Fifearmsbraemar Reviews 4

We visited this place in Braemar for lunch with another couple and, while the venue itself is beautiful, well maintained and has a lovely atmosphere, the overall experience left us feeling completely ripped off.

At the bottom of the menu, written in extremely tiny print that is almost impossible to notice, there is a service charge added to the bill. None of us saw it. I paid by card without checking carefully and only realised afterwards that we had been charged far more than expected.

For what was essentially a simple lunch — two burgers, two chicken dishes and a couple of bottles of water, with some shared sides — the final bill came to £86, which felt absolutely outrageous.

When I politely raised the issue, a very young staff member claiming to be the manager refunded only £9.60 in cash, despite the discrepancy being much higher. His attitude was dismissive, rude and incredibly unprofessional, as though the complaint itself was an inconvenience.

What made this worse is that the hidden charge feels intentional. Customers should be clearly informed about extra charges, not expected to spot microscopic text hidden at the bottom of a menu.

Such a shame, because the place itself is lovely, but the way customers are treated completely ruined the experience for us. People should be aware before dining here and check their bill very carefully.

Pubs closed on a Monday, this place the only game in town.
An obese manager very politely, but taking evident enjoyment, informed a very tired youth (who’d walked 46 km) that there was no possibility of a hot meal, that the restaurant was fully booked.
We ALL know the type.
My son asked politely, would have waited, sat anywhere, wasn’t making any kind of demands…..

Full is full.

And ungenerous is ungenerous. If I’d been running a pub, restaurant or hotel I’d have seen what I could do and I’m guessing most of you would have, too.

DISAPPOINTING

Visited for Sunday Lunch on 18th July and what a disappoint especially as we had travelled from Stirling for a double family birthday get together. We had dined here may times before on our to Ballater as had my sister which made it all the more anticlimactic for my nephews 1st visit.
Firstly five of us were wedged on a window 3 sided table which really could only seat three comfortably. The bar was not busy and there were plenty of larger tables available.

The roast beef lunch which all five of us had ordered was cold when it arrived. None of us wanting to to spoil the occasion continued to eat until the waitress, not the usual engaging type at the this bar, enquire as to the standard of our meal. We then all said the food was cold two of elected to have our food changed and the others continued to eat but said it was reminiscent of a school dinner! The head waiter then enquired if there ws a problem - a bit insensitive when he clearly must have been aware the food had been sent back. My sister and I were delivered our replacement meals which was actually very good but what a pity this wasn't the the first time and unfortunately by this time the others had finished. As soon as my sister and I had finished eating our plates were whisked away and we were immediately asked if we required Deserts? We had literally just finished a main course and hadn't realised we were in a race.
On leaving our bill was reduced slightly but we would rather have paid full price had deserts and probably coffee but instead we paid a very high price for a ruined birthday get together.
I advised the Head Waiter on leaving that in an establishment of this supposable quality the food should not be that inconsistent and that the waitress was almost as tepid as the food!
I certainly would not advise dining at the Fife Arms and would recommend driving a little further to The Rothesay Rooms in Ballater.
I would however say that the saving grace of this establishment on the day was the most charming door man who helped us park, advised us of the starting point of the short walk had we planned to do was. Such a great start what a shame it was such a disaster in the end!

Dirty, water presure low = not possible to go to bath, vey noisy.
Restaurent 2 star. We arived on 5. September 2014!