Waterside dining at the Seafood Ristorante, St Andrews
Photo: The Seafood Ristorante
There’s no better place to enjoy seafood than by the beach, is there? We’ve upgraded from fish and chips wrapped in newspaper, eaten hurriedly before the seagulls descend and the rain clouds open, to try a rather more sophisticated beachside dining experience.
The Seafood Ristorante is located over the beach just behind the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews. The restaurant does justice to its waterside setting, with stunning views of St Andrews’ picturesque sands paired with equally awe-inspiring dishes of the freshest Scottish fish and shellfish.
Impressively modern on the outside with its expanse of timber and glass, the Seafood Ristorante is even more of a winner inside, boasting the most amazing panoramic waterside views over St Andrews Bay and West Sands Beach (just try your best to ignore the car park…).
Photo: The Seafood Ristorante
Photo: The Seafood Ristorante
It was a grey day when we entered the restaurant and the welcome was warm and professional. It is obvious this is a tightly run ship with the front of house team working in complete synchronicity with the open kitchen.
Our knowledgeable waiter, Andy, clearly knows his stuff having spent some time with Heston Blumenthal before bringing his family north of the border, and we listened keenly as he described the menu. Taking his advice we started with Orkney scallops with Clashfarm pork belly in a "green curry" (£18) from the a la carte menu and the Loch Etive sea trout with horseradish, nori and cucumber from the seasonal set lunch menu (£30 for 3 courses). Both dishes were presented beautifully and Andy recommended a glass of Riesling (125ml £7.50) to accompany. The scallops were tender, sweet and buttery while the green curry sauce was velvety smooth with just a hint of heat. The trout was luxurious and delicate.
Next was the wild halibut with Cumbrae oyster, cauliflower and winter truffle (£32) and the Scrabster hake with steamed mussels with sprouting broccoli. Andy paired these dishes perfectly with the Macon-Lugny Chardonnay (125ml £9).
Photo: The Seafood Ristorante
To finish we plumped for the Caramelised Amalfi Lemon Tart (£9.50) and the three-cheese board (£10.50). The tart was declared “utterly delicious” while the cheese had clearly been very well considered.
The Seafood Ristorante uses locally sourced and sustainable produce to create absolutely stunning dishes that are completely worthy of the idyllic setting. It isn’t a cheap option but if you are looking for a friendly, relaxed environment to enjoy the sea’s bounty while watching the waves – this is the place for you.