The Caprice is a busy diner-style restaurant, with tables stretching back quite a distance in the narrow but long space. The kitchen is up front, and the cook constantly shouts out the servers’ names when their orders are ready. There is a separate entrance for takeaway food, but I entered through the other door and sat at the first open table. Menus are on all the tables, and I began studying it as soon as I sat down. A server approached before I was ready to order, and then she said she’d give me a couple minutes to decide. Most of the main meal choices on the menu were in the range of £3-5, but they had a business lunch special for £5.40, which included a choice among four starters, thirteen main courses and several desserts. At least two of the main courses were suitable for vegetarians, though meat was the primary focus of most of the choices.
My server reappeared quickly and I ordered a tea and the business lunch, starting with the lentil soup and following with the spaghetti bolognese. The soup arrived quickly and included a small white roll and butter. It was hot and tasty enough, but nothing spectacular. Not long after I finished it, my server had taken the bowl away, and returned a short time later with the spaghetti. The spaghetti was just basic spaghetti, though it was the perfect just-large-enough portion size for lunch. After I finished the spaghetti, the server came and took the plate away, and then came back shortly to ask which dessert I would like. I selected the ice cream and fruit. It arrived in less than a minute, but was pretty basic, too. All it was was a stream of soft processed vanilla ice cream and a serving of canned fruit cocktail. But it was good enough, and overall I liked the meal because it was filling, if a bit barebones on style. With my tea, the total came to £6.30.
There are a wide selection of food types on the menu, though Scottish food features heavily. There are several fish choices and several meals like mince and potatoes, gammon steak, liver and onions, and steak pie. But at the same time, there are several pasta choices, pizza, baked potatoes, omelets, toasted sandwiches and more. So anyone could find something they would like.
The business lunch special runs until from 11:30am to 3:30pm, and then they have a similar tea-time special that runs until 6pm. They also have a breakfast special, which is a traditional Scottish breakfast for £2.40. It runs from 8:30am to 11:30am, and includes bacon, sausage, egg, toast, black pudding, potato scone and a tomato.