Brea - Scottish Restaurant

This spot comes highly recommended in Stirling so we decided to have dinner here on our first night visiting. We had a reservation but half the restaurant was available anyway - learned from a chat with one of the pleasant gentleman working there that winters are much slower and you can expect to be seated right away even during peak dinner times. Expectations were high and very pleased that such expectations were exceeded. Service was excellent, our orders were taken right away and we were checked on constantly throughout our dining time. Food was delicious and served on a timely basis. The salmon stuffed rolled haddock is a must! We also had the cullen skink to start and couldn't recommend it more. Prices are on the higher side but for the quality of food and service they are most definitely worth it. Would repeat.

Food is great and hot. Plenty to eat. Staff were so good to deal with. Went at dinner and no lineups. Had soup and Christmas dinner options were on the menu. Nice decorations for the season. We had 8 for dinner and no delays at all

I was looking for a Scottish restaurant while visiting Sterling for a day and this one , found on Google maps, did not disappoint. The food was fresh, very tasty and beautifully presented. We had haggis and black pudding bon bons, salmon scotch egg with mussels- simply fantastic combination, and a house burger , also delicious. They have good selection of craft beers, whiskey and local gins- I highly recommend Harris. The service was attentive and polite.

What an appalling experience. Came here with my husband and kids as we fancied some decent Scottish food. My stepson ordered the kids burger which when it arrived was so hot that as he bit into it, burning hot fat came out of the burger and burnt his chin. His chin remained red for the rest of the meal. He is 9 years old and was nearly in tears so hate to think what this could have done to a younger kid. We let the staff know to hopefully avoid this happening to anyone else. My husband ordered the monkfish special and when it arrived it was an absolutely laughable portion size (see attached photo). That was £34 for the meal pictured plus some potatoes not pictured. My husband questioned it but apparently this is the size of the portion. He sent it back as there is no way we were paying for it. We eat out all of the time and have never been so shocked at the value for money of a dish. My venison was also far too undercooked. I appreciate venison should be served pink but this was genuinely like eating a chunk of raw meat - not nice. Overall it feels like this place is priced as a high quality restaurant (mains all around £20-£35, which is expensive particularly for lunch) but the quality of the cooking just doesn’t match the price point. We usually have no issues waiting a long time for good food (they are very clear about the length of time you wait for food) but we ended up waiting and then having to go somewhere else to get something to eat after. I’d seriously avoid coming here. So disappointed.

Not one to post reviews often but this was a very disappointing experience. We originally booked for 1:15 and arrived at 12:35 but were assured we would have our order taken without 10-15 mins. There was only one server for the bar / food / front house. We didn’t have a drinks order taken until 20 minutes after we arrived. Food order was taken at the same time. Food arrived one hour after being seated. We ordered soup, kids pasta, steak and burger. It took around 44 mins to be served. The steak was more than 30 pounds and was of poor quality, the chips looked like they were old. The cost of the food was well in excess of the quality and the time it took for service and then the wait from order to serving was abnormally long. Poor quality and seems more like a tourist trap. Unacceptable to charge high prices but have only one member of staff for all of front of house. Highly recommend avoiding. Similar quality food available at much lower price and likely with better service. When we complained about the wait we were told it was because the food was cooked to order and no apology made.

Absolutely faultless! From the moment we arrived we were made to feel very welcome and felt very looked after! Nuala and Jill were absolute gems! They really helped us decide what to choose as well because the menu was so tempting we just wanted to have everything! We decided to start with the haggis and black pudding bonbons with turnip purée and an amazing whisky sauce which were absolutely delicious and then scallops with roasted cauliflower purée and crispy Parma ham. No words 😋 For main course Meni had the swordfish loin which was served with a mango and papaya salsa and some roasted tomatoes on the side with a side salad which was perfectly dressed. I had the rolled haddock which was actually stuffed with salmon and served with perfectly cooked vegetables and a creamy del sauce. I’ve never had a dish like this and it was highly recommended by. Nuala! Of course we couldn’t leave without having sticky toffee pudding and I have to say one of my absolute favourites is from a place in Orkney but this actually rivalled their sticky toffee pudding! A huge thank you to all the staff for making it a very special birthday dinner!

