Lunch at The Mustard Seed in Inverness
Our North Coast 500 road trip started off in beautiful Inverness and we were invited by the family owned Mustard Seed restaurant to come along and sample their popular lunch menu.
Situated on the banks of the River Ness, this former church was bustling with happy diners on a sunny Monday lunchtime. The restaurant’s stunning double height ceiling makes it bright and breezy during the day with smart decor and a relaxed atmosphere – a great place for a rendezvous. In the evening, the large wood burning stove and candles transform the restaurant into a romantic and dramatic dining space.
At lunchtime you can enjoy a starter and a main for a very reasonable £8.95, choosing from an extensive menu that changes on a weekly basis. They also offer an early evening menu served between 5.30pm and 7pm priced at £12.95 for two courses as well as a full dinner menu.
We received a very warm welcome and were shown to our table overlooking the river – they have al fresco dining too if you are feeling brave. We nibbled on some home made bread and perused the menu deciding what to have – lots of choices.
What did we have to eat?
For starters I decided on what turned out to be a generous portion of smokey coral pink sea trout pâté served with buttery toasted lemon brioche. The accompanying pickled fennel was a triumph giving a nice crunch and cutting through the creaminess of the pâté – I am now a fennel convert!
Raymond tucked into a Mediteranean inspired warm grilled artichoke with Kalamata olive salad drizzled with truffle infused olive oil. The chilled glass of Cape Heights unoaked chardonnay from the impressive selection of “by the glass” wines was the perfect accompaniment. It was a simple dish that got him in the holiday spirit for Costa Brora.
For mains I had a hearty chicken and leek casserole packed full of meat and a flavoursome, well seasoned gravy – perfect for dipping my side of French fries (£2.95) in. The dish was topped off with a flaky puff pastry hat. Portion size is normally the first casualty on a fixed price menu – it certainly isn’t the case here.
Raymond’s hake fillet arrive on top of a mound of creamy mash potato and wilted spinach, drizzled with watercress crème fraîche and a dill dressing. The fish was firm and the dish was colourful, nicely presented and delicious – it tasted as fresh as it looked and was a perfect lunchtime dish.
A dish of new potatoes and oven roasted vegetables with red cabbage is served with the main course. It’s fair to say that you won’t go hungry after lunch at The Mustard Seed!
Needless to say we didn’t have any space left for pudding but if you still have a wee space for dessert there’s plenty to choose from the daily specials board – they looked delicious and the folk at the next table were certainly enjoying theirs.
Coffee is served with home-made tablet – the perfect end to a meal.
If you are starting the NC500 in Inverness or just visiting and looking for somewhere to dine then the Mustard Seed is a great choice. The chefs use the best of local produce to create a fresh seasonal Scottish menu with nods to the Mediterranean and it’s great value too.
After a delicious lunch, stretch your legs and have a wee walk up to Inverness Castle for some great views over the city….
For more information and to book a table at The Mustard Seed.
The Mustard Seed
16 Fraser Street
Inverness
IV1 1DW
Tel: 01463 220 220
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