The Mrs and the kids took me to the Hilcroft Hotel restaurant Bar 108 for Father's Day dinner on the Saturday night (she was working on the Sunday) as she had dined here before and recommended. We turned up without making a booking which was a bit daft as it was quite busy and nearly all the tables were reserved. However Margaret went all out and quickly had us seated in a nice big comfy booth. The kids menu was excellent with a great range of food, even for fussy kids like mine. Also a nice touch on the back was a puzzle and a colouring in picture. This and the separate kids play room kept them occupied between courses and they even met new friends while playing.
The adults menu was great and had a nice range of dishes, not too many and not too few with Mexican, Italian, Scottish and Indian meals to chose from. There was even a daily special fixed 2 courser which on this day was Carrot & Coriander soup followed by a Salmon dish that was around the £10 mark - excellent. Anyway I went for the Scottish Scallops with black pudding and chorizo. This is the first time I've had scallops and after trying them, it won't be my last. This dish was amazing, honestly! and the presentation was as good as any from a 4/5 star restaurant (and I took a pic to prove it). I could have had it again for a main course but obviously with a bigger serving. Really couldn't get enough. Black pudding is one of my favourite foods to eat anyway but with the chorizo and the scallops, the combination was just perfect. If you're eating here, you really need to try this!
For the main, I went for rack of lamb with djon mustard and garlic crust with crushed potatoes and carrot gratin. This dish again was excellent and well proportioned. I'm fussy with lamb and if it's even slightly too chewy, I won't eat it. Nothing to worry about here though, it was done just right, great. I also had a side of onion rings which deserve a mention as were handmade (not the cheap frozen perfectly round ones) and came in a huge portion. I had to finish these off and that's the reason I skipped pudding to be honest, I was done in lol, stuffed.
I've not mentioned what my Mrs had to eat as she, like my kids is a fussy eater. She'll kill me for saying haha but she had the kids Heinz tomato soup starter and chips and cheese. She though said the chips are the best she's ever had and that's why she wanted to come back here! I have to say though, these handcut chips are HUGE and done perfectly - crispy on the outside and melt in the mouth on the inside. Fussy eaters are just that, so for her to go off her usual chips and want to travel to a restaurant 15 miles away from home, I'm going to take her word for it and glad I did.
Anyway I've rabbled on enough and hope I don't sound like a ponsie TV food critic. I've ate in dozens of hotels up and down the country through travelling for work. I've had really good food before and probably should have left reviews but for Bar 108 at this hotel, I just had to come on here and recommend. The staff are top class and were very friendly to us and our kids. From Margaret who helped us get seated and served our drinks, to our waiter Pedro (I think his name is, Spanish chap) who served our food and had us in stitches at his patter / jokes. Altogether this is best restaurant I've eaten in so far and will be hard to beat. I can't rate it highly enough! If you're about this neck of the woods, treat yourself and the family and eat here!! You can thank me later :)