When you’ve been our chasing waterfalls around Blairgowrie and Dunkeld in the Perth and Kinross area, like the thundering Reekie Linn, or meandering slowly through the giant Douglas Firs (some of the tallest trees in Britain) en route to Ossians Hall lookout to stand in awe overlooking the roaring Black Linn falls; you’ll most definitely work up an appetite. There is one place in Blairgowrie that I can highly recommend, the Dalmore Inn.

A REVIEW OF THE DALMORE INN, BLAIRGOWRIE

Very understated from the outside, with a large carpark, this is most definitely a case of never judging a book by its cover. Once you step inside, this very unassuming restaurant overflows with warmth and friendliness. Arnaud Merrouche (Front of House Manager) and his team are lovely and ever so welcoming.

The decor is filled with tones of rich wood, contrasting against warm blues with some cow hide textures thrown in. It’s a huge space and we head into the bright and airy conservatory area for lunch.

The kitchen is led by Chef Iain Naysmith, and with them being in such a wonderful location in central Scotland, it only makes sense that the food is seasonal and local. Throughout the year, the menu will often include pigeon, duck, grouse, quail and guinea fowl as well as beef, venison, hare and rabbit. Love it!

There’s a fairly large menu and a specials menu that present a mix of strong Scottish food - Burgers, Fish n Chips, Steaks etc and starters/sides like Mac n Cheese, Soup of the Day and Onion Rings; and a few dishes with an Eastern influence such as the Lamb Tagine and Honey & Soy Breast of Chicken served in an oriental broth.

With so much to choose from but still only space for one dish, we chose two hearty dishes.

The Classic Nachos sounded a good option for lunch and where convinced when we seen it delivered to another table. The Classic Nachos come with cheddar and mozzarella cheese, your choice of chilli beef or BBQ pulled pork and salsa, sour cream and guacamole. You can order them from the Light Lunch Menu & or as a Sharing Plate (£17.90). We went sharing and was waaaayyyyy to much. The portions are massive!

The sight of golden tortilla chips generously loaded with tender, smoky pulled pork, ooey-gooey melted cheese, tangy barbecue sauce, zesty salsa, cool sour cream, and vibrant green onions was a sight to behold. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavours and textures, from the crunch of the chips to the succulence of the pork, creating a symphony of taste that tantalised the palate. These nachos, meant for sharing but almost too irresistible to pass around, embody pure comfort and indulgence, and would make them the star of any lunch or dinner gathering.

Alongside the ginormous nachos, we ordered the Trio of Venison (£23.95).

WOW! WOW! WOW! the plate was loaded with rich and flavourful duo of cuts that showcased its versatility and depth of taste. The loin, known for its tenderness and subtle gamey flavour, was pan-seared to a perfect medium-rare, allowing its natural juices to shine. In contrast, the haunch offered a bolder, more robust taste with more texture, and the slow roasting braised this to perfection. And then there was the Stalker's pie, a beautiful rustic dish that combined tender venison meat with piped pillowy mash potatoes. Every element of this dish including the beetroot puree, wild mushrooms and redcurrant jus were the supporting roles in allowing this sensational dish to shine!

I’d love to go back to the Dalmore Inn with a raging hunger so that I can try many more dishes on their menu. My tastebuds really wanted to try their Sticky Toffee Pudding, but my belly said no! So I’m taking that as a sign that I am meant to visit again!

THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE DALMORE INN

• Plenty of on site free parking

• They cater for vegans and vegetarians. Although their dishes aren’t listed as Gluten Free options, you can enquire and inform of your dietary requirements

• Dogs are not allowed

• Disabled accessible with the entrance level with the carpark and w/c are on the ground floor

The Dalmore Inn, Perth Road, Blairgowrie, PH10 6QB www.dalmoreinn.com

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10

I was invited by The Dalmore Inn to review their menu.

Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.

TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.

 Adele is a writer, reviewer, judge and panelist living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events),  is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards.

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