Edinburgh good eats and/or high tea
#1
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Edinburgh good eats and/or high tea
Looking for good ideas on good places to eat that are mid-range in price and serve traditional Scottish food. Also interested in locations for high tea (if that is a tradition in Scotland as it is in England). Will be there in mid-September. We plan to spend lots of times in pubs so are looking for alternative ideas for one nice dinner while there, as well as tea on afternoon.<BR><BR>Thanks to all in advance.
#2
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Hi Will,<BR><BR>Is it high tea, or afternoon tea you are looking for - they are quite different in Scotland. High tea tends to be a meal (something like steak pie or fish and chips for example, in a lot of pubs) with tea and toast on the side, then cakes and scones to follow. A lot of pubs/restaurants do this - particularly on a Sunday. Afternoon tea is more like what you would get in London. <BR><BR>The only place I can think of at the moment for high tea is just outside of Edinburgh - a place called Gullane, in East Lothian. There is a really nice place (or it was, last time I was there) called 'The Old Golf Club', which does rather nice food.<BR><BR>For afternoon tea, some of the large hotels in Edinburgh are good - the Balmoral certainly used to be good, and the Roxburghe was lovely on last visit.<BR><BR>Let us know which it is, and I'm sure we can give you more suggestions.
#7
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Will,<BR><BR>Many places serve traditional food...all depends how traditional you want. Are you into Haggis? A lovely restaurant just before the entrance to the castle is the Witchery. They do a cheaper set menu for lunch but is meant to be excellent and "scottish" food. Many pubs would serve just as nice food. <BR><BR>As for tea, I belive the Balmoral does this as many of the larger upmarket Scottish hotels. I never find its as good as I expected. <BR><BR>I can reccommend a great reasonable Italian place. Dario's on Lothian road. It has a take away/chipper on one side and sit down meals on the other. Don't let this make you think its not good. It's the best italian food and pizza I have had in the UK. All the male waiters are older italian men and are fantasic waiters. The food serves everything you can think of even things I did not see for years. <BR><BR>Avoid eating by the castle (except the witchery) they are tourist traps and the food is muck!<BR>
#9
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I would avoid the Witchery too. overpirced for what you get.<BR><BR>I think you want Stac Polly or any of the Howies restaurants for your traditional Scottish food. As an aside you might want to try Black Bo's- tho' it's fully veggy.<BR><BR>For afternoon tea a lot of the mystique is ambience. Jenner's would be my choice, followed by the Caledonian, the Balmoral, the Roxburghe or the George
#10
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Sheila,<BR><BR>Although I usually think your advice is spot-on, I took my Mum to Jenners last week for a coffee, and we walked out. Although I'm in Jenners quite a lot, it was a long time since I'd been in the cafe, and it was horrible - dirty tables, and crockery lying about everywhere. It's a self-service free-for-all, and not a pleasant atmosphere at all. Certainly not somewhere for a relaxing coffee and chat...<BR><BR>Just my tuppence worth
#13
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Actually, as to the Witchery, I've never recommended it.<BR><BR>I actually went there for dinner with my husband 18 months ago to check it out because people asked about it so often. I found it overpriced and overcrowded- although with quite the best wine list I've ever seen in a restaurant. <BR><BR>My line on it has been quite consistent ever since. And I didn't have a line before.<BR><BR>And, David, (or not David, as I suspect), I don't post anonymously, and I don't charge, except for legal advice
#14
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I laugh when I read these posters who bash others for being on Fodors! What hypocrisy! What morons!<BR>Meanwhile-as I post it is 10:15AM in NYC. That I think means it is 3:15PM in Scotland/England.<BR>There was a commercial played on television for years, "It is x oclock, Do you know where your children are?" I think that is the game some posters play here.<BR>If some of you stuck to the subject and stopped bringing your personal vendettas to these boards, this would remain a pleasant site for travel discussion and not some unhappy peoples venting and whining boards.
#15
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This is the real david west here (which is easily checked by using the real address above, which I use on all my posts)<BR><BR>The two bob knob claiming to be me is a deeply sad sort of a chap and cockmonger if he gets his jollies like this.<BR><BR>Ho hum matey. Drop me a line and we can meet up and sort it out. I'd like that (but you may not)
#16
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This is the real david west here (which is easily checked by using the real address above, which I use on all my posts)<BR><BR>The two bob knob claiming to be me is a deeply sad sort of a chap and cockmonger if he gets his jollies like this.<BR><BR>Ho hum matey. Drop me a line and we can meet up and sort it out. I'd like that (but you may not)<BR><BR>David