A Surprise Review in The Sunday Times

We’re absolutely delighted to share that The Real Food Café was recently featured in The Sunday Times with a fantastic review from food writer Chitra Ramaswamy.

The best part? Her visit was totally unexpected and unannounced—making this recognition feel even more special.

As we near our 20th anniversary, this surprise review couldn’t have come at a better time. To be described as the “ideal refuelling stop” and having the café run “like a well-oiled machine” is such a wonderful compliment to our hard-working team.

If you’ve ever been to The Real Food Café, you’ll know we try our best to make everyone feel at home. Whether you’re a road-tripper on your way to the Highlands, a hiker, or just popping in for a bite, we aim to make your experience warm, quick, easy, and (of course) reliably good. Chitra’s review captures this perfectly and we couldn’t be more proud.

Our MSC-certified haddock got a special mention, along with our brilliant local suppliers, including Letterfinlay Foods in Fort William and Breckenridge of Oban. She also appreciated our sustainability efforts, from ethical sourcing to our support for Toilet Twinning project in Malawi. 

And of course, she had a bit of fun, joking that “one gets the impression that even a cup of tea would come with a side of chips.” We have to admit… she’s got a point!

It’s incredible to think that nearly 20 years ago, we took over a derelict Little Chef with a dream of creating a great pitstop for travelers, locals, and adventurers.

We couldn’t have done it without our amazing team and loyal customers who make The Real Food Café what it is today.

A huge thank you to Chitra and The Sunday Times for this lovely surprise!