03/08/2025
We got off to a flyer today for our first review with a visit to The Bistro.
Situated on Sandgate in Ayr, The Bistro boasts a robust menu, showcasing loads of local produce, which is sure to please even the fussiest of palettes.
The start of our visit was mostly Cora stealing the waitresses attention, but no one can be faulted for that. We started our meal off with a couple of softs drinks due to Jo's hangover, and my post nightshift body requiring sugar. The drinks menu includes an extensive wine list and cocktail menu, with a good selection of whiskeys if that is your poison.
We started off with their Lamb and Haggis Rogan-Josh Bon Bons. They were crispy and absolutely full to the brim with rich pulled lamb. The curry mayo added a nice creaminess to the dish, with the pickled shallots cutting through the rich lamb beautifully. The mango chutney rounded off the dish with a wee bit of sweetness. A very solid start 8/10
I had opted for a soup and sandwich combo, but what I got was a combo on steroids. The Bistro Hot Beef Melt with Cullen Skink. The soft ciabatta was packed with thinly sliced beef, sautéed onion and mushrooms, pickled red onions and crumbled Arran blue cheese. I really enjoyed the sandwich, however I found the blue cheese very overpowering for my taste, but still really enjoyed it. 7.5/10
The Cullen Skink stole the show. Rich, creamy and absolutely stacked with large bits of fish and vegetables. Probably one of the best I’ve ever had, and my only issue was that I'd taken it as part of a combo and not as a full portion. 9/10
Jo had ordered the Baked Mac and Cheese, a standard hangover cure. What arrived was a substantial portion of piping hot, oozing mac, with a garlic ciabatta and some crispy fries. The sauce itself wasn’t the cheesiest sauce I've ever had, maybe slightly under seasoned, but the parmesan crumb that was baked on top of it gave it the saltiness that it needed and was a very solid dish. 7/10
A committee meeting took place, and the decision was made to share a pudding, and it did not disappoint. The Toffee Apple Crumble Gyozas were right up my street. The stewed apple still had a bite to it, the oat granola crumble gave it the crunch I was looking for. While the gyoza element was an eye catcher, I don’t think I would have scored the dish any different had it not been there. Polished off with an espresso to see me through the rest of the day. 8/10
It was bill time and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. For the level of service, the quality of food and the size of the portions, The Bistro is tremendous value for money. A solid option gets added to the roster of eateries and I don’t think it will be long before I visit again. 8/10.
