Reviews in Scotland

We are over visiting family for Xmas and I had stayed at the Golden Lion about 10 years ago and and really enjoyed my stay. Hoever this time we wre only dining. We came yesterday ( Thursday the 18th Dec) for Special Xmas Afternoon Tea ( which I booked in Bermuda before we left), and it was absolutely fabulous; we have had lots of afternoon teas in different countries and expensive places in London, but this one was BY FAR the best ; to start there was a large cup of slightly spicy lentil and carrot soup - just perfect!! Next the sandwiches were so tasty and fresh , and with lovely combinations of fillings; and I liked that they were smaller, and plenty of them, so you could enjoy a larger variety of tastes/ flavours. Then came the cakes which wre really irresistible -small almond cakes, chocolate fudge, lemon sponge and just perfect little Xmas pies ( etc, etc!!) Lastly there was a soft, mouthwatering scone with a separate dish of raspberry jam and another dish of fresh cream - all, was just a perfect Xmas treat!! So tasty that we came back today ( Friday 19 Dec) for lunch - which did not disappoint; we had a double burger with double bacon and cheese on a tasty bun accompanied with onion rings and large chips ( which we prefer) - and all was piping hot and really tasty. And, we are coming back again - for - another soup and a sandwich; all so well prepared that we specially sent our compliments to the chef. And, finally we were seated promptly and had polite, efficient service . I rate everything 5/5 but below is greyed out and wont let me click.

Although I enjoyed my meal ... a bit disappointed that the starter I chose stating it was gluten free was not in fact gluten free (they said it was an error on the menu) so I had to choose something else ... then I proceeded to choose the Turkey dinner again didn't come with stuffing, pigs in blankets or Yorkshire Pudding so was disappointed in that as well because I know that these items are available in the shops ... however what I did eat was lovely. Maybe a rethink needed as charged the same price but with a few things missing from my plate!!

Amazing Christmas lunch 19/12/25 @ 2pm. We had 2 course set menu £19. -10/10

Sadly on this occasion we came for coffee and cake and there were no cakes available. We opted for scones which were very nice but I had raved about the home bakes so it was disappointing. It will not stop me from coming back for lunch. The staff; the two young girls were beautifully dressed as an elf and Santa baby which added to the visit.

A nice warm atmosphere. Staff were efficient and courteous. Liked the piano player who warmed to the attention of a few children. Would have liked to have heard a couple of Christmas tunes seeing it was the last weekend before Christmas, maybe we missed them! But made a great evening meal rather than listening to popular music.

This was a really frustrating experience. We had a reservation and arrived within the booked time, but were told the kitchen was no longer serving food. What made this especially confusing was that we could see meals being taken out of the kitchen at the same time, which made the refusal hard to understand. Being left without food late in the evening, especially when you’ve planned around a reservation, is not acceptable. There was no warning or explanation, and it felt poorly organised. Overall, this was disappointing and not the level of service I would expect.

We planned our evening around this booking, so arriving and being told we couldn’t eat was a real shock. There was no warning beforehand, and no effort to offer an alternative or explanation. While we were being turned away, staff were still collecting food from the kitchen, which made the situation feel careless and badly handled. Being left to find food elsewhere late at night in the city centre was stressful and unnecessary. This experience fell far below expectations and left us very disappointed. I wouldn’t book again based on how this was managed.

This restaurant should not be listed on Sugarvine. It allows customers to make reservations, but then refuses to serve them when they arrive. We had a booking and were turned away without food, with no warning and no alternative offered. A platform like Sugarvine is meant to be reliable for planning meals. Allowing places that accept bookings and then leave customers without food late in the evening is unacceptable. This caused real inconvenience and frustration, and it’s not something people should have to deal with after making a reservation. I would not recommend booking here.

Ladies late pre theatre meal. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal etc. 4 of us has the Honey Garlic Sticky Chicken it was delicious so much so I have googled looking for a similar recipe. Making it this weekend. Thank you.xx

Four ladies having Christmas lunch. We all enjoyed our meal but a couple would have liked crackers since it was Christmas however we all felt it was value for money.

Lovely lunch with my mum at The Ravelston yesterday. They had really made an effort with the Christmas decorations and the placed looked great, very festive. Service was first rate and the food was really tasty. Great value for money.

We very much enjoyed our lunch at the Ravelston The lady who served us was lovely - very pleasant, welcoming and attentive. The food was very tasty and a good choice Unfortunately we hadn’t realised we should have ordered a Xmas meal in advance so weren’t able to have the festive menu. The restaurant was very nicely decorated with Christmas decorations. We will definitely come again

Booked for a table of 12 last minute and the team were really accommodating. Food was great as was the service! Thanks everyone!

Dear oh dear. Myself and a party of 9 went out for a Xmas meal on Friday 12th December. We pre ordered our meals via E mail as requested by hotel staff. However, on the night we were told that 4 of our party could not get the dessert they had ordered as they had ran out. This was 5.30 pm. ?? The majority of the Staff were sullen , uninterested , inattentive and disorganised. Very poor. The food was also average at best. I asked a staff member if someone could take a drinks order for the table and was told that I could order at the bar. (Sorry, I thought I was the paying customer. ) The restaurant was not busy and we were placed in a soul less area with an infernal piano continually playing. We had gone to the Hotel last Christmas and had a good time. Hence we re -booked. Needless to say, we won’t be back .

We enjoyed a truly wonderful meal in Left Bank as part of a group booking on a Friday evening. The staff, service and food were absolutely superb plus the restaurant had a great atmosphere. We loved it and would highly recommend as the menu is terrific plus eclectic, with something for everyone if you're also willing to try new things.

Large group booking which had a first class service from staff. High quality of food in a really nice venue and location. Would definitely use this venue regularly with groups over 20 people.

Leftbank never disappoints. The choice of food for lunch is excellent and I always enjoy all the varied soups, egg dishes etc. Service is outstanding and the atmosphere is lovely; also tables are not too close together and it's never too loud.