The Kitchen Restaurant

We are from Belgium and we are on holiday in Inverness for a week. We have had a few good experiences in other restaurants. But this place is absolutely amazing! The food is excellent. The atmosphere and the river view are amazing. And the staff are super friendly and make sure that you get the best experience. This place is definitely a must-visit. It's a shame our holiday is almost over. We would have visited a second time.

The Kitchen, Inverness – A Gem of Scottish Cuisine with a Modern Twist Tucked away in Inverness, The Kitchen is a tiny restaurant that truly delivers on every front. While we were unable to secure a spot upstairs to enjoy the famed views, the experience was nothing short of fabulous. The food? Absolutely stupendous. It was the kind of Scottish fare you dream of—rich in tradition but with a subtle, modern twist. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the dishes were executed perfectly. Each bite was a testament to the quality of the local produce, from the robust flavors of the mains to the delicate nuances of the sides. Truly delicious. The drinks were equally fantastic, and the staff’s recommendations were spot-on. But the true highlight was the service. Despite the restaurant being packed and seemingly managed by just three waitstaff, we never felt neglected. In fact, it was one of the best dining service experiences I’ve ever had. The staff were efficient, attentive, and always present when needed, even with a full house. It’s remarkable how they maintained such a high level of service under pressure. If you find yourself in Inverness, make sure to book a table at The Kitchen. It’s a must-visit for anyone seeking a memorable meal with fantastic service in the Highlands. Highly, highly recommended!

The food is good but not exceptional. We tried the highlands venison but it paled in comparison to others that we’ve had. It’s quite average and didn’t seem consistent in the texture. Although it’s not a place specifically for drinking, I was expecting a somewhat more knowledge of the menu from the servers, but it’s a bit lukewarm in this matter. The servers are nice and friendly, just wished they knew a bit more about the drinks that we’re asking them about.

Exceptional food. Great service. One of those pleasant surprises. We just walked in while visiting from Australia and were blown away. Both the flavours and presentation of the food was excellent. The attention to detail made us feel each dish was prepared by someone who cares. My highlight was the pork belly with Caesar salad. The hero was the interpretation of Caesar salad. My mail was venison m. Perfectly cooked. We were only doing the two course menu but after the first two courses were so good we went for dessert. We are both glad we did great desserts. Loved it.

We did not have a reservation but luckily they had availability for two people. We had one starter two mains and a dessert and all of them were GREAT! Atmosphere and portion sizes were good as well. Meghan and Damon who served us were very kind and helpful. Thank you. I totally recommend.

Exceptional food. The salmon starter and venison main were divine, though would avoid the bizarre rum cake. Superb drinks and service and food.

We had lunch and sat upstairs by the window. Megan served us and she was polite, friendly and efficient. The food was excellent. The goats cheese salad as a starter, was delicious. Followed by the smoked salmon and the beef cheeks for mains. We couldn’t fault a thing. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Lovely. These guys can really cook. I was absolutely delighted by the soup and the trout+risotto combo. They're open on Mondays, which is a mercy when a Monday is all you've got. The view over the River Ness is sweet.

Word to the wise - get reservations in Inverness. We came our first night to the kitchen and they were fully booked so got in for a reservation on the second night. To start we went for the salmon gin cured appetizer with pickled radish and seaweed. This was a very good start to the meal and had really interesting flavors. I really appreciate and enjoy seeing what a chef can do with a vegetable and tonight was no different. The cabbage with potato and puréed carrot was my choice and wow was this good. The dare I say humble ingredients were elevated in a way that I felt really highlighted each vegetable. I all but licked my plate. My husband got the venison and after a dash of salt to lift the potato flavor a bit more to his taste, he also just about licked the plate clean. A few cocktails (tallisker old fashioned for him and Lost Scotsman for myself) added to the experience). Service was friendly and the view we had was looking out over the River. A really nice night all around.

Absolutely wonderful experience! Our wait staff was professional, fun & so sweet and the food was the bomb!! Exceptional starters to mains & then a beautiful finale for dessert (unfortunately no pictures of dessert). Highly recommend if you're in Inverness!

