• Added: 17th of February 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 225 3269

melanichael said
Up to the Marque
The Marque in Grindlay Street used to be our absolute favourite in Edinburgh, the place for high days, holidays, and any day in between if funds allowed. So when we finally found out this place existed we were in hog heaven, even if it meant something of a traipse across town. Don't be deceived by the deli-like appearance, that's just upstairs.

We went first on a Sunday. OH NO!! Closed. So we then tried a Saturday lunchtime.

The stairs are a bit perilous, especially for older folk, but the split level restaurant downstairs is airy and well laid out. Like the Marque, this doesn't have a huge menu but it's all very tempting and extremely good value. If you go at night, seemingly you get their delicious bread rolls (bestest by far in Edinburgh!) along with an amuse-bouche, but not at lunch. Shame. Food is still exquisite so we're now plotting a second assault.

• Added: 17th of February 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Edinburgh EH3 9SR

melanichael said
Civilised Boozer
First thing: if you want to visit an All Bar One in Auld Reekie, don't bother going to George Street as it's always hideously mobbed. At least any time we've ever been. The one off Lothian Road is not visible from the main street and hence is considerably quieter. It's also very friendly. We've munched our way through most of the international tapas menu and all the stuff is pretty damn good. Especially when guzzling Guinness or necking their wines. We liked the scallops and peas dish, which they'd managed not to ruin with overcooking, and the boxed camembert. But really, for a consistently nice place to settle down and unwind, where you can hear yourself think and won't get rattitude from the staff, you might as well not look further.

• Added: 17th of February 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH3 9JP
01312296880

melanichael said
New Sushi Place
This place had not long opened when we visited - didn't have any card facilities, only took cash - and still had some finishing to do but we had a lovely friendly welcome. Addictive wasabi nuts were put on the table while we made our (greedy) choices. The soft shell crab was the first thing we noticed on the menu, closely followed by scallop sashimi and prawn/avocado california roll. YUM!! Delicious. Portions were epic, presentation was pretty, and we were happy. Just to make sure we had a fairly diverse dining experience we tried mixed tempura and pork yakisoba. The latter tempted even the non-meat eater to eat. A lot. The tempura was perhaps not quite up to the stellar quality of the rest, but respectable enough. When they sort the ventilation at the back, it'll be perfect.

• Added: 24th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH1 2PW
0131 225 6633

melanichael said
Thai in the Old Town
What makes this place special is the service - there's a sense of fun and humour in the air, nothing's too much trouble. Not that the food is inferior: it's anything but. Portions are on the small side though, and dinner's not cheap. Other plus point - no MSG is used.
We weren't brave enough to try the Thai wines (we opted for Singha beer) but would be grateful if a more intrepid explorer could let us know if it's a good idea. Can't remember the name but the very spicy beef dish (no coconut milk, around number 28) has an incredible conglomeration of flavours, all of which are discernible and complementary. Sticky rice and mango pudding is also gorgeous.

• Added: 20th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH2 2EL
0131 624 6580

melanichael said
The longest 5 minutes
Sunday lunch ... only criticism has nothing to do with the restaurant but everything to do with bizarre licensing laws - not allowed to serve a glass of wine 'til 12.30 and we were nestled at our window table at 12.25. Luckily the view made up for the wait.
Lunch menu brief but surprisingly varied. Ham hough terrine and confit of pheasant to start were both full of strong flavours. Mains were similarly unusual (not seen pollock on a menu for a long time), all unpretentiously presented.
Service fast and friendly, good bread selection, unobtrusive background music and the Turner exhibition at close range. Lovely day out.

• Added: 20th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH6 4LP
0131 559 3900

melanichael said
A-fish-ionados, Rejoice!
Set in the hangar that was once Harry Ramsden's, this is well laid out and airy without losing its casual intimate feel.

Can't argue with the produce - top notch oysters, outstanding potted shrimp, remarkable fish stew, excellent specials (whole brown crab, grey mullet). House wines are bland but there's a decent selection on the list.

On the downside, the service is fast and friendly enough but slack: one would expect a finger bowl after hand-to-hand combat with crab, one shouldn't have to ask for water, wine was abandoned at the table, reaching across a diner when there's ample room around the table is a no-no.

The menu is online, check it out. Best to book.

• Added: 19th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH1 2ED
0131 228 8882

melanichael said
Proper Food
We'd not been seduced by the a la carte when we snooped on a reconnaissance mission and hadn't planned on going until an offer came through 5pm.co.uk (where the sample menu only offered 2 choices for each course but they looked fabulous) so we booked.
As it happens, the actual menu offered 3 choices: an exquisite scallop/salmon terrine with passionfruit, a goats cheese roulade, and cauliflower soup; seared salmon with polenta and butternut squash, stuffed chicken leg with puy lentils, and a mushroom-based veggie alternative; pistachio creme brulee, lemon polenta cake, and cheese. What's not to like? We left the veggie choices alone and what we had was little short of magnificent. Portions decent rather than excessive.
We unearthed a Sancerre from the enormous, varied wine list. The sommelier chose the hand-to-hand combat fightin' dessert wines - a chenin blanc of some description and a treacly port-like Pedro Jimenez, not what we'd have picked but perfect. Amazing we managed the 2 minute walk home.
Service was attentive but not over-fussy. There is a 6 course+ Tasting Menu available (with or without their choice of wines) and we acquired the previous night's version to take home and study: that's our next Big Night Out! Hugely recommended.

• Added: 13th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH7 5TP

melanichael said
Worth the detour
A real jewel of a place! Tiny and intimate, with immaculate cooking and wonderful, personal service. Trust the Specials board ... but if you don't, the menu won't disappoint.

• Added: 13th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH3 9AN
0131 466 9888

melanichael said
McArthur's - I shall return
Huge menu of Japanese and Chinese food, with some dishes cooked right in front of you teppanyaki style, and various special combos for lunchtime. May not be 100% traditional in either culinary discipline, but numerous visits over more than half a decade have failed to turn up one bad experience.
Occasional off-the-menu mitems are exceptional. Unusually for an oriental restaurant hereabouts, the house wines are excellent.
There's a clean, modern feel to this place offset nicely by the friendly service. Varies between very quiet and exceedingly busy, but always a good place to go.

• Added: 13th of January 2008
• Area: Edinburgh
• Category: Restaurants

Edinburgh EH3 9BH
0131 228 6666

melanichael said
Home of the Fighting Starter
Small, friendly Indian restaurant with interesting dishes as well as the usual suspects.
King Prawn Puri appears pricey, but the quality and quantity of this star starter means you'd have to be a gourmet in a state of advanced malnutrition to manage a main course after it. We've tried various mains over several visits and have yet to find anything falling below a high standard. Naans are snowshoe-size rather than continental quilt and you should be able to devour these without exploding.
Lunchtime thalis are excellent - great value, presentation and taste.
Highly recommended.