The Waterside Bistro in Haddington

Wonderful little restaurant on the river.we stayed across the bridge and walked to and from our B&B. Generally takes reservations but had room for us all three times we ate there during our stay in Haddington. The staff was always very friendly and remembered us when we came back. The food was delicious as well as very filling. If you're in Haddington, I highly recommend this for one of your meals.

Delicious fresh menu in an idyllic location. I went midday for a light meal and the bartender was my waiter and was lovely and helpful! The smoked fish & prawn chowder was rich and filling and the bread served with was perfect. Great pint of Guinness too! Definitely worth a drive out and take a walk across the river to the churchyard and town after , for a lovely day out!

My son booked us in for lunch on a family day out, what a lovely pleasant surprise the Waterside Bistro was, and absolutely idyllic setting, with fabulous grounds. The service was fabulous, the staff so helpful and friendly. The food was amazing, absolutely delicious, not one complaint from a party of 8. Our only regret was we didn't have time to wander round Haddington, it looked beautiful. If you are thinking of going here to eat or just chill, do it, fabulous venue.

This was our first visit to the Waterside Bistro in quite a while. Me and mum were there for a family get together, so a light lunch was served for us, Mums in a wheelchair, access was super easy from either the rear car park entrance or the waterside entrance. We were in the side room which is nice and cool with the high ceiling. The atmosphere and historic building is always a joy to spend time in. Our food was ok, nothing special, though everyone ate well with no real complaints. A very enjoyable afternoon. 4/5 🖖

A really warm welcome coupled with delicious food and friendly service made it a visit to remember. We had a variety of starters, mussels, burger and steak, followed by the chocolate dulce, and a frangipane tart - all excellent. Even the dog got a warm welcome and a bowl of water - quite different to other places we experienced on this trip to Scotland. A true gem, in a stunning setting.

Oh such a beautiful location. We love the friendly service, the cosy atmosphere, gluten free food, dog friendly and good value for the amazing food and drink!

Exceptional food. Fish chowder and fish and chips. Very tasty, fresh, nicely presented. Creamy chowder with crusty bread. Crisp breaded fish which just melted and smashing chips. Local IPA, light, crisp and flavoursome. Atmosphere calm quiet summer afternoon overlooking the river. Staff friendly welcoming and helpful. Great stuff.

Place is based closed to the water walk,so has beautiful view from the terace to it. We had some luch,what was very nice. Bit pricy but was nice. Also its dog friendly so you can take your pooch with you. 🐕

Delicious gem. Friendly service. Gorgeous ambiance. Carefully curated. Five stars.

This is quite possibly the most beautiful dining experience I have ever had. A diverse menu with a rotating selection of specials from the land and sea. Attentive and charming service, but the best part is the namesake of the restaurant, the waterside view! I enjoyed the mushroom, pea, asparagus risotto, and my companions savored the pork loin, sea bass, mackerel, and prawns. A magical place!

Incredible food, the service was fantastic, and the haggis was the best I've had in Edinburgh.

Was coming back from Edinburgh looked online for a good place to stop. This was by far the best food I have had in the uk. Everything was perfect it was seasoned amazingly. They had a great local cider and the specials namely the goat cheese and the fish trio were out of this world. A party of 9 every plate was clean.

We visited The Waterside last year and were quite impressed so decided to make another visit and see if things had changed for, either, the better or the worse. First thing, driving we noticed Scottish Tourist Board signs directing the way. Wow. Bistro is on the map. On arrival there was a carpark at the rear, something we didn't find last year. So many cars, would we get a table? The reception was second to none with a choice of a table in the bar, if we didn't mind waiting ten minutes or, immediately in the Bistro. We took the second option. Shown to the table in this very busy restaurant. An order for drinks was taken at that point, no 'someone will be with you in a moment'. The drinks arrived promptly with the menu. 'No rush, I'll be back in your own time'. Impressive. Bread arrived, delicious fresh bread and a bottle of water, and that without asking. After about ten minutes he came back asking if we were ready and then mentioning the specials of the day. There were two starters and two main courses on offer but our ears only heard lobster bisque and freshly caught lobster. Impossible not to order. The bisque was subtle but extremely flavoursome. The lobster arrived, in the style of thermidor, on a bed of salad. That lobster was extremely fresh as the sea could still be tasted. We were totally full and when a dessert was offered we asked for a short break. At this restaurant there was never any rush. When ready we ordered a 'simple' three scoops of ice cream and two spoons from the lovely young lady serving the desserts. It arrived in a very tall glass with whipped creams and biscuits. The server had a smile on her face. I think she made this dessert special. All in all a wonderful experience. Glad we tried The Waterside again. Thank you to the Maitre d' who received us, he is a 'good choice' (that's an in joke between us). All the staff who serve and we mustn't forget the chef and his helpers in the kitchen. The Waterside is a MUST visit if you are in the area but, I feel, with that quality of food and service very soon a reservation will need to be made. Thank you one and all.

After a long drive we arrived just after the kitchen closed. The owner and a lovely couple at the bar wouldn't let us go hungry though. We were served a great soup and some fresh local bread. The bartender knew every detail on the local brews. Everything fresh and local. Can't say enough about how kindly we were treated. One of the best and most unexpected parts of our trip to Scotland.

We've lived in Haddington for several years but never tried this place - we didn't know what we'd been missing until now! A great spot by the River Tyne, popular with walkers and cyclists but also very easy to get to from the town centre. We went on a Thursday evening, which is 'steak night' (but the normal menu is also available if you wish). We chose from the steak menu, which comprises a rib-eye steak plus a glass of wine (or other drink of your choice). There are also additional sides you can get; the green lentils and onion rings were both delicious. We finished with deserts, which were exactly the right size as the main was surprisingly filling. All in all a great find and we will definitely be returning. It was surprisingly busy so a table booking is recommended if you want to avoid disappointment.

I would have been disappointed in that sandwich if I'd paid £1.80 for it in Greggs. The Waterside was a disappointment all round. It's a beautiful place, lovely location, and I've had nice food there before. But this time ... afraid not. A roast chicken and tarragon sandwich with salad in a toasted baguette - sounds good. The reality - a doughy Tesco 'bake yourself' roll, definitely un-toasted, with a tiny scoop of cubed chicken in mayo and some lettuce. You know you're in trouble when the chicken comes in cubes. And this was like the old joke, 'the food was terrible, and there was so little of it!' This delight arrived sliding about in a plate with some orange, over-cooked chips. Mmm, thanks. I ate it, I'd been cycling and was hungry. Plus the service had been so erratic already that I couldn't face doing anything but get out fast. A shame...

I photographed a wedding at The waterside last year and nipped in a few days before to get a feel for the place. We had a bit of lunch while there and it was lovely. It's a beautiful bar. Warm and cosy is probably the best description. Would definitely go back.