The Bothy
Burghead, Moray
It might not boast sea views, but this low-slung little restaurant in a pretty coastal village on the shores of the Moray Firth does have a sunny little beer garden, while the interiors exude a cool, vintage seaside-chic vibe. Ruth and Barry Scott care about provenance, with a blackboard by the door highlighting local producers from Moray and beyond: haddock and monkfish from Peterhead, 'langoustines straight from the harbour' and the 'best hand-dived scallops ever tasted'. Starters on the all-day menu include a moreish salad of roasted beets, braised leeks, lightly whipped feta and walnuts alongside deliciously spicy Thai-style Shetland mussels. To follow, the seafood chowder with crispy gnocchi and zhoug in a fiery chilli and coriander sauce is a creamy medley of piscine pleasures, while steaks and seasonal game provide a more meaty alternative. Dessert might bring an orange and almond cake with tart raspberry sorbet or indulgently retro knickerbocker glory. Bread and cakes are baked in-house, and there's a range of artisan, stone-baked pizzas and pizzette topped with, say, salty anchovies and salsa verde or rosemary, sea salt and olive oil. To drink, the craft beer is from the Spey Valley and the Salty Dog house gin is made by the Benromach Distillery in Forres, although the wine, produced by the owners' friends at Albet i Noya in Catalonia (the first organic vineyard in Spain), has further to travel. Factor in 'beautiful' cocktails and 'service from cheerful and knowledgeable staff,' and the Bothy make a great little pit stop.
Dining Information:
Separate bar, Family friendly, Dog friendly
16 Grant Street, Burghead, Moray IV30 5UE
01343 830006
