Scotland - Edinburgh and Glasgow Restuarants
May 16th, 2008, 07:58 AM
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Scotland - Edinburgh and Glasgow Restuarants
Hello Fodorites and Foodies,
I am traveling to Glasgow, the WHW, and Edinburgh for two weeks shortly and am in need of recommended restaurants. I have read through the previous posts for food in both cities and have come up with a smallish list, but I am still hoping for some others.
In Glasgow we are staying near Kelvingrove park for three nights and Edinburgh in the Grassmarket area for four nights. The restaurants don't necessarily need to be near these places, but it can't hurt. Our budget is about 100 to 150 US for dinner for two w/ wine preferable. But since the pound is so strong we'll probably spend more if the restaurant is worth it. For types of food... any ethnic (Indian, Italian, French being tops) and any typical local as well, although I assume we will get a lot of that on the West Highland Way. I enjoy fish, but my wife does not, so fish only restaurants are not high on our list. Neither of us are vegetarian and both enjoy meat. A recommendation for one must go typical Scottish Cuisine would be good. And also, if you were going to splurge one night where would you eat... I have the read the Witchery or the Prestonfield House.
The food is the most important part of the dining experience, but ambiance and location to pubs also a big part. Which brings me to another point; if there are any recommended pubs in either city. I have a list already, but if there are any stand outs that locals really enjoy, I would love to know.
And finally, my wife is looking for the best place to have High Tea, if anyone has a recommendation, it would be appreciated.
I know that I am asking a lot, but thanks in advance for any help.
andy
I am traveling to Glasgow, the WHW, and Edinburgh for two weeks shortly and am in need of recommended restaurants. I have read through the previous posts for food in both cities and have come up with a smallish list, but I am still hoping for some others.
In Glasgow we are staying near Kelvingrove park for three nights and Edinburgh in the Grassmarket area for four nights. The restaurants don't necessarily need to be near these places, but it can't hurt. Our budget is about 100 to 150 US for dinner for two w/ wine preferable. But since the pound is so strong we'll probably spend more if the restaurant is worth it. For types of food... any ethnic (Indian, Italian, French being tops) and any typical local as well, although I assume we will get a lot of that on the West Highland Way. I enjoy fish, but my wife does not, so fish only restaurants are not high on our list. Neither of us are vegetarian and both enjoy meat. A recommendation for one must go typical Scottish Cuisine would be good. And also, if you were going to splurge one night where would you eat... I have the read the Witchery or the Prestonfield House.
The food is the most important part of the dining experience, but ambiance and location to pubs also a big part. Which brings me to another point; if there are any recommended pubs in either city. I have a list already, but if there are any stand outs that locals really enjoy, I would love to know.
And finally, my wife is looking for the best place to have High Tea, if anyone has a recommendation, it would be appreciated.
I know that I am asking a lot, but thanks in advance for any help.
andy
May 16th, 2008, 08:18 AM
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May 16th, 2008, 09:16 AM
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I can highly recommend the Grainstore in Edinburgh - it's on Victoria Street which is right by the Grassmarket. I regularly recommend it on this board, mainly because I love the food (lots of seasonal, Scottish ingredients), the atmosphere and the overall vibe. They do a good value set lunch and a set dinner menu.
www.grainstore-restaurant.co.uk
Another place that's reliably good is La Garrigue on Jeffrey st, just behind Waverley Station. As the name suggests, the cuisine is French - they have good value set menu and the food has been delicious every time I've eaten there. http://www.lagarrigue.co.uk/
Both places are fairly popular so it would be advisable to book.
www.grainstore-restaurant.co.uk
Another place that's reliably good is La Garrigue on Jeffrey st, just behind Waverley Station. As the name suggests, the cuisine is French - they have good value set menu and the food has been delicious every time I've eaten there. http://www.lagarrigue.co.uk/
Both places are fairly popular so it would be advisable to book.
May 16th, 2008, 09:48 AM
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I love in Edinburgh and my favourite restaurant for a special meal has to be Martin Wishart at The Shore in Leith. In my opinion it is superior to either The Witchery or Rhubarb at Prestonfield House. They have a tasting menu which I would thoroughly recommend for £60 per person and accompanying wines (6 glasses) at £50 per person. The whole evening is an experience and the service and attention to detail is second to none. Their website is www.martin-wishart.co.uk.
Another 'splurge' restaurant I would recommend is Abstract on Castle Terrace. This is very centrally located and the food here too is excellent.
For everyday lunches/dinners I too would recommend The Grain Store as above or The Apartment in Barclay Place(about 15 mins walk from Princes Street). This is an informal place with good quality fusion food at reasonable prices. You are able to order several dishes to share between you. There are no starters or mains as such. Wine too is reasonably priced. Their sister restaurant,The Outsider is a similar format and is on George IV Bridge.
The Olive Branch (both venues) are pretty good too and in the centre of town Urban Angel is a fantastic fresh, high quality option for lunch or an early tea. I don't think they take reservations and are always busy. It is located on one of the streets running between Princes Street and Queen Street.
My husband works in Glasgow and eats out there frequently. Restaurants he would recommend for a special meal would be Brian Maule at Chandon d'or or Red Onion.
Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip.
