Reviews for HAAR - September 2019

WHERE CULINARY EXCELLENCE TAKES CENTER STAGE.

We are thrilled to present a compilation of the best reviews from our valued guests, capturing the essence of what makes HAAR a truly remarkable restaurant. TripAdvisor, we've gathered a selection of reviews that highlight the unique aspects that have earned HAAR its esteemed reputation. Each testimonial serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring that every visit to HAAR is an experience to be cherished.

Seafood at its best

We went here for dinner and it was wonderful. Drinks in the bar and the server was great. Went to the table and had an amazing dinner. The food was outstanding, the scallops were a real treat. We had lobster as a main and enjoyed every mouthful. Service was friendly and professional. Met with the young chef who is making a name for himself. The decor is minimal but remember it is about the food. Highly recommend” - 141Dini

Excellent

Was recommended by our driver. Was not disappointed. Absolutely excellent food. Had the tasting menu and every dish was outstanding. Would highly recommend!!” - Jamjak

Don’t miss this spot!

We ate at Haar on a recommendation and it was absolutely amazing for both food and service! We had the tasting menu and loved every bite - the Banofee dessert is to die for! We would go back there in a heartbeat.” - kar02

Absolutely Amazing

My wife and I went to dinner last night at the Haar in St Andrews and had the best food we have ever tasted. The grass fed beef and black garlic sauce starter was amazing. The smoked lobster and seaweed potatoes and Asian salad again superb as were the scallops and Thai vegetables main courses. To top off this fantastic gastronomic experience was the Banoffee dessert which was incredible. Also to add to this experience the staff and service matched the fantastic food.

Will definitely be going back when we are back in St Andrews and will be recommending this restaurant to all our friends.” - martysvensen

Delicious! Well worth a visit.

We had the Tasting Menu and every course was delicious along with the beautifully paired wines.
Fine dining with a more relaxed atmosphere and friendly, warm but polished service from very knowledgeable staff. It was a lovely experience and we will definitely be back for more exquisite locally and sustainably sourced food.
A lovely touch having Chef Dean at front of house.” - kasimpson

Anniversary Meal

We just wanted to say a big thank you to Dean, Sean, Amy and all of the team at Haar for looking after us on 27th August. We had the tasting menu plus a half lobster. The experience and the food exceeded our expectations. The flavours and ingredients in each course were simply divine. It was a truly memorable evening which we will remember forever. We will certainly be paying you another visit next year.” - caza8787

Excellent Dining Experience

6 of us ate here recently on the recommendation of one of our party.

As we were celebrating the wedding anniversary of one of the 3 couples the boat was pushed out and we opted for the 6 course tasting menu with matching wines.

We could not have been happier with the whole experience. Each course was flavoursome and exceedingly well cooked. There is definitely as Asian fusion feel about the food but the spices used created fragrant rather than hot dishes. The matching wines had clearly been carefully chosen and enhanced each course.

A very nice touch was the fact that a substitute dish was available for each course and we did avail ourselves of that option and in neither case was the substitute dish in any way inferior.

Service was efficient but not over fussy and each dish and wine were explained fully.

Haar is an expensive restaurant but quality never comes cheap.” - i_m_tours

Master Chef Runner Up Dean Banks

We accidentally found this walking down the street and what a treat! Rory the host very attentive and the food was very good. Even got to meet Chef Dean! Was sorry I didn't order the north sea lobster as the table next to us said it was beyond incredible.” - 101FUNtravel

Go Forth and eat!!

Having tasted Dean’s food before at a ‘sauce supper club’ event, my wife and I were thrilled to hear he had opened a restaurant- we were not disappointed.

From the moment we went in the sommeliers Jamie & Sean were so welcoming and guided us through the menu in the comfort of the beautiful bar next door.

We love fine food but not the stuffy culture that can sometimes go with it- Haar has none of this. The staff were intellectually engaging but not intrusive. Their knowledge of food and wine is extensive and delivered in a very genuine manner.

The venue itself was very comfortable. Smart casual dress. Nothing smart or casual about the service or cooking though. The food has the influence of Dean’s travels and love of Asian cuisine. A wonderful mix of fine Scottish ingredients and eastern influence make this a food journey to savour and remember for a long time. Wishing Dean and his team well in this new venture. Sláinte! 🥃x” - hughc514

Fantastic Food!

