Cafe Cree

Jan, Chris and their team continue to offer imaginative food from locally gathered produce. They are to be commended for staying with their passion for fresh food and are sought out by people from far and wide who appreciate the difference. The soups are adventurous (tasting samples offered!) and the local platter really is a showcase for what the region has to offer.

The food is out of this world...cooked and created with love. Fresh and locally produced, with much thought having gone into their menus. We were able to take our dog in as well, which is so unusual these days, and he was given as big a welcome as we were. Great atmosphere in the cafe, great music being played and much love and laughter being given out by the two people who run it, Jan and Chris. We will most definitely be stopping by there again on our next trip to Scotland! - Lizzie Route

It was so refreshing to be made so welcome in a cafe with my dog. The staff were extremely welcoming and food excellent. I would recommend Cafe Cree to anyone.

A very friendly place with delicious food - but just as important these days, it supports other local producers. The gluten-free foods and the ability to take one's dog inside are valuable extras. This place is a credit to the town and deserves all success to its hard-working owners.

From the second you enter you are made to feel very welcome, the soup sampler for all customers an amazing touch and delicious! Excellent gluten free menu and nothing is too much trouble.The food is all locally sourced and very tasty and great home made products.

A lovely wee cafe with excellant food and fabulous hosts. The fact that they use all local products is like icing on a very fine cake. Pamela Bayes

Cafe Cree: The owners are incredibly friendly and hospitable. They're knowledgeable about local produce and also cater for people with special diets. Love this cafe!Will definitely be going there again.

Friendly owners, great local produce, and tasty fayre. Pet friendly too, what more do you need?

Very nice place offering very good value for money. Food is excellent and staff are friendly.

Jan & Chris make you feel really welcome when you come in; adults, kids & dogs. The food is lovely and always freshly made. If you want to try before you buy, there is never any problem and it is always worth trying! We call in as often as possible for takeaway lunch or sit down if we have time, in our lunch hour from work.

Super hosts, great fresh produce and a must when travelling through this part of Scotland.

Very fresh ingredients and atmosphere!

Always great food and friendly service and supports the local community, from its suppliers to selling local artwork, a cafe that cares about the community it lies within

Always a friendly welcome from Jan and Chris and a variety-packed menu using the best of local produce. As locals, we like to recommend Cafe Cree to visitors as well as pop in for a friendly chat along with our cuppa!

This is one of the best eateries in Britain and that comes from a couple of Yorkshire folk ! We make a beeline for Cafe Cree when we come to the area for the superb food served by the two best hosts you ever wished to meet.How Jan can remember names never ceases to amaze us - customers are greeted as friends not just as a source of revenue. Over the years we have come to look upon Jan and Chris ( the quiet genius in the kitchen) as our friends as well as the providers of fantastic food. We also have used the same local sources for our own cooking e.g. Owens the butcher. Good luck in this year's competition and we will keep our fingers crossed for Cafe Cree. P.S. As a dog-friendly cafe you are a rare gem in the catering world. P.P.S.Please find a source for lemon curd cheesecake - it is heavenly ! Pat and Ron

Fantastic Ruthy's Scones!!

Great food and excellent service

Cafe Cree is spotlessly clean, Excellent food, Excellent atmosphere, nothing is too much trouble for Jan and Chris, my family truly enjoy our visits to Cafe Cree....

Awesome food, awesome people ...and dog friendly - what more can a client wish for....? Fabulous !

Good food & Friendly service,

This is a place with a friendly welcome every time, and such excellence in their food that it is truly worth visiting, there is nowhere else like them.

Very friendly staff and management, and a very good range of gluten free items always available on the menu - my wife tried the lemon cake this morning and found it very good indeed. We shall be back to try the gluten free sandwiches before very long.

