The conversations you have with those working in street food trucks are usually a little more personal than those you get into with staff in restaurants.
Until recently, I’d never had an owner of a business tell me that they came up with their idea when having a few drinks at a Proclaimers gig, but that’s exactly the conversation Julia and I ended up having with the team behind Inverness’ Bagpipe Bistro.
The street food vendor is located in the Blackbridge Furnishings Car Park on Thornbush Road and is the lovechild of owners Phil and Lynda.
Their dishes are vibrant and come in substantial portions, but we wanted to know if their size made them good value for money? Afterall, surely it’s the quality of the produce used and the taste of it that has a say in value, too?
Julia and I decided to stop by during a recent visit to Inverness. Intrigued by the offering and delighted to see there were several other customers placing orders, we couldn’t wait to see what Bagpipe Bistro had to offer.
Bagpipe Bistro: What is it and what’s on offer?
The food van offers a selection of breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers, and side dishes, all of which are high-quality – according to the business’ social media pages.
If you were to stop by for a hearty breakfast (served until noon), you would uncover a selection of roll options including bacon, egg, Lorne sausage, link sausage, and more.
A steak sandwich, chicken fillet burger, sirloin steak meal, chips and cheese, bacon cheeseburger, and wagyu beef burger also feature on the menu.
The opening hours of Bagpipe Bistro are 9am to 2pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 11am to 6pm on Thursdays, 9am to 6pm on Fridays, and 11am to 2pm on Saturdays. And to place an order or to find out more information, all you have to do is call 07714 694260 or visit the Bagpipe Bistro Facebook page.
The order:
Verdict: Bagpipe chicken wrap
We started on a high with our chicken wrap, which was simple yet effective. Very effective in fact.
Encased in the soft tortilla wrap was plentiful southern fried chicken, which was equally as crispy as it was flavourful. The batter had a subtle kick to it that we both adored.
There was also some lettuce and our choice of sauce, chipotle, inside. Slightly smokey and spicy, the creamy sauce complemented our chicken well and meant our wrap wasn’t left on the dry side.
Overall, a solid wrap that both of us agreed we would order again.
Presentation
Julia: 3/5
Karla: 4/5
Taste
Julia: 4/5
Karla: 4/5
Verdict: Italian cheeseburger
I hadn’t seen pepperoni added to a burger before sampling the Italian cheeseburger from Bagpipe Bistro. Oh boy, it worked so well.
Teamed with a quarter-pound cheeseburger, Italian herbs, cheese, lettuce, red onion, and tomato sauce, this was a straight-up winner for both of us.
Julia was quick to point out how tasty the spicy pepperoni was, while I especially loved the juicy burger patty.
Every component had its own part to play. The lettuce and red onion added crunch, the cheese provided some much-needed creaminess, and there was no soggy bun in sight.
I can only hope I come across more street food vendors dishing out burgers with pepperoni inside. It was a rare treat.
Presentation
Julia: 4.5/5
Karla: 4.5/5
Taste
Julia: 4/5
Karla: 4.5/5
Verdict: Piri piri chips
The piri piri chips certainly looked the part – thick, slightly crispy and clarted in seasoning.
However, on tucking into them we weren’t getting any flavour and couldn’t understand why. There was a slight hint of salt, but that was all.
The chips on their own fell a tad flat, as well.
Presentation
Julia: 2/5
Karla: 3.5/5
Taste
Julia: 1.5/5
Karla: 1.5/5
Verdict: Bagpipe Philly cheesesteak
Given that Bagpipe Bistro is well-known for its burgers, you didn’t think it would just be one we were trying out, did you?
Our second of the day was the Bagpipe Philly cheesesteak – another visually-appealing dish. It comprised thinly sliced sirloin steak served on a roll with fried onions, red Leicester, and melted cheddar cheese.
Again, the bun was solid. The fact is was buttered was a lovely touch.
This had so much potential. Don’t get me wrong, the combination of gooey melted cheeses was divine, but our steak was slightly overdone which left it chewier than we would have liked.
Presentation
Julia: 3/5
Karla: 4/5
Taste
Julia: 2.5/5
Karla: 2/5
The Italian cheeseburger came out on top at Bagpipe Bistro in Inverness, racking up a score of 17.5/20.
Can you think of any local venues or dishes you would like the Drive-Thru Diners to try?
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