The Flying Stay at The Fife Arms in Braemar

There’s one thing a couple of lengthy hike that simply screams an enormous pub meal after.

It’s change into a little bit of a ritual for me. Stroll for miles and miles, and reward myself with a hearty meal after. I like having the motivation to drive me to maintain going, particularly when hills, or the odd Munro, is concerned.

Not too long ago a bunch of associates and I headed to Loch Callater for a four-hour hike. The views within the Scottish Highlands are breathtaking, and seeing the loch frozen over in winter this time made the expertise very totally different to our heat, sweaty summer season stroll.

We hadn’t booked anyplace to eat within the neighbouring village Braemar as a result of we had been not sure after we’d be completed, in order quickly as we had been performed my boyfriend, I and one other buddy along with her pooch headed for The Fife Arms.

The Flying Stag

I hadn’t visited their The Flying Stag bar in so lengthy and I craved some hearty meals.

After we arrived it was busy, with each desk – minus two lengthy ones which we reckoned had been reserved – occupied. I requested a member of workers what the chance of getting a desk could be.

After conversing along with her supervisor, she requested if we’d be tremendous with sitting by way of within the Fog Home space the place they’d fortunately serve us the identical menu. Delighted to get a seat, we accepted and had been proven by way of.

The Flying Stag is a comfy pub. It’s conventional with a contemporary aptitude to it, though I’ve not been in lots of bars the place you’d discover a stuffed deer leaping over it.

The Fog Home however was softer. An enormous fire crackled as we sat down on the wood chairs adorned with fake animal fur. Alongside the centre of the room hung a chandelier made up of round 700 pairs of antlers.

On the menu you’ll discover pub classics and some extra adventurous dishes like venison,

I used to be eyeing up the fish and chips however didn’t fairly fancy the £23 price ticket for a big. Our server assured me that the small (£14) was greater than enough and that they’d additionally bought out of the big, in order that was a straightforward choice.

My boyfriend couldn’t see previous the Highland venison burger (£19) as he was after one thing hearty, and our buddy selected the haggis, neeps and tatties (£15). There have been a number of different objects out of inventory, however fortunately we had been set on consolation meals over fancier dishes.

Whereas putting our order, I added a sneaky portion of black pudding bon bons (£7) which I knew the others would recognize.

Isla, the border collie retriever cross who was mendacity below the desk even received a bowl of water delivered which Heather, her proprietor, appreciated.

The meals

A couple of others joined us to dine in The Fog Home space which made it really feel a bit extra like a restaurant, fairly than the three of us hanging out.

We’d all ordered pints of recent orange and lemonade and gulped them. Time handed and we observed that half an hour had been and gone. We appreciated it was busy, however the starvation was actually setting in.

Just below 45 minutes later our dishes arrived. Forks had been flying and we instantly received caught in. The burger to the correct of me regarded unbelievable. The brioche bun was glowing and the thick juicy venison patty poked out all sides with melted Isle of Mull cheddar cheese working down the facet.

It sat upon a chunky slice of beef tomato and a chunk of crisp lettuce additionally shot out one facet of the burger. The highest half of the bun had a lightweight scraping of mayonnaise

A horseradish slaw and skin-on chips sat to the facet, as did a gherkin. All however the slaw was demolished.

My beer-battered fish was wonderful, and for a “small” portion was fairly substantial. It was completely cooked and the haddock flaked away. The batter was crisp and had that pretty crunch you’re keen on to listen to.

The fries had been skinny and sprinkled with a bit of vinegar and salt, and actually hit the spot. I really like a great tartar sauce and this one lived as much as my expectations. I squeezed the wedge of lemon over the fish to open the flavours up a bit extra, and the peas had been polished off very quickly, too.

My buddy raved about her meal too, saying the haggis was pretty and peppery and the Royal Lochnagar whisky sauce that she poured over every thing had a scrumptious slight whisky notice to it. The tatties and neeps had been extremely gentle and the sauce, which there was loads of, continued to be lathered on all through.

Vegan haggis was additionally obtainable, however she fancied the true stuff on this event. There was a point out of skirlie, however we couldn’t determine the place on the plate it was.

The six bon bons with the spiced plum ketchup had been successful with everybody. The outer shell offered a gentle crunch and revealed the wealthy pudding inside. They had been bite-sized, and since there was a good quantity, we managed to share them out with none arguments.

I liked the spiced plum ketchup and my boyfriend additionally used some to unfold on his burger.

Whereas I believed I’d be geared as much as order lunch the fish and chips had left me feeling greater than happy.

None of us fancied sitting the hour-and-a-half drive dwelling stuffed, so we reluctantly declined dessert when provided. Though the plum and apple crumble, sticky toffee pud and pear frangipane sounded extremely tempting.

The decision

Whereas service was a bit of gradual and our meals did take fairly some time to reach, we had been conscious we weren’t in the primary eating space so did recognize that issues might have been a bit of slower because of this.

The meals we ordered was traditional pub grub, and that was precisely what we had been on the lookout for. Even the fancier dishes just like the Blue Homicide, pan-fried sea trout and the venison roast – which was sadly bought out – all sounded wonderful.

I feel what actually makes The Fife Arms stand out is its distinctive setting. A small neighborhood village isn’t your traditional setting for a five-star resort, however native is actually on the coronary heart of this place, and their menus, which suggests distinctive produce is certain to grace your plate.

Info

Handle: The Fife Arms,  Mar Street, Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5YN

T: 01339 720200

W: thefifearms.com

Value: £69 for a starter, three mains and 4 pints of recent orange and lemonade

Scores: 

• Meals: 4/5
• Service: 3.5/5
• Surrounding: 4/5