We were excited to try The Kitchen based on the buzz online. The location doesn't disappoint, it overlooks the river and looks snazzy from the outside. On the inside are three different levels, all small areas with tables tightly together. We were seated on the 2nd level so I don't know about the third level. No one dresses up, even in a more expensive restaurant, just a note. We tried a variety of items including Mushroom and onion broth, cep and hazelnut gnocchi, roasted shallots, shimeji mushrooms and green onion oil £19.95 (VG). Parmesan and truffle fries £4.50. Heritage tomato and pesto salad £4.50 (GF,VG). Tender stem broccoli, yogurt and lime dressing, toasted peanuts £4.50 (V). Soup of the day with bread and beurre noisette whipped butter £6.95 (GFA,VG). I wanted to love everything and came in to love everything. What I did love was the soup of the day (the bread was disappointing though) and the stemmed broccoli (really good). Everything else was "ok". The bartender here was fascinating to watch. She very slowly made every drink, very slowly, and put loving care into each and every one she made. I tried one after we'd noticed her attention to detail and it was excellent. :)

Found this while walking around town the day before... made a reservation the next day... how surprised were we! Everything was amazing could not recommend more make a reservation I don't know how they are with walk-in the place was packed!

My sister and I went there without a reservation and fortunately (or not) they had a table for us, on top floor with two other tables. Ambience very sterile, glass and windows, and, as with the three tables, two small and one larger, not much on each floor to make things seem at all cozy. As we took our seat, a server asked if he'd like bread. We nodded. We are used to getting bread with our meal -- as part of the restaurant experience like getting water, not going we would be charge $4.00 for it at the end. But we were. The food is not particularly memorable but was rather on the high side. My sister and I noted this with a laugh because we afterwards went to a far warmer restaurant with more enjoyable food and service for less than 2/3 the cost. In short, if ever revisit Inverness, this restaurant would not be on our list.

***A very late review...visited in July of 2019*** The restaurant is located on a small road right along the River Ness. When we got there, there was a queue and the staff was rushing around trying to help everyone to the best of their capabilities. We were seated very quickly and were given some bread and butter to munch on. We decided to change a lot of different dishes like asking for a different fish for a kids dish and getting a fish that wasn't even on the menu. Our helper was very patient and very helpful getting our orders together. She even made sure that we were alright waiting for a bit since they were awfully busy. We got our food and they looked sooo good!! We ordered the venison rump, the fish and chips, a salmon fish item from kid's menu, and another fish dish that I can't remember the name right now. The design of each plate was absolutely beautiful and the flavor combinations were heavenly!! The venison dish came with a healthy serving of mashed potatoes and a couple of asparagus and beets. The combined sweetness of the beets along with the creamy mash was amazing not to mention how juicy and delicious the venison meat was! The fish and chips were very nice, the fish was well cooked with great flavors and the tartare sauce helped accentuate it to perfection. The other fish (can't remember the name of the dish) came with a well made sauce, tomatoes and potatoes. The fish itself had wonderful flavor and tart taste of the tomatoes were simmered down by the potatoes. Overall the entire dish was very well thought out in flavor. The salmon dish that we got from the kids menu was very fulfilling. It had tomatoes, potatoes and asparagus with a healthy serving of salmon. Our kid loved it and devoured it immediately!! The staff and overall experience at this place was absolutely awe inspiring. At one point we accidentally broke a dish and they were very courteous and kind about it and they never hesitated to help! Their food was wonderful and the vibe of the entire restaurant was very welcoming. If we could, we would give this place 6 stars!!!

I really have no serious complaints. I made a same day reservation via the website for 1. I asked to have the tomato pesto side as a starter which they willingly accommodated and had the venison as a main. The salad was a nice fresh starter and the venison was very very good. Perfectly cooked and arranged in such a way you could indulge in as much or little sauce as you preferred. The service was excellent.

Absolutely wonderful meal! The chef is brilliant on how he turns very simple ingredients into a marvelous dish. We ordered 3 starters: fish cake, gin curd salmon, and roasted cauliflower. The fish cake is perfectly crisped, the salmon paired with grapefruit is very refreshing, the roasted cauliflower paired with some bitter vegetables with balsamic perfectly balanced the sweetness of the cauliflower. We also have the monk fish on bone and venison. The monk fish on bone helps to keep the flat out of the fish very well. The risotto came with the fish was a bit salty but when we mixed the poached egg into it immediately balanced out the flavor. We highly recommend the Kitchen Restaurant!

