About Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve
Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve was the late Albert Roux's first restaurant in Scotland, opened inside a renovated Georgian mansion above the River Ness in Inverness around 2010.
Roux, who died in 2021, built the menu on the French classics that made his name; the dining room is run day to day by Lee Pattie. The signature is Roux's own Soufflé Suissesse — a twice-baked Gruyère and cheddar soufflé finished in cream, about £14 — with main courses from roughly £21 to £33. The Scottish Hotel Awards named it Newcomer Restaurant in 2010, and it now anchors one of the Highlands' best-known small hotels.
The Room
The restaurant sits inside the eleven-room Rocpool Reserve, a Georgian mansion on Culduthel Road with views over the River Ness and a wraparound cocktail bar. The dining room is small and intimate rather than grand, the kind of room where the French cooking, not the scale, sets the tone.
Why It's Good for Impress Clients
It impresses clients quietly: a French room with the Roux pedigree, the theatrical Soufflé Suissesse to open, river views from a boutique hotel and the unhurried service of a small dining room. It reads as considered rather than flashy, which lands well over a working dinner.
Not For
Not for a casual night out or a large, loud group — it is a small, formal hotel dining room with a French à la carte and a measured pace, better suited to a table of two to four than a boisterous party.
Common Questions
Who is the chef behind Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve? The restaurant carries the name of the late Albert Roux, the Michelin-starred chef for whom this was a first venture in Scotland; he died in 2021. The dining room is run day to day by Lee Pattie, and the menu still leans on the French classics that defined Roux's cooking.
What should I order at Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve? Order Albert Roux's signature Soufflé Suissesse to start — a twice-baked Gruyère and cheddar soufflé cooked and finished in cream on the plate it is served on. Follow it with a French main from the seasonal card, which changes with what the Highland kitchen has in.
How much does it cost to eat at Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve? The signature Soufflé Suissesse is about £14, and main courses run roughly £21 to £33. It is an à la carte hotel dining room rather than a fixed tasting menu, so a two- or three-course dinner with wine is a considered spend rather than a budget meal.
Where is Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve and can non-guests dine? It is inside the Rocpool Reserve hotel on Culduthel Road in Inverness, set in a Georgian mansion above the River Ness, a short walk from the city centre and castle. Non-residents are welcome, and reservations are recommended, especially in the busy Highland summer.
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