Dobbies cafe satisfies growing appetites

Mar 13 2009 by Lady Who Lunches

Dobbies cafe satisfies growing appetites

THE SIGNS of the imminent flush of spring prompted my gardening guru of a sister out to a local haven for all things horticultural.

As always it was my stomach which swayed me to accompany her to Dobbies with the lure of a bite of lunch at the garden centre.

My green-fingered sibling scampered excitedly out to the chilly alfresco area to work up an appetite looking around the great outdoors while I stayed in the civilised warmth of the enormous hanger-like centre perusing the gifts and goodies.

It was while I was surveying the spring-inspired gifts for Mothers’ Day – taking a mental note of something for my own old dear and a couple of hints to drop to the offspring – when I became aware that my silver-lining of a lunch was in jeopardy.

Sister and I had unwittingly descended on Dobbies at about the same time as a couple of coach-tours containing day-trippers of a certain vintage disembarking for their midday refreshments.

With the queue for the cafe growing exponentially at alarming speed sister was nowhere in sight, out contemplating conifers in Dobbies’ windswept wilds.

Just as I thought I was going to have to step into crisis management mode and brave the outdoors to retrieve sister while some sustenance was still on offer, my very windswept sibling breezed in.

As it turned out the lengthy queue in the cafeteria-style set-up was a blessing as it gave us time to consider all the options from the plethora of cakes and bakes, salads, sandwich fillings, baked potatoes and main course meals.

I chose a coronation chicken baked potato – bagging the last portion of the creamy, curried filling – which, in true sibling bickering style of decades gone by, prompted a sisterly sulk.

“Oh, I was going to have THAT,” winged my pouting companion, opting for a caesar chicken filled baked tattie instead.

To combat the garlic-infused filling for her spud, sister selected a peppermint slice from the massive selection of cakes. I went for a slab of millionaire’s shortbread to be washed down with a soft drink.

The portion sizes were just right, as was the ratio of flavoursome filling to tasty tattie and fresh side salad. And the slices of cake afterwards were spot on size wise to round things off nicely.

Sister and I left contented in the knowledge Dobbies is definitely well worth a visit for a light-bite in bright surroundings, but vowed to keep an eye out for any 50-seater coaches nearby if we plan a swift lunch.

Venue: Dobbies Garden Centre, Huntingtower Park, Crieff Road, Perth.

Food: Fresh, homely-style fare from cakes and a cuppa to more substantial meals.

Decor: Light and bright, inspired by a sunny day in the garden.

Service: Slow when very busy, but otherwise fairly efficient.

Price: £14.70 for tasty tattie, drinks and cakes for two.