Dinner at Balgedie Toll Tavern

We were startled at how well we were doing after our flights to Scotland with virtually no sleep… By the time we called it a night we’d been up for about 36 hours straight.

After checking in at our hotel and unpacking a bit, we decided to explore the area a bit, which included finding our venue for a family ‘clan’ gathering scheduled for the next day.  The scenery along the way was very easy on the eyes and generally very different than in either East Tennessee where we live or in Missouri where Bonnie and Bill live.

Some views were similar however… This is a common sight in East Tennessee at this time of the year.  The lighting was about perfect for this photo.

We located and explored the site of Laurie and Bonnie’s family gathering for the next day.  We’d passed our restaurant of choice along the way and we returned just as they were getting ready to open for dinner…

This rural tavern dates from ca. 1534.  Back in those days, travelers had to stop here to pay tolls.  Tolls weren’t eliminated in Great Britain until 1872. The earliest part of the building (the toll house) is at the far end of the structure. 

For anyone who has been born and raised in the USA, a structure built by European immigrants that is still in use and which is 483 years old just doesn’t exist.  The oldest European structure in the continental United States is the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe New Mexico. (1610) Of course, there are vibrant Native American Pueblos in the western USA that date all the way back to ca. 700 AD.

The interior of the Balgedie Toll Tavern is quite traditional with its low ceilings, oak beams, stone walls, and open fire places.  Art on the walls are provided by a local painter.  Some of the seating is on wooden benches with arms designed for several people.  These benches are referred to as ‘settles’.  Settles originated in Europe in the 10^th Century.

The interior is traditional with low ceilings, oak beams, stone walls and open fire places, with wooden settles and works of art by a local painter. The interior is traditional with low ceilings, oak beams, stone walls and open fire places, with wooden settles and works of art by a local painter.

Here are 2 happy sisters…in Scotland together, looking forward to the family gathering as well as many adventures across the countryside!

This was the Chef’s Homemade Soup of the Day which was accompanied by a crusty roll. (3.95 BP/$5.17) I don’t recall exactly, but I believe that it was Split Pea and Leek…

As an appetizer, Bill ordered the Home-made Chicken Liver Pate with red onion marmalade and toast. (4.95 BP/$6.48) He really liked the pate and there was so much of it that he had to ask for more toast to finish it…

There is nothing like fresh salmon… I ordered the Scottish Smoked Salmon appetizer with cucumber and dill garnish accompanied with a lemon yogurt dressing. (6.50 BP/$8.52) Laurie and I agreed that this was scrumptious!

This was another appetizer… It’s the Crisp Battered Haddock Bites with Tomato and Coriander Relish and Micro Celery Shoots. (5.95 BP/$7.80) The bites were very tasty…

Of course, fish and chips is one of the most popular foods in the British Isles and in Ireland.  This was the Balgedie Toll Tavern’s version…Fresh Filet of East Coast Haddock with chips (French fries) and salad. (9.95 PB/$13.00) The fish was very nice but we agreed that we like our ‘chips’ a little more crisp on the outside.

For his entrée, Bill ordered the Venison Sausages served with Caramelized Onion Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables. ($9.95/$13.00) He gave it a thumbs up…

For my dinner, I ordered the Balgedie Smokie, a Filet of Smoked Haddock poached in cream and gratinated with Scottish Cheddar, served with Mashed Potatoes and Cream. (11.95 BP/$15.65) It was very nice and that cream sauce worked very well with my mashed potatoes too!

All in all, our meal at Balgedie Toll Tavern was a positive beginning to our dining experiences across Scotland.  Service was just average but the food and ambiance were very good indeed. 

Balgedie Toll Tavern is located on A911 in Wester Balgedie near Kinross Scotland.  Postal Code KY13 9HE.  Phone: (01592) 840 212.  This establishment is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheToll.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by to see what we had for dinner!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave