Lochleven Seafood Cafe

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#1 of 5 Restaurants in OnichSeafood, Healthy, ££ - £££

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Lochleven Seafood Cafe

Review

At a glance

Open until 8:00 PM

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Website

+44 1855 821048Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Loch side restaurant and shop located on the north shore of beautiful Loch Leven . We specialise in local shellfish , which is stored in our onsite seawater tanks then simply prepared and presented . We offer something for all the family from breakfast rolls and coffee , signature sandwiches , our classic shellfish menu , and our daily blackboard always has meat , fish & vegetarian options . Our deli shop sells live shellfish from our tanks , cooked shellfish , picnic ideas , shellfish platters to take away and some local gifts .

Features

CUISINES

Seafood, Healthy

Meal types

Lunch, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

B863 on the North Shores of Loch Leven, Onich, Fort William, Onich PH33 6SA Scotland

Parking Available

Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 8:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 - 16:00

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

10:00 - 20:00

Friday

10:00 - 20:00

Saturday

10:00 - 20:00

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4.6

1,589 reviews

Excellent

1,189

Very good

258

Average

Poor

Terrible

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Yes

GLASGOWTRAVELLER_8

Glasgow317 contributions

The best shellfish and great service.

Sept 2023 • couples

We stopped here for lunch when heading north a few weeks ago and were so glad we did. We didn't have a booking but that wasn't an issue and we were made feel welcome from the minute a staff member spoke to us and advised that we could have a table. We shared some lovely fresh oysters to start and they were excellent. We also shared some lovely fish pate and bread. The mains were just fantastic. My companion had the scallops and there were eight perfectly cooked and presented on the plate. She loved them. I got a cold seafood platter and I was delighted when it was served, it looked awesome and I couldn't fault it. Everything was just so fresh and tasty. The half a lobster, half a crab, a couple of oysters, three or four large langoustines, a load of surf clams and mussels and a couple of razor clams and some dips. Brilliant. The only disappointment was when I had scoffed the lot and couldn't find any more delicious shellfish on the large and great value for money platter. We cannot wait to return as the food and service were excellent and cannot be faulted and the dining space is nice yet casual. Thanks again for a fabulous meal.

Written 10 October 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AthenaFierou

London91 contributions

Deliciously fresh!

May 2023 • couples

I don't know why anyone would rate this place negatively! Our experience was great, we ordered a whole lobster each, as well as some anchovies and garlic bread to share and everything was delicious and fresh. Great value too, when you consider you pay triple the amount in some ''posh'' restaurants elsewhere to have a whole lobster. Here, not only it was fresh, you were sitting literally on the lake where the fish is caught, so the view is an addition to the good price and the amazing food. Staff were polite and friendly despite us showing up at 18h without any reservation. Didn't think you would have to reserve, but would advice you to do so, especially in high season as the place is very popular and it can get busy. Indeed by the time we left at 19h30 it was packed. The drive there is also very enjoyable so overall, you shouldn't miss this if you are in the area.

Written 22 May 2023

CPSH

Simpsonville431 contributions

Delicious Seafood!

Jul 2024 • couples

We were so happy that Lochleven Seafood Cafe was open during our time in Glencoe. I had read all the great reviews of this place and it certainly lived up to the hype. We visited on a Monday night, having made reservations several months ahead. The two of us decided to order the Seafood Tower, a HUGE mound of various shellfish enough for the both of us. It came with langoustines, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, and razor clams. And maybe some others I can't remember at the moment. It took us awhile but we finished off the whole dish! So delicious. For dessert we split a Sticky Toffee Pudding, the first we'd had in Scotland. It was super yummy with a hint of gingerbread taste in the cake part. After trying others later in our trip, we've decided this one was the best! Service was a bit on the inattentive side: we had to ask for water refills and extra napkins a few times. The place was full - maybe 15 tables - but servers didn't seem to make the rounds very often, at least not to our table. Still, I wouldn't let that keep you from booking a table for some awesome seafood when you're in the Glencoe area!

Written 8 August 2024

piglette777

Worcester177 contributions

Excellent shellfish

Jun 2024 • couples

Wonderful location just above the Loch - prebook a window table if you can. Excellent shellfish (though the menu is broader than that), competent service. The food is served quite simply (which suited us well) and the restaurant shares premises with their own fishing boat business, so the products could not be much fresher. There is also a deli, useful if you want to dine at home some evenings.

Written 29 June 2024

Seaside50923378323

5 contributions

Extremely overrated and dissapointing

May 2024 • couples

Booked a table for lunch, very overpriced £20 for baked fish + extra for potatoes to go with it, no veg. We love fish and were really looking forward to our meal but disappointingly found it was nothing special at all. Service also was lacking as we waited 40mins for our starters with no apology. By this time we had already eaten our dry roll as we were so hungry. Don't know why it gets so highly rated as there are much better places to eat locally which are reasonably priced and have far superior food and service. Not to be recommended.

Written 11 May 2024

Sheckley

58 contributions

The reception spoils the kitchen!

May 2024 • couples

On the positive side, and that's no small thing, the products served were excellent and the cooking was perfectly mastered. On the other hand, in a country where we were warmly welcomed almost everywhere, the welcome was the worst we have received, with the exception of that of a young girl. The prize goes to a sullen head waiter, who twice managed the feat of serving us while turning her head away from our table. The room was as cold as the reception and above all, very noisy. The whole thing largely ruined our experience, too bad...

