Palomino’s at Ingliston Country Club & Hotel dinner review

Suzanne Oswald heads to Palomino’s at Ingliston Country Club & Hotel in Bishopton for a sublime meal in a serene location 

Surrounded by peaceful countryside, overlooking the idyllic Kilpatrick hills and Clyde estuary, lies Ingliston Country Club & Hotel. A 20 minute drive from Paisley and a hop and a skip off the M8, the stylish countryside resort feels a world apart from the hustle and bustle of nearby city life.

A popular location for everything from family holidays to weddings to corporate functions to horse-riding, it also happens to be home to Palomino’s Restaurant – a place that has become a bonafide destination in itself. 

So, we were happy to make the pilgrimage over to Bishopton in the name of some hearty Italian and Scottish cuisine. After a scenic drive, we were warmly welcomed into the restaurant to one of their large, plush booths with a view of the indoor horse arena. And for a Tuesday night, there was a palpable buzz to the place – a good sign of its well-earned demand, and even more so, the quality of food and drinks on offer. 

The stylish restaurant was spacious and relaxed, with plenty of classy modern touches. Families and friends ate around us, a large group enjoyed a meal in the private dining area, and others opted to stay in the stylish cocktail bar for drinks – the wide demographic indicative of an extensive menu which had been designed with all diners in mind. 

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The extensive à la carte menu covered pizzas, pastas, burgers, steaks and refined ‘classics’, while there were also numerous options for vegetarian and gluten-free diets. For our first visit, we couldn’t see past the antipasti sharing platter – a calculated move on our part that would allow us to try a wee bit of everything.

Beautifully presented, two wooden boards arrived decked in freshly sliced mozzarella, salty and moreish parma ham, plump and earthy artichokes, olives and some pillowy sourdough that was the perfect vehicle for the accompanying balsamic glaze (so good it stayed with us for the duration of the meal). 

For main, Julie, who was accompanying me, chose the pan-fried sea bass alongside a refreshing glass of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo from the impressive wine list. She was quick to highlight the merits of the dish – the freshness of the veg, the crispy skin, the moist yielding white flesh of the fish. And despite the sizable portion, which included three fillets of sea bass and a generous plate of fresh vegetables and crushed chive potatoes, it was dutifully polished off. 

Like Julie, I was drawn to the list of classics and opted for an Italian staple in chicken Milanese – and it was every bit as good as the sea bass. Whether placed in front of you in Bishopton or the streets of Milan, this was a very good dish indeed – the crumb on the chicken nice and golden, the chicken moist and the napoli sauce on the spaghetti creamy, moreish and packed with flavour. And just when I thought I was defeated by the generous portion size, I kept going back for more until the plate was wiped clean. 

Despite a wide range of appealing sweet treats on offer, this proved one course too many for these well-fed and very satisfied diners. For those who do like to test their sweet tooth though, the dessert selection included dishes such as tiramisu, Eton mess, brownies and cheesecakes – as well as fresh tarts and traybakes. Maybe next time. 

With its idyllic location, excellent service and sumptuous food, it’s no surprise that Palomino’s has turned into a destination venue for those who enjoy a classy meal out – from local regulars to those passing through on their travels. Now, many years down the line, the team behind the well-loved restaurant are still delivering the goods – and even more importantly, ensuring repeat visits. Go on and give it a try yourself. 

Palomino’s, Ingliston Country Club & Hotel, Greenock Road, Bishopton, PA7 5PA, 01505 864333, for more information, visit the website.