooked perfectly. The spinach was there I suspect for a colour change on the plate, as, in my opinion, there’s never any taste of it until you add something to it. The poached egg, when broken open, poured forth a gorgeous burst of sunshine-yellow yolk. Poached as all eggs should be! The sauce which coated the dish was a worry for me at first. You see it’s too easy to either drown the plate in the stuff or, the cheese and the leek is too strong for what is essentially a subtly flavoured dish. In this case, I needn’t have worried, the match was perfect and provided just another delicate flavour to the whole dish.Next up was the mains, and it was at this point we had a minor problem with Mrs Mac’s dish. You see she had opted for the pan-fried venison and had requested it well-done. Unfortunately, on cutting into it, it was definitely a medium-rare and had to be returned to be cooked for a little longer. However credit to both the four-man kitchen brigade and the waiting team, there was no drama and it was all handled very professionally indeed. The dish was served with a venison terrine, braised red cabbage, Boulangere potatoes and a red wine jus. It was well worth the £18.95 asking price. My choice of the medley of fish with garlic potato dumplings and braised baby leeks with a langoustine bisque was an unusual one for me, particularly having had a fish starter. However, the trio being salmon, halibut and sea bass was too good to turn down. And, it’s a test of the kitchen team’s abilities to be able to cook three pieces of fish, all of which need different cooking times and to get them to the pass on time, without overcooking.The fish was delicate, light, it flaked from the skin, however, I’d have liked that skin to have been crisped. The whole dish came together with that langoustine reduction and the baby leeks providing an extra flavour overall with a slight onion touch. The garlic potato dumplings were delightful, but for me there just wasn’t enough of them.My dessert option of a custard tart served with fresh raspberries and a spiced cream, was a novel take on a Crème Brulee. The custard had been enclosed in a light shortcrust pastry, given the obligatory crisp sugared top, served with a quenelle of fresh whipped cream and dressed with rasps and a rasp sauce along with a tuille biscuit. Nothing more to be said than delicious.My other half opted for the warm carrot sponge served with nutmeg ice cream pretending that this would count for one of her five-a-day! She oohed and ahhed her way through the whole thing and I worried as she neared the end that she might resort to licking the plate. Oh the indignity, however, it says a lot about the dish does it not?OK, so it might not be the easiest place to find, but it’s well worth the effort, you won’t be disappointed.

this is a great walk and you can enjoy a tea and snack if you likemeet new friends and enjoy nature at its best

Spent a lovely Sunday lunch with relations. The food was superb and the was the roast is served is truly unique. The service is excellent. Would throoughly recommend a vist. Price very reasonable too. Good disabled access and toilets.

When you drive through the gates the size and grandeur of the place is amazing . You'll need a full day to fully explore this grand pile

Very delicious meal indeed - the flavours of the sauces where amazing. We both had different meals and therefore got to taste each others and all were mouthwatering. Highly recommend. We will be returning.

Lovely food with happy staff in a fantastic estate, there is lots to see and do. This place is well worth a visit any time that you are in the area.

Only been here for the Sunday Roast and it was simply sublime.From the moment we walked in the staff could have not been any more helpful and informative.The service and food were first class we had the Roast Beef Lynn my wife had medium I had medium rare both spot on and the presentation of the Beef and all the vegetables were exceptional.We will most definitely be returning well worth the money well done to the waiting staff and being a chef myself well done to the Chefs in the kitchen superb!

Guests are welcomed by name as they walk in to this lovely new restaurant on the Dumfries House estate. It's a training establishment for young catering professionals and the staff clearly set very high standards. I was on my own but was made to feel very welcome. The Sunday lunch with roast beef option was fantastic, although so large that I didn't have room to try anything else! It included the most amazing array of vegetable,s all grown on the estate and all perfectly cooked.

We cannot speak highly enough of this restaurant, Staff were superb with Liz making us welcome including the two Megans and David (His first day)Food was really well presented and tasted great. Lovely setting and good atmosphereWould certainly go again

we had a great meal, served by friendly staff who sat down with us at the end of the evening to chat and tell us about the estate and the good work that it does. would heartily recommend.