Wonderful food. Everything exquisite and excitingly new. Great service too. Not cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for here. Delicious.” - pgt18731

Superb Scottish food with a spicy twist delivered with aplomb!

We spent a week in St Andrews and booked two restaurants (Peat Inn and Seafood) that we dined at ten years ago and then this new place Haar. We chose the tasting menu plus wine flight. Having read the negative comments about the music I initially commented what a pleasure it was to have decent background music (Peat Inn had appalling piped electronic droning music). Food at Haar was excellent especially the extra lobster course we were offered. Oyster, pork belly, scallop, cod, duck, banoffee all excellent. Wines were all good honest, authentic and well matched. The furnishings are quite basic (table welded up legs unpainted) and absolutely unpretentious in a relaxed atmosphere. Here it is all about the food. We got to meet Dean Banks head Chef! The staff were very interested in feedback. If you only get to eat once in St Andrews dine here. Your taste buds will be pleased!” - RosebankT

Great tasting menu experience

Relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Difficult to pick our favourite dish as most were amazing. Highlights would be the lobster, scallops and pork belly. The least favourite we had was the fish goan curry where the fish was a bit lost in the intense curry. The curry was lovely though.
Particularly liked the fact that the cheese course had enough biscuits. Overall very memorable night and we look forward to going there again.” - Lorna S

Did not disappoint, highly recommend.

Great spot for dinner in Scotland after a day of golfing. Went with a friend and ended up just getting a couple of starters as well as large dishes. For sharers we got the spiced octupus and the fife rare breed pork belly, and for large dishes we got the sea trout and the market fish.

All of the dishes were very savory, though my favorite was the market fish with the goan curry. The combo worked really well and the curry was just amazing. Would definitely recommend this spot and also would suggest making a reservation as it does tend to fill up for dinner.” - albatross2020

Outstanding

We have followed Chef Dean Banks journey for the last year and we were overjoyed when he opened up his own restaurant in April. We flew over from Essex just to have dinner at Haar and it did not disappoint. It was worth every mile travelled!
From the moment we stepped through the door to Haar we were made to feel so welcome. All of the staff were friendly and clearly passionate about the restaurant.
We sat and had a cocktail at the bar before heading to our table. We tried the Lunun and the Espresso Haartini, both expertly made by Alex.

We decided to go for the Tasting Menu and I can honestly say every single dish was outstanding. Clean precise presentation and the genius combination of flavours. Easily the best food we have ever tried.
My favourite dish on the menu was the Pork, which impressed me as I am not usually a lover of Pork.
My partner favoured the Goan Curry. Although I have to admit it was the banoffee that we were most excited about having seen Dean create it on Masterchef and fantasising about it for the last year!
This was everything we expected and more.

The restaurant had a lovely warm and relaxed atmosphere, and we felt as though we were in the company of friends. The senior chef Mark introduced himself and took the time to talk us through the menu and the ingredients and to our delight, Dean brought us over his famous Banoffee, a brilliant end to a fantastic menu.

The staff were all so lovely and welcoming, the food was outstanding, and we loved the relaxed atmosphere.

Thank you to all of the team at Haar for a night we will always remember. We cannot wait to return and bring our family along.” - Abipen1

Different in a good way

We dined on a Sunday evening when they have an excellent tasting menu at a reduced price!you can add and subtract dishes which is great .we added the lobster it really is out of this world.one of the best things was the generous amount of delicious fresh bread to mop up the sauces(fine dining with homely touch )all our plates were sent back polished.each course had lots unique touches and flavours .also it was nice that all the staff were happily involved serving and chatting including Dean” - Pat W

As you conclude this journey through the remarkable reviews of HAAR, we hope you've gained a glimpse into the extraordinary dining experiences that await you at our restaurant. From the words of our satisfied guests, it is evident that HAAR is more than just a place to dine.

We invite you to join us at HAAR and experience the magic firsthand. Let our dedicated team guide you through our diverse menu. Whether it's a special occasion, an intimate gathering, or simply a desire to indulge in tasty cuisine, we are here to make every moment unforgettable.

Thank you for embarking on this journey with us. We look forward to welcoming you to HAAR.

Ross Mcgregor