If you love dining at Smiths Hotel, you’ll love this bit of news! Our à la carte menu has been updated – a sure sign that spring must be on the way! Make sure to check out the new offerings then come let us do the cooking one evening!

Hands up if you enjoy a night out of the kitchen? Yes, we thought so! Here’s the perfect excuse to come back to Smiths for tea very soon….made from locally sourced ingredients, this delicious menu features a mix of old favourites and new exciting dishes featuring fun, unique Smiths signature touches – of course, remember to leave room for our classic desserts!

Stopping by? Make sure to call ahead to book your table on 01461 337007. And don’t forget to share your dining experience with us! Leave us a comment on Facebook, Twitter or share with us on Instagram!

We’ve got exciting news from the kitchen of Smiths at Gretna Green! Our head chef and his team have been busy grilling away as they brainstormed some exciting new dishes to complement the old favourites….and we’re just about ready to reveal the NEW à la carte menu! This new menu is the perfect excuse to pop back to Smiths and try them all! Why not come tuck into the fresh taste of a Scottish summer at Smiths at Gretna Green – they feature only the finest local produce and are sure to delight all the senses!

We’ll be sharing the entire menu shortly – we’re just putting the final few touches on the menu. More than just a meal – Smiths a la carte menu is the perfect complement for any special occasion – and it will be here just in time for summer!

For now….here’s a wee teaser of what’s to come…

Scallops with sea vegetables and dashi broth.

Beef and truffels.

Baileys creme brulee served with tonka bean ice cream.

Knickerbocker Glory

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Becker

Quick – the last plate you used…what colour was it? Shape? Most of us just grab a plate out of the cupboard when making ourselves something to eat without even glancing at it!
We’ve heard about the importance of presentation for years….but did you know that the plate itself also impacts how a food is perceived?

Apparently it’s not just our mouths and noses that we use to ‘sort’ the flavours! That scrumptious dessert that you just had at your favourite restaurant…..what colour was the plate? Dark or light, circular or square? Have we got you completely confused as to what we’re on about now?

According to recent studies on neurogastronomy (that’s studying how the brain creates and defines flavours in case you didn’t know) the plate has almost as much impact as the ‘actual’ flavour of the food! We certainly didn’t know that dessert served on a white plate tastes 10% sweeter than one on a black plate! Would you believe that the difference is even more distinct when a square or angular plate is used (who knew corners reduced the sweetness?!?)!

We may be more familiar with this than we realise – have you ever marvelled at the creations of celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal? Do remember that there were sounds of the seaside playing in the background when the dish was presented? One of his latest creations – bacon and egg ice cream – may sound a little odd but alongside the sizzle of frying rashers, it’s quite palatable!

Now you can stop wondering why your meal came on a square white plate while your partner’s was on a round, black one! The flavours and taste of the meals are very important to our Smiths chefs – we’re looking forward to see what the next creations will be now but also what plates will be used!

Fancy reading the article for yourself? It can be found here Sweet or Sour? Altering how we taste our food!

Thinking of coming to Smiths at Gretna Green or perhaps trying to the new menu at the recently opened Greens at Gretna hotel? Dining with allergies or dietary restrictions can be very tricky…and often frustrating if faced with limited choice place after place!

We pride ourselves in being able to offer favourites that everyone can enjoy…and understand the concerns of those faced with the challenges posed by dietary choices or allergies! There’s no requirement too big or too small…from celiac disease to nut allergies to cucumber, gluten or lactose intolerance or even diabetes, delicious and unique meals have been created especially for our very important guests!

Worried about restricted choice? Don’t be! If you don’t see something which takes your fancy on the menu, our talented chefs are happy to work with you to create a safe and satisfying meal!

Needing inspiration? Here are but a few of the options we can do…
Gluten intolerant? Cottage pie, Yorkshire puddings and sticky toffee pudding are all possible!
Vegan? Quinoa, stuffed roasted peppers, or risotto and rhubarb sorbet create a delicious meal!

Questions? Please get in touch on 01461 337007 for Smiths at Gretna Green or 01461 337621 for Greens at Gretna! Or send us a message on our Facebook pages!

Happy dining!

There’s been a hive of activity lately in the Smiths at Gretna Green kitchen! Our talented team of chefs have been busy putting the finishing touches on the new spring à la carte menu – and it’s all locally sourced with Dumfries and Galloway!

Hands up if you enjoy a night out of the kitchen? Yes, we thought so! Here’s the perfect excuse to come back to Smiths for tea very soon….made from locally sourced ingredients, this delicious menu features a mix of old favourites and new exciting dishes from hot smoked salmon starters to fun, unique takes on fish dishes such as our new John Dory and light-hearted takes on classic desserts  like the stunning Cherry Bakewell Tart!

We were lucky to be in the right place last week when this fabulous new menu was presented for tasting….we do love getting tasty tidbits. Better get those forks and spoons in quickly!

But that’s not all! Our menus are getting a fresh new look too….watch this space for more!
For now, here’s a wee teaser!

Go on….treat yourself and try the new menu! Remember to share your favourites with us on facebook and twitter!

Afternoon Tea at Smiths has been a huge hit… For some people the lure of freshly baked cakes and delicious homemade scones is simply too much to resist! While Smiths has a host of yummy lunch dishes on offer, the ‘quaint yet quirky’ afternoon tea is fast becoming its most sought after lunchtime treat… for this scrumptious offering of tea, coffee, finger sandwiches, macaroons, banana bread, chocolate and more has been flying out the doors since it was added to the Smiths menu partway towards the end of last year…

Afternoon Tea….ready to enjoy!

Should you be visiting us to get married, attend a wedding or blessing or that you’re simply stopping off on your way north or south of the border then you simply must sample the wares! Plus it also makes the perfect treat for a baby shower, special birthday, long overdue catch-up with friends or even an informal work get-together!

Presented with a blanket draped over your table and descend into a picnic of the senses with our delightful crockery and picnic basket all adding to the charm of the Smiths afternoon tea experience, Smiths Afternoon Tea is a firm favourite with all who have tried it!

Keep an eye on here….and on our Facebook pages…the chefs do like to have fun with the Afternoon Tea – we had a festive version over the Christmas period….who knows – there may even be an Easter themed one?!

Festive Afternoon Tea at Smiths

Need more info? Why not head over to Smiths website…