Our first stop on our annual weekend break to the area was a return visit to Cafe Cree. It was worth the wait. The roasted courgette and basil soup was a delight and we choose to accompany it with the locally made wigwam bread which was a real treat. My wife opted for the local platter which surpassed her expectations as the selection of local cheeses, chutneys, smoked salmon and bread was sublime. Not only was the food divine, it was lovely to meet Jan and Chris again and to see how another year has enabled them to grow in confidence and be more adventurous in their menu planning. It's a shame there is not a Cafe Cree a bit nearer our home, but that makes the holiday all that more special.

We visited this cafe while on holiday this year. Extremely friendly staff, the best mushroom soup we've ever had and great for children. Nice to find somewhere that doesn't just offer chicken nuggets and spagetti hoops for children. Would definately recommend.

Wonderful food and a warm welcoming atmosphere, what more can you ask for. We are regular visitors to Cafe Cree and are always made very welcome. Its a real delight to try the innovative recipes made from the wonderful local produce. We wish Jan and Chris every success, they have worked tirelessly and deserve to win this award.

Awesome food; awesome people ! This is a special place - do not drive past - stop, eat, chat - you will love it !

I didn't know anyone when I came to live in Newton Stewart but walking into Cafe Cree the first day was very fortunate for me. The welcome I received was amazing but genuine; the atmosphere was relaxing and there were newspapers, magazines and a selection of really amusing greeting cards to browse through, not to mention all the leaflets with information on all sorts of local activities. The food is excellent with fresh local produce prepared with imagination. The selection changes regularly so there are many surprises and something to suit everyone. Jan and Chris have worked extremely hard to uphold the standard they set themselves and in many cases have exceeded it. They deserve every and any accolade to reward that achievement.

Holidaying in the area on a regular basis gives the opportunity to find "eateries". Cafe Cree is a GEM in S.W. Scotland - the food is wholesome and "honest" ( foodies will understand that term) and all the staff treat visitors as friends who are welcomed and made to feel at home. We can vouch for the quality as we have become regulars and await our next holiday to see what Chris and Jan have on the menu

Brilliant scones, homemade jams and great hostess and staff. A nice retreat from the sottish rain. Fi Glasgow

We popped into Cafe Cree completely on the off chance a few days ago- what a lovely surprise ! We never expected to find such delicious food in the wilds of Wigtownshire ! The hostess was lovely, very friendly & enthusiastic. I had the soup of the day (with special bread) which was delicious & my companions both had delicious sandwiches, followed by delicious scones. I can highly recommend this "eaterie" & will definitely be going back on my next visit to Scotland.

We found this cafe on a dog friendly website. We have just returned from holiday to scotland and we visited the cafe as it was dog friendly. We got a big welcome as soon as we got through the door. The menu they had for that day was superb. All the ingridients were from a 20 mile radius of the cafe. All made fresh to order by the staff. The staff had great knowledge of all the products and where they came from. The homemade bread was superb. Inside the cafe was clean and tidy and as i have said this cafe is dog friendly. I give my vote to this cafe and strongly reccomend that anyone in the area to visit cafe cree. A.H. Doncaster.

Eating out in rural Scotland is not easy if your're interested in fresh food made from healthy ingredients - the southwest of Scotland is blessed by one or two excellent eating places, among them Cafe Cree, whose lunches would not be out of place or quality beside some metropolitan outlets in Edinburgh or Glasgow. It takes a lot of nerve to strike out for high quality and a distinctive menu in such a small town - their loyalty to local suppliers is admirable and the food doesn't suffer from this policy - far from it, it shows what can be done without recourse to ingredients flown thousands of miles.

Fresh food and friendly people

A few years ago, this was your typical small-town greasy spoon caff, the air was thick with smoke and it really wasn't the attractive, appetising place it is now, with the warm welcome from Jan and Chris. They put their heart and soul into Cafe Cree and it shows, with locals coming back time and time again, even if it's just for a take-away cappucino and scone. Great work and long may they continue! Bobbie and Peter, Newton Stewart

The food is excellent

I live in the town in which Cafe Cree is situated and i can tell you its such a delight to get a change from the usual "chips and cheese" or "chicken mayo baguettes" typical of the towns cafes. The soups are quite different from what i would normally try, and being quite young, I'm usually wondering what they are going to taste like! But each time I do try them (out of curiousity and assurance they are divine), I'm left wanting more! As for the sandwiches, made on locally produced bread, the fillings are gorgeous, not in the least bit basic, but with fresh food and the service combined with this great food makes me want to come back again every time. Cafe Cree inspires me to try different foods and for that, thank you!

