Elegant Edinburgh

Passage To India

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "A Passage to India"

A Passage to India, Edinburgh Photo - Passage To India, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

I was delighted when we finally walked through the doors of Edinburgh’s ‘A Passage to India’; not only was I ready for lunch having worked up an appetite walking first down the length of Leith Walk and back up to Union Place, it was the be the final meal in a week long curry fest to celebrate National Curry Week. For seven days we had eaten curry (or Indian inspired dishes) for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I was glad to be in touching distance of the finishing post. ‘A Passage to India’ has been here, opposite the Edinburgh Playhouse, for as long as I can remember but this was my first visit. We had actually been heading for Khushi’s having read a glowing review by another Ciao writer b...Read More

I was delighted when we finally walked through the doors of Edinburgh’s ‘A Passage to India’; not only was I ready for lunch having worked up an appetite walking first down the length of Leith Walk and back up to Union Place, it was the be the final meal in a week long curry fest to celebrate National Curry Week. For seven days we had eaten curry (or Indian inspired dishes) for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I was glad to be in touching distance of the finishing post.

‘A Passage to India’ has been here, opposite the Edinburgh Playhouse, for as long as I can remember but this was my first visit. We had actually been heading for Khushi’s having read a glowing review by another Ciao writer but when we realised that we were fast heading for the end of the traditional lunch service, we decided not to walk any further and try ‘A Passage to India’. It's billed as served Punjabi cuisine.

The restaurant interior is long and narrow and on first entering the place appeared to be deserted. Faint voices could be heard and the noise seemed to be coming from the kitchen. We called out a greeting and a minute or two later a waiter appeared and invited us to take a table in a part of the restaurant that felt a bit dark and gloomy, though it was not a problem when we asked to sit nearer the windows. Superficially the interior looks to be fine but as you look close you see things like bits of flaking plaster and patchy carpets, minor things really but ones that could easily be addressed.

We were offered menus for the lunchtime two course special but the choices were very limited and as it was a special occasion we asked to see the a la carte menu. We mightn’t have bothered with a starter at all had I not noticed the haggis samosas so we compromised and ordered one portion (of two samosas) to share. The main courses were split into specials, chef’s recommendations and then your standard Indian restaurant options such as kormas, vindaloos and bhoonas. I chose the ‘chicken ginger bhoona’ (£8.45) and Himself ordered the ‘Kerala chilli lamb' (also £8.45): Kerala chilli chicken was actually the dish on the menu but there was no problem in substituting chicken for lamb’. We also ordered a portion of pillau rice and a couple of chapattis to share.

The samosas were presented very nicely with a salad garnish and a dollop of sweet chilli sauce. The pastry was quite thick but not at all heavy and the haggis filling was plentiful. Haggis is already peppery but just the right amount of Indian spices and a generous sprinkling chilli made the minced filling really come alive. I could have happily eaten more.

My main course was nothing remarkable but for the addition of fairly thick slices of ginger in the sauce and the fact that the chicken breast had been first cooked in the tandoor on skewers, giving it a very slightly charred flavour that was very welcome. I’d rate the sauce as medium hot so not too fiery but certainly flavoursome.
Himself was pleased with his choice of main course. They certainly hadn’t skimped on the lamb and the pieces weren’t fatty at all. The sauce was similar to a "patia" in that it contained coconut, but it differed in that it had the addition of fresh green chillies. It was hot but not silly.

With only a couple more hours in Edinburgh we skipped desserts and coffees, though they were offered. Although neither of us still felt hungry, we were pleased not to feel stuffed; the portions weren't large but certainly sufficient for a lunch.

So after a rocky start when we thought we'd stepped on board the Marie Celeste, our visit to 'A Passage to India' turned out to be a great experience. The service was friendly but unintrusive, the food was delicious and, for the location, the price seemed reasonable (certainly in comparison with other nearby restaurants). It was a worthy finale to National Curry Week

The only downside worth highlighting is the the toilets are downstairs and the staircase is steep and narrow so this would be a problem for diners with mobility problems.

Our bill came to approximately £35 including accompaniments and drinks.

Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 5, 2011

Passage To India
20 Union Place
Edinburgh, Scotland
0131 556 4547

Cheer!
Flag

Edinburgh House Hotel

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Fair Hotel But Shop Around for Prices"

Edinburgh House Hotel Photo - Edinburgh House Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

The brief: a double or twin room for one night, not too far from Hibernian’s football ground Easter Road, and not too far from Waverley train station. You’d think it wouldn’t be so difficult but Edinburgh rooms get booked up well in advance for this time of year and, of course, the accommodation in the centre goes first. Many bed and breakfast establishments also insist on a minimum stay of three nights during August, and well they might because they know they easily fill those rooms. We booked through Expedia and found a double room at the Edinburgh House Hotel for just £46 for one night which was an absolute steal given that it was within fifteen minutes walk of the football ground and m...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 15, 2010

Edinburgh House Hotel
90-92 Pilrig Street
Edinburgh, Scotland
+44 131 553 3634

Cheer!
Flag

Pani Solinska

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Pani Solinska - Bringing Poland to Scotland "

Pani Solinska, Edinburgh - an eclectic interior Photo - Pani Solinska, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

Situated halfway down Edinburgh's Broughton Street, Pani Solinska is surrounded by excellent eating places so it has to do something special to get noticed. Fortunately its quirky decor and menu of Polish dishes have put this place on Edinburgh's culinary map. I had read a glowing review in an Edinburgh restaurant listings booklet but wasn't able to make dinner as I needed to be in a different part of town. I was pleased, then, to find out that the restaurant is open daily for breakfast and on a bright Sunday morning we checked out of our hotel and headed to the restaurant. Broughton Street is easy to find. At the eastern end of Princes Street take the left fork, past the St. James shoppin...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 20, 2010

Pani Solinska
73 Broughton Street
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 3RJ
+44 131 557 6900

Cheer!
Flag

Victoria

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Beer Heaven at the Victoria"

The Victoria, Edinburgh Photo - Victoria , Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

Near the city end of Edinburgh’s Leith Walk is a brilliant café-bar, the Victoria. From the exterior I’d have walked past had it not been for the poster in the window announcing that it sells beers from over thirty different countries. We were looking for somewhere for lunch anyway so we went in, supposedly for a bite to eat but knowing we were really more interested in the beers. From what I’ve read the place is meant to have a Swedish feel and I suppose it does kind of have that shabby chic Scandinavian feeling with cutesy floral fabric curtains and long window seats which fit in with the Danish or Swedish beach house look. While that might have once been the intention the design looks t...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 19, 2010

Victoria
265 Leith Walk
Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 8PD
+44 131 5551638

Cheer!
Flag

Holi Spice

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Realy Delishus Indian Food at Holi Space "

Holi Spice, Edinburgh Photo - Holi Spice, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

Knowing several weeks in advance that we would be going to Edinburgh, we had plenty of time to do some research and find somewhere good to eat that we hadn’t been to before. However, on the actual evening our plans changed as we were told the gig was likely to start quite early and so we needed to find somewhere quickly that was close to where we were going to see the band. Near our hotel we found Holi Spice; it’s on Holyrood Road, just near where it meets St. Mary’s Street. We didn’t have to eat immediately and there were not yet any customers in the restaurant so we took ourselves across the road to have a drink first. The restaurant is situated on the corner of a block that also contai...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 17, 2010

Holi Spice
20 Holyrood Road
Edinburgh, Scotland
+44 (0)131 5561430

Cheer!
Flag

Travelodge Edinburgh Central Hotel

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Travelodge Edinburgh Central - a Bit Battered at the Edges"

Travelodge Edinburgh Central Photo - Travelodge Edinburgh Central Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

There are several Travelodges in central Edinburgh and St. Mary’s Street one is not the one I originally booked to stay in. Checking the Travelodge website I noticed that a new Travelodge was due to open on Rose Street and while this was not the closest Travelodge to the venue for a concert we were going to, it was over £20 a night cheaper, a saving I thought was worth the extra few minutes walk. Unfortunately a few weeks before our stay we received an email from Travelodge informing us that the opening of the Rose Street Travelodge had been delayed. We were also told that we could stay in one of the other Edinburgh Travelodges at no extra cost, provided a room was available. As a result w...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 11, 2010

Travelodge Edinburgh Central Hotel
33 St. Mary's Street
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1TA
+44 0871 984 6137

Cheer!
Flag

Adria House

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Adria -lly Like to Stay Here Again"

Quote:

