If you're an American missing chili in the UK, this is your place. I was surprised to see so many chili dishes on the menu, and while I didn't try it my husband reported that it was fairly spicy. I had the fish and chips, which having tried the same dish over at the Geographer, I can't say they're the best in town, but it is a good gluten free option for those who need it. The fresh vegetables were also nice. We were seated upstairs in the restaurant but ordered draft beers from the bar downstairs. The restaurant waitresses regularly make the trek up and down to serve patrons, and I was very impressed by their speed and stamina. I was also impressed by the seating arrangement in the restaurant--it was a pretty efficient use of space while still feeing quite cozy. Still, be sure to book a table or arrive ahead of the rush, as this place fills up fast. read more

Grog & Gruel - Fish and chips - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

The ambience was very nice. The service was great. We just wanted to come in and have a drink and, after being turned away from two other places because we only wanted drinks without ordering dinner, we were welcomed with open arms. read more

We had a nice dinner. Pints were cold, service was very good, with a friendly bartender and wait staff that kindly answered questions we had. Food was fairly good. Fish and chips that I had were tender and tasty. Cajun chicken that my wife had was also nicely flavored and tender. Would be happy to return. read more

We had a fun day out exploring The Highlands today. Looked up this restaurant and were excited to try it. We came in out of the rain and when we got to the top of the stairs, realized they were not yet open, but should be open in another 5 minutes for dinner, so we waited. When the woman came to open up a little after their posted start time, she just went on in and started working. So I gave it a couple of minutes and asked if the were open, she said she needed to wait for some more staff. I asked if we could sit at a table to wait (was completely empty). She said no, she had to wait for more help to arrive and that we could go downstairs to the bar to wait. Im not sure if it was because we are American, racism, or just a lack of compassion or reasonableness, but I found that to be a poor response when it is past opening time. My mother in law is in her 70s, and stairs are a challenge for her. So going down and up the stairs isn't a great choice when there is an empty restaurant we could sit and wait in. The woman who opened passed us on her way in so should have been aware. My mother-in-law, my wife, and sister-in-law are all people of color, so it wouldn't be the first time that they had received poor service for that. We waited for a bit longer and three other young women showed up to work. As soon as they walked in the door, all of them burst into laughter. This leads me to believe it wasnt just a lack of awareness or a mistake, but bad intentions. We went across the street to Ben Nevis. Even though they were busy, they were happy to recieve us, had good food, music, a lively atmosphere, and most importantly, they didn't treat us in any way like an inconvenience. They also had a diverse staff and are a single story. So if you are a POC, or of a certain age, I'd go to Ben Nevis if you have the choice. read more

Good place for a beer and a meal. This place was open on Monday (when many restaurants were closed). They have a couple nice cask ales on tap in a town where many places have the usual national brands on offer. Good portions of the local foods (like fish). I ordered the pork cesadila which had a skimpy amount of pork (by American standards). Hence my relearning the adage to eat the local foods when in a new place read more

Service is phenomenal and the food is pretty good! I got the grog dog which was just a banger in some bread, but the fries are sooo good. My bf got the pizza and liked it. Such a cute place. read more

We had a delightful time here. Bartenders are fabulous. Ciders delicious. Great whiskey selection.

Not great, but not terrible. The staff was lovely and we were served quickly after ordering, but the food wasn't very good and part of the order wasn't successfully executed. We're tourists and there were a lot of other tourists there, so it's probably catering to that crowd. I finally tried a Cullen Skink meal, which the Grog & Gruel serves as a pie. It was like eating slightly dried, diced fish with diced onion. Little flavor beyond generic "fish" flavor and onion. My mom ordered a "just cheese and chicken quesadilla," but they delivered a quesadilla that contained cooked peppers and lots of onion, which she is sensitive to and why she ordered the way she did. I did get a half pint of cider, which the bartender let me taste before ordering. It was sweet and crisp. For the American tourist: choose your own table, but place orders and pay at the bar. They do accept chip credit cards. The ladies' restroom is upstairs. read more

Grog & Gruel - Cullen Skink pie and Chicken Quesadilla - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

See all

Good beer. Skip the food. Venison salami pizza had one tiny strip (1 x 4 cm) of salami per slice. The crust tasted frozen. Fried fish was mostly bread. read more

Pub food was just ok. My husband had a venison pie and it was really good. I had a burger... it was only Ok. Service was ok as well.