Another 'splurge' restaurant I would recommend is Abstract on Castle Terrace. This is very centrally located and the food here too is excellent.
For everyday lunches/dinners I too would recommend The Grain Store as above or The Apartment in Barclay Place(about 15 mins walk from Princes Street). This is an informal place with good quality fusion food at reasonable prices. You are able to order several dishes to share between you. There are no starters or mains as such. Wine too is reasonably priced. Their sister restaurant,The Outsider is a similar format and is on George IV Bridge.
The Olive Branch (both venues) are pretty good too and in the centre of town Urban Angel is a fantastic fresh, high quality option for lunch or an early tea. I don't think they take reservations and are always busy. It is located on one of the streets running between Princes Street and Queen Street.
My husband works in Glasgow and eats out there frequently. Restaurants he would recommend for a special meal would be Brian Maule at Chandon d'or or Red Onion.
Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip.
May 16th, 2008, 12:55 PM
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I've heard nothing but good reviews on Martin Wishart in Leith.
I would personally not recommend The Witchery. I ate there once in January of 2003, and I thought it was amazing, romantic, etc. But I went back last summer and found it to be really a let down from what I remembered. I think it's overrated and overpriced.
Edinburgh - We ate in pubs the other nights, or with family. Monster Mash was cute for lunch one day.
I would personally not recommend The Witchery. I ate there once in January of 2003, and I thought it was amazing, romantic, etc. But I went back last summer and found it to be really a let down from what I remembered. I think it's overrated and overpriced.
Edinburgh - We ate in pubs the other nights, or with family. Monster Mash was cute for lunch one day.
May 19th, 2008, 06:44 AM
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I had a nice lunch with a pal living in Edinburgh here
Centotre (103 George Street EH2, Tel: 0131 225 1550) Italian Cafe serving a range of mainly simple dishes (pizzas, etc) and a few hot dishes of the day.
Nice Italian good food and looked nice for a drink at the bar in the evening.
The DOME I really like this place for a drink in the evening before dinner. Its a lovely oold building inside its called the Dome. The first bar to the left is a really old style bar and the main room is lovely with high ceilings. Nice for a stop in the evening.
Centotre (103 George Street EH2, Tel: 0131 225 1550) Italian Cafe serving a range of mainly simple dishes (pizzas, etc) and a few hot dishes of the day.
Nice Italian good food and looked nice for a drink at the bar in the evening.
The DOME I really like this place for a drink in the evening before dinner. Its a lovely oold building inside its called the Dome. The first bar to the left is a really old style bar and the main room is lovely with high ceilings. Nice for a stop in the evening.
May 19th, 2008, 07:13 AM
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Gardyloo, have you eaten at the Grainstore recently?
I have found that it has improved a lot over the last few years: it used to be one of those restaurants that I classed as nice but nothing special, but now I try and make a point of having a meal there every time I'm back in Edinburgh, as I really think the standard of cooking is excellent. (Definitely a lot better than certain other Edinburgh restaurants I've eaten in recently (e.g. the Tower)). Their set lunch and dinner menus are very good value, too, though admittedly I can't remember much about the winelist!
That said, I haven't been to the Grainstore this year as I had to cancel my planned lunch there in April.
I have found that it has improved a lot over the last few years: it used to be one of those restaurants that I classed as nice but nothing special, but now I try and make a point of having a meal there every time I'm back in Edinburgh, as I really think the standard of cooking is excellent. (Definitely a lot better than certain other Edinburgh restaurants I've eaten in recently (e.g. the Tower)). Their set lunch and dinner menus are very good value, too, though admittedly I can't remember much about the winelist!
That said, I haven't been to the Grainstore this year as I had to cancel my planned lunch there in April.
May 20th, 2008, 04:14 AM
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Apologies for repeating other posters' advice - these are my standard notes...
What sort of food do you like ?
Here are some of my favourites places to eat in Edinburgh, 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 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 cusine. 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.
What sort of food do you like ?
Here are some of my favourites places to eat in Edinburgh, 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 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 cusine. 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.
May 20th, 2008, 04:33 AM
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I do know if it is the best place
in Edniburgh but we had tea scones jam & ream in the cafe there.
It was nice. High tean is a very english thing and I did not notice anywhere that did it in Edinburh or Glasow but then I was not really looking for them as such. We were just wanting a nice pot of tea after wondering around the castle for a while.
in Edniburgh but we had tea scones jam & ream in the cafe there.
It was nice. High tean is a very english thing and I did not notice anywhere that did it in Edinburh or Glasow but then I was not really looking for them as such. We were just wanting a nice pot of tea after wondering around the castle for a while.
May 20th, 2008, 04:48 AM
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Me again. Do you mean high tea (which includes a hot dish like fish & chips) or afternoon tea (sandwiches, scones & cakes) ? The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh is OK for the latter, although sadly they don't do the chocolate buffet any more 
May 20th, 2008, 07:40 AM
#19
I didn't say the Grainstore was bad or even mediocre - it was quite good in fact. I just felt that it was no great bargain and the wine list seemed a bit dear. Good service and ambiance of course.
Some of the portions (starters in particular) were <i>very</i> tiny given the price.
Some of the portions (starters in particular) were <i>very</i> tiny given the price.
