The Bothy Restaurant And Bar - Highland

We were a family of 7 who visited the Bothy Restaurant on the 9th December to have a meal. The restaurant at the time of our visit had one family sitting eating. We were advised that the restaurant could not move two tables of 4 to accommodate us. We were shocked by the comments. We offered to move the tables together but were told that this could not happen. We ended up visiting the local Chinese which was amazing and spent £200 on food and beverages. The reason for our visit to Fort Augustus was to scatter my mother's ashes earlier that day. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the food.

Our group of three Peruvians and one Asian American, exploring the UK for the past two weeks, recently faced our first disappointing restaurant experience at Bothy Restaurant Bar in Fort Augustus, Scotland (We came in around 4:15pm on December 12, 2023). Despite initiating a greeting, the blonde-haired barmaid did not respond, leaving us with no choice but to seat ourselves. It seemed as though we were interrupting her time with friends at the bar, contributing to an unwelcoming atmosphere. Additionally, when we inquired about seating and the available menu, her response was cold and annoyed and she stated only drinks were available. She failed to mention that the kitchen opens at 5 pm, which we only knew beforehand due to the sign at the entrance. To further add to our dismay, one of her friends, an older heavyset male (unclear if a staff member or not), exhibited unprofessional behavior. Considering this initial unpleasant exchange, we decided not to eat or spend any money at Bothy Restaurant Bar. It's perplexing how they maintain a 4-star rating with over 1,000 reviews – perhaps this is indicative of experiences when the blonde barmaid isn't working. Unfortunately, we couldn't discern whether our unfavorable treatment was due to being tourists or possibly rooted in racism. We hope this feedback contributes to a more positive and welcoming environment for future patrons.

We ordered our food and it arrived at our table within minutes. It was faster than a typical Wetherspoons meal. The chips seemed to be frozen, and the vegetarian chicken dish must have been precooked as it was unlikely to have been prepared from scratch in such a short time. Overall, the food was mediocre and not particularly impressive. We paid £30 for two meals.

Great menu, good pricing, prompt polite service, and very tasty huge portions! Delicious deserts, still based around the same generous helpings too

We stopped by for a quick lunchtime drink and bar snack. We were greeted and served by a senior staff member who seemed unhappy and possibly depressed, with a negative attitude and rudeness. We ordered only the basic items and left as soon as we could. The younger staff who brought our snacks and worked behind the bar were polite and friendly.