Simple pub with restaurant upstairs but I highly recommend. At first I laughed at the idea of Tex Marx and quesadilla but my wife and the agreed one of the better we've ever had (we are from Southern California and I grew up in a lagoon neighborhood). Had the boar and haggis burger and with some of the guacamole from the quesadilla it was great. Service excellent, sound level ok. For a local pub, a surprisingly feat. The menu included people zzz and some other things I would have liked to try but, loved it. read more

Fort William is a very busy (small) town in Scotland, and it wasn't easy finding a place to eat that could even accommodate us or which didn't have a wait of at least an hour. We ended up at the Grog & Gruel at a dirty table downstairs in the bar. The table wasn't cleared for a long time, but at least we had a place and the promise of dinner even though it was nearly 8 p.m. The food was good, if not great. Once we got the food, there was no further service. It was kind of a letdown, except it felt like an expensive letdown since it cost us £58.30 (more than $72) for a fairly-average dinner. We would not go back. read more

Popular spot on Fort William's wee high street, close to the end of the West Highland Way. Packed with walkers and other tourists, you can put your name down for the restaurant upstairs and they'll yell your name when a table's ready (definitely potential for a hilarious fake identity). The menu has a few more unusual options like quesadillas and hot dogs. And they offer two sizes of pizza - 9" and 12". The food is ok, but not amazing. My pizza was nice and crispy but needed seasoning. Staff are friendly even if the music isn't - aggro heavy rock (really?). Nonetheless, this is a fair option if you're looking for a warm, buzzing pub offering hearty stodge. read more

Grog & Gruel - Veggie pizza - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

I wanted to give this place two stars but it gets 3 before they allow doggos inside downstairs. We sat upstairs and wasn't seated right next to the "bar". Also asked server for WiFi passcode since we are visiting from abroad and needed to complete trace contact form and was kind of given a weird look. Music was non existent and lights were super bright- felt like we were eating in a food cafeteria than a pub in the highlands. Food was decent. read more

Our tour stopped in Fort William for lunch and I jumped on Yelp to find a place to eat. Our first choice was closed, but reviews for this joint were decent and the free wifi was a bonus. So we sat downstairs and were lucky to get a free table cause the place was busy, even though it was close to 2pm. After finding the table, went to the bar to order. We got x2 cappuccinos and x2 fish n chips (haddock in oatmeal and breadcrumbs with hog tails aka curly fries) and total was €24, which isn't too bad! My cappuccino was really good. I also enjoyed the breading on the fish - the oats added a crunch, however there was a part in the middle of my fish where the breading remained uncooked so that wasn't very pleasant. I also liked that along with the fish, a big basket of condiments were delivered and I could have ketchup, mustard, tarter sauce, brown sauce, etc to my hearts content. The chips were absolute stand-outs and I would totally recommend getting them, even on the side if they don't come with your main meal. Also must commend the service - a youngster accidentally spilled coffee all over me and the waiter came around very quickly with a mop and cleaned up the table and chair and gave me another cup of cappuccino for free. Really cool and so absolutely recommend. read more

See all

(This review is for the Alehouse.) As mentioned, the Grog and Gruel is a decent pub with loads of what seem like random additions to their menus. Quesadillas and burritos alongside haggis and burgers? If you like to have many diverse options to choose from in an affordable price range, this is a good place to go. However, I did give it just 3 starts (perhaps more like 3.5) because despite the warm-wooded atmosphere, the charm for me stopped there. The menu actually reminded me of an American restaurant's attempt to do a little bit of anything and everything. I was a bit underwhelmed by their veggie bean burger, which almost had a tart taste to it. The curly fries, though, were quite good. I also found the service friendly and as another reader noted, willing to give a few tastes before choosing a brew. read more

Pleasant wee pub in the main street of Fort William. I can't comment on the food as we only had a few drinks, but their real ales are well kept and the selection is excellent. The place has plenty of character and is the epitomy of a proper traditional boozer. The staff member who served us was lovely and showed a kindness to one of our group who has mobility challenges. I hear they also cope well with vegetarians so I really must give the food a go some time. Pop in and give em a try! read more

