I don’t know about you but one of the things I’ve missed most this past year is being able to eat out in a restaurant. I love my food and although we’ve had the usual Chinese and a couple of restaurant take-aways, it’s not been the same as being able to go out and have a nice meal! With lockdown rules potentially easing in the near future (fingers crossed) I thought I would write a post about some of my favourite places to eat. Now my list consists of restaurants in Edinburgh, but if you don’t live nearby don’t worry…just make sure you book a getaway as soon as it’s allowed!
I’ll start with one of my absolute favourite eateries which we have visited pretty frequently during lockdown (including for our engagement dinner and my Mum’s 60th, so you know it’s decent) and that is Chez Jules. This little French bistro is located on Hanover Street in Edinburgh. First of all, you don’t just get your standard complimentary bread basket, with Chez Jules you get Pate, pickles, salad and baguette with every order (or on the table if we can ever sit in again) and this is the only place I’ve been to that offers this amount of goodies before you’ve even started (and I can confirm it is all delicious). Now I can’t give recommendations for very much here because I get the same order Every. Single. Time. What I can confirm is that the mussels in white wine with onion, garlic and herbs and the whole lobster, grilled with garlic butter, fries and aioli are absolutely amazing! And where else can you get a whole lobster for under £25?! Which brings me to my next point, this place is incredible value for money! Seriously, if you haven’t been yet, you need to make a point of visiting Chez Jules the next chance you get and if you’re not impressed I will eat my hat! You can also find them on Instagram @chezjuleshanoverstreet.
Fancy some Thai? Get yourselves to Chaopraya! This restaurant is based in Castle Street and is up on the 4th floor, so if you can get a table near the huge glass windows, you also get the most amazing view! The food doesn’t just taste amazing but is presented beautifully and looks so pretty! Personally, I struggle to choose between the dumplings, Thai tacos and spring rolls (all of the above please) but when it comes to the main course, I am all about the seafood udon noodles or pad Thai…this may seem boring but I am completely obsessed with noodles so if they are on the menu it takes something pretty special to tear me away! You can also find their Instagram page @chaophrayaedinburgh where there are far better photos than mine.
Not up for Thai? How about sushi? There is one place and one place only I go to for sushi and that is Maki Ramen. This is also somewhere we have frequented over lockdown (takeaway only obvs) and they have little restaurants dotted around Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are so many things I could recommend from here but there are a couple of pieces which I will order every time! I’ll always get a portion of pork gyoza, rainbow rolls and maki (salmon or tuna). The California, green dragon and Tokyo rolls are all also absolutely delicious as are the Takoyaki and prawn tempura and you also can’t go wrong with some salmon nigiri and sashimi. So yeah, pretty much everything here is incredible…super fresh and beautifully presented. I also have to admit I love getting a take-away from here as sushi is not something I feel great about eating in public so having the option to make stuff myself with sushi and make a complete mess in the process, in the privacy of my own home is a big plus for me. You can find their Instagram pages @makiramen and @makiramenglasgow.
Maybe it’s Mexican you’re after in which case I fully recommend Mariachi, a great little restaurant based in the very photogenic Victoria Street. I used to work across the road and I can tell you that I ate more nachos and drank far more Coronas (and tequila) than I care to admit. This one is easy for me… Starter? Nachos with added chicken. Main? Chimichanga, also with chicken. So. Damn. Good. Okay, I will also say that the fajitas and enchiladas are also an absolute delight. If you want a fun atmosphere with great staff, this is definitely worth a visit. You can also find them on Instagram @mariachi_edinburgh.
If you prefer seafood, I always enjoy Fishers. They have two locations in Edinburgh, one in the City centre on Thistle Street and another in Leith at The Shore. Personally I have only visited the city centre restaurant so that’s what I am basing my experiences on. As usual, I am pretty boring, I know what I like and I stick with it, so my order is always either squid or mussels to start and then a big plate of beer battered haddock and chips (why you would get anything else is beyond me). You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything about desserts so far and that’s because I’m more or a starter/ main course person than main/ dessert, however I did have this choccy tart pictured below and although I can’t even remember exactly what it was, I do remember it being one of the best desserts I’ve had! For me, Fishers has been spot on every time and I’ve never heard a bad review (hopefully I haven’t just jinxed them). Fishers has a nice, relaxed atmosphere and is a great place to go for either lunch or dinner…you can find them on Instagram @fishersinthecity and fishersleithshorebar.
