December is when The Buttery naturally comes into its own. The evenings draw in early, the dining room feels warmer, and people begin looking for food that’s comforting without being predictable. Our festive menu is now live, and this year it brings together a mix of classics, winter flavours, and a few dishes you may not expect.
What follows isn’t simply a menu – it’s a walk through what the kitchen has been working on for your upcoming culinary journey with us.
Let’s Kick Things Off
The starters on this year’s festive menu are a showcase of some of our favourite seasonal ingredients.
The Lentil and Ham Hough soup is one of those dishes that settles you almost instantly. It’s simple, warm, and built on a broth that feels familiar to anyone who grew up with winter soups. Nothing complicated – just a good, steady start to a your meal.
For those who want something richer, Cullen Skink does what it always does. Smoked haddock, leeks, and cream bring depth, but it’s the warmth of the dish that makes it perfect for the season.
If you prefer seafood in a more celebratory style, the Seafood Marie Rose Crostini takes crab, prawn, crayfish, lobster, and hot smoked salmon and piles them onto toasted brioche with a Bloody Mary-inspired dressing. It’s bright, a little indulgent, and feels like the festive season without trying too hard.
Then there are dishes for diners who like something more structured. The Game Terrine Mille Feuille is layered, savoury, and full of winter ingredients – pheasant, guinea fowl, rabbit, pigeon. Matched with parfait, piccalilli, and chicory, it’s the kind of starter that works well when you want something with texture and contrast.
Not everyone wants something so rich, though. The Goats Cheese & Honey Panacotta is a lighter option that still feels seasonal thanks to port-poached figs and candied walnuts. It’s soft, clean, and a good match for those who want to ease into their meal.
And, of course, there are the West Coast Scallops – seared, paired with chorizo, cauliflower, and chorizo oil. They’re always popular this time of year and for good reason: they strike a good balance between a classic starter and something that feels festive.
Mains That Make Christmas
The main courses this year offer a mix of traditional flavours and winter favourites.
The Wild Highland Venison is built around the season – roast venison, sautéed savoy, celeriac, root vegetables, and a mulled wine jus that quietly ties it all together. It’s a dish that belongs to this time of year.
For others, the Scotch Beef Fillet is a reliable choice. It’s served with bordelaise sauce, a blue cheese croquette, and a herb-crusted tomato. Straightforward, rich, and well-suited to a December dinner.
Seafood isn’t forgotten either. The Halibut and Prawns dish brings together a lobster-glazed fillet, pan-fried prawns, lemon and dill potatoes, and a caviar beurre blanc. It’s lighter than the meat dishes but still feels full enough for a winter meal.
The Grilled Sole offers something different – sharp, clean flavours from capers, anchovies, lemon, and pickle, balanced with butter and parsley. Paired with apple and fennel salad, it’s a dish for diners who want freshness without giving up warmth.
And for those who want something recognisably festive, the Turkey Ballotine brings sage stuffing, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, and turkey jus. Familiar, but refined.
Ending on a High
Desserts this year cover the two types of festive diners: those who want comfort and those who want something a little lighter.
Crème Brûlée with maple and ginger shortbread feels like a classic winter finish.
Clootie Dumpling comes with advocaat custard – a proper December pudding.
Chocolate Charlotte brings a mix of chocolate, raspberries, and Drambuie and hazelnut ice cream.
The Iced Chestnut Parfait is colder and lighter but still seasonal.
And the Apple, Raisin & Blackberry Strudel is familiar, warm, and served with Glayva syrup.
For groups, The Buttery’s Grand Dessert offers everything at once – a sharing option that tends to be ordered by people who don’t want to pick just one thing.
A Menu That Feels Like December
This year’s festive menu isn’t about being flashy or overly traditional. It’s about dishes that suit winter days and nights – comforting, thoughtful, and balanced. Whether you’re planning a celebration, meeting friends, or making a tradition of dining with us each December, the menu is designed to make your visit feel calm, steady, and enjoyable.