Not really value for your money. £20 for salmon. Only three crisps came with our hummus. If you want to go on a fancy date, the ambiance is great. Just not great where we were seated next to the upstairs bar.

Absolutely superb! I got the soup of the day, supreme chicken, sticky toffee pudding and Inverness Gin. This is a winning combo. I'd also suggest requesting the table with a view on the second floor if available.

We had the mushroom ragu, salted cod and creamed spinach! Amazing!! Our waiter,Kacper, was awesome as well! Loved it!!

This place was an excellent find. A nice selection of main courses that was not all seafood as the category indicated. I had the venison haunch with a blueberry jus and beets. Very well prepared and was an excellent combination. The waitress was prompt and attentive. Wish the craft beer selection was better, it's no fun when there is only two. They tables were tightly packed together making it a little cramped, but I don't know if I can hold that against them as you definitely need a reservation. A classy place, definitely worth a stop while you are in Inverness.

Excellent view from 2nd floor. Friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. The food was good. Recommend the harissa aubergine if you like eggplant and some heat and also recommend the sea bass.

Really delicious with an amazing view of the water, bridges and cathedrals! The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive! Lunch was delicious if not even a little TOO MUCH food for £9.95!! I had the feta, beet and sundries tomato salad for my starter.. then the salmon with mashed potatoes- comes with veggies and I added sweet potato fries! Honestly, one of the best meals I've had in Scotland. Would love to come back next time I'm in Inverness!

Very mediocre. More than a little disappointed to be seated with a menu then told, once we were ordering p, that the food on that menu was no longer available. There was nothing on the giant menu I wanted (I know, I know, my bad) so I went with the fish and chips. The fish was okay. The batter wasn't great and it was all quite greasy. The mushy peas were gross (I say this as a fan of mushy pease, to be clear). Service was good? Yay?

Super disappointing interaction with these guys. Maybe the host was just having a bad day, but he sort of screwed us. We were out at Culloden and called for a reservation, which he granted us. So we drove into Inverness, and beat the reservation time by 5min. Alas, the host now sung a different tune, and although admitting he had led us astray, he was unapologetic about his mistake. As sad as it sounds, it seems that being foreigners counts heavily against you at this place...I can't be sure, but it felt like they didn't honor our reservation because we had the wrong accent: I'm hoping a manager cares enough to respond here to explain the actions of their staff...but something tells me, this isn't the sort of place that cares much if you walk away unhappy. Enough options to skip this location...until it flips to new management/owners.

Excellent menu offering fresh ingredients for creative spin in Scottish favorites. Enjoyed the white fish, blood pudding meatballs, trout, toffee pudding, cheese board and much more.

Great food, relaxed and helpful staff yet still very professional. The starters were massive. We had the mussels, the salmon and the haggis burgers. It was awesome. The main were more regular in size and were delicious too. We had the sea bass, the chicken stuffed with Haggis and the homemade fish and chips (tempura style instead of the beer battered...). We paid 175 pounds for 5 people with 5 starters, 5 main, 2 desserts, 3 whisky, 3 pints and a bottle of wine. Enjoy

Easy to find, The Kitchen, in it's modern building nestled between two old buildings stands out as you walk along the river. We originally had tried to eat at it's sister restaurant (The Mustard Seed) but to no avail as they were totally booked both of the nights we were here. But since we had eaten at the Glass House in Inverness (same owner) we knew we were in for some good food in a great environment so we took our group over to The Kitchen. The Kitchen couldn't have been more accommodating to our group. I had made reservations for 4 but along the way picked up three more people. I hated to ask if they could almost double the reservation I had made but they took in all in stride saying "Sure. Just give us a minute". Love that they did that! We were seated right by the front door and were given menus to look over and specials to peruse. I had a salad to start and then had a steak for my entree. The steak was perfectly done and came with roasted potatoes. Interesting that you also get a side dish of potatoes, a vegetable and sauerkraut for the table to share. Others at our table had some of the specials (try the scallops) and the salmon, cod and chicken . . .all of which were quite tasty. For dessert, we were celebrating a birthday and much to our surprise, the server came out with some ice cream with what was basically a "roman candle" burning in it! Great for pictures and we all commented how cool it was as they would never allow that at any restaurant in the US! A very fun way to end our night. Service was spot on, the food was great and they accommodated our every request. You can bet the next time I am in town, I will be back!

