Had a very nice lunch here, nice portion sizes, lovely food and very nice employees. Will definitely return when back in the area.
Kam Bansal
What a wonderful experience. The food was great, atmosphere perfect, and service top marks.I plan on bringing all our visitors here.
Julie FALCONER
Parking: Very little parking and no disabled parking available and steep climb up to the restaurant if you have to park on the street
Resort558877
Stopped here on our way to Aberdeen for lunch. It was just lovely - cosy with fires lit, friendly attentive service and the food was simply excellent. My fish was cooked beautifully and the plate had a lovely balance of tasty sauce and veg. We will definitely be back - well done to all the team.
Richard Cain
Lovely food in a great setting.
Burnieb
It’s sublime food on a par with the best. Just partially located up the road from ‘gods own country’ and my goodness cannot be happier long may it continue and that others support to keep such a village asset.
Went one evening with friends as we heard good reports of this Restaurant, we went and sat in the lounge area as their were only two small tables taken, the fire was on it was very cosy, the waitress past our table several times without taking us on, then the next time she passed i said excuse me can we have some menu's, she bit back with "have you booked" we replied no, she then passed out the menu's. we ordered our meals their was no smile or thank you, when the food arrived again their was no chat the plates were put down and she left, the meal was average, on leaving I said thanks we were completly ignored by her. Sorry we will not be back, was this the reason only two tables were taken ?
justine h
We have eaten here on numerous occasions over the past 6 months and having usually opted for the seafood would say that the portion sizes are more than generous and the quality of the seafood is consistently fresh, local and of great quality. Prices range from around £15 for lemon sole to £32 for a seafood platter with a few vegetarian options also being available - strudel or Wellington being a couple of them. On our last visit we both opted for the lemon sole which was served with mashed potatoes, veg and a cream sauce. We both asked if we could have fries instead and were politely offered chunky or skinny.....I also asked if I could have mine without the garlic sauce and again was offered an alternative sauce which was great.....I wasn't told what the sauce was when the dish arrived and I believed it to be roast red pepper ....I think however this was the soup that was on the "specials menu" but luckily for me it went well with the sole so no complaints there. If the Scottish weather gods are playing nice and the sun is shining ( or at least its even dry) then there are a 2 or 3 tables outside, and although the view is nothing to write home about it (no views of the sea) it certainly beats sitting in the lounge bar which is very dark and dreary.....the owner certainly seems to favour dark brown leatherette as a go too ! There is a wood burning stove in the lounge bar and always enough sticks next to it to see you through a cold winter week in rural Aberdeenshire.......however, on our last visit we kindly asked the waitress ( who I now believe to be the owner) if the fire could be lit to make the place seem a little more inviting and to warm the place up. Having explained that we had just been for a swim down at the local harbour we got a curt "no...it smokes too much". Surely it would be worth getting it fixed so it doesn't "smoke" as we can't be the only clients that feel this way ? The lounge bar is dog friendly which is great and plenty of room between the tables so you don't feel like your squeezed in. No water was offered to the dog which seems a bit odd considering that most people go to Catterline for a walk on the pebble beach or along the cliff tops. A small gesture to make but that means a lot for dog owners.....Perhaps a little jar of treats too:) The main reason for this review however, is to say that we will never eat in this establishment again (which is a real shame and there are lots of friends and family who we have spoken to and had intended to invite to come with us in future)........ The one and ONLY reason for this is due to the waitress (Owner). Always there, always dreary, always sarcastic, always feels like you are doing them a favour by eating here. I have heard the way she speaks to the staff and to be honest Im surprised she has any staff left....the chef must either have shares in the place or be married or related to her.....as any chef in their right mind would have walked out by now ! Only yesterday, on paying the bill we tried to have some friendly chat with the waitress/owner and politely mentioned that it was quiet ( it was 4pm on a sunny sat afternoon and we were the only people there) and we were shot down in flames with the most sarcastic tone of voice I have EVER heard in the hospitality business to be told that "well its 4pm...what do you expect...it was busy at lunchtime and its booked out for dinnertime.... I mean ...excuse us for wanting to part with hard earned cash for a meal that was out with standard Scottish meal times.....Jesus...its 2023.....why open and serve food ALL DAY if you don't think to want people to eat after 2pm and before 5pm ! God help any European tourists find themselves here. If you do find yourself in Catterline don't expect the " friendly team and welcoming ambience" and the cosy lounge which has open fires........ mentioned on their website......because you will be sorely disappointed. Haste ye back....I THINK NOT !
