Latest reviews by christianjw

Whighams Wine Cellars

christianjw — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:45:06 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 13 Hope Street, EH2 4EL, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 225 9717

Tags: relaxed, gastro pub, mature, cool & smart, seafood, young professionals, international, young and fun, business, good value, underground, trendy, friendly, romantic, lively

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.

Wannaburger

christianjw — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:58:41 +0000

Rating: 4.2

Location: 7/8 Queensferry Street, EH2 4PA, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: american, West End, quick bite, lively

Wannaburgers for Edinburghers (and others too)With more-or-less only one thing on the menu of this upscale burger bar, you'd hope they'd get it right and thankfully they do. Here prime local patties get the homecooked treatment before gracing premium sesame buns to deliver Edinburgh's best burgers.

There are two Wannaburger outlets in Edinburgh, one on the Royal Mile, the other tucked away in the West End. Both share a similar decor: exposed wood millennial minimalism fused with 1970s browns and oranges. The West End one has a few cosy booths too.

The burgers come briskly and are huge taking a bite is a bit of a challenge and range from classic renditions to surprisingly complex concoctions: take the Aussie, a beetroot, a fried egg, pineapple, cheddar, salad, mayo and relish combo. The prices however match the sophistication, with the price of a burger running from £6 all the way up to £8.50 and that doesn't even include fries or a portion of the excellent onion rings (both £2). Veggies can find a good selection of burgers too, with bean burger versions offered for many of the combos, and some portabella mushroom choices too.

To complete the American dining experience, wash the whole lot down with a shake. It's done to perfection here in all sorts of flavours: strawberry and banana is rich, creamy and delicious, the peanut butter and banana almost heavy to make it a dessert.

All very enjoyable, until you realise the two of you just cracked out £20 on two burgers and drinks. But with the quality is right up there, its easy to take a little overcharging with good grace... Open Sun-Thu 11am9pm, Fri & Sat 11am10pm.

Black Bo's

christianjw — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:53:08 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 57-61 Blackfriars Street, EH1 1NB, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 557 6136

Tags: relaxed, Old Town, british, international, vegetarian, trendy, romantic, lively

Culinary mayhem, veggie styleSophistication and bohemia meet at Black Bo's beneath a name and a neon sign that you'd expect to announce a speakeasy or jazz den. Instead this bare-wood candle-lit place on an Old Town backstreet has been a stalwart of the Edinburgh's sedate vegetarian dining scene for years. Tried and tested, its creative flair luring veggies and omnivores back time and again (... and in recent years a few meat dishes that have crept onto the menu to broaden the appeal...).

Apart from the intimate and unpretentious setting, the main draw is the food which blows away any ideas you might have of vegetarian food being necessarily bland and stodgy. Instead the regularly changing menu is a highly inventive one.

Starters include smoked tofu with sun-ride tomatoes and the spicy artichoke with apples, grapes and almonds or the satisfyingly rich mushrooms with blue cheese baked in port.

But the most ambitious concoctions are reserved for the main courses, where flavours thrown together with a healthy disregard for convention, even though the result is that flavours sometimes clash, not just challenge one another: the sweet-potato souffle and goat's cheese with baked banana should in truth be kept well away from that peppery sauce; but I suppose sometimes you have to overstep the mark to find it....

Whatever crazy departure you might have embraced for your main course, you can ground yourself again with a trusted and excellent dessert: the frangipani tart is almond heaven, the ginger and lime cheesecake wonderfully sharp and creamy... or continue the gastronomic revolution with a chilli brownie.....

Two courses run £15; Mon-Thurs 69.30pm, Fri & Sat 610.30pm.

ps, there's a rather cool and tiny pub of the same name next door. Sort of rustic but with urbane cool on hand thanks to a turntable and regular DJ's spinning ambient tracks.

Wannaburger

christianjw — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:30:41 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 217 High Street, EH1 1PE, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: american, Royal mile, milkshakes, Old Town, burgers, quick bite, lively

Never mind the Edinburghers, here're come the Wannaburgers...With more-or-less only one thing on the menu of this upscale burger bar, you'd hope they'd get it right and thankfully they do. Here prime local patties get the homecooked treatment before gracing premium sesame buns to deliver Edinburgh's best burgers.