Such a lovely restaurant! We popped in for lunch after our Stirling Castle tour, and we're so glad we did! Their soup of the day was potato, leek, and wild garlic soup *delicious*, and hubby ordered haggis & blood sausage bon bons for starters (side note: first time in 10 days since we've been on Scotland that I tried haggis, and wow! This was so good!!!). Our mains: hubby ordered the steak burger (he raved about how good it was) and I had the haddock stuffed with smoked salmon - again, delicious! The decor is lovely and wait staff was fantastically friendly and professional. Definitely pop in to this delightful place!

Me and my family visited Stirling and we thought it would be a good idea to see this restaurant. We were welcomed very warmly. The servers were really polite and really sweet, so thank you ☺️. The atmosphere felt really Scottish and also cosy and warmly. The food, though, was BRILLIANT. I loved it start to finish. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to finish my food before, shout out to the chef, who made the amazing food. I would REALLY recommend coming here to visit there when going to Stirling.

We had just visited Stirling Castle and were looking for somewhere good to eat on a rainy afternoon. We were so over pub food, and Brea did not disappoint. We were unaware of its high rating when we entered. It was on the early side, so we were seated quickly, but it soon filled up. The staff were wonderful, and the food was amazing. The Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle was delicious, as was the haggis starter and cream of fennel soup. My son enjoyed the Wagyu burger and chips. It was an all-round memorable meal!

Great welcome by the staff! There was a slight miscommunication with the orders but everything was cooked to perfection. 5 stars as the food was absolutely delicious! The Cullen Skink, a must have whilst visiting Edinburgh! A little salty for my liking, however, the taste of the dish itself is the best out of all the Cullen Skinks I've tasted. The bread paired with this soup was heavenly soft and warm. This dish would be my comfort food if I was a Scotswoman!

Charming cafe in Stirling with an excellent menu that strays from the heavy pub food to give you lighter, more thoughtful meals. Best Cullen Skink in Scotland.

Burgers were good, staff was friendly, nicely decorated and location was great! Overall good, burger wasn't amazing based on other reviews we saw but made fresh. Drinks were good, I had a cocktail and it was nicely done.

The food was delicious. Great special cocktail and soup of the day. Highly recommend and will go back!

I arrived here to try Haggis for the first time. I was super happy. The service was very fast, with someone coming to seat me almost instantly! On top of this, the ambiance is great, with a very nice chandelier in the center. Finally, the food. The first Haggis I have ever had. I wanted seconds!! 100% recommend here for the Haggis alone!

We really enjoyed eating at Brea. The soup of the day was fantastic as well as the cheese plate. The rolled Scottish haddock seemed to be a very popular dish here. I recommended making a reservation because it was booked up the night we went. Overall, a must go-to while in Stirling!

What a wonderful experience! The staff is welcoming. The food was delicious. We had a party of six. Tried the salmon special, the rolled haddock, and the ribeye. The traditional Scottish food was a home run. Our waitress, Finola, was excellent. She made you feel very comfortable even with all our questions. Five stars for a fantastic experience. Dessert was the best sticky toffee pudding yet.

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. Started off with goat cheese and asparagus with a light mustard sauce. My main was haddock stuffed with salmon over mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Great food and friendly service. One member of our group is vegan, and she loved her choices. I had the haddock wrapped around salmon -- so good, especially the sauce. We already are planning a second visit during our stay in Stirling.

Wow! So good. I ordered the sweet potato and mascarpone soup, and rolled haddock stuffed with salmon! Just wonderful. And the bread too was so good. Then sticky toffee pudding to finish! Yum!

Without a doubt the best meal I have ever eaten The venison was sublime I would highly recommend you try this delightful restaurant

The food and service were excellent. My burger was perfectly cooked. The restaurant's atmosphere was intimate and enjoyable.

This place was amazing! I had the steak ! Definitely worth it. Presentation, taste and the deserts are excellent! Highly recommended it!

We were turned away 45 minutes before they closed (on a rainy evening when not much else was open, no less) because "the chef was having a slow night" even though 5 tables were full of people enjoying their meals. Not sure if that's code for something, but we left hungry and disappointed. Returned the next day, ordered the prawn starter special and a burger to split, the former was delicious and had bread to dip in the yummy sauce. The burger was good but really nothing to write home about. Not sure why all the reviews freak out over it. For £16 it wasn't really that worth it. The server was funny and attentive, and he gave us some great laughs. Plus, the ambience is nice. I'd normally give 4 stars but the turning away the evening before was a bummer and docks a star.

This was a first class restaurant with impeccable service and outstanding food. They had some vegan options for my daughter and an extensive menu with a most food sourced locally. We had two different risotto's a pasta dish and salmon stuffed haddock. All were amazing.

