Visit & Vibes

In addition to my invitation to stay at the Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory, I received another invitation to dine at a restaurant.

I opted not to conduct any research regarding its location, proximity to the hotel, or the type of cuisine it offered.

I wanted the experience to be a pleasant surprise, particularly since it marked my first night ever in Tobermory.

I was eager to explore and immerse myself in the charm of the town for the very first time.

Upon entering, I was warmly greeted and given a brief introduction to the establishment.

As I glanced around, I noticed the soft glow of candlelight creating a delightful, cosy atmosphere. I was promptly escorted to my table, where I was informed that they would be offering me the taster menu.

The menu was placed before me, allowing me a moment to peruse its offerings.

What caught my attention, however, was the beautifully arranged table setting and the captivating view of the harbour. Despite the darkness outside, the twinkling lights from afar added to the enchanting ambience of the evening.

Décor	★★★★★
Noise Level	★★★★★
Restaurant Temperature	★★★★★
Table Dressing	★★★★★
Restaurant Cleanliness	★★★★★
Background Music Level	★★★★★

The Dinner

Taster Menu £90 pp (free tonight)
Optional Paired Wines £50

Snacks: Smoked salmon tart crystal “bread” with crab & sea herbs.
Isle of Mull Langoustine: Thermidor with brioche & caviar.
Braised Squid: With fennel, chilli, & bisque.
Steamed Cod: With mussels, buttermilk, & parsley.
Glengorm Lamb Loin: Haggis, carrot, & watercress.
Isle of Mull Venison Kebab: With mushroom & pickled veggies.
Ledaig Sour
80% Dark Chocolate: With raspberry, brownie, & vermouth sorbet.

While looking at the menu, every item sounded intriguing, and I couldn’t imagine how each dish would be presented, let alone taste.

However, as I glanced over the menu, I anticipated that it would be absolutely amazing. Some dishes initially caught my attention, but they weren’t the ones that impressed me the most after tasting.

Three dishes, in particular, stood out as star attractions. Don’t misunderstand me, the entire menu was absolutely incredible, and I’ll say it outright: this place deserves a Michelin star. However, three of those dishes truly stood out to me, and one of them I could easily enjoy again and again and again.

House Cocktail

While perusing the menu, Chef Ross informed me that he would create a house cocktail for me, featuring rhubarb, sorbet, and a few other ingredients. I won’t delve into those specifics. Initially, I thought, uh-oh, as I’m not typically a fan of rhubarb. However, I’m always open to trying something new to see if it changes my perspective.

Upon its arrival, the cocktail looked appealing and emitted a delightful aroma. Chef Ross mentioned that it would complement the snacks about to be served to the table.

I took a sip, bracing myself for the worst, but instead, I was treated to a delicious cocktail. Its flavour was perfect for my sweet tooth—neither too sweet nor unbalanced. I couldn’t distinctly taste much of the rhubarb, suggesting it blended seamlessly with the other ingredients. Overall, it was a delightful cocktail that I highly recommend trying if you visit here.

Snacks: Smoked salmon tart crystal “bread” with crab & sea herbs.

Upon arrival, this dish immediately caught my interest, prompting me to glance at the menu again to recall its contents.

To start, there were two delightful snacks: Both of these offerings were exceptionally flavorful. The bread, in particular, was outstanding. It seemed to dissolve on the palate, with a subtle hint of vinegar that provided the perfect finishing touch.

I found myself craving more of it, as my taste buds were overwhelmed with flavour, and that touch of vinegar truly elevated the dish to perfection.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★

Isle of Mull Langoustine: Thermidor with brioche & caviar.

Upon the arrival of the next dish, I found myself uncertain about what to expect.

Chef Ross, who was exceptionally pleasant and informative, described the dish, yet I struggled to envision its potential taste.

After sampling each component individually and then combining it, I discovered that when combined, it created a fantastic dish.

The brioche paired excellently with the langoustine, which was incredibly flavorful and notably fresh, likely owing to the proximity to the harbour. While the caviar didn’t stand out much to me, the harmony between the langoustine and brioche was outstanding.

The freshness of the langoustine left a truly remarkable impression. Moreover, with each bite, a subtle hint of lemon emerged, which beautifully rounded off the dish. Just like the vinegar that complemented the snacks at the start, the addition of lemon here was truly remarkable, elevating each bite to perfection.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Braised Squid: With fennel, chilli, & bisque.

Upon the arrival of this dish, the aroma was captivating, and my mouth immediately began to water.

Initially, I struggled to grasp the visual presentation until I took the first bite, and that’s when everything fell into place. With this dish, nothing goes to waste; every element, from the fennel to the tentacles, etc, is utilized. It truly stood out as a star dish, deserving of a perfect 10 out of 10 rating and undoubtedly worthy of a Michelin star.

The flavour was incredibly addictive; I found myself craving more with each bite. I could easily have indulged in a massive bowl of this dish and kept eating until I was full.

The subtle hint of chilli at the end added just the right amount of heat without overpowering the dish, contributing to its exceptional balance.

This dish was undeniably one of the highlights from the menu for me, and as I mentioned, I would eagerly consume more and more of it. A solid 10 out of 10.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Steamed Cod: With mussels, buttermilk, & parsley.

As I waited for the dish to be served, I couldn’t help but wonder if the following dishes would be as good as or even better than the last one, which was truly amazing.

When Chef Ross brought it out and plated it up, unfortunately, the lighting where I was seated wasn’t ideal, but it still allowed me to appreciate the presentation.

The aroma emanating from the dish was delightful, and I couldn’t wait to dig in. I began by sampling the sauce, which was exceptionally tasty.

Next, I tried a mussel on its own, and it was perfectly cooked and incredibly fresh—truly one of the best mussels I’ve ever tasted.

