New Life in The North Port

Tony Heath’s wonderful Big Personality blog from last week struck a chord with lots of you #SCBP readers, but one woman in particular was encouraged by the rave reviews and following Tony had during his Coach House years. Karen Milne and her partner Andrew Moss have recently taken over Tony’s old haunt, and breathed new life into The North Port Restaurant in Perth.

(Just FYI, North Port is that little street behind Perth Concert Hall that Celebration Station sits on).

Karen is a Perthshire girl, born and brought up in Alyth; she met Andrew during their years together at the Glasgow institution that is The Ubiquitous Chip.  Karen worked front of house and events and Andrew was the Head Chef in the restaurant’s much acclaimed Brasserie.  With 10 month old Harris making them a happy family of three, they decided they would like to be nearer at least one set of parents and started looking for a place of their own last year.

“We fell in love with North Port. Andrew was keen to come to Perthshire because for a chef, the produce is unrivalled.  There is no place better.”

The new North Port menu is a wonderful flavour of Scotland and Perthshire and features a wealth of great flavours that pack a real punch. I had the Scrabster landed cod with puy lentils and parsley puree and the deep, earthy flavours with the soft, delicate fish were outstanding. I can't stop thinking about it! (She said, not doing a review!).

They’re using a number of local suppliers including Perth Produce for fruit and veg, George Campbells for fish and shellfish and The Bean Shop just around the corner for coffee!

“Provenance and sustainability is important to us; so, for instance, we use wild mackerel and scrabster cod, knowing that what we have to offer is fresh and fully traceable.”

Andrew and his fellow chef (team of two!) make their own haggis, breads and ice-creams.  They smoke their own mackerel and cure their own salmon. On a Monday, when the restaurant is closed, Andrew heads out foraging in the local woods and fields and can barely believe his luck at the vast array of produce that grows wild and abundant in Perthshire.

North Port seats 35, so its an intimate wee restaurant and when I took RG for his birthday last Saturday they were nice and busy. The atmosphere is relaxed and easy-going and, at the risk of sounding like a review, I loved every single thing on every single plate and RG has been telling anyone who'll listen about his proper martini served in a stunning glass (its all about the booze with that man of mine!).

You can hire their Tay Room for private dining if you’re a party of 8 to 16 and Karen will chat to you about tasting menus, special dishes and anything else your heart might desire! 

They have plans for a refurb but are playing the long game, with a week-long blitz pencilled in for January. “Cash flow is king right now!” laughs Karen.

We all know North Port has changed hands a few times since Tony’s day, but you get the real feeling that this go-get-em young couple might just go the distance.  Go on, go in and try it, you won’t disappointed.

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday
12pm – 3pm / 5pm – 10pm

www.thenorthport.co.uk