Grog & Gruel - pint of latitude please... - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Was put on the waiting list and was asked to wait in the bar downstairs for 20 minutes. We got called after about 10 - success! During the evening other people had to wait up till an hour, so book in advance if you want to be sure to get a table. We went with the Angus Burger and the Bean Burger (veggie). Fries are served curly and you also get a salad which got some flavour and is not the typical lame salad it could have been. The Angus Burger was really good, good texture and flavour, great bun. The veggie bean burger was good, but it was pretty burned with substantial amount of charcoal black pieces (which is neither tasty nor good for your health to eat). We pointed this out to the staff that said that is simply how they're done, since the bean burger does not have as much fat as the meat one, it does get burned a bit more. Getting a new one would just be the same. Well, too bad they could not prepare the bean burger appropriately, like with slightly lower temperature. This definitely is something that makes me consider remove one star from the rating, however, they were nice about it, offered money back in case we didn't like it and also had the chef to use a sharp knife to remove the black crust (too bad it also took the cheese away...). So ultimately, let's focus this review on the Angus Burger and set the rating based on it... hence four stars! With the recommendation that if you order the bean burger, ask to not have it so well made it is black! read more

Grog & Gruel - Angus burger - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Busy night here tonight with many groups turned away for up to an hour. I know it's probably been along day, but the girl working there could've handled it with a little more decorum. The poor customers coming in didn't know it was the twentieth time she'd been through the routine. The food itself was quite good, so no issues there. The other waiting staff were friendly and helpful, but I didn't stay for extras read more

Grog & Gruel - Venison pie - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Stayed at Fort William for two nights and chose to eat here the first night then went back the other night. Loved the cider (whiskey cask) and the fresh fries as well, called hogs tails for the curl shapes. Their pie was worth to try. The atmosphere was relaxing and staff were very nice. 请试一下他们家的威士忌和苹果酒，相当不错 read more

Grog & Gruel - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Ducked into this great little pub for a couple of pints after dinner. Nice atmosphere, friendly bartender, and a good selection of beer, whisky, and gin. I could see this as a perfect place to end a cold, wet, hillwalking day! Haven't tried the food, but I intend to next time I'm in town. read more

Grog & Gruel - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Very cool place for early dinner! Food was tasty and the beer of course was really great! A great overall atmosphere with very friendly staff. It is a VERY small place but worth the visit! read more

See all

This pub provided a haven for a very tired tourist. After driving for hours, walking through the pedestrian footpath and visiting a few stores, The Grog & Gruel appeared. We were greeted immediately and given menus. Within a few minutes, one of the staff members came out to take our order and bring us drinks. My husband ordered his usual burger and was very content. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and was stunned by the huge plate of food that came out (see pic)! Although it was delicious, I could eat only half of my quesadilla, but the most impressive part was that the guacamole was included! (In America, we always have to pay extra for it!) This was a wonderful lunch that re-energized me! read more

Grog & Gruel - Guacamole Included! :) - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

We stopped for lunch in this cute little pub. We both got the boar chilli (nachos for me and quesadillas for him) and it was very good. They also have whisky cask cider on tap which is a plus for me. As its kind of a small place it was a bit awkward for a baby even though they had a high chair. Also they say they welcome children but have no baby changing facilities that I could see. I'd come back again but sans baby. read more

We decided to come here on our last night in Fort William and arrived slightly early before the restaurant was open, so we had a drink in the bar downstairs which was a pleasure to spend time in! After we had a drink here, we went upstairs for something to eat. We were provided drinks and menus quickly - I chose the chicken burrito and my partner had the venison burger with all the toppings, this is the part where I have to grudgingly give the Grog and Gruel a 'very good' rating instead of excellent. My boyfriend loved his venison burger but unfortunately you would have needed a magnifying glass to find any chicken in my chicken burrito - it was mainly filled out with chickpeas and the dreaded sweetcorn which I absolutely hate, so I had to spend half the meal picking the sweetcorn out so I could eat what was left. This is partly my fault to be fair because it did say on the menu there was sweetcorn in it, but I didn't expect the majority of the filling to be based on sweetcorn :( All in all I did love the place though, and the staff were lovely, if I'm back I'll definitely return, just make a better food choice next time as I was perving on other tables receiving their food and it all looked excellent! read more

As a vegan, and non-drinker, I was hesitant to go to a place like this with my friends--but it completely won me over! The veggie haggis was AMAZING and the non-vegetarians preferred it over the meat haggis. I also ordered curly fries and a salad and both were delicious. The Americano was superb. Well done, Grog and Gruel! read more

