Practical information : Eating out Scotland
Timetable
Mealtimes and eating habits are not the same in France as in the UK. A deliciously pantagruelic breakfast is followed by a more frugal lunch.Afternoon tea is the perfect in-between lunch and afternoon tea, with sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea (it can also be served with coffee or more festive drinks in the "gin" version). However, the time to pay attention is in the evening. Dinner is served from 5pm. Most of the time, even in medium-sized towns, if you're looking for dinner around 8 p.m., you're likely to run out of food in pubs and be turned away from restaurants, which will be fully booked. And if you're traveling with the family, be aware that some establishments refuse to accept children in the evening or after a certain time (sometimes 7 p.m., sometimes 8 p.m.).
Budget & Tips
The huge breakfast you have in the morning means you'll be able to eat light for lunch and be quickly satisfied: sandwich in a pub, soup with toast. Even those with ferocious appetites will be surprised that it's enough.
Dine early and cheap: For the evening, remember to dine early, very early even. Pre-theater" or " earlybird" menus are most often served for orders placed between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., and at unbeatable prices. This is the ideal time to eat in a good restaurant for the price of a pub meal.
Eating at a castle or museum: While in France, snack bars and restaurants at tourist sites are rarely good value for money, it's a different story in Scotland. The cafés, tearooms, snack bars and restaurants at castles and museums offer fresh, local, home-cooked produce at very reasonable prices. Most of the time, they take place in atypical locations: stables, old kitchens, etc., for a pleasure that adds to that of the taste buds. Most of these restaurants are not open to visitors to the site.
What costs extra
It's customary to leave atip when you're served at a restaurant. It's usually 10% of the bill. When you pay by credit card, you may be asked if you'd like to leave a tip, and by how much. Finally, some restaurants include a service charge in their bill. This will be indicated on the card.
Water carafes are not readily available in Scotland, but you can ask for one.
The local way
Here, you eat what you want, when you want. If you want to enjoy your fish & chips or hamburger with a cup of tea, no one will bat an eyelid. The same goes for a sausage roll with coffee for breakfast. Similarly, catering for special diets varies considerably from France: everywhere, even in the most remote snack bar on the most isolated piece of land, you'll find vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergen-free alternatives.
Kids
Some establishments are child-friendly, with children's menus and play areas for toddlers: perfect for family outings. At the other end of the spectrum, however, some establishments, because of alcohol licensing requirements or the presence of slot machines, do not welcome children, or only under certain conditions: restricted evening hours or a designated area within the restaurant.
Smokers
Restaurants, pubs and cafes are all non-smoking.