Destination Dining: The Tullie Inn

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.