On our arrival the greeting by the waitress (who actually turned out to be the owner) was cold and unwelcoming. We were tempted to turn on our heels and leave but we had heard that the food was delicious so decided to stay. Both the bar and restaurant are quite dark so, being a lovely sunny day, we opted to sit at one of the outside tables. The menu is varied and we both opted for fish dishes. The food was served in a reasonable time frame and all dishes were well presented and the food was cooked to perfection with reasonable portion sizes. After we left the restaurant we had a daunder around the area and spoke to a couple of the locals. We mentioned that we had just eaten in the Creel Inn and described our experience of the unpleasant greeting on arrival. Apparently the owner is renowned for her off-hand manner and this is a common occurrence.
Kim Clark
Was a bit empty when we were there on Sunday afternoon which is a shame as used to be queuing for a table. Food was decent but again used to be fantastic so it’s disappointing it’s gone down hill a bit.Wheelchair accessibility: It’s not the easiest to get in and out of but there is a wheelchair ramp at the back after negotiating the chuckies
ihammie
The actual restaurant is quite pleasant and the staff are helpful and attentive. the bar area is poorly lit and has no great appeal. The menu was alright though pricey. The food was quite reasonable though my meat course was fairly tough and the vegetables slightly undercooked. Those that took the fish course with chips found the helpings small.
Laura Tennant
Generally lovely food, although the Halibut special was very overcooked today and too dry to finish my mouthful in time to tell the waiter. She wasn't hanging round though and when the fish was left on the plate, she was quick enough again to argue she'd asked me if it was OK. Not the service I'd expect. Quite disappointing. The veg and sides were lovely.Vegetarian options: Great vegan haggis burger
SloanStreet StAndrews
The easiest summary to give of the Creel Inn, is that there is a lot of skill going on in the kitchen.My wife and I had a 2 x course lunch today following a walk from Stonehaven to Dunnotar Castle and back - so our appetites were up! Black pudding scotch egg on pea shoots with a peppercorn sauce, followed by the battered haddock and chips for me, and a crayfish salad followed by mussels in a chilli and coconut sauce for my wife.The sauce that the mussels were served in is one of the finest sauces I have ever eaten (she insisted I try some) - the layers of flavour were phenomenal. The scotch egg was excellent and thefish and chips were as good as anything you'll get on the east coast of Scotland - the batter was light and crunchy, chips were to-die-for and the fish cooked to perfection.Prices were reasonable and house-wines very pleasant. All in all a lovely restaurant worthy of taking the time to find (it confused our sat-nav no end!)
Had a very nice lunch here, nice portion sizes, lovely food and very nice employees. Will definitely return when back in the area.
What a wonderful experience. The food was great, atmosphere perfect, and service top marks.I plan on bringing all our visitors here.
Parking: Very little parking and no disabled parking available and steep climb up to the restaurant if you have to park on the street
Stopped here on our way to Aberdeen for lunch. It was just lovely - cosy with fires lit, friendly attentive service and the food was simply excellent. My fish was cooked beautifully and the plate had a lovely balance of tasty sauce and veg. We will definitely be back - well done to all the team.
Lovely food in a great setting.
It’s sublime food on a par with the best. Just partially located up the road from ‘gods own country’ and my goodness cannot be happier long may it continue and that others support to keep such a village asset.
Fantastic food and great
Brilliant food. Friendly staff. Cracking location.
Went one evening with friends as we heard good reports of this Restaurant, we went and sat in the lounge area as their were only two small tables taken, the fire was on it was very cosy, the waitress past our table several times without taking us on, then the next time she passed i said excuse me can we have some menu's, she bit back with "have you booked" we replied no, she then passed out the menu's. we ordered our meals their was no smile or thank you, when the food arrived again their was no chat the plates were put down and she left, the meal was average, on leaving I said thanks we were completly ignored by her. Sorry we will not be back, was this the reason only two tables were taken ?