Lovely find in Inverness, smart food, fresh ingredients. Great early bird dinner options, £12.95 for a starter and main. I had the asparagus salad with arugula, goat cheese and almonds, it was warm, as the asparagus was grilled and fabulous, I ate every bite. Followed by trout on a bed of mash and a side of root veggies. Definitely work checking out, I believe they take reservations but if you get there at the right time you should be able to find a spot ;)z

The food we got was ok but the server was terrible. He chided me a couple of times, like this was my first time at a non fast food restaurant. He took my coat from me and when I asked to get my phone out of the pocket he told me it was rude have it at the table. When ordering a drink I said 'Can I get,' he corrected me with 'It's may I please have.' Excuse me sir but I'm pretty sure my daughter is closer to your age than I am and my table manners, though more than adequate, are none of your concern. Maybe it was his attempt at humor but it was a huge turn off for us. We ended up just getting our drinks and a couple of starters and setting off in search of something better.

I'm surprised to see such poor Yelp reviews for The Kitchen, as it was the best meal I ate during my stay in Inverness and I'm usually in agreement with Yelpers conclusions. We were pleased to be offered a table right away. It was a couple tables away from the window, but still had a pleasant view of the castle and river outside. Service was attentive but by no means rushed. The wine, appetizers, and meal were all lovely. The Kitchen is owned by the same folks who run The Mustard Seed on the other side of the river, which also has excellent food.

We stopped in her at a local's recommendation when the sister restaurant (the mustard seed) has no reservations available. This place is terrific! My friend had the fish&chips - which was excellent. I had one of the nightly special starters - prawns which were as advertised spicy and delivered on that promise. I also had the fish cakes on the regular starters menu. They were good and the sauce was a great compliment.

The lamb and venison were very overcooked, tasteless and tough. Not worth the time or cost.

Staff were pretty rude and didn't speak much English. Things were miscommunicated various times. Steak was ordered medium with peppercorn sauce on the side. Came cooked rare with sauce all over it. Asked for sauce on side and steak was removed from sauce re-plated and brought back still covered in the sauce. First and only night in Inverness. Couldn't get a seat in recommended places by hotel, got a seat here straight away. Now I know why

I ordered the shellfish linguine. It was very fishy and bland. The potato leek soup was pretty good. Unfortunately, my favorite thing to eat was the bread and butter.

The food was ok. They were out of some items that are popular but were what we went for. The restaurant is very tiny and hot. Service was good but wait time for food was long.

What a fabulous restaurant. It is so deceiving from the outside. I thought it was a tiny restaurant but three flights up to an amazing view of the River Ness. We had the starter with sausage, cheese, olives bread etc. the olives were the best I've ever eaten. I had the stone bass prepared to perfection. One of my friends had the chicken with haggis also delicious. It's also open on Monday when many restaurants are closed locally.

About two weeks ago, we found this place when we were shopping and sightseeing in the area near the Ness River. We had an excellent dinner. The bartender Sean and our waitress Alex were both very helpful. My wife is gluten free and Alex explained a number of items that she could order. Sean helped us to pick out two Scottish whiskeys to try before our dinner. We had the seafood platter for an appetizer. It was both very tasty and plentiful. For my dinner, I asked Alex about the braised beef cheeks, I had never seen this on any other menus. She said that they were slow cooked and were very good. I ordered this item and enjoyed them thoroughly, great recommendation. My wife ordered the sirloin steak which she enjoyed thoroughly. For dessert, I ordered the apple and cinnamon cake, a good dessert to finish off the meal. When and if we travel back to Inverness, we will definitely dine here again.