Crannachan Ice Cream! After asking our bed and breakfast where to go for dinner, we were pointed in the direction of the main strip that is Fort William. As we walked along the mostly empty streets, we came upon this place because our Bride Guide and new hubby had been here once before when they came up this way to scout locations for their wedding. It was fairly busy when we walked in, but they still had room for the eight of us. Our "parents" during our Highland Tour sat at a table near the door, while the rest of us "kids" sat at a table beside the bar. I had the appetizer size of the boar breath chili for dinner. I was thinking it was going to be too spicy, but it was really good. It was also a nice size. The bride's brother and I ordered the boar because we thought it was going to really different, but I didn't really notice since it was spiced. The most notable item from this dinner was the ice cream! I had my first taste of crannachan at the wedding in the form of a tart for dessert. This was the best... the best dessert, the best ice cream, the best crannachan--- well, to me at least, on this trip. The raspberry sauce was perfect. I would go again just to eat this. read more

Stopped here for dinner our first night for dinner. Food was so good we went back a second night. On the first visit I had the excellent steak and ale pie. Husband ordered a bean burger and gave it an ok rating. Second night we both had fish and chips. Appreciated the crispy oatmeal crust on the fish. While the coating was a tad dry it was a great improvement over the typical greasy breading one so often gets elsewhere. Curly fries seemed a break in tradition from the usual chips but they were good and not loaded with salt. read more

Damn you, Yelp. I went here because of you. And I enjoyed myself. I had the pleasure (?) of enjoying both the upstairs and the downstairs. The food was great, but it's the same menu in both locations. As an American, I appreciated seeing burgers, quesadillas and burritos on the menu--I felt just at home. However, I had none of them. The food was decent, and the vibe was nice. If you're traveling solo or hitting the restaurant at the wrong time, just enjoy your meal downstairs. The food reminded me of bar food you'd find here in the States anyway (although some items were nicer; I had the poached fish). It was affordable, and drinks were plentiful. So why not visit? read more

We've eaten here two times and on both times I took the steak 'n stout pie. That's really great food! It's really worth a try! If the staf would be a bit more friendly I would gave them five stars! read more

Had a great burger there! Really worth a try! Placed along the main shopping street in Fort William it is a nice place to rest for a meal or a nice Ale. read more

Pretty quiet in the winter months but a solid flow of locals and tourists find their way through the door. Deservedly in the Good Pub Guide 2010 although they only had two ales available (a consequence of coming here in the winter, I guess)... We drank plenty of what they had. Pretty good bar food too. Free wifi, useful for writing Yelp reviews while soaking up the atmosphere. read more

Ordered a pizza and it literally had maybe a quarter cup of cheese on the whole 12 inch pie. Maybe the worst pizza I've ever eaten. See the pic.....didn't charge me but what a waste of time. read more

Grog & Gruel - Pizza...but NO cheese. Not edible. - Pubs Near Me - Fort William, HLD

Decent pub, although a shameless rip-off of a restaurant chain called the "Hog's Breath Cafe" back in Australia, down to the mascot. I think my favourite part of the Grog & Gruel is that you can keep asking for samples of their ales, and it takes quite a lot for them to get fed up with you. Then you just buy a pint and repeat next time you're at the bar. Quality. read more

We went here on the way back from a trip to Isle of Skye. They had a great selection of British beers, just what we needed after the long dive. The menu looked great, although we did not eat here. The dark wood gave it a very homey feel and if we every visit Fort William again, we would go back for sure. read more

Nice friendly atmosphere, and good selection of Scottish ales. We ordered the veg haggis, veg fajitas and the veg burger. Haggis and the burger were delicious but didn't quite like the fajitas. The sour cream, salsa snd guacamole had no flavor and were very different compared to the Mexican food you get in USA. read more

Located in centre of Fort William serves basic pub food but of good quality and reasonable price . Sells good range of local real ales . Theres a restaurant upstairs with a wider range . Only cosy pub in the centre of town with typical wooden tables and chairs . read more

Very delicious! Would definitely come back if I ever make it back to Fort William. Food was great, the wife had Steak and Pie which was very tasty and I had the special Venison and Chorizo burger also very tasty. All in all this place is awesome! read more

Great pub atmosphere and a good selection of local beer. I had the fish and chips and it was a fair portion. Limited seating near the bar but it was laid out nicely do you didnt feel crammed. Overall a nice stop on our journey up north. read more

We were arriving from Edinburgh and were looking for the best option in fort William. The food was mediocre. We ordered a pepperoni pizza, tomato pasta and steak pie. The best was the steak pie. The pizza was not good, papa johns would've been better. The pasta was average, the only thing with flavor in it were the tomatoes and the steak pie was pretty good. The service was great. Probably the best option in fort William. read more