There are two Wannaburger outlets in Edinburgh, one on the Royal Mile, the other tucked away in the West End. Both share a similar decor: exposed wood millennial minimalism fused with 1970s browns and oranges. The West End one has a few cosy booths too.

The burgers come briskly and are huge taking a bite is a bit of a challenge and range from classic renditions to surprisingly complex concoctions: take the Aussie, a beetroot, a fried egg, pineapple, cheddar, salad, mayo and relish combo. The prices however match the sophistication, with the price of a burger running from £6 all the way up to £8.50 and that doesn't even include fries or a portion of the excellent onion rings (both £2). Veggies can find a good selection of burgers too, with bean burger versions offered for many of the combos, and some portabella mushroom choices too.

To complete the American dining experience, wash the whole lot down with a shake. It's done to perfection here in all sorts of flavours: strawberry and banana is rich, creamy and delicious, the peanut butter and banana almost heavy to make it a dessert.

All very enjoyable, until you realise the two of you just cracked out £20 on two burgers and drinks. But with the quality is right up there, its easy to take a little overcharging with good grace... Open Sun-Thu 11am9pm, Fri & Sat 11am10pm.

The Park Bar

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:01:51 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 101B Colinton Road, EH14 1AL, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 444 1911

Tags: lively, Slateford, Craiglockhart, sport pub, modern pub, young and fun, cheap eat, good value, trendy

Urbane sports bar with good breakfast.The clean lines of its airy beech and crome pub decor won't win any prizes for originality, but the Park Bar is a solid choice to watch big screen sporting action southwest of the centre of town.

Normally you'd only drop in if it was handy, but on Sat and Sun before noon the breakfasts, which include haggis and black pudding in the cooked Scots version are 2-for-1. This makes it a big draw when two people can have a breakfast in pleasant surroundings, browse the weekend papers (supplied) for around £4 per head including tea.

Blue Moon Cafe

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 13:47:57 +0000

Rating: 3.7

Location: 1 Barony Street, EH1 3SB, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 2788

Website: http://www.bluemooncafe.co.uk

Tags: lively, Broughton Stret, gay, young professionals, family & home feel, young and fun, cheap eat, crowded

Gay pub grubThough it's been a major landmark in Edinburgh's tiny gay district for over twenty years, it's not that obvious until you're inside amid the overwhelmingly gay clientele, cheerfully camp servers and the never-ending stream of Kylie hits (with literally nothing else played for the hour or so that I was there). But don't let that worry you if you're straight since you'll certainly not be made to feel uneasy.

There's nothing particularly exciting on the menu, which is based mostly around comfort pub food, but seems nonetheless to be a big hit among patrons who savour piles of nachos, chilli and pasta dishes (which include macaroni cheese in a kitschy nod to all things loveably un-hip). Even so the food could do with some more zest and fresher ingredients, although the salmon salad I had grilled and served on a bed of organic lettuce (I could tell because it's grittiness suggested it hadn't been washed as well as it might) was simple, really quite good and very filling for only £7.

The Cafe opens at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays and is probably a reliable spot for a good hangover-curing cooked breakfast.

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:56:08 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 50 Chapel Street, AB10 1SN, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Phone: 01224 639500

Website: http://www.howies.uk.com

Tags: lively, business, good value, crowded

Sleek, dependable, contemporary and a wee bit Scottish.Sleek, dependable, contemporary and a wee bit Scottish.
Don't be put off by the fact that Howies is a chain. Neither does it serve fast food, nor is it overly formulaic. Instead it's success is based on local restaurants that have proved themselves among discerning local diners for a long time, allowing it to add branches throughout Edinburgh and more widely in Scotland. All serve contemporary food, sometimes with a bit of a Scottish flavour, using locally bought produce and at set meal prices which help avoid runaway costs: two courses go for £18 (£14 MonThurs before 7.30pm; three for £20).

The one I ate in was in Edinburgh's Bruntsfield where the sleek minimalist wood and a high-ceilinged whitewashed walls with traditional cornices had much the same flavour as the. There's nothing mind-blowingly experimental here, rather the food concentrates on executing traditional dishes with flair. Presentation is spot on with every dish.

The menu changes monthly and according to season, so perhaps its of limited use to pick on any particular dishes. Suffice to say though that the sweet potato soup or the balls of goats cheese drizzled with raspberry compote both formed an excellent way to start a meal. Mains included a good tangy nutloaf and an excellent roast chicken with creamy mash and accompanied with a strange but surprisingly delicious large tomato stuffed with olives and capsicum. Both came with tasty salads.