C'est le restaurant du domaine de Dumfries House. Un lieu sobre et de bon goût, un accueil très chaleureux, et des plats délicieux (les légumes viennent du potager du domaine).

We had an excellent dinner served by a very friendly and efficient waitress whom I think was called Megan, she is a credit to the establishment.

Sunday Lunch at the Woodlands Restaurant is a traditional carvery with all the trimmings. The food is first class, the kitchen doubling as a cookery school. Wine list extremely well chosen. If the staff lack a little knowledge of the wines they make up for this with general enthusiasm and friendliness. if you combine this with a tour of Dumfries House, you will have a great day. I recommend that you book.

With three generations enjoying a day in the park, Woodlands ably supported an excellent venue with good self service, good food and fair prices in enjoyable surroundingsThere can be few better places to visit with both the older and younger generations being well catered for. Well done Prince Charles and others!

Our family of 9 including 4 children had the most excellent 3 course meal. The food was perfectly cooked, delicious and the portions perfectly sized. The service was excellent. Liz and her team were friendly, kind and informative. Would recommend without hesitation, this excellent restaurant in beautiful surroundings.

We visited here with my parents and my sister's family aged 5 and 7. The atmosphere is really special, welcoming and relaxed. Very family friendly . The food was just beyond delicious and generous sized portions, service was friendly and top notch, overseen admirably by Liz the manager who made sure everyone had all they needed. As a working artist my sister asked me to make sure I mentioned the original art works on the walls which were superb. Overall a brilliant experience for the whole family. We will most certainly be back!

Although on a sunny,therefore a very busy day, the food was very good.Fresh and varied.The outdoor seating are came in very handy.

We visited with a large group to celebrate a big birthday so we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. The food is delicious and the service excellent. There were alot of kids with the group and they were very child friendly. We would definitely recommend.

There is a new auditorium, with an excellent range of young trees, but some of the old trees are spectacular. The Giant Redwoods are superb. We had a sunny day,which just made it.

We had Sunday lunch in the Woodlands Restaurant a few weeks ago. It was so good we decided to return with the whole family to celebrate our daughters birthdays. Honestly , I cannot recommend this place high enough.From the warm welcome, to our departure Liz and her team were everything you would want to see in any establishment. Customer Service at its best.The food was of a very high quality and cooked perfectly by the Chefs who we could watch as they worked away in the kitchen.A memorable afternoon was enjoyed by all.We will certainly return for more. Thanks again to all in the Woodlands Restaurant and a special thanks to Liz for making it such a great afternoon.Nothing was too much trouble.

After an excellent tour of the big house, we had an equally excellent lunch with friendly service at the Woodlands training restaurant. Tables are nicely spaced, you can see the chefs at work in the kitchen and the surroundings are pleasant. Really loved the "walled garden soup" - the ingredients were freshly picked that morning from the estate's nearby garden. I tried (unsuccessfully) to get the recipe because it was so smooth and delicious with a slightly sweet after-taste. The mains and desserts were also very good, nicely presented and cooked to perfection. The staff in the kitchen were working on the preparation of the meals for a wedding which was taking place in the big house that afternoon. Compliments to the chefs and all the staff!

We arrived at The Woodlands Restaurant after a long journey and although we had not booked and the restaurant was busy they fitted us in and made us feel welcome. The food was exceptional: the beef and pork cooked to perfection , the Yorkshire puddings crisp and light and the vegetables varied and interesting. The desserts and coffee were equally good. What made the Woodlands stand out was the quality of service: attentive, warm and friendly. The dining room was spacious. It is good to know that young people are being trained in this exceptional environment. The Prince's Trust is doing an excellent job here.

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. From the moment we arrived Liz, the restaurant manager, looked after us ensuring we had a most memorable evening. Customer service was, in my opinion, exceptional. That coupled with superbly cooked and presented dishes from the team of chefs makes this restaurant stand out as a real gem. If you are staying at the Lodge don't venture anywhere else. Congratulations to the entire team for giving us such a lovely experience.

