janetwish

Hello,

I've been planning a 2 week trip to Scotland for several months now. I've secured accomodations for 4 nights in August in Edinburgh (August 26 - 30) and then it's off to Tongue (a hiking trip). I am interested in three things actually. Can you give some ideas on places to eat dinner in Edinburgh? For one night I could go expensive but am interested in some local establishments for lunch and dinner.

Next question, since I am arriving after the Fringe Festival officially ends, would there be any shows still playing we could see? Are there any plays or festivals that might still be 'playing'?

And since I'm on the subject of Edinburgh, can anyone give me the name of places to hear local music - something along the lines of folk music or singer/songwriter type of stuff.

Thanks in advance for your advice. What a great place to hear about some things that will give one a 'local' flavor.

Janet

meks

For a good but expensive meal then there are three which come to mind
No1 at The Balmoral Hotel in Princes Street www.thebalmoralhotel.com/dining/

Kitchin Restaurant at Commercial Quay in Leith www.thekitchin.com

Restaurant Martin Wishart on the Shore in Leith www.martin-wishart.co.uk

If you are staying in the City Centre / Old Town area or wandering about the streets there try the likes of Creelers in Hunter Square www.creelers.co.uk

Jacksons in the High Street www.jacksons-restaurant.co.uk

Quite a few of the local pubs have good choices so you could go upstairs at Deacon Brodies in the Lawnmarket or drop into Clarindas in the Canongate for afternoon tea.

Although the Fringe is officially finished some of the plays / shows run on for a few days so you should look at the Fringe website www.edfringe.com

The International Festival is still ongoing until the 31st August www.eif.com

For folk music etc then try the White Hart Inn in the Grassmarket but the music usually starts there about 9p.m
Have been there a few times and the Thursday nights can be good.

Sandy Bells pub (very small) in Forrest Road could have a session on almost anytime although the evening is usually preferred.

Since you are going to Tongue then drop in on Hamish at the Craggan in nearby Melness. Very good meals throughout the day and evening.

If you are staying in the Tongue area on a Friday or Saturday evening then try to book a meal at the Cote Du Nord Restaurant in the Old Schoolhouse. Kirtomy It is a few miles east of Tongue but excellent meals. www.cotedunord.co.uk

traveller1959

We had dinner in Balmoral's Number One and were somewhat disappointed because they tried to mock French cuisine.

We much more enjoyed the restaurant "Off the Wall", right on Royal Mile, which serves refined. gourmet-style Scottish cuisine for reasonable prices (e.g. seared scallops in smoked haddock sauce). Very nice ambiance, too. Intimate feeling.

http://www.off-the-wall.co.uk/

janetwish

Thanks so much for the info. I made a reservation at Restaurant Martin Wishart. I couldn't resist as my last name is Wishart! Finally someplace in the world where my last name is not so unusual!

The recommendations for Tongue are fabulous - I'm busy researching them now. I'll definitely check out the locations for the music. I've been to Scotland before on a tour and loved it so much I wanted to come back and take a much more leisurely time in a few places at a time. Scotland to me is one of those places I'll return to again and again.

Thanks again for taking the time to offer some suggestions. It's greatly appreciated!

Janet

amelie

Have fun! That is so funny that that is your last name too. I've heard great things about that restaurant.

traveller1959

Martin Wishart appears to be the best-reviewed restaurant in Edinburgh. Be aware that it is not located in downtown. But if can afford to eat there the cost for a taxi will be the least thing to worry about.

bailey6325

bookmarking

meks

Forgot to ask which route you intended taking when traveling to Tongue but if you are taking the direct route - the A836 Bonar Bridge to Tongue, then think about a slight detour just north of Bonar Bridge - via the Falls of Shin Restaurant (Harrods of London in disguise). The food in the restaurant is very good as is the shop. There is a short walk on the opposite side of single track roadway which leads down to Shin Falls.

With regard to the Craggan and the Cote Du Nord. They both offer good food but the Craggan is better if you are hungry after a longish walk. The Cote Du Nord is more expensive as more emphasis is given to presentation - catering for individual diners or small groups.

sheila

a couple of add ons- there's a new restaurant in Thistle Lane called Iris which I ate at this week, and which was pretty good. It's directly opposit Fishers in the City, which is good too, but very fishy; and I'm told teh Thai place next door is good too. These are all very affordable.

Folk Music- buy the List mag when you get there for an idea of what's going on

I can see Leith Folk Club on the 26th:- Adam Sutherland, Paul Jennings and Mike Bryan Tuesday 26th August 2008, 8.00PM Leith Folk Club
The Village
16, South Fort Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 4DN A unique collaboration between three wildly creative musicians who between them have been members of the Peatbog Faeries, Session A9, Croft No 5, the Bar Room Mountaineers, Old Blind Dogs and Box Club.

Other places to try are the Ensign Ewart- a bit cheesy for the tourists, but reliable; the Tron; and the West End Hotel.

caroline_edinburgh

As meks said, the International Festival (which is the important one !) is on until the 31st.

