26th June 2007
Dark cellar wine bar hits it off with an airy seafood bistro.
Whighams used to be the best place to take a first date in Edinburgh, hands down. The basement bar was based around a series of alcoves, each a cosy bare-stone candle-lit nook, intimate but not overbearingly so. Plus, you could show your immense sophistication by knowledgeably opining on the many wines offered. This was first and foremost a wine bar and its great forte was the immense number of vintages available by the glass. Allowing you to really chop and change, do a little global tour of Old and New World tipples.
Much of all this still stands, but what's changed these days is that the bar has been quadrupled in size and underground excavations have added a sizeable restaurant. This has opened up things quite a bit, so alongside the Eastern European vault feel, you now have a bright and breezy chrome-and-beech extension changing the whole feel of the thing.
The place is definitely worth a stop on any West End bar crawl, but if you're looking for food, you won't be disappointed either. For the most part this is a a medley of reasonably priced seafood dishes among the freshest in town. The plump Loch Fyne oysters make a tempting starter and the seafood platter (with phenomenal steamed langoustines) a great main. Some of the seafood ends up in salads which are also excellent; but if none of that tempts, there are also some tender lamb dishes and a pretty good mushroom stroganoff.
Expect two courses to cost about 13. MonSat noon-10pm; Sun 12.30pm-10pm.
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