I've visited Newton Stewart twice in the last year, including once a cycle trip. The first time, I just happened on Cafe Cree and was immediately impressed with their ability to serve excellent organic food in a relaxed atmosphere and make everyone feel at home. I returned on my cycling trip and I don't know whether it was the food, the humour or the relaxation but afterwards my pedals were certainly moving faster than when I arrived! Roll on next time.

Recommended to us by two German tourists in the loal car park, we found Cafe Cree and discovered a treasure. The food was marvelous. all fresh and full of flavour with a menu that was evocative and full of tempting dishes which you would normslly associate with some of the top class restaurants. What a delightful change from pie and chips or beans on toast !! Everything is top quality. From the moment you open the door you are greeted as a human being in need of care and attention,not just as another mouth to feed and cash to put in the register. Cafe Cree should be awarded a well deserved honour the DFC - for Deightfully Fine Cooking. Richard W. Denton Manchester

Jan and Chris left a fairly comfortable life in Manchester and moved up to Scotland in order to open Café Cree. It was a risk, but it was something they dreamt of doing due to their joint passion for food and the idea of bringing that passion to other people by opening a café. It seems this risk paid off and the fact that the café was started out of love shows through in the end results. In a time when so many high street cafés sell greasy, unhealthy, tasteless food, when even pubs seem so often to feature predictable menus of meals bought in wholesale and reheated, and meals eaten out can leave you wondering why you shelled out good cash for pretty average fare which you could have made better at home yourself, Café Cree is something of an oasis and their “no chips” policy is a good indication of this. What they offer instead is an interesting range of fresh food made from good quality ingredients and prepared and cooked on site. The food is fresh and tasty and reminds you how it can be a pleasure to go out to eat and have something tasty which you wouldn’t have made yourself, and it’s great to see a mix of dishes from all round the world in tandem with the home grown cuisine that it’s so easy to pass over and forget. All of this is set in an environment which is at the same time both airy and light and cosy. The décor is pleasing and relaxing and they have paintings from local artists on the walls and the feel of the place is of a friendly welcoming family café. Plus, Jan is always happy to spend time telling customers about the food, dishes and the thinking which lies behind what they do. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent in the Café Cree and would recommend anyone who enjoys great food in a really nice setting to follow suit and pop in when in Newton Stewart….

Freshly prepared meals, using the best local and Fairtrade products. Excellent quality and flavoursome foods - I highly recommend a visit. A warm welcome and attentive service during each of my three visits to cafe cree this week kept me returning again and again!

Fresh menu and delightful atmosphere

What can I say about Cafe Cree, well after a 220 mile drive from West Yorkshire we found Cafe Cree. Great food, wonderful service, great staff. There should be a cafe cree on every High Street in the UK. I must make special mention of the homemade soups, the WIGWAM bread and Ruthies scones, worth a 440 mile round trip for those alone. Well done Jan & Chris keep up the good work.

Cafe Cree has to be the essence of a local food hero. Visitors to this part of the country can be assured of local produce prepared with care, whilst locals like myself are lucky enough to enjoy the crack and great food on a regular basis. The food is what it is all about, though the hospitality of Jan, Chris and their team cant be overstated. The fresh made soups are a must and the Chilli gets my vote. The full Scottish breakfast is memorable: very tasty, made to order, hot and satisfying. For those mornings when you just want to feel that bit special, the scrambled eggs and localy smoked salmon is a treat. So many people talk about sourcing locally but the fact that Jan & Chris actually do it, makes them local heros in my book.