The scallops were the BEST!! The brownie with pistachio ice cream dessert was amazing!! The salad between the two was great too! The only bad thing is I was on vacation and can't go back to Brea daily!!

Great food and atmosphere. Loved the cheese plate and soup of the day. Pick up some framed photos for a great price. Good peeeps In dis place. Great beer selection and a nice spot to git yer gin.

Great little restaurant in old town Stirling. I can definitely see why the high reviews. Haggis Main platter and the Venison Main platter were excellent. Highly recommend dining here. Get a reservation!

We walked in late in the afternoon after the lunch rush and before the dinner rush. We started with beer and we're then treated to the most amazing chèvre salad and burger. Nice slow pace and friendly atmosphere not to mention the fabulous food!

Somewhere between 3.5-4 stars The chef is clearly skilled Wonderful cheese dish appetizer Good Sea Bass cooked to perfection, but you do have to de-bone it yourself so :/ Very good Haggis (I think as I've only been daring enough to try haggis twice in my life and this was good.) Nice service and ok atmosphere.

Cullen skink was served very hot. Had to blow on every spoonful. Rolled haddock main was great. The restaurant was very hot and uncomfortable. Another patron had to step outside to cool down. Service was very good.

The food was good and maybe should have done a little more reseating before heading there with a family of seven. I think it definitely should be £££ for expense. That said everyone enjoyed the food and the handcut chips were amazing

Amazing food. Haggis was incredible. Lamb prepared to perfection. Service and staff very hospitable.

Excellent food and service in a quaint bistro. I had the Scottish cheese plate, which I would order all over again. My husband had the crab bundle, a scoop of crab salad, not too much mayo and just the right amount of seasoning to bring out the flavor of sweet crab.

Note: Versatile ambiance with plenty of 2-4 person seating in a trendy gastropub setting. Came in for a late lunch because of a few of the pictures I saw, specifically the felafel burger. Unfortunately that is no longer on the menu, but there were a few other ok veg options. Wound up having basically a brie burger which was the first time I have had brie on a bun like that. It was like a fancier grilled cheese crossed with a burger. It was not the healthiest but hit the spot for a nice carby lunch. The beer and whiskey selections were plenty to appeal to all appetites. Prices reasonable for portions. The ambiance is versatile. The decor was simple and charming, with a nice mix of the rustic/industrial mixed with modern. Would be ideal for a date, or casual enough for a friendly get together or business lunch. The waitress was as nice as could be. I wish I could remember her name to give her a shoutout. She was very informative and gave some great recommendations on what to do and see in the city. Def a great stop in the heart of downtown Stirling.

Mind. Blown. Eat. Here. Now. Great drinks. Excellent appetizers. Delicious entrees. Great service! The haggis main is amazing and the venison burger was damn tasty. Found this place via Yelp while walking around Stirling Castle.

Just arrived in Stirling, looking for a place to eat a late lunch. Saw the reviews here, and decided to pop in! The food was wonderful (I got the Piri Piri Marinated Chicken Sandwich, and my dad got the Rolled Haddock Stuffed with Salmon). They also have an extensive drink menu and suggested wine pairings! Totally recommended.

So so good! We didn't get Scottish dish but if you here need to try beef dish. That beef is so so good!

Stopped by after the Stirling castle tour. Many restaurants were closed because it was a bit after lunch time. Found this one open and glade we found this one. Food was great and couldn't ask for better service.

We went 2 days in a row While on a business trip to Sterling. Everything was delicious and the service was on point.

Stopped for a light lunch on the way to Stirling Castle. Excellent lunch. I had soup with some amazing bread. And a cheese board which filled two people up. Definitely worth it.

Ah, it breaks my heart to take away a star but the last time I was in Brea, my burger wasn't great, verging on the under-cooked side of pink and juicy. Juices everywhere and impossible to eat near the middle since it was practically raw. Not the same burger that entranced me before! My hope is that it was an off night. Sorry, Brea!

Had the best seared salmon dinner that I ever experienced. Food excellent along with service. Menu had a variety of food for any taste. Deserts finalized the evening. A must if in Sterling, Scotland.

Excellent food and service. Just had a burger, but it was perfectly spiced, cooked, and assembled.

This was a random stop in Stirling, but turned out to be a wonderful find. We had the Haggis, Scallops, Cullen Skink, Rolled Haddock and Sea Bass; they were all fantastic.

