Cupar Restaurant Guide

In prime golfing territory a short drive from St Andrews, Geoffrey and Katherine Smeddle’s well-known and highly acclaimed restaurant-with-rooms “never disappoints”. It again won praise this year for its “quiet excellence” – both its service and its modern Scottish cooking which can be accompanied by a vintage from their very extensive (and in places expensive!) cellar. “Good news, lunch is back on Fridays and Saturdays”.

“Tucked away near the golf courses in St Andrews” (by the 18th hole of the Old course) – Dean Banks moved this ambitious venue here (to the former ‘Golf Inn’) from another location in town two years ago. Ratings slipped a tad this year as views were split on its virtues: to a majority of reporters his multi-course tasting menu provides “fantastically flavoured fish and seafood with innovative textures and at sensible price too”; and “a wonderful experience at the chef’s table”. Others, though, found it “overpriced” for food that was “just OK”, not helped by a couple of incidents of “poor” or “unwelcoming” service.

The “magnificent setting” in a glass box perched on the shore, just along from the A&R clubhouse, is the USP of this “excellent fish restaurant” with an Italian accent, run by Stefano Pieraccini of the family-owned Rocca group. “Book a window seat for the sea view” – although, in fact, the 360-degree views are pretty spectacular from every table.

2023 Review: “A wonderful selection of dishes, perfect for vegans and omnivores alike” wins a thumbs-up for this long-established curry house (est. 1998). “Knowledgeable staff talk about the food and recommend combinations for you.”

MasterChef: The Professionals winner “Jamie Scott is one of the UK’s finest unsung chefs” (setting aside that 2014 honour), say fans of the restaurant-with-rooms he launched with wife Kelly in 2016; “the wonderful food together with the young, local but knowledgeable serving team” make for a winning combination and “a window seat looking over the Tay estuary is a bonus” (indeed, the room has “some of the best-ever views”).

2023 Review: Part of the Balcaskie Estate – which provides much of the produce for the menu – this seventeenth-century pub is run by chef James Ferguson and front-of-house Alethea Palmer, and continues to be highly rated for its short-but-impactful menu that would look just as at home in Shoreditch as it is in the middle of Fife.

2022 Review: “Fresh-as-you-like seafood, cooked perfectly with stunning views over Elie Bay – what more could you want?” – that’s the deal at this terrific shack “right on the harbour with a view of the glorious beach” run by Amy Elles of Great British Menu fame. Closed in winter.

2023 Review: “A lovely local restaurant with a high level of cookery” – Craig Millar’s bright coastal dining room provides “a good choice, especially fish at reasonable prices, plus beautiful sea views”. He follows a tasting menu format, offering 5-course and 6-course options.

“Not many people visit Anstruther, or Ainster as the locals call it, without visiting this famous institution” – a veteran chippie (est. 2003) run by the Smiths, who were born into the local fishing industry and also run the Argofish processing business. “Be prepared to wait during high season, but it will be worth it, as their fish renderings are second to none (no wonder they win lots of awards)”.

2022 Review: Just shy of its centenary, and hard at work sprucing up its gardens (designed by the creator of Balmoral’s gardens no less) – an “elegant” country house hotel whose “airy restaurant” combines “super, fresh, beautifully cooked and presented food with professional and friendly service”. The kitchen garden is at the heart of the operation, and there are further dining spaces outdoors.

2022 Review: This new luxury hotel opened its doors in October 2021, months after our survey closed (hence no rating). It looks to have much of interest to diners though – especially ones who like golf – as it sits in a prime location overlooking the Old Course! There are three eateries (run in conjunction with White Rabbit): Eighteen – on a rooftop with panoramic views, where Derek Johnstone, inaugural BBC MasterChef: The Professionals winner, presides over the open-fire cooking of a surf ’n’ turf menu; The Bridge – a posh-looking brasserie, also with views; and a cosy pub, One Under Bar.