Housed in the most striking modern building overlooking River Ness, the view from the restaurant is worth a visit. Luckily the food is also excellent : a good mix of traditional Scottish foods (they do a mean cullen skink here) as well as creative dishes. The Kitchen uses a variety of local ingredients such as "Baked fillet of halibut w/seared scallops resting on samphire dressed with grain mustard cream". They even have good bargains here: lunch for 5.95, early evening 10.95 and a loyalty point card! I can't wait to go back...

The Kitchen Restaurant has a great view from the second floor but the space was a bit tight for me. The ingredients were fresh but sad to say the best part about dinner was the bread rolls and I'm not sure if they were made in house. I ordered the fillet of salmon which was ok. The portions were kind of small as well through all the courses. The cooked side vegetables were fresh and not overcooked. Just didn't have the Scottish touch and feel compared to the other local restaurants.

Meh. I was really looking forward to a nice meal here, but was disappointed at every turn. The bartender did not know how to make a martini, they brought the wrong wine, the soup was cold, the meat tough, and the dessert tasted like it was from a can. So sorry, because the view was lovely.

We originally wanted to eat at the Mustard Seed, however they were fully booked out, and recommended we book at their sister restaurant The Kitchen. We were luck enough to get a reservation for the same day. Upon arrival at The Kitchen, we were greeted and shown to our seats. We had arrived a bit early, and this was no problem. The restaurant looks like a fine dinning, with white table cloths, and wine glasses already on the table. The wait staff are super friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. The menu itself is quite limited, however the prices are amazing. Less than £10 for a two course meal. Each dish is presented in a high standard, and really decent portion sizes. They even provide vegetables and potatoes to share, free. We were seated near the door, and at least 30 people came through the door hoping for a drop in table, and were politely turned away as they were fully booked for both lunch and dinner. I would definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation.

As I walked in, I was approached by a smiling face, who then called for a waiter who was lolling about in the kitchen to take me to a suitable seat in the curved roof space. I was distracted however on the staircase upward, by the piles of dirty linen all over the place and on one landing a grubby chair and some dishes! Already I was disheartened. I was seated next to the till, and settled in. The waitresses were pleasant and chatty, but my meal lacked exceptional flavour. They seem to have a big screen showing what's going on in the kitchen, but I only noticed it as I was about to leave. I wasn't really interested enough to stay. The least impressive place I visited in Inverness. The price was to the cheaper end of the range, and the building is interesting (although too hot on a summers evening apparently)

Love The Mustard Seed restaurant in Inverness but fancy something slightly different whilst still knowing what you're getting at the same time? Why not check out their sister restaurant just across the river? The Kitchen delivers great quality food like The Mustard seed though I usually manage to find more choices to suit my tastes in the original restaurant. Don't get me wrong, you'll get a great feed here but I do prefer it's sister. Having said that, it is a smashing restaurant with great views of the river. Very relaxing atmosphere and you can take your time watching the ducks swim past. Great value for money with two course lunch deals for £6.95 and early evening menus offering starters and mains for just £10.95. Definitely worth going for this offer as their dinner menu prices increase dramatically. This restaurant also offers a promotional loyalty card so don't forget to get that stamped to get free wine or meals in the future.

Really good quality food, prepared well, and all for a really good deal. We had the two course lunch meal for £6.95 - can't beat that! I had a ratatouille starter, and a Scottish salmon main. Both were flavourful, fresh, and delicious. I wouldn't say anything was absolutely amazingly prepared that I hadn't tasted anywhere else before, but I really do appreciate the quality and portion size given the price. My companions had the ham hock terrine starter and the meatballs with pasta main, and the soup of the day starter (orange carrot) and meatballs. The pasta was a bit bland, but again, everything in their dishes was fresh and well-prepared. I have to take some points off for the fact that despite it was lunch hour and the restaurant had been open for maybe an hour and a half when we stepped in, all three stalls of the women's toilets were in bad shape. The staff seemed very busy and always running between the different floors of the restaurant, but I'd suggest looking in on the loos once in a while too!

Tried this restaurant coz the staff in our B&B recommended it and it fully lives up to my expectation. We have made a reservation and got seated at the second floor. The restaurant is quite full when we have got there at 1800 so it is advisable to get a reservation. The interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated with candles and the view over the river is simply stunning. We had the early bird dinner. The two course meal is amazing which cost just 13 pound. The portion is adequate, the plating is amazing. The waiter is really friendly. It is totally a bargain and we all really enjoyed this meal.

