Address: The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, PH3 1NF
Visit: 19 November 2024
Price: ***
Website: https://gleneagles.com/eat-drink/the-birnam/
The Review:
The Birnam is a relaxed Italian-American grill at the Gleneagles Hotel. Head Chef Callum Roberts and his team serve upmarket brasserie and bistro dishes like Caesar salad (this was made from scratch at your table and looked very good!), a variety of steaks cooked over an open fire pit, beef short rib, lobster risotto and crab spaghetti. Apart from the full menu, there is a small bites menu and a brunch menu available. Guests can enjoy a pre-dinner drink and watch the action in the open kitchen.
The dining room was originally built to house the hotel’s 1930s swimming pool, and has an impressive vaulted ceiling with large octagonal dome sky lights. A green mosaic pattern on the floor outlines the pool, which still exists below.
Following a drink at the bar, we were escorted to our table. We started with a large bowl of vegetable fritto that was served with a selection of dips. There was a selection of peppers, broccoli, and courgettes, coated in a light tempura batter and deep fried. This was a very generous portion, and we really enjoyed them.
Our other starter was the beef carpaccio that was served with mushrooms, parmesan, truffle and balsamic vinegar. This had very good flavour.
For main course, we ordered the slow cooked and glazed beef short rib that was served with peppercorn and chimichurri sauce. We also ordered the Birnam salad with picante peppers and a sherry vinaigrette as an accompaniment. The beef was very tender and full of flavour, and the salad fresh, with a flavoursome vinaigrette.
We also ordered the medium rare fillet steak. The meat was fabulous, and one of the best steaks I can remember eating. It’s a bit pricey, at £72 though! I ordered an accompaniment of Marsala wine and mixed peppercorn sauce, which was well made and very tasty, and the triple cooked chips which were also very good.
The Birnam is a welcome addition to the restaurants at the Gleneagles Hotel. We enjoyed the meal, and the service was very good. It’s expensive, but if you are staying at Gleneagles then you expect to pay for this level of service and quality ingredients.
The Menus:
The Menu
The Dessert Menu
Small plate menu
The Food:
The Restaurant:
The bar
Open plan kitchen 