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Exterior - Clachan Grill, Ballater, Aberdeenshire

Clachan Grill

4.7 (1132)
£26 to £40
Scottish
5 Bridge Square, Ballater, Aberdeenshire AB35 5QJ

Make a booking

A photo of Clachan Grill restaurant

Clachan Grill

4.7
£26 to £40
Scottish
Ballater

Make a booking

2 people
23:00
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
As one of the CranberryCo clan, the Clachan Grill prides itself on serving only the finest locally and sustainably sourced produce.

With our scenic River Dee backdrop, we're ideally located for locals and visitors alike. Cosy and welcoming, we promise to serve our delicious, Scottish fare with a side of Northern hospitality.

Head Chef Bartek Bukowski has carefully designed the Clachan Grill's menu to reflect the diverse ingredients Scotland has on offer, drawing inspiration from Scottish classics, while elevating them to the level of a modern Grill.

An ideal location for a lunch or dinner, pop in for a taste of the Cairngorms.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Scottish, British, Contemporary European
  • Hours of Operation
    Sun 12:00–19:30 Lunch Wed–Sat 13:00–15:30 Dinner Wed–Sat 17:00–20:30
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Clachan Grill.

4.7

4.7
(1132)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Overall

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Food

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Service

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Ambience

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Best Value

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Good for groups

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Healthy

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Good for special occasions

  • Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Clachan Grill in Ballater offers an "outstanding" dining experience with "amazing food" and "friendly service." Patrons rave about the delicious Sunday roasts, expertly cooked steaks, and the best Cullen Skink. The charming ambiance and attentive staff make it a "hidden gem." Highly recommended for a memorable meal.
1,132 Reviews
  1. Andy

    Yorkshire3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    One of the best roast beef dinners I’ve had! Nearly as good as my mums!

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  2. Fraser Gold

    Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire38 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service. Great menu choices and wine list.

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  3. Joanne

    Manchester/Greater Manchester2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely outstanding, amazing food & service can’t wait to go back , highly recommended 5 stars

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  4. Geoff

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley9 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice place. Pleasant servers, good food. Nothing wonderful, but nothing amiss. The fix prix is limiting and more costly than need be.

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  5. Andrew

    Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 9 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was very good quality. Small menu which meant very quick service. Very busy place which is a good thing. Would recommend to anyone visiting Ballater.

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  6. Ken

    London7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 7 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cullen Skink was excellent, which is just as well as I didn’t rate any of the other starters. Risotto was good and chicken flavoursome. Staff were busy and efficient.

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  7. Beverly

    Lancashire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A very nice restaurant to go to. We had a Sunday roast beef dinner which was delicious and the staff were very friendly and I will definitely be going back there again 10/10

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  8. Jared

    Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Never fails to deliver ! a wonderful, friendly and attentive place to eat, Beautifully presented dishes, tasteful menu and a hidden gem.

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  9. Mike Gold

    Hampshire167 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Having been to Clachan Grill many times over the years, we decided to try the early evening Sunday Roast, booking at 5.15. We really enjoyed our meals - my wife had the chicken, and I had the beef, and both dishes included lots of veg, stuffing, roast potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding. No room for pudding! Excellent and friendly service as always. Next time we will probably revert to the normal menu and time, but its a good option for an early Sunday dinner, e.g. after a long walk.

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  10. Alison

    Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 20 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicous Sunday Roast with all the trimmings. Service was friendly.

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Scottish, British, Contemporary European
  • Hours of Operation
    Sun 12:00–19:30 Lunch Wed–Sat 13:00–15:30 Dinner Wed–Sat 17:00–20:30
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual

FAQs

Dogs are welcomed, reviewers describe bringing their dogs (including a springer spaniel) and note dogs being allowed both outside and inside, with staff sometimes bringing a cool bowl of water.

The Sunday roast and similar lunch mains are described as generous, guests note hearty, generous portions and leaving comfortably full after a roast.

Sunday is the standout, guests repeatedly praise Clachan Grill's Sunday roast and Sunday lunch experience.

Clachan Grill offers a cosy main dining room, a front area called "Angus & Ale" that’s opened at busy times, plus exterior seating, a pretty courtside garden/patio for outdoor dining.

Yes, Clachan Grill's cosy, tastefully decorated dining room, intimate lighting and several positive anniversary visits make it a lovely choice for a special evening.

Yes, Clachan Grill offers outdoor seating: guests mention a pretty patio/courtside garden and say they sat outside under umbrellas and on the patio for drinks and meals.

Expect Clachan Grill to be busy at peak times, reviewers report a real buzz and say weekends (especially Saturday evenings) fill up, so reservations are recommended; quieter snapshots include a Thursday evening at 6pm and some summer Sundays when guests found the restaurant quite calm.

Clachan Grill feels cosy and welcoming with warm lighting, tasteful decor and traditional Scottish touches, reviewers mention a log burner, a homely, comfortable dining room and, at busy times, a pleasant buzz while service stays friendly and attentive.

Smart casual is the guide, aim for a neat, polished but relaxed look that suits a comfortable neighbourhood grill.

Yes, Clachan Grill welcomes families: there’s a children’s menu, staff use high chairs and multiple reviews note children being made welcome.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire
  4. Ballater
  5. Ballater

Make a booking

A photo of Clachan Grill restaurant

Clachan Grill

4.7
£26 to £40
Scottish
Ballater

Make a booking

2 people
23:00
Booked 10 times today
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