Rocca Grill

For many people, St Andrews means only one thing. This is, and always will be, the home of golf, and the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel sits within putting distance of the 18th hole on the hallowed turf of the Old Course. What's more, front-row balcony seats for the golfing action are available for the cost of a meal in the Rocca restaurant. Relaunched as a contemporary modern Italian bar and grill in 2010, the deal here is splendid Scottish ingredients subjected to Italian-accented contemporary treatments. A spring dinner starts with silky pea soup topped by a red-wine-poached quail's egg and crispy ham, followed by Gressingham duck breast teamed with a duck leg croquette and celeriac fondant; elsewhere, red-blooded slabs of prime Scottish meats are grilled and served with a classic garnish, while those in search of more obviously Italian fare might find linguine of butter-poached Scottish lobster with coriander and chilli among an array of pasta and risotto dishes. Finish with a decadent chocolate ganache with peanut butter ice cream.