Jaclyn M.
Yelp
I half expected to see Graham and Amanda from "The Holiday" huddled in a cozy corner booth at this charming Scottish establishment situated on the banks of the Spey. Yes, I am aware that they are fictional characters and that the movie took place in England, but you get the picture. With its candlelit tables (not in a fancy, white linen tablecloth kind of way), antler mounts, roaring fire, and extensive selection of malt whiskies, The Old Bridge Inn offered exactly the right atmosphere to kick off our group's three week stay in the Scottish Highlands. The old whisky bottles dripping with candle wax on each table and the live folk music created a truly authentic Scottish vibe.
We were greeted by a friendly, young server who was more than able to keep up with the demands, humor, and quirkiness (I say that in the most loving way possible) of our ten person American group. We arrived right before the dinner hour started, and enjoyed a round of drinks before receiving a freshly printed copy of the menu (adjusted daily). While the rest of the group sampled the cask ales and premium lagers, I decided to give the hard cider a try. After receiving a warning from the waitress to order only one if I wanted to remember the night, I couldn't resist. Not to worry--I didn't exceed the suggested limit.
There wasn't a single person in our group of ten that was not raving about the food by the end of the meal. We learned from our server that most of the dishes are locally sourced--Alvie brown trout and black-faced lamb with sides of garlic "roasties" were among the favorites. It was no surprise to find out that the meals had been prepared by a chef with quite an impressive culinary background.
I would be remiss not to mention the dessert and, of course, the post-dessert "wee dram" of scotch. The poached rhubarb crema Catlana is a MUST try. Think crème brulee + rhubarb. Pure deliciousness. The tart flavor of the rhubarb paired with the creamy flavor of the custard, and the caramelized sugar layer on top made for an amazing combination of flavors and textures. Following our dessert, our table received a personal visit from the bartender, who offered his expertise on the wide assortment of scotch available for tasting. Once again, we were not disappointed.
My only regret is that we didn't arrive earlier to enjoy a beer in the Speyside beer garden!