Pinemarten Cafe - Highland

Having driving for 2 hours, with a further 3 to go we stopped here to take in the views on the gondola. Unfortunately the gondolas weren't in operation due to high winds. Instead of just heading into Fort William we stopped at the Pinemarten Cafe.....how we wished we had just driven a further 5 miles down the road. Having waited in a rather disorganised queue the girl taking the order looked a me strangely when I asked for a cheese and onion panini, turns out you can't deviate from the menu, so cheese and ham it was. Then asked for a children's ham sandwich, would think that would be easy but again she had to go and ask if this was ok......I settled on a tuna melt (safe bet as it was on the menu) plus a bowl of chips. I returned to the table with the chips and waited on the rest.First issue, chips weren't that hot however as my three year old was hungry and the queue wasn't getting any smaller (people must have been asking for onion with sandwiches) we settled on the cold chips. Shortly later the girl came over and said they had run out of ham, it was 12:45 and middle of lunch service how can you run out of ham?So was offered egg mayo, tuna or cheese for the children's sandwich. We had hoped we might get cheese and onion as a panini, but nope it was more cheese or tuna.It then all came out.Egg Mayo sandwich, think they forgot it was a children's one I asked for. It was huge, ok not a major issue. However the top slice of bread was stale, as if it had been left under a heat lamp while the paninis were made. So much so my daughter just pushed it away.Paninis were ok, however the crisps on my plate were clearly the last few in the bag and we're all broken, tiny pieces (small hint, just open a new bag). Coffee was ok, nothing special but certainly now worth the price.Overall, I wouldn't go back. In fact I was very disappointed when I discovered there was a burger van round the other side. At least you know what you will get there for your money.

Quite basic and expensive although staff friendly and helpful.Clean, tables cleared promptly. Would have probably got more business if things were more kids orientated for race day.So just ok, nothing to write home about but one thing is that cheaper than the on mountain restaurant which whilst accepted as expensive because of where it is was just so so very expensive.Bring your own best so to avoid both restaurants !!

Thought it was very expensive for Chicken burger with salad £7.20!! The burger was over cooked, dry and crisp. I had to take it back and ask for something else. Also asked for Ham salad on a Panini, they served my ham salad on a baguette with salad on the side and charged £5.40. It was very quiet when we were in. Nice clean warm spacious cafe but don't think I will be back.

After a long walk, me and my mother fancied a bite to eat. After ordering from what can only be described as a surly, rude, fairly tall, blonde waitress, I had my drinks chucked at me, had to ask for a glass and then sat down. When my food arrived, the nachos were littered with extremely spicy jalapeños, even though the surly woman has said it was only cheese on top and there was no mention of said jalapeños on the menu. I ate them anyway, even thought I despise spice and picked out the jalapeños though there was still a strong spicy taste left. I thought that as the service I reciebed before was so poor, there was no point complaining.As local customers, I am overall VERY unimpressed.

Our tour stopped here for the gondola/tram tour, as it was overcast we all opted out of the 12 pound tram ride, instead had lunch at the Pinemarten Cafe, the food was good as was the service. You know you are in Scotland when you see haggis nachos on the menu!As there were no takers for the tram in our group we would have preferred to spend the time in Fort William. But you know how it goes with tours; you are a captive audience.