The Waterfront Fishouse - Argyll Bute

Early Dinner Special Set Menu was value-for-money, with varied options. Went on 2 nights just to try more dishes. Staff was attentive. Pretty views of the harbour (even if you don't sit by the window, can still take in the view as the windows are huge. Good location.

Got to the restaurant 15 minutes early for a 7.30pm booking and was sat very quickly. Menu chucked on the table, specials were not explained and host had walked away before we had even walked to the table. Then sat for 20 minutes with no attention paid to us by any staff, not even for a drinks order. Mentioned this when someone finally came over and told they were very busy. Restaurant was at best half full and didn 't get any busier! Doesn 't help the 'host ' was paying more attention chatting to her friends than paying attention to what was going on in the restaurant. Maybe less of that would make service better? I don 't know, just a hunch. I digress, onto the food. For a fish restaurant the choice of seafood and fish was at best, limited. Given its so close to the sea (you can literally see it out the window) I 'd of expected a better choice of specials. Tonight, the specials considered of sardines, hake, surf and turf. Nothing particularly special or exciting. Asked two different people what the trio of fish frok the standard menu was, and got two different answers. Between us, went for mussels and smoked trout for a starter. Can 't go wrong with either. But they did. Despite clearly asking for the mussels to be gluten free, the bread wasn 't and they had to go back to correct it. Both were very tasty though and decent sized portions. Moving on, went for the surf and turf alongside Hake thermidor. Again both tasty and decent portions although the Hake was much bigger than the surf and turf. Puddings were fine sticky toffee and a panna cotta (black coconut ice cream was very good). Food/menu generally felt dated in style and nothing to write home about. Infact, could probably do just as good a job at home! Overall, service was very poor and that 's not even mentioning the 10% discretionary service charge that 's added to each bill. Wasn 't even asked if we were happy to pay it and was added onto the card machine without a second though. So, would I recommend? Well yes, if your happy with average food with poor service, but who really wants that? My advice? Go somewhere else. Plenty of other restaurants in Oban who are interested in treating guests properly. Certainly not a memorable evening, other than to recommend others avoid it.

We came here for dinner on our last night in Oban. It was a great experience, lovely atmosphere. I would imagine lunch may be good with the harbor views. If you want great seafood with a good atmosphere you'll be happy here.

It was ok. OH had roasted tomato soup, nothing special, then we shared a smokehouse platter. Despite the menu saying it was gluten free, it arrived with regular bread and the staff made a big fuss about getting some replacement bread, then said the seaweed slaw wasn’t gluten free either and the chef advise I don’t eat it, but they’re offered no alternative. The hot smoked salmon was rather dry/tough, not helped by the absence of any slaw to wash it down. The small side of chips was the best bit of the meal. My afogatto was hurriedly dropped on the table with espresso already on the ice cream (not separate as usual) and already cold, so the fun of that dessert was lost.

We visited The Waterfront on Saturday evening having booked for a party of 4. The restaurant was busy but we were quickly shown to our table and given menus. That was the last we saw of any staff member for the next 20 minutes. Nobody came to take our drinks order or offer us any water. When the host eventually arrived we were not given any information on the menu or that days Specials. The service improved slightly after that when a new server took over. The food arrived in good time and was of a good quality. We were then abandoned again. Nobody came to ask if we needed any additional drinks and we had to search for the host to ask for the bill despite the restaurant now being very quiet. When we were eventually given the bill nobody came to take payment. After a further 20 minutes we had to walk up to the bar to pay as it turns out the host was outside emptying the bins. Despite the good food we would not return due to the poor service.