Howies describes its banoffee pie as infamous, so clearly that was one dessert that had to be tried. In the event it was great, a lightly whipped topping, burying some real bananery zing, but thankfully not the treacly base that so often weighs the dessert down.

Any one of the restaurants can get busy with groups, so it's as well to call ahead: 01224 639500.

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:52:34 +0000

Rating: 3.5

Location: 117 North Street, KY16 9AD, St Andrews, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, good value, crowded

Sleek, dependable, contemporary and a wee bit Scottish.Don't be put off by the fact that Howies is a chain. Neither does it serve fast food, nor is it overly formulaic. Instead it's success is based on local restaurants that have proved themselves among discerning local diners for a long time, allowing it to add branches throughout Edinburgh and more widely in Scotland. All serve contemporary food, sometimes with a bit of a Scottish flavour, using locally bought produce and at set meal prices which help avoid runaway costs: two courses go for £18 (£14 MonThurs before 7.30pm; three for £20).

The one I ate in was in Edinburgh's Bruntsfield where the sleek minimalist wood and a high-ceilinged whitewashed walls with traditional cornices had much the same flavour as the. There's nothing mind-blowingly experimental here, rather the food concentrates on executing traditional dishes with flair. Presentation is spot on with every dish.

The menu changes monthly and according to season, so perhaps its of limited use to pick on any particular dishes. Suffice to say though that the sweet potato soup or the balls of goats cheese drizzled with raspberry compote both formed an excellent way to start a meal. Mains included a good tangy nutloaf and an excellent roast chicken with creamy mash and accompanied with a strange but surprisingly delicious large tomato stuffed with olives and capsicum. Both came with tasty salads.

Howies describes its banoffee pie as infamous, so clearly that was one dessert that had to be tried. In the event it was great, a lightly whipped topping, burying some real bananery zing, but thankfully not the treacly base that so often weighs the dessert down.

Any one of the restaurants can get busy with groups, so it's as well to call ahead: 01334 478 479.

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:49:11 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 10-14 Victoria Street, EH1 2HG, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 225 1721

Website: http://www.howies.uk.com

Tags: lively, Old Town, good value, crowded

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:42:51 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 1a Alva Street, EH2 4PH, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 225 5553

Website: http://www.howies.uk.com

Tags: lively, business, good value, west end

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:39:38 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 29 Waterloo Place, EH1 3BQ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5766

Website: http://www.howies.uk.com

Tags: lively, New Town, business, good value

Howies Restaurant

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:37:06 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 208 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DH, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, Bruntsfield, business, good value, romantic

Sleek, dependable, contemporary and a wee bit Scottish.Don't be put off by the fact that Howies is a chain. Neither does it serve fast food, nor is it overly formulaic. Instead it's success is based on local restaurants that have proved themselves among discerning local diners for a long time, allowing it to add branches throughout Edinburgh and more widely in Scotland. All serve contemporary food, sometimes with a bit of a Scottish flavour, using locally bought produce and at set meal prices which help avoid runaway costs: two courses go for £18 (£14 MonThurs before 7.30; three for £20).

The one I ate in was in Edinburgh's Bruntsfield where the sleek minimalist wood and a high-ceilinged whitewashed walls with traditional cornices had much the same flavour as the. There's nothing mind-blowingly experimental here, rather the food concentrates on executing traditional dishes with flair. Presentation is spot on with every dish.

The menu changes monthly and according to season, so perhaps its of limited use to pick on any particular dishes. Suffice to say though that the sweet potato soup or the balls of goats cheese drizzled with raspberry compote both formed an excellent way to start a meal. Mains included a good tangy nutloaf and an excellent roast chicken with creamy mash and accompanied with a strange but surprisingly delicious large tomato stuffed with olives and capsicum. Both came with tasty salads.

Howies describes its banoffee pie as infamous, so clearly that was one dessert that had to be tried. In the event it was great, a lightly whipped topping, burying some real bananery zing, but thankfully not the treacly base that so often weighs the dessert down.

Any one of the restaurants can get busy with groups, so it's as well to call ahead: 0131 221 1777.

