The best restaurants in East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray Orkney Islands Highlands and Islands

What an excellent place. It exudes quality from the fixtures and fittings, through the excellent staff to the brilliant food. We had the Orkney platter which was delicious and followed it up with one of the wonderful home baked cakes. It was so good we made a point of stopping off again later in our stay for a nice cup tea and cake one afternoon.

I spent 2 nights at the Sands while on the island for work. The staff were super friendly, helpful with any thing I needed and the food was amazing (I’m just finishing off a stair pie that is just the hearty food I need after a long day of photography) Would recommend and will definitely come again if I’m lucky enough to return to this beautiful location.

Sadly this wonderful place is closing. The welcome was warm and friendly, the setting simply amazing - you look out to sea at the Pentland Skerries, Duncansby Head, the north coast of Scotland - on a clear clear day almost as far as Cape Wrath with the mountains of Scotland .......... but down to the excellent food which is not unduly expensive but served with charm and helpfulness. - we had Chowder (5*+) seafood platter (5*+++) lasange (non fish eater!) 5* and amazing desserts. Could not have been a better experience and ranks 1st equal with one other Orkney restaurant! Just sad that it will not be operating under the current management next summer! We wish them a happy retirement!

Nice little bar/restaurant with decent pub grub and large portions and also very reasonable prices. Also friendly and efficient staff. Will certainly return

Ondanks het feit dat we laat waren door de ferry was er op het eten niks aan te merken. Heel lekker en de zaak zat goed vol dus reserveren is geen overbodige luxe..

Very friendly staff, fantastic view outside, nice dining area with a very delicious menu, nice clean and tidy room, we really enjoyed our stay there.

We called in for lunch on spec when the place we'd intended going wasn't yet open and were pleasantly surprised. Everything felt fresh and welcoming, the maps on the walls were fascinating, the service friendly. Huge amounts of excellent mussels for me, husband had the scallop salad. We were so impressed we went back a second time, when I had the scallop salad (excellent but actually a little too much for me!) and husband had sea food pasta which was also really good. Down sides? Being served by someone constantly chewing gum with an open mouth is somewhat off putting, and if you want feedback on the food, you come after it's been served and ask if it's OK or you need anything - you don't wait until the guests are paying and then ask "did you enjoy that?". Felt like my granny asking...