The Newport Restaurant

Tucked away in the quaint little town of Newport-on-Tay lies the hidden gem of Dundee’s food scene. Featured in Vogue’s recent guide to Dundee and attracting diners from across the country, The Newport Restaurant is certainly one of the best culinary offerings in the local area.

A short walk along Newport’s charming high street will take you to the restaurant, located on the banks of the River Tay. The restaurant’s location within its tranquil setting makes for a breath-taking experience from the outset. It boasts two storeys, a balcony and an entirely glass wall which floods the dining area with natural light, offering striking views across the expansive Tay towards Dundee. This stunning vista includes Dundee’s two iconic bridges and the vast Highlands in the far distance. Nestled within Fife’s idyllic natural setting, with a chilled glass of wine in hand, The Newport Restaurant is the perfect place to watch the sun setting over the silvery Tay.

Offering an eclectic blend of flavours and cuisines, the quality of the food is exceptional. It’s certainly on par with a fine-dining restaurant, but the atmosphere is relaxed and informal, making it the perfect place to go to at any time of day.

The interior itself is bright and welcoming, with rustic elements such as concrete floors and exposed brick, giving the space a bit of character. Across the ceiling, immense folds of fabric are draped theatrically like billowing sails. In a decorative script, the fabric is adorned with the names of Scotland’s most iconic boats and vessels, including HMS Discovery, a beautiful touch which nods to Dundee’s maritime heritage and its namesake as a City of Discovery.

To get a real sample of the cuisine on offer, we went for the seasonal 6 course tasting menu. After a 400% rise in vegan and veggie culture and dining, The Newport now also offer a vegan tasting menu. What really makes the restaurant unique is that the chefs forage for their food locally, an ethical and sustainable way to source local herbs and ingredients, as well as highlighting the array of natural produce we have on our doorstep.

To begin with, we were treated to some olives and crackers with a delicious, nutty dip, which we enjoyed as we soaked up the gorgeous views.

The tasting menu then began with 4 little ‘snacks’: Kohl Rabi & smoked cream tart; Peasemeal, goats milk & capers; Langousitine, crispy pork & dill and, finally, Smoked beef, tomato & watercress.

The attention to detail was incredible: the presentation of the food beautifully mimicked the Scottish landscape and reflected the natural, locally sourced produce. Our first dish was presented on stacked cylinders of tree trunks, paying homage to the natural land from where the ingredients were sourced. The smokiness of the tart was delicately balanced by the crisp freshness of the kohlrabi, and the pastry was light and delicate.

Next up was the peasemeal: puffy, delicious balls of creamy cheese and a beautiful caper reduction. For such a rustic and humble ingredient, the peasemeal was really elevated and showcased in this dish.

One of the star dishes was the langoustine: beautiful, fresh fish and pork scratchings served in ceramic fishbowls on a bed of pebbles. Each dish looked like a beautiful work of art, creatively highlighting the Scottish landscape. The natural sweetness of the langoustine was perfectly balanced by the pork and dill.

Rounding off the snacks was the smoked beef, which was spectacular. The dish was served on a bed of thyme and fresh herbs, which mimicked twigs and foliage. Water vapour made from essence of tomato poured out from the dish, flowing onto the herbs beneath, to look like a babbling brook or waterfall. It looked just like a stunning landscape in edible miniature. The presentation was unique, fun, and totally different to anything we’d seen before, and the beef tartare was delicious. The smoked beef was also served with a homemade charcuterie, bursting with tomato flavour.

Our next dish was a summer salad, a celebration of all the vegetables which were currently in season.

There was a lovely story to tell about each and every dish, about their ingredients and where they came from. Each plate sought to showcase its seasonal produce, highlighting the journey from earth to plate.

One of our favourite dishes was the Loch Etive Trout with pear, buttermilk, walnut & burnt lemon. The trout was a triumph: the sauce was lovely and creamy, but not too heavy and the pear cut through the fishiness of the trout—an unexpected but brilliant flavour combination! The trout was also beautifully fresh and great quality.

Rounding off the meal was the star of the show: a rich, decadent ‘Tagh Mi Suas’, or tiramisu, made with freshly ground Sacred Grounds coffee from Arbroath.

All in all, the meal felt like an experience.

The service was flawless and it was obvious that the staff all cared about what they do. They knew everything about each dish, and were happy to chat about the restaurant and where they sourced their produce. After commenting on how beautiful the crockery was, I was even informed that it was hand made in Crail!

I couldn’t recommend The Newport enough– a tasting menu is a fantastic way to sample an array of different foods. And it’s the perfect setting for a romantic candle lit dinner for two. Alternatively, you can order a main if you’re not feeling as adventurous! Dining at The Newport didn’t feel like tucking into a quick pub meal, it truly felt like an occasion. Ultimately, the tasting menu was a lovely celebration of all the wonderful produce we have here in the Dundee area, and of the beautiful landscape, too.

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Fancy finding out more about the Dundee foodie scene? Why not check out my post on The Newport Summer Festival, or you can head over to the Urban Dundee Food & Drink Archives.