Friend of Mine is a restaurant in Bridge of Allan which doesn’t feel like it belongs in Bridge of Allan, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Before moving to the area to embark upon my studies at Stirling, I lived in Edinburgh for six years. I got used to the idea that I could get anything at any time. The best Pad Thai I’ve ever had was just a 15-minute walk or a few taps on Deliveroo away. I had multiple options for dedicated vegetarian or even vegan dining. There’s a whole gluten-free bakery that makes cakes that rival any of its wheat-using counterparts.
A genuine pause point when it came to my central belt relocation was the idea that I would no longer be able to get a chicken burger with black garlic mayonnaise and perfectly crispy skin-on fries whenever I wanted it; or any of the other delectable delights that were easily accessible to me in the country’s capital.
Going out to eat has also always been a hugely social thing for me. One of my favourite things to do with my partner is going out for dinner. It is a fantastic way to connect and do something nice together and for one another. An evening walk to a favourite dining spot, a couple of hours of time focused on a shared experience of enjoyable food, curated atmosphere, and each other would ensure we stayed connected.
On top of that, when my friends visit from around the country, it’s a true pleasure to take them out for a meal and introduce them to something that gives me joy and pleasure and share that with them. Likewise when I visit them – it becomes a way to connect over the miles, to stay part of each other’s lives.
I was afraid to lose all that when I moved. But Bridge of Allan hosts a beacon of joy in Friend of Mine. The atmosphere is upmarket and metropolitan – going in there feels like stepping into a similar venue in the city. And the food, of course, is excellent. The menu changes regularly, with some staples that you can rely on, and always features multiple options that cater to a range of dietary needs. My gluten-free vegetarian partner has choices which is honestly astonishing – we’re lucky if a restaurant has one thing he can eat let alone enough to have different things each time we go. It’s also a fantastic place for brunch and lunch not just dinner. There’s never a bad time to eat at Friend of Mine.
Every small town needs a restaurant for the displaced foodies, the vegans, and the celiacs, the people who want to look into their partner’s eyes over a couple of cocktails. Friend of Mine is that lifeline for me, you should check it out.
Featured image credit: Ali Rees/Brig
Student journalist & freelance writer. Check out Quick Play, where I review video games that are 10 hours or less.