Friendly staff and superb food make this restaurant a must to visit if in this part of the country.The service was great and food fresh and extremely well cooked. Will definitely visit again soon

As part of weekend break at Dumfries House , we stayed in the lodges and ate at Woodlands. Standard of cuisine exceptional, service attentive. Overall a really good experience and moderately priced for what was on offer.

What a wonderful experience the entire visit to Dumfries House and then dinner within the grounds at Woodlands.Exceptional 'Princes Trust Training' Restaurant come commercial venture which certainly succeeds in bridging the gap from training to an exceptional value and very good restaurant experience.Congratulations to staff and management on attitude, enthusiasm, professionalism and outcomes.A delightful experience!

Had dinner here last night with my husband. What an outstanding meal beautifully presented. Staff were an absolute delight. We will be back.

Terrific experience, from the lovely friendly personal greeting, explanation of how it works, to the goodbye, superb service from the staff. Quite novel, as the main course is a Sunday roast, where you specify which meat you want, and it comes to the table on a large wooden platter, with umpteen veg, gravy and all the trimmings. We had roasties, carrots, beetroot, cauliflower cheese, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and more. Lots of chutneys/relishes offered. All beautifully cooked and presented.

Took my wife to stay in Dumfries House which we enjoyed and stayed overnight in the Lodge houses to finish off a fantastic overnight stay and tour of House we booked in to have dinner well where do I start from entering the restaurant we were met by 2 young ladies who treated us as if we were royalty from start to finish I also must mention the chefs on duty for an unbelievable meal,could not fault the full team.Congratulations to all and YES we will return and I will defiantly spread the word!

I have been fortunate to eat in many great restaurants and and pubs, but i have to say the Sunday lunch we had was outstanding! I was amazed at the quality of the the Beef, but the real stars of the show were the vegetables - home grown and beautifully cooked. The way the lunch was presented on a wooden 'tray/platter' was very thoughtful and looked great. Has starters which were of Rosette standard, great taste and very aesthetically pleasing. The service was very friendly and professional but relaxed. We had a table of 4 Adults and 4 kids - we all praised the food and service and would recommend Woodlands to EVERYONE, at least once. A great find, oh, and to top it off the Estate have fantastic grounds for a nice walk.

Thoroughly enjoyed the two lunches we had here. Lovely and clean surroundings with helpful and pleasant staff.

This was my first experience of Sunday lunch at the Woodlands Restaurant, Dumfries House which has left me with mixed feelings. The atmosphere on entering was particularly noisy due in part to a large family group with very noisy children (unavoidable) but also the cold, tiled floor which seems at odds with the beautiful furniture and fabrics in this room. My smoked salmon first course was excellent and attractively presented though no bread was offered with starters. The main course is possibly the best roast lunch I've eaten with both meat and vegetables cooked to perfection even if the serving arrangement is most peculiar - we were a party of 6 and all main courses came together on one wooden platter with diners left to serve themselves!Having enjoyed excellent food so far I was tempted by pudding in the form of a white chocolate fondant which, sadly, was overcooked so no soft centre and a bit burned on the bottom.All in all my experience was a cross between 5 star dining and cafeteria style eating

Woodlands Restaurant is the restaurant located at the Dumfries House Estate.Our 2nd visit, we had Sunday lunch, the food was superb, the presentation was excellent portion sizes were very good.Service was attentive but non intrusive.We will be returning soon.The grounds are well worth having a walk round lots to see before or after lunch.

We had a wonderful meal at the Woodlands restaurant, among the best in our trip which included eating at some of the best known restaurants in Scotland. Woodlands was as great an experience as any of them. The staff were friendly and the dishes we enjoyed were very well executed. It was a quiet Friday night that we were there. I wouldn't hesitate to eat there again or recommend this as a very enjoyable dining experience.

Myself, boyfriend and Mum had a Saturday evening meal here. We had travelled from Perth though I am from Cumnock originally. What an amazing place to have on your doorstep. The standard of he food was excellent. All of the meat was cooked to perfection, lovely menu and service was both efficient and friendly. This place deserves to be packed out every time it opens! We will definitely be going there again!