We have eaten here on numerous occasions over the past 6 months and having usually opted for the seafood would say that the portion sizes are more than generous and the quality of the seafood is consistently fresh, local and of great quality. Prices range from around £15 for lemon sole to £32 for a seafood platter with a few vegetarian options also being available - strudel or Wellington being a couple of them. On our last visit we both opted for the lemon sole which was served with mashed potatoes, veg and a cream sauce. We both asked if we could have fries instead and were politely offered chunky or skinny.....I also asked if I could have mine without the garlic sauce and again was offered an alternative sauce which was great.....I wasn't told what the sauce was when the dish arrived and I believed it to be roast red pepper ....I think however this was the soup that was on the "specials menu" but luckily for me it went well with the sole so no complaints there. If the Scottish weather gods are playing nice and the sun is shining ( or at least its even dry) then there are a 2 or 3 tables outside, and although the view is nothing to write home about it (no views of the sea) it certainly beats sitting in the lounge bar which is very dark and dreary.....the owner certainly seems to favour dark brown leatherette as a go too ! There is a wood burning stove in the lounge bar and always enough sticks next to it to see you through a cold winter week in rural Aberdeenshire.......however, on our last visit we kindly asked the waitress ( who I now believe to be the owner) if the fire could be lit to make the place seem a little more inviting and to warm the place up. Having explained that we had just been for a swim down at the local harbour we got a curt "no...it smokes too much". Surely it would be worth getting it fixed so it doesn't "smoke" as we can't be the only clients that feel this way ? The lounge bar is dog friendly which is great and plenty of room between the tables so you don't feel like your squeezed in. No water was offered to the dog which seems a bit odd considering that most people go to Catterline for a walk on the pebble beach or along the cliff tops. A small gesture to make but that means a lot for dog owners.....Perhaps a little jar of treats too:) The main reason for this review however, is to say that we will never eat in this establishment again (which is a real shame and there are lots of friends and family who we have spoken to and had intended to invite to come with us in future)........ The one and ONLY reason for this is due to the waitress (Owner). Always there, always dreary, always sarcastic, always feels like you are doing them a favour by eating here. I have heard the way she speaks to the staff and to be honest Im surprised she has any staff left....the chef must either have shares in the place or be married or related to her.....as any chef in their right mind would have walked out by now ! Only yesterday, on paying the bill we tried to have some friendly chat with the waitress/owner and politely mentioned that it was quiet ( it was 4pm on a sunny sat afternoon and we were the only people there) and we were shot down in flames with the most sarcastic tone of voice I have EVER heard in the hospitality business to be told that "well its 4pm...what do you expect...it was busy at lunchtime and its booked out for dinnertime.... I mean ...excuse us for wanting to part with hard earned cash for a meal that was out with standard Scottish meal times.....Jesus...its 2023.....why open and serve food ALL DAY if you don't think to want people to eat after 2pm and before 5pm ! God help any European tourists find themselves here. If you do find yourself in Catterline don't expect the " friendly team and welcoming ambience" and the cosy lounge which has open fires........ mentioned on their website......because you will be sorely disappointed. Haste ye back....I THINK NOT !
Restaurantji Recommends
On our arrival the greeting by the waitress (who actually turned out to be the owner) was cold and unwelcoming. We were tempted to turn on our heels and leave but we had heard that the food was delicious so decided to stay. Both the bar and restaurant are quite dark so, being a lovely sunny day, we opted to sit at one of the outside tables. The menu is varied and we both opted for fish dishes. The food was served in a reasonable time frame and all dishes were well presented and the food was cooked to perfection with reasonable portion sizes. After we left the restaurant we had a daunder around the area and spoke to a couple of the locals. We mentioned that we had just eaten in the Creel Inn and described our experience of the unpleasant greeting on arrival. Apparently the owner is renowned for her off-hand manner and this is a common occurrence.
Was a bit empty when we were there on Sunday afternoon which is a shame as used to be queuing for a table. Food was decent but again used to be fantastic so it’s disappointing it’s gone down hill a bit.Wheelchair accessibility: It’s not the easiest to get in and out of but there is a wheelchair ramp at the back after negotiating the chuckies
The actual restaurant is quite pleasant and the staff are helpful and attentive. the bar area is poorly lit and has no great appeal. The menu was alright though pricey. The food was quite reasonable though my meat course was fairly tough and the vegetables slightly undercooked. Those that took the fish course with chips found the helpings small.
Generally lovely food, although the Halibut special was very overcooked today and too dry to finish my mouthful in time to tell the waiter. She wasn't hanging round though and when the fish was left on the plate, she was quick enough again to argue she'd asked me if it was OK. Not the service I'd expect. Quite disappointing. The veg and sides were lovely.Vegetarian options: Great vegan haggis burger
The easiest summary to give of the Creel Inn, is that there is a lot of skill going on in the kitchen.My wife and I had a 2 x course lunch today following a walk from Stonehaven to Dunnotar Castle and back - so our appetites were up! Black pudding scotch egg on pea shoots with a peppercorn sauce, followed by the battered haddock and chips for me, and a crayfish salad followed by mussels in a chilli and coconut sauce for my wife.The sauce that the mussels were served in is one of the finest sauces I have ever eaten (she insisted I try some) - the layers of flavour were phenomenal. The scotch egg was excellent and thefish and chips were as good as anything you'll get on the east coast of Scotland - the batter was light and crunchy, chips were to-die-for and the fish cooked to perfection.Prices were reasonable and house-wines very pleasant. All in all a lovely restaurant worthy of taking the time to find (it confused our sat-nav no end!)