3 Best Restaurants in Stirling and the Central Highlands, Scotland

This lively pub in a converted whitewashed farmhouse is a little hard to find but worth the effort for the very extensive menu---from burgers and steaks to jambalaya, curry, and chicken chimichangas. This is all good home cooking without pretension, and the servings are more than generous. Inside, the buzz of conversation bounces off dark-wood walls decorated with a fashionable collection of bric-a-brac. From the outside terrace you can look across fields to the hills beyond.

With its over-the-top Scottishness, this lively restaurant and café serving Scottish classics fits perfectly into its surroundings in the picturesque village of Luss. Long wooden tables, a large chimney with an open fire in the winter months, and a cabinet full of mouthwatering cakes baked by the owner create a cheerful atmosphere. Favorites include rich soups and stovies (large round rolls filled to overflowing), as well as the ubiquitous haggis, served in king-size quantities. It's worth asking for tea served in ceramic teapots representing everything from dining rooms to telephone boxes (bonus: the pots are for sale in the shop). Luss attracts visitors because of its association with a favorite Scottish TV soap opera, Take the High Road, which ran from 1994 to 2003. Some loch cruises depart from its pier.

This unpretentious and popular place with wooden tables and chairs has a menu that celebrates Scottish food, though well-made burgers and steaks are also permanent features. The food offers some new takes on traditional favorites such as the rolled haddock with salmon, the Cullen skink soup, and haggis in various guises. Unusually, the desserts are house-made, and it shows. A range of Scottish beers and gins are available, too.