Having suspended posts here following my move to France, I've decided that it's time the people of Edinburgh were informed about the latest culinary treats the city has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for sister site 'The Eateries of Paris' coming soon...
Tucked down a dark alley in the Old Town this pub is known for good ale and cheap home-made food. Filled with commuters and lost tourists, if you can get a table, enjoy one of their cask ales with your game pie and then pop down to the station to catch your train feeling very satisfied indeed.
Despite its location, this eatery manages to appeal to plenty of locals as well as tourists. This is mainly due to the quality and freshness of the burgers that they make. The menu is good and simple and the staff are usually friendly. It is definitely worth ordering the onion rings as an accompaniment to your beef, chicken or bean burger, and you can wash this down with a bottle of Tempranillo as a cheaper alternative to their overpriced beer.
The Atrium ought to be extremely popular but somehow isn't, probably because of it's location at the base of a office block. Don't expect a bustling atmosphere, but do expect really delicious food, an expansive wine list and friendly service.
10 Cambridge Street
Edinburgh, EH1 2ED
0131 228 8882
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A big, bustling, busy eatery displaying evidence of a big-budget interior fit-out. The food here is really enjoyable and their BYO policy means that a meal ends up being pretty cheap. The Biriani is unfailingly good and their fish dishes are a great addition to an otherwise predictable menu. This new glam incarnation of Khushi's certainly makes the most of it's prominent city centre location.
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Service here is perfectly amiable and the atmosphere is not lacking charm. Cuisine is strictly north Italian with a view to locally sourced seafood. Dining here is refreshingly different from the typical modern style over substance eatery. Lobster enthusiasts should remember to book 24 hours in advance to take advantage of the spring special (£50 for 2 people). Fresh grilled lobsters and a bottle of Prosecco, what more could you want?
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If you like to drink champagne with breakfast on Sundays then this is the place to go. You get a peach Bellini with your traditional breakfast, it's a perfect blend of Scottish and Venetian cuisine. Rick's is also a surprisingly good spot for lunch and not to be dismissed along with the overpriced George Street eateries.
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A useful address in the New Town for freshly made lunchtime sandwiches. The shop is a Deli as well as a Cafe, and sells a variety of Spanish produce. Despite having a couple of tables available if you want to sit in, their major business seems to be in take away sandwiches.
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Unfortunately, it is often difficult to get a table to eat in the bar in this well known favourite amongst Leithers and City folk alike. On a cold night the warm, cosy interior is a perfect spot for a tasty seafood special or a bowl of chowder, but if you've enjoyed the food so much that you fancy a dessert, disappointment awaits since they strangely refuse to serve them in the bar.
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Despite lacking something in both atmosphere and service, it's definitely worth going in for the excellent game dishes. The informal attutude to service lends itself more to group outings than to romantic dinners for two, and often the various nooks and crannies are filled with people claiming their meal on expenses rather than locals.
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A popular 'stop-off' on your way to the station most of the clientèle come here for the old-school pub atmosphere rather than the food. Go to sample something from their wide selection of whiskies and relax after a hard train journey. They do sell some cask ale, but the wine list is sadly limited to a few average and overpriced New World offerings. If you are hungry they can provide the usual staples such as steak and ale pie and fish and chips, which are fine but not outstanding.
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If you don't have time to go to one of the better places ten minutes walk away, this Italian eatery is not a bad bet in this area starved of culinary talent. Don't be put off by the garish decor and fake statues adorning the walls. The staff don't take themselves too seriously, so you can eat a simple pasta dish here and enjoy watching them interacting with the customers.
Serving delicious Pizza cooked in a wood burning oven, this eatery is reputedly the best pizzeria in the UK. It is a busy, modern, Italian restaurant with a wide menu and bustling atmosphere. They are happy to serve until quite late, which makes it a good place to go to after a day out. The wine list is not extensive, but contains enough variety of Italian wines to accompany any Pizza. The range of pastas and other mains is tempting, but the Pizza is so good that it seems a shame not to enjoy it every time.
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Great simple Cafe selling cheap and tasty sausages and mashed potato. The ambiance is straightforward and the service is informal. Look out for the special sausages with the Champ Mash and onion gravy. Monster Mash has two locations with the Forrest Road eatery being very popular with students. Since they sell wine and beer it makes an ideal spot for a quick dinner between nearby pubs.
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This small, underground restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere and the service is very good which almost makes up for the rather old fashioned decor. Whilst the menu looks tempting, the food isn't quite as good as you might expect for the price. The overall experience is pleasant, but not outstanding.
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Probably the best bakery in Scotland. The dedicated bread and pastry chefs produce a wide variety of loaves, rolls, pastries, cakes, tarts and mousses, all of which are excellent and entirely free of 'trans fats'. The produce is mostly French influenced, but they also make several specialities from other countries including a very fine Donker bread. Demand for the few inside tables is high at weekends and they sell out of bread, so get there early. You will often have to queue since this shop is always busy, but it's a pleasure to have time to admire the beautifully presented cakes and watch the staff baking in the kitchen.
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A small, friendly restaurant, populated at lunchtime mostly by students eating a variety of Kobz (flat bread) wraps. In the evenings they serve a full menu of tasty Sudanese and West African food. One of the few BYOB eateries in Edinburgh.
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Certainly the best place for lunch near the station. They always have good specials and a selection of tempting cakes. Pretty good all round, but they could improve (and widen) their selection of beers. It's a small gallery but sometimes has interesting exhibitions.
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This used to be one of the best places to go for cheap, good food. The bar is attached to a restaurant called La Camargue and the kitchen was shared between both. The food was always excellent, particularly the specials. Sadly it has recently been taken over and seems to have lost it's charm. The food may still be good, but the menu has changed and the prices have gone up, so it might not be worth trying it again.
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Undoubtedly the most fun you can have for £15 in the Balmoral is to take afternoon tea in the Palm Room. They serve thoroughly British sandwiches, fresh scones and a selection of cakes on a three-tiered plate. They also have a large selection of very good teas. It's a little bit old fashioned admittedly, but if you feel like experiencing excellent service it's definitely worth going for the atmosphere (and the fresh scones).
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