Planning out restaurants?
 

My family (4 adults) are planning a 10 day driving trip through Scotland in July. We're starting in Glasgow and driving up through the western highlands, and back down. I'm wondering how much planning I should do regarding meals? I'm a pretty detailed itinerary kind of person and I've been researching every town we're going to, but I'm wondering if I should just leave it up to chance that we find a lovely pub or cafe? Or ask locals where they eat? We're definitely a low key kind of group, and would much prefer a good local watering hole verses high end dining, so I'm thinking many good places won't even have a website. Thoughts and suggestions are welcome!

definitely wait until you get there for planning where to eat. Places change hands pretty quickly and what was good one year [and in the books] may be awful the next - and vice versa! also pubs and small cafes won't expect you to book very far in advance, though with 4 of you, a phone call the night before might be a good idea just to make sure that they'll have a table at a time yo suit you.

>> I'm a pretty detailed itinerary kind of person . . .<<

As long as you realize a detailed itinerary will most likely fly out the window w/i the first day/day and a half. Things just won't run to schedule in rural Scotland.

And there is no need to pre-plan any restaurants - as annhig suggests - that great little cafe mentioned in some book may have changed format twice in the last couple of years. Now, there are mainstays that are always good and are givens. For example if you are in Glencoe, the Clachaig would be a sure thing. http://www.clachaig.com

Will you be connected to the Internet with an iPad or such?

If so, you can check yelp ot tripadvisor for reviews as you go.

Yeah I'm well aware that my plans my go awry, and I'm okay with that, I just like to have a plan. :) We will have internet wherever there is free wi-fi, thanks for the tip!

If you are out and about in rural Scotland don't assume you'll have wifi.

Some B&Bs will let you use their broadband. If you need to get on line while touring - almost every library has for-pay computers/internet access

There are a lot of towns/villages where you will have so few choices that reading up in advance will be useless. Just read the menu outside the place and see if it appeals. Then walk down the street and read the menu at the other place in town -- if there is one.

In the UK I work on the basis that if there is no menu outside then I will not go in.

You may also see a sticker in at least one window which identifies the quality of the kitchens and the staff training in clean cooking issued by the local council. This is a score out of 5. If you see a score of 1 or 2 then I would walk by (generally means must improve) but a document should also be there explaining the scores

http://ratings.food.gov.uk/search-a-...en-GB/Scotland

You may also see Trip Advisor scores (if they are good ;-) )

Scotland isn't exactly a culinary mecca so I would play it by ear for the most part.

Having a list of recommended places is a fine idea but what good is it to have the name of a good fish and chip place *cough*The Seaforth Inn in Ullapool*cough* when you're really in the mood for Indian or Italian?

If you're a beer aficionado, look for the CAMRA (CAMmpaign for Real Ale) logo on the front door or window and stop there for a pint or three and some pub grub.

What sparkchaser and bilbo said. Trip advisor and Cask Marque (the CAMRA logo) are what we go by. And I have yet to get bad Indian food in the UK.

yoda, you are a lucky person, I tend towards veggie only in Indian food after too many poor experiences hence the link to hygiene scores

Having worked in a restaurant and having dated someone in the industry, hygiene scores don't really mean much unless you see what the actual findings were.

Example restaurant receives negative review because walk-in cooler is "too warm" but the reason it was "too warm" was because just before the inspector showed up, the daily vegetable and dairy came and the door was open for 20-30 min while the cooler was stocked and items rotated.

Thanks everyone!!

I, the queen of superplanners, bring a list of possible restaurants, their addresses and phone numbers. Then at least we have some known options. And we can call if we want.

Hi, ravencelt. I like to do a little planning myself and I've found lots of info. on line for some fairly small villages using yelp.com or the region's tourism websites. Good luck!