The Steak Barn at Balgove Larder – just outside St Andrews – is an established destination for foodies.

In a new feature on our pages – making the most of our Food & Drink Trails that feature more than 800 businesses in the food & drink industry across north-east Fife – we’re starting reviews of some of our favourite eateries in the area.

We’re going to keep things simple. Our reviews will be in a Fatboy Slim style … right here, right now!

They will be honest – sharing our experience to cover access, the welcome, the venue, service, menus, provenance – the emphasis placed on sourcing local and regional ingredients, presentation, the all-important taste, atmosphere as well as our take on value for money. We’ll also add anything we think is good to share with you … and that you might then like to share with you family, friends or colleagues to help spread the word on just how amazing this corner of Scotland is for its food & drink.

Getting here …

The Steak Barn is on the western edge of St Andrews – coming from Guardbridge, it is on your right hand side. For SatNav – use KY16 9SF. By car, it is easy with plenty of space in their graveled car park giving level access to the Steak Barn. The drive way is a little bumpy! It is walkable from St Andrews for those who like a stroll – and has access on the opposite side of the main road for those on the Fife Coastal Path.

Coming a distance? It is 4.5 miles from Leuchars Station – so choose your preferred mode of transport: buses that head into St Andrews do stop opposite the entrance to Balgove but you have to ask the driver! There are taxis at the station … or you can walk/cycle 4.5 miles on the the well signed path.

In season …

The Steak Barn operates throughout the ‘season’ – open from noon until 9pm, Wednesday-Sunday.

Apart from Graduation Week in late June, they don’t take bookings so, as everything is cooked to order, you may have a wee wait. But that’s OK.

We were welcomed by friendly, smiling staff who explained the ordering process. When we visited? It was busy – a 30 minute wait to order, so we enjoyed a drink from their Barn Bar and sat outside with assembling diners before being called in to take our seats.

It is a great rustic barn, built from pallets around a central dining area full of long tables and benches – as well as all food prep and cooking in full view on their blazing range. Quite some theatre involved and, on cooler evenings, a very welcome warmth to the venue.

The Menu …

The eatery is part and parcel of Balgove Larder – the farm shop and cafe that has grown over the years, supported by the amazing produce from the Strathtyrum Estate and its local farms. This is reflected in their menu. And beef is King. Their own butcher prepares speciality steaks – all cooked to order.

We’re suckers for haggis – so ordered their Haggis Bon Bons as a starter (below left – £10.95) – served up on slate with their delicious slaw (is there horseradish in that recipe?), bacon jam and topped with leaves from their own garden. So tasty!

We’ve enjoyed steaks before on visits so this time went for their own Beef Burger (£13.95) presented on a chopping board with all manner of options as ‘add ons’. The burger comes in a sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle and ‘twice fried’ chips. You can upgrade your chips to their Truffle & Parmesan option for an extra £2.95. Well worth it!

They offer a great selection of sides including their own garden salad and scrumptious beer-battered onion rings.

Vegetarians and those who want gluten free are catered for – and they also have a ‘Littles’ menu with dishes for kids including rump steak, burger and their own pork sausages.

All in all? Barnstorming!

 

Scores on the doors …

Across all criteria, The Steak Barn scored very highly – a total of 92 out of 100.

Click on the Feedback image below to open their website and menu information.

And there’s more …

It is more than a decade since Balgove established their Night Market with the aim of showcasing the very best of Scottish produce, to shine a spotlight on the small makers and producers. As they say on their website: “Whether it’s grown, reared, stalked, caught, handmade or prepared, we want to shout about it!”

Each market is held inside the Steak Barn where you can browse, shop, and sample the produce – and enjoy live music.

They have local food trucks as well as their own Steak Barn and Eat Out offerings.

In addition, Strathyrum Flowers hosts a a number of mini workshops with insight into sustainably growing, cutting and artfully arranging locally grown flowers, including those from the Walled Garden here on the farm.

Car Boot Sale

This year, for the first time, they are including a Car Boot Sale element – a collection of preloved, vintage homeware, clothing and jewellery.

The markets are free to attend and run on the first Tuesday of the month, May to September from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.

 

Need more?

The Farm Shop & Garden Shed are open Monday to Sunday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Cafe is open Monday to Sunday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Breakfast is available daily until 11:30 am. Lunch is Served from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The cafe closes at 4:30 pm.

You can follow Balgove and all that they do on their socials – Facebook and Instagram.

 

All of our work is delivered thanks to the support of businesses, organisations and groups signing up to our channels – including StAndrewsNow.

We have already built an engaged, combined digital audience that tops 150,000 across our current channels: with your support, it can and will grow exponentially to help us promote the town, subscribing businesses, organisations and local community groups. The majority of our most engaged audience – followers and readers – live within an hour’s drive time of St Andrews. They are YOUR customers.

Analytics enables us to monitor and evaluate key data relating to our blog readers. It attracts thousands of readers each month. As a result, we know we have advocates in more than 40 countries covering every time zone … all helping to amplify St Andrews’ message.

Interested?

You can email us via this link. We are happy to answer any questions – via email, on a call or face-to-face.

Please feel free to share with friends, family and colleagues who may be interested.