During a recent stay at the Black Bull, which can be found in the charming town of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, we simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dine in their revered restaurant. Being highly recommended by both locals and travellers alike, we were excited to sample the dishes at the Black Bull and were left in great anticipation as we sat down at our Scottish style tartan booth, adorned with a bulls head overhead.
The ambiance of the restaurant is simply charming, with nods to the area’s heritage in the decor, and a general feeling of warmth. This warmth was also reflected in the service of the staff, who were simply charming. The entire evening we felt very well looked after, and our server was extremely attentive. Whilst browsing the menu, we started our evening with a glass of the Black Bull Sauvignon Blanc, which was perfectly chilled with subtle hints of apple and a finish of zesty acidity.
To start, I opted for their soup of the day, which is a rare decision for myself, however I was rather tempted by their lentil and bacon soup; and thankfully it was a great choice. The textures and flavours were just beautiful, and the dish was complete with a generous handful of fresh coriander and a thick hunk of bread. My partner went for the hand battered mushrooms which were served with homemade aioli and were equally delicious.
“Overall we had a wonderful meal at the Black Bull, where you can expect wonderful, traditional gastropub food delivered to a very high standard.”
For our main courses, I decided on the beer battered haddock and chips, served with a fresh salad and homemade tartare sauce. It doesn’t get much more pubby than this dish - a classic fish and chips executed to perfection. My partner opted for 28 day matured sirloin steak, which was served in the form of an 8oz Scottish sirloin along with onion rings, a grilled tomato complete with sautéed mushrooms. We also added a side of seasonal vegetables to complete our choice.
For dessert we decided to share the Black Bull’s sticky toffee pudding, which was served with vanilla ice cream. What better way to complete our gastropub dining experience - we were certainly not disappointed. For our wine choice, we thoroughly enjoyed a bottle of their 2016 Normans Holbrooks Road, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia. This smooth wine was fruity and oaky on the pallet and was extremely moreish, making it the perfect accompaniment for our meal.
Overall we had a wonderful meal at the Black Bull, where you can expect wonderful, traditional gastropub food delivered to a high standard. We really enjoyed our evening and it comes highly recommended by us as a great lunch or dinner spot in the area.
The Bill: £37 per head