Coco

christianjw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:05:20 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 174 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4ER, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.cocochocolate.co.uk/

Tags: gourmet, tasting, course, connoisseur, bruntsfield, chocolate, delicatessen

A chocolaty educationIt's not often you get to taste and sample and learn about chocolate just yards from where it's made, but that's exactly what you get to do at Bruntsfield's Chocolatière Coco during their evening tasting sessions. It's a chance to really find out what a chocolate snob should look for; realise that much of the chocolate you've eaten in the past is probably just a cheap compromise and appreciate why the good stuff can be so expensive.

For four years the shop has been importing, designing and making its own chocolates and now it offers an informative forty minute tasting session which also provides a rundown of the process from bean to bar. At the end you'll understand not only the process, but why the best chocolate not only tastes better and makes you feel better but is also better for you.

Along the way you'll get to taste various parts of the process, from earthy graduals with alleged aphrodisiac qualities and fatty cocoa butter reputedly a wonderful natural moisturiser through unrefined cooking chocolate to the tempered final product.

Samples include a couple of origin chocolates the product of a single plantation, which you can compare and contrast and chase down with a drop of suitable wine.

Coco also puts on a taste test, comparing some of their own chocolates side-by-side with common brands. But the highlight is sampling the stores own zany at the end, which include a raspberry white and a rose milk.

The price of the tasting session is £12, most bars in the store go for around £3.50, a box of their deluxe chocolates almost £20 the dozen: but for the money you are getting a premium quality product made by locally by enthusiasts and using solely organic ingredients. And with their delightful nineteenth-century style packaging the chocolate makes the perfect gift for someone who can't come along.

If all this grabs you, you can attend a day course in chocolate making for £50: more info at www.cocochocolate.co.uk.

Indigo Yard

christianjw — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:08:34 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 7 Charlotte Lane, EH2 4QZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 220 5603

Website: http://www.indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk

Tags: cool, young professionals, young and fun, asian, mediterranean, trendy, friendly, lively

Perenially HipIndigo Yard was among the 1990s pioneers of Edinburgh's hip eating and drinking scene; one of the first to combine a modern bar with a cosmopolitan restaurant. It's no longer quite cutting edge the in-crowd all frequent George Street venues but what it hasn't lost is its cheerful vibe and the chance to drink a bit, dine a bit and generally hang out with no rush to go or decide.

Part of its lure has always been that it's a bit tricky to find; its discrete entrance tucked away in a courtyard behind Pizza Express. If you're there then you must be in the know... But once inside things really open up. Dimly lit lofty interiors are broken up by a mezzanine level and surrounded by comfy booths.

The food here always been respectable, but its direction a bit hard to pin down. The Mediterranean is certainly there in the good tomato, mozzarella and pine-nut salad and in the excellent goats cheese tart with rocket and caramelised onion or the succulent garlic roast chicken. But elsewhere the menu delivers all sorts of pan-Asian goodies, like the roast pumpkin red curry or the treacly-rich duck spring rolls, or king prawn and salmon skewers. There's a good selection of wines, many available by the glass.

Mornings, from 9am, it reverts to Scottish with good-old cooked breakfasts the pick-me-up of choice after a hard night out.

Two courses go for around £15, you may need a bit of patience at peak times, particularly Friday nights when suits arrive en-masse to unwind after their desk-bound week.

Susie's Diner

christianjw — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:28:52 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 51-53 West Nicholson Street, EH8 9DB, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 667 8729

Tags: cheap, wholefood, budget, vegetarian, lively, relaxed

70s wholefood throwbackThis studenty wholefood place feels a bit like a throwback to the 1970s vegetarian pioneer days, all chunky jumpers and pulses, but is all the better for it. Now of course its bare-wood furniture exudes shabby chic but the hippy vibe continues; you may well have to share a table and don't be surprised if someone busts out an instrument.

The cafeteria style serving system lets you eye up and chose from a handful of wholesome dishes of the day burritos, lasagne, aubergine bake, moussaka, cashew nut flat and so on served with a couple of a selection of good side salads for a fiver each or go large for a quid more.

Even if you're not up for a full meal this is an excellent place to pop in for coffee and dessert a slice of juicy carrot cake or the unusually sophisticated but excellent fear and frangipani tart.

Open MonSat for lunch and dinner until 9pm and it's BYOB, though they do have some organic alcoholic selections