The Adria Hotel commands an excellent position on Royal Terrace which makes it convenient for the Edinburgh Playhouse, the Omni Complex, Easter Road Stadium (home of Hibs) and Calton Hill - my favourite spot in the city with wonderful views over to Leith where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now docked. It's a five minute walk down to Princes Street and both Waverley train station and St. Andrews coach station. There is a wealth of restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes and clubs nearby although Royal Terrace itself is very quiet - a mixture of small hotels and residential property.The receptionist was expecting us and we were warmly welcomed. It was a very cold evening and we were pleased to get int...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 31, 2009

Adria House
11-12 Royal Terrace
Edinburgh, Scotland EH7 5AB
0131 556 7875

Cheer!
Flag

Mercat Tours

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Compare the Mercat"

Mercat Tours Photo - Mercat Tours, Edinburgh, Scotland

Quote:

While I am not a fan of guided tours, there are some places that cannot be visited unless you are part of an organised group. In Edinburgh I was interested in visiting the old vaults and the only way to do this was by taking a guided tour with Mercat Tours. Mercat Tours offer several tours that put the spotlight on different historical aspect of Edinburgh, mainly things with a sinister edge. It's easy to book a place on one of their tours. You can contact the company directly by telephone (in which case you will need to pay in advance by credit card) or by means of their website, or through the Tourist Information Centres in Edinburgh. It's also possible to turn up at the departure point o...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 31, 2009

Mercat Tours
Royal Mile
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1NS
+44 131 225 6591

Cheer!
Flag

The King's Wark

Restaurant | "Spoilt for Choice at the North Wark"

Quote:

No, it's not a spelling mistake, this is the old Scottish spelling and this pub-restaurant is situated at the end of Leith Wark in Edinburgh, a few minutes walk from the Royal Yacht Britannnia.From the outside it looks very "pubby" and it was only when we glanced at the menu outside in a small display case that we learned it was more than just a pub. We knew we had to go and eat there.There are a couple of entrances and the pub has a few rooms leading, one off the next. You can choose your own table and have a choice of cosy corners, window tables or ones near the bar. You can go in for a drink but most people come to eat and therefore order their drinks at table so even if you...Read More

No, it's not a spelling mistake, this is the old Scottish spelling and this pub-restaurant is situated at the end of Leith Wark in Edinburgh, a few minutes walk from the Royal Yacht Britannnia.

From the outside it looks very "pubby" and it was only when we glanced at the menu outside in a small display case that we learned it was more than just a pub. We knew we had to go and eat there.

There are a couple of entrances and the pub has a few rooms leading, one off the next. You can choose your own table and have a choice of cosy corners, window tables or ones near the bar. You can go in for a drink but most people come to eat and therefore order their drinks at table so even if you sit at a table near the bar you won't be disturbed by customers queuing at the bar for drinks.

All service is at table making this more like a restaurant than a pub. There are daily specials on a chalkboard but we ordered off the main menu, a simple one-page affair but offering enough to have a good choice.

I chose the smoked fish and herb risotto (£7.50) as a main but it can also be ordered as a starter, as can the chowder. It was a good portion and the taste was great but I would have been pleased of a few more pieces of fish. There was also perhaps a little too much parmesan on the top as most didn't melt and made the dish overly salty.

My companion went all Scottish and ordered the haggis, neeps and tatties (£6.25) (neeps and tatties to the uninitiated are mashed turnips and mashed potatoes). This dish was delicious, a good portion and the haggis had a lovely mustardy kick to it.

We didn't have starters but a complimentary basket of bread and butter was brought to the table and we were so hungry we made short work of it.

Other customers were eating the all day breakfast which looked wonderful, fish and chips, and cullen skink - another traditional dish. I didn't hear anyone complaining and people looked to be enjoying their meals.

The service ws friendly and prompt. We ordered drinks which came immediately - a pint of Kronenburg costs £3.10 which was par for Edinburgh while a pineapple juice topped with soda was a bargain at £0.95. A shame no local beers were available.

The decor is simple but the pub looks cosy and is quite traditional. There was an issue with a wonky leg which made our table rock and the toilets could have been a bit more pleasant but at least they were clean.

All in this is a good place to eat and I would recommend it. It's nice to see some traditional dishes on the menu and to eat in a pub where food is the main attraction rather than an aside.

Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 31, 2009

The King's Wark
36 The Shore, Leith
Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 6QU
0131 554 9260

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Edinburgh Journals

Upload Photos