Over the last few months, we have watched with interest, the “other” bit of construction work going on across the Forth. The Hilton Doubletree in North Queensferry has extended upwards and outwards and added an impressive new restaurant space overlooking the new Queensferry Crossing. The people behind Twenty Princes Street and Juniper Bar run “The Shore Grill and Fish House” and we were invited to try out their new offering. We arrived after dark, and just like the new crossing, the eye-catching sign and interior look sleek, shiny and very modern. The view looking out to the bridges is stunning at night, and the restaurant is open all day so you can admire the view while enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Interior Design
The interior is eye-catching with elements of the three bridges echoed in the design. The floor to ceiling windows make the most of the panoramic views over the Forth. The geometric shapes and angles of the fixtures are offset by comfortable soft seating, flickering candles and a stunning carved wooden ceiling of waves.
The service here is enthusiastic and genuine but in need of a bit of polish. They all seemed relatively new, so I’m sure this will sort itself out over time. The menu is available all day and so covers a few bases and features a good selection of quality Scottish sourced fish and meat dishes.
Starters
For starters, I chose the salmon cured in treacle that was surprisingly delicate with a hint of molasses sweetness and added crunch from the radishes. I have no idea what the green grit was but it did add a bit of extra texture and looked nice on the plate.
Donnie’s scallops were beautifully caramelised, although the wild garlic didn’t make much of an impact to the dish and he was hoping for a bit more apple flavour. The accompanying black pudding was cooked the way he likes it – on the cripsy side – so overall he enjoyed it.
The main course
My main of cod was firm and fresh served with a deliciously salty pile of brown shrimp and a beer sauce on top. The chargrilled broccoli and malt vinegar onions gave a nice acetic bite to the dish which I liked.
As we were visiting a Grill, Donnie thought it only polite to order a 10oz Scottish Borders ribeye steak (£27). This arrived nicely chargrilled and was served with a dish of tasty triple-cooked chips and red wine sauce on the side. The steak had been aged on the bone for a minimum of 35 days, was perfectly cooked and extremely flavoursome. The accompanying watercress salad looked more like a pile of limp rocket and was a bit surplus to requirements. I think that Donnie would have preferred a helping of onion rings and mushrooms instead but they have to be added as side dishes for £3 each.
Room for dessert?
Our shared dessert was a sea salt and vanilla tablet brownie that came with ice cream perched on top of honeycomb pieces. It was absolutely divine – the squidgy brownie was soft in the middle with a crispy exterior. The Shore is worth a return visit for this alone.
The Shore restaurant is a lovely spot for romantic dinners, long lazy lunches or afternoon tea with friends. The food and service are good, and there was a lively buzz about the place when we were there. A new outdoor terrace is planned for the future making it the ideal spot for sipping a glass of fizz or a cold beer while taking in the bridge views.
How to book a table:
The Shore
St. Margaret’s Head
North Queensferry,
Inverkeithing,
Fife
KY11 1HP
Many thanks to The Shore for inviting us along to see their new restaurant and sample the menu.