For something a little bit different and another of my favourite restaurants in Edinburgh is Six by Nico which can be found on Hanover Street in Edinburgh but they do also have restauants dotted around the UK. Six by Nico offers a six course tasting menu and you can also opt for the wine pairing option which, although more expensive, is well worth it in my opinion. The menu changes on a fairly regular basis and is always based around a different theme. My favourite so far has to be the Chippie menu, every course was absolutely incredible (hello battered mars bar), but the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was definitely a close second! This place books up well in advance so you need to be quick if you want to get a table but for the experience you get, it is fantastic value for money at under £30 pp (without wine pairing). I literally cannot wait to get back to get back here again and I recommend heading to their Insta page @ sixbynico where you can see scroll through all the previous offerings…just be careful not to drool on your screen.
Somewhere which offers a bit of something for everyone including some fabulous views is Twenty Princes Street which, you guessed it, is located on Princes Street. If you can, try and get a table by the window as the views are pretty great. The restaurant has a slightly grander feel with it’s large windows and high ceilings and I am always left torn between a few items on the menu! The menu does change but one thing I will recommend straight off the bat is the black pudding and haggis french toast starter, it looks awesome and tastes just as good. I also had a delightful burger the last time I was there which was topped with a mac and cheese, I don’t know, crouton? Anwyay, it was really bloody good, as has been everything else I’ve had when I’ve visited and as with everywhere else, I can’t wait to go back. There is also a hotel (Hotel Indigo) and a bar (Juniper Bar) so if visiting from out of town, you’re all set! You can find Twenty Princes Street on Instagram @twentyprincesstreet.
For something a little bit more than pub grub, I’d head to The Refinery in St Andrews Square, which is part bar, part restaurant and delivers some good, hearty food. I’ve been here a good few times and it’s perfect for a casual lunch to a nice evening meal, if it were a dress code, I’d call it smart casual. As for the food, you won’t be surprised to hear that there are a few things on the menu that I regularly choose. Starter? Salt and pepper squid or the chorizo scotch egg. Main? Fish and chips, buttermilk chicken or cheese burger and always some halloumi sticks on the side. Although, the last time I visited, I changed it up a bit and went for the fish pie which was also delightful! You can also find them on Instagram @therefinerystandrew.
Now, if any of you are from Scotland and don’t know who Tom Kitchin is then I kindly ask you to leave now. For those of you who are still here, you should be aware that he has a number of restaurants around, however, I’m going to focus on my top two. First of all, if you are looking for somewhere a bit spenny, get yourselves to The Kitchin which can be found on Commercial Quay in Leith. The ethos here is “From Nature to Plate” and there is a big focus on the use of seasonal produce (something I think we should all be making an effort to focus on). The A la Carte menus always look good but I will always recommend going for the tasting menu which includes 6 courses (plus optional cheese course for an extra charge) followed by coffee and a sweet treat. It’s £100 so is a bit more pricey but in my opinion (and I’ve heard I’m always right…) it is absolutely worth it! There is also a Prestige Surprise Tasting Menu option for £150 which I haven’t tried but am adding to my list. Also, did I mention they bring you a chair for your handbag? I feel more places should offer this service as many of mine are far too pretty to be sitting on the floor. The Kitchin has a pretty epic Instagram page @thekitchin where you can find photos not only of the food but also some fab ingredients and a bit of background food prep in the kitchen.
The second of Tom Kitchin’s eateries I want to mention is the Scran and Scallie (Instagram @scranandscallie) which is described on their site as “Edinburgh’s leading gastropup” and can be found on Comely Bank Road in Stockbridge. This has more of a casual vibe than the kitchin and the food more pub grub (but also more than pub grub) but is just as tasty. What would I recommend from here? Well there’s too many delicious starters but for the main, you must look at the Ham, Egg and Chips or the Steak Pie. These aren’t your ordinary dishes and there’s no small portions to be had here! Both look and taste SO DAMN GOOD! I also had a dessert here for once, I think it was a version of Eton Mess…I can’t fully remember but it was also an absolute delight.
If you’re not looking to have a long leisurely lunch, look no further than Bross Bagels. They have little premises dotted around Edinburgh and sell hands down the best bagels I’ve had. I don’t have any pictures as I have always scoffed mine as soon as I get it into my greasy little paws but just believe me when I say how good they are. I always go for the Big Apple or the Good-Night-Club-Turkey and they are always jam packed full and spilling out the sides. You can’t eat these in a ladylike way but sometimes you just have to go full on caveman and these bagels are worth it. You can also find their Insta page @bross_bagels.