Martin Wishart is definitely the best restaurant in town - we were sighing over the latest menu outside only last night ! It's really worth having the tasting menu, plus the matching set of different wines for each course if you are into wine. Assuming you are staying in the city centre you don't need to get a taxi, the number 22 bus runs right past every few minutes. The Shore is a nice area to wander about in, next to the river, & maybe have a drink in one of the pubs first.

Here is my standard list of restaurant suggestions, roughly in descending order of price.

If you want gourmet, there are three restaurants with one Michelin star.

Martin Wishart's in Leith is fantastic, especially if you have the six course tasting menu (which will all be cooked by the man himself) – now also available in a veggie version. The tasting menus are £60pp for food, £50pp for a wine to match each course - £10 less for each at lunchtime. Three courses £50, bargain set lunch at £22.50 available Tue-Fri. It's very high class but friendly and unstuffy. Book 2-3 months in advance for weekend dinner, less for weekday dinner and lunch. IMO should be 2 stars.

The second starred restaurant was Number One in the Balmoral : food nothing special IMO, ambience is more formal & traditional.

The Kitchin, also in Leith, opened in July 2006 & got a star in January 2007 – some going ! It's really good but not quite as good as MW. Also does a bargain lunch at £19.50 for 3 courses, Tue-Sat.

If you want 'modern Scottish', Stac Polly on Grindlay Street used to be good, but I've read mixed reviews in the last year or two . Also branches on Dublin Street and St Mary's Street. Wedgewood on the High Street has been getting very good reviews but I haven't been yet.

La Garrigue on Jeffrey Street is a small French restaurant specialising in cooking of the Languedoc where the chef-proprietor is from, as are all the wines. The food & the chef are both lovely and the ambience is correct but relaxed. If you sit near the window there is a view of Calton Hill & its monuments.

For Italian, La Partenope on Dalry Road was wonderful - the best Italian food (especially seafood) I've had outside southern Italy - but it has changed hands and I haven't been since. The former chef-proprietor has a newish place called Bella Mbriana – I've only been once and it was very good but (disappointingly for me) not so heavily seafood-biased.

Centotre on George Street is a busy, buzzy Italian caffe-bar offering everything from a coffee & cannolo to cocktails to a full slap-up 4 course meal. Can be expensive for the full works but v. reasonable for just a pizza or a bowl of pasta, both of which are very good (best pizza in town IMO). My favourite place in the city centre.

Cheapish to midprice in the city centre are Urban Angel and the Sizzling Scot – the latter has a naff name but is actually vg for steaks, burgers and sausages made with real ingredients. Both are big on local produce, traceability, sustainability and all those good things.

When we have visitors we've always taken them for Sunday lunch in Leith (the old docks area - which I have now moved to !). There are lots of nice waterfront places, notably the Shore, where you can eat in the restaurant or in the pub (note - this has just changed hands & I haven't eaten there since) and Skipper's. Skipper's is particularly good for fish but does a few other things, including steak from the Duke of Buccleuch's estates. The Waterfront used to be good but has recently changed hands, is now A Room In Leith and is getting poor reviews. I used to think Fisher's in Leith was the best for fish but had a very disappointing experience there last time we went. I haven't tried Fisher's in the City for some time so won't judge it, but other posters here have praised it recently.

Both Black Bo's and David Bann's do very interesting & innovative vegetarian cuisine. BB's is very casual, studenty even, & DB's is smart casual & v. modern . Both v. reasonably priced.

Incredibly cheap quick food, when you are out & about - a) the Mosque, Chapel Street/West Nicholson St (1-7pm I think, except Fridays), for more curry & rice/naan etc than you can eat for £3 (meat & veggie) - outdoors eating, though, so no fun if cold or wet; b) Palmyra on Nicholson Street - £2.80/£3.80 for vg chicken shwarma with salad in flatbread, or even cheaper veggie ones like feta or baba ganoush.

I've never had good fish & chips from an Edinburgh chippie but it's usually OK in food-oriented pubs.

If you want recommendations for any other specific types of cuisine, please ask.

Also - where are you staying ? So we can recommend pubs / restaurants nearby.

Daktari

Hi

Caroline's recommendations IMO are always spot on and the only thing I could add that at last Edinburgh finally has a good chip shop.

It is called the Tailend on Leith Walk. This opened fairly recently - understand it is the same people who have the renowned chippie in Anstruther.

Happy eating.

caroline_edinburgh

How kind, Daktari ! Ooh, thank you for reminding me - I read about this place just before we went on hol & I'd forgotten. Must try it soon ! Have you been & if so did you eat in or out ?

Daktari

Hi Caroline

Tried to get a table when it first opened but all taken. Had a couple of carry outs since and the fish and chips were very good. Far superior to other chippies!

caroline_edinburgh

Thanks Daktari. Good one to know about with the festivals about to kick off !

caroline_edinburgh

We got a carryout from Tailend last night. The chips were definitely the best I've had in Edinburgh - crisp and dry on the outside, soft on the inside, The haddock was, disappointly, about the same as anywhere else though - the batter was a bit soft and the flesh was rather dry. Maybe we were just unlucky - we will try it again.