A couple of Saturdays ago I had one of those days that just sticks out in my mind as being perfect, knowing the sun would be shining me and the man decided to pack up our troubles and head for a relaxing day out in Balloch. Situated on the banks of Loch Lomond there are so many fun things to do here and it is a relaxing spot that makes you feel a million miles from the bustling city centre. I am always kicking myself for not coming here more often as it is only 50 mins away from Glasgow and about £6 on the train.
We spent the day sunbathing, walking around the all the gorgeous boats and investigating Loch Lomond shores which is a fab shopping complex with lots to see. The main event though was always going to be dinner and we were so excited about it as the minute we got off the train we could see where we were going, and it looked GORGEOUS.
Sitting right next to the train station, The Tullie Inn has
just re opened following a major £700 000 refurbishment and it is now the absolutely perfect
destination spot for dining after a long day exploring the loch. I was amazed when I
walked in the door and was greeted with the truly gorgeous and fresh, nautical cape cod theme.
Bright ,airy and perfectly thought out, I was a huge fan of the look and would pretty much LOVE a house that had a similar feel. The little touches tied in beautifully with the outside surroundings and
the whole place was buzzing with groups from families to parties enjoying big
meals and relaxed drinks. I loved the different areas on offer, there are big comfy
booths, a gorgeous separate bar with a fire place, outside seating to enjoy a
summer drink and their new amazing glasshouse built on to the front of the building. Ally and I were lucky
to be seated here for dinner and it was just so nice and made us feel really special and like we were on a proper holiday!
We were served by Danielle who was the loveliest waitress I have ever had, more than happy to fill us in on the Tullie Inn and surrounding places to see while providing tip top service. We
enjoyed delicious breads and flatbreads with oils while we poured over the
stunning menu. What I loved about here was the variety in on offer, without
being overwhelming or too diverse they have just pinpointed good foods from a variety of cuisines. From
morrocan stew, to risotto or pasta to steaks from the grill, they cater for
everyone and I was honestly so pushed for what I wanted to have.
I opted for the chicken tempura to start, crispy on the
outside, incredibly tender on the inside and with a dip with just the right
amount of kick, it was heavenly and one of the best starters I have had in a very long time. Ally went for Cullen skink which although not up my street- he
was in his element and uhhhmed and ahhhd throughout. For main I plumped for a
beautiful terayki chicken, perfectly cooked and coming with rice and wilted
greens and sauce on the side the flavours were excellent and it felt filling
but not too heavy. Lamb Stew was the
winner for Ally and he adored it, stunning mix of flavours and served with
flat bread and cous cous it was something totally different that he wasn't
expecting to be on the menu.
After trying to persuade ourselves we couldn't possibly have
pudding- we of course ended up ordering two anyway and man am I glad we did! On
the recommendation of Danielle it was the sticky toffee pudding and chocolate
brownie that won the fight and they were outstanding. I would go back just for
dessert in a heartbeat. The sticky toffee was my winner, moist and juicy and a healthy serving it was just sensational and a fab end to such a gorgeous meal.
I loved the portion sizes and found it to be good value for money for quality food in such a lovely place. We moved
through ( more like rolled given how much we had eaten) to the bar area which was buzzing for a Saturday night. With a live DJ providing excellent motown and soul
it was really hard to leave for the last train, I just wanted to stay and try
out their pretty darn good looking breakfast menu too!
I am so impressed that they offer a two courses for £10 during the week, which I really hope to
get to one day as I think that it is fabulous value for what is being offered. I cannot recommend a day trip to here enough, there is so much to do in the local area that you can make a real mini holiday of a trip and finish it off with some mouthwatering food and drinks.
Thanks so much to The Tullie Inn for having us- everyone was
so nice I cannot wait for my next visit.
WOW what a beautiful place and the food looks just as good :) xx
ReplyDeleteIt really was! been thinking of the whole meal since- wish i was still there :) xx
DeleteI stayed here a few times when I was a kid! It looks so different now, I'd love to go back again - seems lovely :)
ReplyDeleteit looks so good now, you must get there for a visit again if you can xx
DeleteNeither my boyfriend or I drives so my mouth is just hanging open right now! I always just resign myself to the thought that it's too expensive/too far away/too much hassle to get out to Loch Lomond. Food looks amazing, you can tell it's made fresh. x
ReplyDeleteNeither of us drive either- such a pest! But this was so cheap and easy it was perfect- the fact it's right next to train makes it fab too- no running for that last train home! It was so fresh- love the care they put into it :) xxx
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