Written 25 May 2024

jansim

91 contributions

Dissapointing and Overpriced

May 2024 • couples

We booked a table in advance at this seafood cafe and really looked forward to a fishy feast. However, we were so dissapointed firstly, at the length of time it took to receive our starters (40mins) we were so hungry that we ate the dry roll way before we received them. The starters were muscles which were good. Our mains consisted of baked sole which was swimming in butter and a tiny piece of halibut served on a mushy slop of risotto and chewy asparagus. Potatoes were ordered as an extra. The menu was very overpriced but we wouldnt have minded paying for it if the quality of the food was worth it. All in all the meal was nothing to write home about, it was definately not worth the expense and my husband can cook fish so much better. By the way, there were no finger bowls or anything available for people on the table to clean their hands after handling shellfish. We do not recommend eating here. There are far better places to eat locally offering good quality and well priced food.

Written 12 May 2024

msintrepid

Glasgow152 contributions

Didn't live up to expectations.

Mar 2024 • family

Disappointed after such high expectations. Food looked better than it tasted. Langoustines overcooked, crab roll overpowered by dressing, couldn’t taste the crab at all. Seafood soup lacking in taste, cullen skink needing more liquid. Very friendly service but sadly left very disappointed as have been wanting to come for years and had hoped for a quality experience.

Written 30 March 2024

formagic

Milan388 contributions

Best scallops ever

Aug 2024 • family

The place and the service are *handy" but the fish is of the highest standard, fresh and cooked impeccably. The lobster was so tender and the scallops were unforgettable, the best I've ever eaten in my life. Final bill lower than we would have expected. Highly recommended

Automatically translated

Written 18 August 2024

Lisa S

United Kingdom5 contributions

Birthday Meal

May 2022 • friends

I was so excited to book this restaurant upon recommendations, visited last night. My lobster was over cooked , it was extremely tough and the shell was very difficult to crack with the tools supplied. The food was very bland and nothing special which was of course disappointing due to the prices we were paying. The waitress was not helpful or accommodating and I was extremely disappointed in general. I attend The Hut regularly in the IOW … completely different experience. Kim was helpful on payment and took on board my complaints however I will not return here or recommend to friends and FB. The standard of food and service was shoddy. Six meals all underwhelming.

Written 29 May 2022

robd186356

Nottingham78 contributions

Great fresh food

Aug 2022 • none

Booking for the evening is essential. The Loch Leven Seafood Cafe serves fresh local seafood. The standard of produce is second to none. we started with oysters, which were expertly shucked and served with lemon wedges and a red wine dressing, beautiful. Followed by crab. we were presented with 1 1/2 large crabs each a seafood pick and a set of nutcrackers (the claws are pre cracked) you do it yourself! Also there is a selection of wonderful desserts. This is not fast food, a three course meal took nearly three hours. When busy the restaurant is quite noisy, good atmosphere. There are a wide variety of dishes at varied cost so you can spend as much, or as little as you wish, with mains ranging from £14 to nearly £50 a head for the wonderful looking and popular, seafood platter. Really a "must do" if you like fresh fish.

Written 21 August 2022

Bob P

11 contributions

Superb food and service.

Jul 2022 • couples

I think this is our 4th visit to this magnificent establishment. We have never been dissapointed. The cafe offers magnificent views whilst you enjoy first class seafood, at not unreasonable cost. The staff are very friendly and efficient. Looking forward to my next encounter with a superbly appetising Seafood Cafe Shellfish Platter. I can still taste the wonderful fres salty taste of the oysters. I hope we get back again later this summer. Bob and iona philips

Written 10 July 2022

Keith I

8 contributions

Excellent. Well worth the money however far you travel from.

Oct 2023 • family

This was our second visit, both down to us taking a diversion from our necessary route in order to get there. Definitely worth the extra miles! The restaurant/cafe is simply laid-out, nothing too fancy or overly pretentious. So a lot like the food itself. The ingredients are always the main attraction. Extraordinarily fresh seafood, superbly prepared with simple dressings, butters and garnishes. Although you CAN spend a fortune here - you really don't need to. If you just want some fantastic food and can live without the lobster or the oysters, you can eat well for £30-£35 per head. Excellent! The staff are also an asset. Always friendly and accommodating.

Written 30 October 2023

Rob H

9 contributions

Go and eat very, very well.

Oct 2023 • couples

Absolutely sensational scran. I had carrot & coriander soup to start, wild halibut with extra roast potatoes & honey-glazed carrots as a main course, rounded off by the chocolate & orange tart. Every course absolutely perfect: best seafood I’ve eaten in the UK, 100%. Vegetables delicious into the bargain. My girlfriend had tomato & feta salad to start proceedings, coupled with a small portion (which looked enormous but was just right) of both mussels and langoustine as the main event, with sticky toffee pudding to finish. Her reviews were as raveworthy as mine; every course consisting of simply beautifully fresh, brilliantly cooked and prepared food, served by friendly, knowledgeable people (we had to have langoustine-dismantling lessons, which were delivered in that wonderful way that doesn’t make one feel like a complete idiot) and all in one hell of a picturesque setting! Try if you’re in the area. Will definitely be back.

Written 8 October 2023

martin1314

Falkirk104 contributions

Another worthwhile drive

Sept 2022 • couples

Another visit and the food again did not disapoint. Excellent starters of mussels and the seafood soup, with half lobster and langoustine. All great. But there was a downside. The service was poor and twice we had 2 different staff members attended our table stinking of smoke........ a pet hate of mine. We also spent over £50 in the dell section to take home only for the cheese biscuits we bought to be our of date...... packets but not the end of the world. Would we go back....... yes

Written 28 September 2022

Alison G

Glad you alerted us to these points as it’s always good to get this kind of feedback . Really sorry about the biscuits, it’s all just down to lack of manpower this end as we do short on staff but we will check all our shop stock today , more than happy to refund you for the biscuits if you give us a call .

Written 1 October 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.