Then, I sampled the cod, which was cooked to perfection; it effortlessly fell apart and melted in my mouth, devoid of any bones. When everything was combined, it resulted in another standout dish, deserving of a perfect 10 out of 10 rating and unquestionably worthy of a Michelin star.

It exhibited perfect balance, flawless cooking, and incredible flavours.

Once again, I highly recommend visiting this restaurant and trying this dish, even if it may seem a bit pricey at first thought; believe me, it’s absolutely worth it. If I ever return to Tobermory, I will definitely opt for another tasting menu here because the food was simply outstanding.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Glengorm Lamb Loin: Haggis, carrot, & watercress.

At this point, I was beginning to feel just a little full, yet there was still more to come. I had mixed feelings about the next dish, mostly because lamb tends to be hit or miss for me.

However, upon its arrival, the presentation was once again impeccable, and it looked truly appetizing. The aroma emanating from it was incredibly mouthwatering.

I decided to sample some of the haggis on its own, and I was immediately impressed. It was one of the most enjoyable haggises I’ve ever had, with a lovely smooth texture and a perfectly balanced flavour—not too strong, not too weak. It’s hard to put into words, but it was simply delicious. I learned that everything is locally sourced and made on-site, including the option for vegetarian haggis.

Moving on to the lamb, I took a bite and was surprised by its unique flavour, unlike any other lamb I’d tasted before. It was beautifully cooked and incredibly flavorful.

Combining everything to create the perfect bite was indeed perfection; the flavour combination was impeccably balanced, allowing each individual component to shine while harmonizing beautifully together. This dish was truly delectable, and if you’re a fan of lamb and haggis, it’s a must-try.

Once again, this dish left me thoroughly impressed, and I would gladly indulge in it again.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Isle of Mull Venison Kebab: With mushroom & pickled veggies.

While I was digesting the numerous previous dishes, I glanced at the menu again to see what was next, and it was the venison kebab. I had no idea how it would be presented or taste.

I struck up a conversation with another table, and they too were intrigued by the description of this dish.

Upon its arrival, we listened intently as Chef Ross explained that it was all locally sourced and made on-site.

This is the only place where you can find a kebab like this. I couldn’t wait to try it. Once again, I sampled each component individually.

First, I tried the mushroom sauce, which, despite lacking a fancy term, was smooth and had a remarkably flavorful taste—one I hadn’t encountered with mushrooms before, suggesting they use a specific type. Next were the pickled veggies, which were delightful.

Then, onto the kebab. The aroma was incredible, and with each bite, I discovered it was perfectly cooked with a balanced flavour, just like everything else.

It wasn’t overpowering but rather perfectly balanced and incredibly moreish.

Once again, compliments to the chef for seamlessly combining all the elements. Each dish worked harmoniously, offering a perfect bite and taste every time. I would gladly enjoy this dish repeatedly, and if you visit, this is definitely worth trying.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Ledaig Sour

When this dish landed on the table, I was in the dark about what to expect, especially based on the menu description.

Enter the Legaig sour: a sorbet that’s like a whisky sour but jazzed up with the local Ledaig 10-year-old whisky, a tad more peaty than the Tobermory 10. It brings a smoky kick to the end of each bite, blending seamlessly with the tart lemon vibes in the sorbet, meringue, and burnt sourdough sherbet.

I was eager to dig in. The taste? A refreshing delight, with a subtle smokiness that sneaks in towards the end. It’s like a perfect palate cleanser, prepping me for the next dish – just like everything else has been doing throughout the meal.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

80% Dark Chocolate: With raspberry, brownie, & vermouth sorbet.

The final dish of the night was the dark chocolate with raspberry brownie and vermouth sorbet. At this point, I was becoming extremely full, but once again, I couldn’t wait to experience the presentation and savour the flavours. As you’ve just read, everything throughout the meal has been absolutely amazing, perfectly cooked, and incredibly flavorful. Upon its arrival, this dish exceeded expectations. Visually, the presentation was appealing, and being 80% dark chocolate, it perfectly satisfied my sweet tooth. I couldn’t wait to indulge.

As expected, the dark chocolate was incredibly delicious. It had a delightful smoothness, and the addition of raspberry inside complemented it perfectly, creating a flawless combination. Surprisingly, the vermouth sorbet was also very tasty, and the harmony between the sorbet, raspberry, and dark chocolate, like everything else, once again, speaks volumes about the chef’s skill. It all worked together seamlessly and served as a fantastic and perfect dish to conclude the evening.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Final Thoughts…

Firstly, a massive thanks to the team for inviting me, and huge compliments to the chefs for tonight’s meal.

As you’ve just read, this is a completely honest review, and from start to finish, it was absolute perfection. Every dish stood out, with one or two being particularly to my taste, but overall, each one was perfectly cooked, balanced, presented, and worked well together.

The flow of the menu was excellent, and overall, it was a fantastic dining experience.

I highly, highly recommend it. It’s definitely worth the price. Additionally, some of these dishes, in my personal opinion, deserve a Michelin star. That’s how good they were. I can honestly say I will be booking here again on my next trip to the Isle of Mull.

It’s also going on my list of top restaurants to visit, and I can’t recommend this place highly enough.

You need to check it out and take a trip to Tobermory. Again, a massive thanks to the chefs, and please, if you do visit, let me know what you think in the comments.

Service / Staff	★★★★★
Ambience	★★★★★
Time between Courses	★★★★★
Overall Value for Money	n/a tonight
MY OVERALL RATING	★★★★★

It’s important to note that all the views and opinions expressed in my blog posts and vlogs are entirely personal, have not been influenced in any way and reflect my individual perspective. I value authenticity and honesty above all, and my content is a genuine reflection of my thoughts and experiences.