I LOVE this place. Brea scores on all my fronts really. The food is stunning, portions generous (but not ridiculous), fab and yet concise selection of Gin (always a plus point!) and boasts lovely waiting staff who have obviously taken the time to learn about and take pride in the food and drink they serve. They also have a decent amount of great GF options, still something of a rarity in Stirling and their GF carrot cake is the closest thing to actual carrot cake I've tried, it was delicious and a slice was more than enough to share between two! As I understand it, they make a point of using locally sourced produce and I think the amount of attention to detail shows. I haven't had better venison anywhere for a long time! If I was to be picky, by the time we had finished our meal and were looking for the bill, our server had gone to help out elsewhere and the staff member available seemed very keen to start clearing empty glasses rather than deal with us but that would be the only gripe. We were well attended to the rest of the evening and will definitely be back here again....not something I say too often about many places in Stirling!

Excellent food, amazing starters. My family and I loved this place. Very good authentic Scottish food that left us full and happy. One of the best meals we have had in Scotland. My sister is a vegan and had tons of options that she loved. If you go to Stirling, make sure to stop by this place!

What a disappointment.... any request was ignored or quickly forgotten....was not made aware of specials....the staff seemed overwhelmed with the small crowd....Food was only worthy of two stars...service zero stars

I've been here twice. This restaurant has nice staff and uses some great Scottish produce. I would recommend the burgers and the desserts. It also has a great selection of ale. My only complaint was that my scallops were a bit tasteless, no colour on them - probably had not been cooked at a high enough temperature. But a great menu, great selection of specials, and accomodating of large groups. Scottish-sourced, hearty food at fair prices, great for people like me who love meat and seafood.

So excited about Brea re-opening. The menus looks amazing, great choice and caters for EVERYONE!

Great place to eat after visiting the town of Stirling. The food is excellent and service very friendly. Also the atmosphere is comfortable and nice.

Small menu executed really well. The smoked salmon bun was cooked perfectly, salmon was served thin which made it enjoyable to eat. The aioli's were made in house and complimented the food really well. All and all a great place to stop in for lunch.

After visiting the Sterling Castle, we stopped in for some much needed food. Greg was amazing, made our dining experience top notch! Cullen skink and the burger...it was excellent!

Food, drinks and service were all wonderful. I tried the Haggis appetizer and it was very tasty. Large selection of Scottish Gins. I highly recommend this restaurant

Great spot, service was fantastic. Left a tip and young man was very excited and asked if we were sure. Requested a dish be made and the they did it and very well. Fish and chips was one of the best. Avery nice surprise in Sterling

Almost like a little piece of Edinburgh in Stirling! I came here for the first time last week and I was thoroughly impressed. It's the kind of place I would expect to find in Edinburgh, not in a small, more traditional town like Stirling. The service was really great. The staff were very friendly. Apparently it was 'Abba Night' so our waiter, despite my best efforts, insisted on telling us Abba-related facts. It was all in fun though, just made it a more personal and less uptight experience. Our order was taken and food and drinks arrived in a timely manner, but not so quick that it felt they wanted our table freed up. They have a great selection of artisan beers from various small breweries such as BrewDog in Edinburgh, all at very reasonable prices. The food was fantastic. I opted for the pulled pork which was delicious and something I have never been able to get in Stirling before. It came with handcut chips which were also fantastic. My fiancé chose the house burger and although I wasn't quick enough to get a taste of it, he assured me it was very tasty. He would have preferred if they had asked him how he would like it cooked (he prefers his beef quite rare), but it was cooked well anyway and not dried up in any way. After a large main, I couldn't face a pudding all to myself but since everything had been so delicious I convinced my fiancé to share something with me as I was sure that too would be good and it was. We had the strawberries and cream pavlova and it was fresh, not too heavy and very scrummy indeed. The decor of Brea is certainly not something I've seen in Stirling before but I like it. It's quite quirky. At the time I think we compared it to a 90s kids show. Brightly coloured zigzags painted on the wall in a very Fresh Prince way. But surprisingly they manage to pull it off in a non-tacky way. Overall, I loved this place and can't wait to go back there again.

What a wonderful find! The mussels were yummy. Ask for bread to sop up the wonderful sauce. The staff are very friendly. We have been to numerous cities in the UK and I can honestly say this was our best meal.

Excellent. I'm vegan and I had a wonderful Wild Mushroom & Spinach Tagliatelle. My husband had the salmon special which looked amazing. Beautiful vegetables. I highly recommend this restaurant.