A little eaterie that I came across a few years ago when I lived on Dundas Street is New Chapter (Instagram @newchapterrestaurant) which was just around the corner from my flat. This is a wee hidden gem based in Stockbridge and I am very glad that we stumbled across it! I haven’t been here for dinner but I can confirm that it is a fabulous place for lunch and offers 2 courses for £20 or 3 courses for £26, which in my opinion is very good value for the delicious food that they serve. Unfortunately my photos don’t really do it justice but if you have a nose at their instagram page (@newchapterrestaurant), you can see exactly how good the food looks. New Chapter is quite a small restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and if you are anywhere near Stockbridge, this is the perfect spot to refuel.
Last on my list is somewhere you need to visit if you have a sweet tooth and that is Coro The Chocolate Cafe which you can find on Frederick Street. Here you can find waffles, pancakes, milkshakes, crepes and fondues…you can also get savoury options here but why would you? No beating about the bush here, the Chocolate, strawberries and cream pancakes or Banana and chocolate waffles are winners in my eyes but there are SO many other options that look incredible. There’s nothing more I need to say, just look at the photos (Instagram coroedinburgh) and book a table when you can.
So that’s a list of places I have tried and tested but there are also a few (okay, a lot) of food places that I still want to (ahem, need to) visit. So first of all, I LOVE a burger! And one place that is at the top of my list to visit ASAP is Luxford Burgers…I literally don’t know how I will be able to choose just one because every burger on their menu sounds amazing! One thing is for sure though, I will 100% be ordering a portion of halloumi fries as I’ve been drooling over them on Instagram (@luxfordburgers) and they look insanely good!
One bistro I have been dying to try is Scran Bistro which is on North Bridge. Their burgers, wraps and scran boxes look absolutely unreal! I’m talking chips topped with buffalo chicken and cheese, wraps filled with mac and cheese and the most calorific looking milkshakes you can find. This is definitely fighting for a place at the top of my list and I fully intend to visit as soon as I’m allowed. In the meantime you can find them on Instagram (@scranbistro) and drool over pictures like the two below.
Another restaurant I have been wanting to visit for ages and one of the only ones in this post that isn’t in Edinburgh is Lock, Stock ‘n’ Burgers based in Berwick-Upon-Tweed (and just over the Border from me). As you can imagine, they sell burgers…but seriously yummy sounding burgers! Get me a Chicken Little (Buttermilk chicken, bacon, gherkins, mozzarella and garlic mayo), Dorty Fries (fries with cheddar, bacon and dirty sauce) and Halloumi Fries! Christ on a bike I need this in my life ASAP!
Now, it has been fairly obvious that there has been a distinct lack of sweet treats in this post so to rectify that I am including Moo Pie Gelato who are based in St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh (Instagram @moopiegelato). I’m not even a fan of ice cream, although I am partial to a soft serve, but their offerings look so freakin’ good I need to get there as soon as possible! Other than the soft serve cookie sandwiches (see below OMG), there are also some incredible sounding flavoured scoops such as cinnamon toast, cereal milk and most recently croissant! Flavours change regularly but there is always something that has me drooling. I cannot bloody wait for my first visit!
Last but definitely not least is Alandas Scottish Seafood Grill who I only came across recently on Instagram and have been drooling over their page ever since. This is a food truck rather than a restaurant but is so much more than just fish and chips (seriously go and check out their Instagram @alandasseafood). As well as your usual battered haddock, there is also scampi, lobster, prawns, squid, salmon, seabass and oysters (omgomgomg)! And if fish isn’t your thing they have other alternatives to choose from (hello haggis and chips). Unfortunately my request to use a couple of pictures was not responded to (awkward) so you will need to head to their insta or website to see for yourselves (or just go straight to the van)! You can find Alandas Scottish Seafood Grill in Longniddry but there is also a fish and chip shop in Perstonpans or go and seek out their Gelato in North Berwick (be prepared to queue)!
So, there you have it, my list of restaurants to visit (in my not so professional opinion). I could have mentioned so many more and may well either add to this or more likely, write another post when I have the time and can be bothered. I’m very aware that I have only added handles for Instagram but it’s the only social media I use on a regular basis and hence the reason I have not added any Facebook or Twitter handles. However, if this is a problem to anyone, I’ll tell you now, I literally don’t care 🙂
I’m always on the lookout for places to eat so any recommendations will be gratefully received and I’d be interested to hear any recommendations for East Lothian and the Borders as I haven’t really mentioned any from those areas yet. Anyway, I’m hungry after all that so I’m off to raid the fridge…
Until next time,
Kirsty x
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