This place is so cool! I had a meal here back in February and felt really special. The building it's shaped a bit like a wave and is mainly made of wood and glass, giving it a very modern feel. The food was good, and I loved the fresh bread that we could dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar! The rooms were candle-lit and over quite a few floors, so while there were a lot of tables, each room felt quite exclusive! It really was great! If I didn't live in Edinburgh I would go more often! Oh yes! Right on the river!

I really enjoyed this restaurant. The building is very modern looking and decorated. The restaurant was hopping on the Saturday night we went...reservations were a must. I found the menu to be enticing, different, and very tasty. Both my husband and I enjoyed everything we had, from starters to dessert. I would definitely hit up this restaurant again if I was in the area.

I think this place is brought to you by the same people who brought you the Mustard Seed only it's much more laid back (more like a place you'd go to for lunch while you might hold off for dinner at the Mustard Seed.) I only had the soup here, which while good wasn't amazing like the Mustard Seed fish chowder (which I personally think should be on every menu everywhere.) I found the layout of the Kitchen Restaurant a little off-putting -- you walk into a nicely lit modern environment but then they whisk you upstairs into a much more sterile room (something like a starbucks cafe.) I don't know maybe they let the cool people hang out downstairs.

Ambiance was fabulous, food was delicious, service was fantastic. Got the fish and chips and chocolate tart. I was not a fan of inverness, but I loved this restaurant.

We are very glad we found "The Kitchen" during our trip to Inverness. We had seen people the day before sitting high up, outside and thought about the lovely experience of eating so high up with stunning views over the river. We were very lucky that as we arrived just at opening time we got that fabulous upper window seat. Superb. Could not believe they do a two course lunch for £5.95. Simply excellent value. I had the salmon to start, for which there a small supplement. Very pleasantly surprised at the portion which had plenty of salmon on a toasted crumpet. My wife had pear, walnut and watercress salad which was delicious. Plenty of lovely fresh bread served as well For the main course, I had sea bass which again there was a supplement. My wife had the salmon which was simply delicious and melted in the mouth. The mains were served with potatoes and fresh veg. For dessert My wife had banoffee cheesecake and I had the cheeseboard, with a glass of port. The cheesecake was a very reasonable £3.95 and the cheeseboard was £4.95. There were five different cheeses which were all very different and tasty, along with grapes and celery. Of course we had to have a nice bottle of the house red to enjoy this wonderful food. Total cost was £45 which was very reasonable indeed. Would definitely return next time we are in Inverness and can highly recommend this eating establishment.

Great restaurant! The food was very good and the service was great. Be sure to make reservations to be seated on the second floor - nice view of Inverness along the River Ness.

Food was absolutely fantastic and the view was excellent very friendly staff. We booked one hour early and got a spot overlooking the river. Food options were numerous but there was good selections for young teens and it was all present d extremely well. Thanks for having us!

2nd day in a row having dinner. Very friendly and helpful staff. The food is also very tasty. Just had 2 courses of mussels! Delicious!

Loved the decor and the staff were fabulous. Has a wonderful view of the river. Food was of a high standard with a wonderful selection of very fresh seafood. Dessert was wonderful as well. Great selection of whiskey!!!

Really good food at a reasonable price. Between the 4 of us we had steak, chicken and fish. The starters were excellent, the main course delicious, with great bread and a nice wine. Couldn't have had a nicer staff.

Fantastic restaurant I've been twice at night and up on the top view is a gorgeous view of the river ness at night, my steak was cooked perfectly and the green beans perfectly crunchy and enhanced by the Parmesan ham wrapped round them and perfectly seasoned home made chips a little costly but definatly worth it for a special occasion or treat

Enticed by the good looks of the building, and a tasty sounding menu, we were disappointed by the offerings received. The scallop starter was almost tasteless - definitely lacking something. The chicken breast main comes with a beautiful sauce. I was delighted with the flavours and great mash. But it was soiled when I got to the black pudding mousse stuffing (which I had forgotten was in there) which did not combine well with the sauce at all. Disappointing. Didn't even pass the 'could I do better myself test'!.