The great thing about Jan and Chris, and therefore their food and hospitality, is that they do it all from the heart! And you can tell. Good luck to them in this vote and in the future of Cafe Cree. Not that they need luck - they work so hard to give the warmest of welcomes. Plus Chris is a damn good cook!!!

Cafe Cree is a delight. Jan and Chris really deserve to win this award as it would be a true accolade to all their hard work and dedication. They make every effort to ensure your visit is a pleasure. From the quality of the food to the friendly staff this place cannot be faulted. The Cauliflower and Almond soup was amazing and after a healthy bowful (and initially a wee taster offered by Jan) my daughter will now eat cauliflower.

I would also like to add to the comments already submitted and agree that this has to be one of if not THE friendliest places we have visited, the food is divine and the fact that it is all locally sourced is a huge credit to both Chris and Jan, you can tell that this isn't just a business to them but a real passion, which shows through in the care and presentation in the food and drinks they serve. We cannot thank them enough for their hospitality and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Scotland, had it not been for the need to have a break from driving we never would have found Cafe Cree, but now it will certainly be a permanent stop off point on our journey to and from Scotland.

We would like to thank people for voting for us. We are thrilled by the quality of produce available locally and are delighted to showcase that food in our cafe. Produced within 20 miles of cafe cree and featured on our menu, are award winning smoked salmon, artisan breads, sausages, cheeses and ice cream. We are proud to offer local food and do our utmost to to source locally. This reduces food miles and keeps money in a very beautiful, but socially deprived area. Most people head for the North of Scotland, but if they turned left at Gretna they would be amazed at the food available if they look carefully. We offer samples of food to tempt people who would not normally try what they consider to be "different foods" and like to think we have opened the door to alternatives to the ubiquitous chip. We feel we have made a significant contribution to the local community and made a difference. We are confident that we truly are local food heroes. Chris and Jan Cole

After a long drive up to Scotland from Stockport, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon this delightful cafe half starved, on our arrival we were met with friendly smiles and prompt service. Being parents and really in favour of the 'no chips' menu, we ordered our lunch. I opted for the Cairnsmore ewes cheese and pesto mayonnaise sandwich served on wigwam sundried tomato bread, with a delicious orange and lotus flower green tea to perk me up. My boyfriend chose the French brie and cranberry sandwich on aphrodite bread with blueberry and blackcurrant presse to wash it all down. The accompanying side salads and the homemade dressing was to die for and each meal , we thought really hit the spot. What really impressed the two of us was the relaxed style of management, other patron's children behaving!! and enjoying every mouthful of whatever it was that they were eating...well done Jan and Chris, we will be back, thank you for your hospitality!

It's a corker of a place! Clean, bright & friendly. Ah yes.... the food: imaginative, healthy & locally-sourced. Goddamn tasty too. Quite obviously, the locals appreciate it - they're not going to go wasting their hard-earned on rubbish are they?

I`m voting for Cafe Cree because the care and attention that goes into to everything in this cafe is fantastic. It's a warm, friendly atmosphere when you walk in the door welcomed by the staff with a smile and hello. My child loves going into this cafe because he can play and colour in and also eat healthy food. Jan and Chris the owners of Cafe Cree support everything they can by buying all their food locally, making everything themselves from soups to dressings, which i think is fantastic as their food has not travelled hundreds of miles, so it's bound to make it healthier for my child and the other people who eat in there. I will never go to another cafe in Newton Stewart because I do not think they do as much local produce as Cafe Cree!!! The cafe even sells paintings that are done by a man who lives in the area and advertises local information. I love this cafe as you can tell by my long review, but they deserve this nomination for everything that they do. All local food from butter to meat - everything they can get is local!

A very special cafe which has a lovely original menu, with the very best fresh local produce. Relaxed & friendly atmosphere. It is the very best cafe in Newton Stewart. The cafe's website says it better than I ever could. True local heroes.