LOMA by Graeme Cheevers: A lesson in Scottish fine dining, solo

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be walking into a world-class, fine-dining restaurant totally solo, my heart would have plummeted and I’d have ran to the nearest bathroom in fear of being terribly sick with anxiety. If you’d told me that I’d be doing this on my birthday, I’d probably have let out a little sob. Alone? On my birthday? So imagine my shock in my own self when I willingly booked a solo trip away for my own birthday complete with a fine dining experience. Heck, I was even excited about it.

Now, there’s something undeniably intimidating about fine dining when it’s just you, isn’t there? You worry about looking out of place, or worse, that the service team will feel like they’re pitying your ‘loneliness.’ But let me tell you, that is truly not the case.

As I’ve been learning lately, your own company is actually a five-star experience – if you allow it to be.

When half the fun is getting ready

If you’re anything like me, then you’ll also feel like half the fun of going out (or perhaps, all the fun of going out) is the getting ready part. I swapped my cosy tartan knits (on brand for my Scottish adventure, although I was berated for not wearing the Clan’s tartan! Sorry, Scots fam) for something that made me feel like me. I spent far too much time on my hair (obviously) and headed down the gorgeous hallways of Cameron House towards LOMA by Graeme Cheevers. There’s something so empowering about getting dressed up just for yourself, isn’t there? I learned this a few years ago and it was a very freeing concept. It’s a way of saying, “I’m the main character of my own story.” And that, my dear reader, whether you realise it or not, you are.

A warm Scottish welcome

I won’t pretend that I wasn’t really apprehensive as I made my way towards the restaurant past the smiling staff at the reception desk. Now, I’m no stranger to dining alone, and I actually very much love doing it. It’s a choice I like to make, and thankfully, the special people in my life encourage me to do so when I want to rather than feeling offended. But having a fine dining experience with a tasting menu seems significantly more intimidating than having dinner at The Cut & Craft, for example. But as soon as I walked into the restaurant, I was so warmly welcomed and looked after impeccably by the wonderful LOMA team.

Starting with a beautiful glass of rose fizz (when I say beautiful glass, I mean quite literally – the glassware was stunning. You know, those ultra fine stems with the thinnest rim that makes your drink all the more special?) I began to settle into my evening and my anxiety started to melt away.

The Tasting Menu at LOMA by Graeme Cheevers

As I’d booked to try the tasting menu, I was excited to sample a stunning collection of dishes created by renowned chef, Graeme Cheevers. LOMA describes the menu as “refined, modern Scottish cuisine guided by nature, crafted with precision, and inspired by the landscape we call home.” With an East Asian influence, many of the dishes included foods I had never tried. (Who knew I liked oysters?)

The tasting menu included:

Cured North Sea Hamachi – Ikura, ‘tiger milk vinaigrette’

Loch Fyne Langoustine – Truffle dashi, and smoked crab cream

Roasted Orkney Scallop – Muscade pumpkin, sea buckthorne, and lime

Partridge and Cep ‘Mandu dumpling’ – Preserved cabbage , foie gras, Yuzu Koshõ

Poached North Sea Cod – Loire Valley white asparagus, cured pork, brown Butter, smoked egg yolk

Sirloin of Black Angus Beef – morel, celeriac, miso, and green Sichuan pepper

Mango & Kaffir Lime Set Cream  – Coconut tapioca, coriander and mint ice cream

I was also treated to delicious beef tartare and cheese-filled hors d’oeuvres, along with a beautiful bread dish that included brown sugar butter. We usually think of bread as a normal daily staple, but let me tell you, this bread and butter pairing was extraordinary.

To complement my meal perfectly, I opted for the wine pairings. I got to sample some of the most sophisticated and unusual wines I’ve tasted. My favourite? One of the rich reds – served in the most elegant glass, of course.

Refinement and warmth

When it comes to LOMA, I can’t write about the food and not the stunning decor. With dim mood lighting, beige and gold themes, and the crispest white tablecloths, the space was so welcoming. Refined yet so warm, classy, and not pretentious at all. The setting went perfectly with the dinnerware which was full of flowing curves, soft edges, and slight hints of swirls. Each dinner plate and bowl was the perfect host for its dish and ensured you could carefully enjoy each and every ingredient before you – softly scooped to perfection.

An evening of contentment

My evening at LOMA was full of surprises – not least the incredible birthday dessert selection the wonderful team brought out for me. But one of the most surprising things was the fact that I was at my table for four and a half hours, yet it felt like forty-five minutes.

Because I was on my own this time, I was actually more present in the room. I ended up meeting some incredibly lovely new friends and we spent the evening chatting the hours away. Sharing our love for good food was the foundation; discovering an alignment in frequency was food for my soul. I was even wished a ‘happy birthday’ by several other diners. One beautiful soul on the table next to me even sent a stunning cocktail over to my table to celebrate. It was one of those moments that reminds you just how much magic is waiting for you, if you only take the time to look.

The team at LOMA made me feel so looked after and welcomed that any trace of that initial solo-diner anxiety melted away and I thoroughly enjoying my evening. I walked out with a full stomach, a happy heart, and a reminder that we shouldn’t wait for a special occasion, or another person, to experience the best parts of life. Sometimes your tastes differ and personally, I think it’s healthy to still make sure you do things alone in the bliss of your own company.

It was an experience I’ll keep close to my heart for a long time. It was more than just a lovely way to spend a birthday; it was a celebration of feeling in alignment with exactly who I am.

Want to stick around a little longer? Read my other blog posts here.