Take care to check when restaurant is open. It would be nice for Dumfries House Lodge guests to have a restaurant open every day.

First visit and certainly won't be our last - Service was first class and food most definately didn't disappoint, great value - good portion sizes, fresh local ingredients and delcious. Who couldn't enjoy such a beautiful setting, would recommend to anyone.

Been here on 2 occasions, 1st was dinner with other half and dad which we all thoroughly enjoyed on a Saturday night. Were made very welcome by Liz and her staff. 2nd time we visited was for my daughter's 21st birthday and the restaurant was opened specially for us and again the food and service were both outstanding !! I can't praise this place highly enough and we will definately be back soon for one of the 'Famous' Sunday Roasts.

Woodlands Restaurant is the fine dining restaurant located at the Dumfries House Estate, which is an organization training local young people in the hospitality field.We stayed at the Dumfries House Lodge and dined at the onsite Woodlands Restaurant. The food was cooked to perfection and the service excellent. The Dumfries Trust supported by Prince Charles is doing an excellent job of training these young people. Highly suggest you support both the lodge and restaurant.

Whilst we have visited Dumfries House previously this was our 1st visit to the Woodlands Restaurant.On this occasion we took a family friend around the house as part of her birthday present. A 10.45 tour followed by lunch at 12 noon. This was perfect in all aspects.The welcome was 1st class and everything else followed in the same vein. The food presentation was unique but added greatly to the overall experience. Only downside was that due to driving I could not enjoy a glass of wine but perhaps an overnight stay next would resolve this.I wish everyone well with this venture as it can only be of benefit to all concerned

There are two possible approaches to Woodlands: 1. it's a training ground for young people to learn a trade, or 2. it's actually a full price restaurant that needs to deliver fully. In terms of 1, it seems to do a really good job; in terms of 2, they need to professionalise the front of house and be less mean with what they serve. The first courses were all rather small and the lamb main course - delicious as it was - barely made two mouthfuls. They also need to review properly things like bread & toast - pate really should be accompanied and there certainly shouldn't be a 50p charge for a roll and butter with it!

Delicious dinner in Woodlands during Boswell Book Festival at Dumfries House.Recommend it highly. Staff efficient and friendly.A little request - a mint with coffee would have completed this lovely meal

Travelled with family to Woodland restaurant for Easter lunch. Warmly welcomed by Liz and her young waiters and waitresses. Beautiful furnishings, open and airy atmosphere. Lunch was plentiful, soup of day cream of parsnip fab. Choice of meats, lovely veg & roasters. Cointreau cheesecake was light& sticky toffee recommended by wsitress divine. Will surely return and worth visit, beautiful walk through grounds.

Met up with family for what turned out to be a most enjoyable Sunday Lunch. Great atmosphere with standard of fit out being hard to match in the area. Menu is Sunday Roast theme for lunch and boy do they know how to show how it should be done. Great quality meat roasts and fantastic selection of cooked vegetables all served on big platters. Starters and puddings great as well. Well worth a try when visiting the fantastic Dumfries House.

Had dinner here with my in-laws on a Saturday evening in July while staying in the Lodge for two nights. The food was excellent and the service friendly and efficient. I also found (perhaps being used to 'Edinburgh prices') that the bill was reasonable and I would go so far as to say that it was good value. The restaurant was about half-full so I can understand what other reviewers say about it lacking atmosphere when it's closer to empty. All I can do is to highly recommend it and hope that they're booked up in future. I would definitely go back.

The restaurant was quiet when we visited, ie there was only one other couple there. The menu offers a very good selection to cater for all tastes. The service was impeccable. The portions are not huge: think quality rather than quantity. The lamb was delicious, as was the wild mushroom risotto starter. I would have appreciated some bread on the table, but as there was an additional charge for this, we did not order any.The selection of Scottish cheeses was slightly disappointing, as the selection was limited to three, and one of them did not taste all that fresh.Expect to pay upwards of £75 for a three course meal for two with wine.The restaurant was slightly lacking in atmosphere as it was so quiet, but we appreciated the original artworks on the wall, donated by artists working on the estate.