Edinburgh Eating

Greyfriars Bobby (Bar and Statue)

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Attraction | "A good pub named for a good dog"

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For our first dinner out during our holiday in Edinburgh, my mum and I didn't venture far - Greyfriars Bobby's Bar was only two doors down from the flat we were renting. Part of the Nicolson's chain, the pub is located beside the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard, and opposite the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. The statue itself always surprises me - I always expect it to be bigger. But in reality it is a teeny little dog, probably life-size. Bobby was a Skye terrier who belonged to a city watchman. When his master, John Grey, died, Bobby stood guard over his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard, and became known throughout the city.Peering in through the windows, the pub looked comfortably busy - enou...Read More

For our first dinner out during our holiday in Edinburgh, my mum and I didn't venture far - Greyfriars Bobby's Bar was only two doors down from the flat we were renting. Part of the Nicolson's chain, the pub is located beside the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard, and opposite the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. The statue itself always surprises me - I always expect it to be bigger. But in reality it is a teeny little dog, probably life-size. Bobby was a Skye terrier who belonged to a city watchman. When his master, John Grey, died, Bobby stood guard over his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard, and became known throughout the city.

Peering in through the windows, the pub looked comfortably busy - enough people so that you're far from being the only ones in, but not so busy that it's crowded. It also looked comfortable and cosy, so in we went.

The decor of Greyfriars Bobby Bar is a bit more upmarket than most other chain pubs. I didn't feel out of place in jeans and trainers, but it did feel like somewhere a bit more special than the likes of Wetherspoons. From the blurb on the menu, Nicolsons specialise in "character" pubs, and each one is different.

We were seated in the dining area, however there is also a bar area where you can get lighter food like sandwiches. The dining area had full table service, so none of this checking the table number, going to the bar to order and then having to go back to the table to check if the other person you're with wants peas or salad. The waitress was fairly attentive, but she seemed to be the only one working in the dining area, so she was pretty busy. She took our drinks orders very shortly after we were seated, and we didn't have to wait long to place our food order.

We decided not to bother with starters, thinking we might manage a dessert - but we ended up only having main courses. I chose scampi and chips, one of my favourite pub meals. There were a few fish dishes, but only one vegetarian meal if I remember rightly, some sort of pie or tart. My mum chose salmon on filo pastry. My scampi was cooked just right, the fish being soft, moist and flavoursome, while the breaded coating had just the right level of crunch - I don't like it too crunchy, but on the other hand soggy isn't great either. My mum enjoyed her salmon as well, which was served with boiled potatoes. She didn't manage all her salmon, so I can attest to it being good too - I finished it off, which probably accounts for me not being able to manage a dessert. The pastry was a bit flat and hard underneath the fish for my liking, but the salmon was very nicely done.

I had a pint of Aspall's cider along with my meal, which is my favourite cider so I was happy with that. My mum had her usual, a ginger beer and lime, and it was in ordering this that I discovered that out of habit of my dad ordering for her and him knowing all her likes and dislikes, that she doesn't specify things like no ice in her drink. So she had ice which wasn't ideal, and she also commented that the drink was pretty much just lime.

The total cost of our meal and the two drinks was around £25, which is reasonable for the quality of the food and the pleasant atmosphere and decor of the pub. Of course you can get cheaper pub meals, but Greyfriars Bobby's Bar offers a little bit more than the standard pub.

I enjoyed my meal at Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, and I liked the bar itself just as much. It was a pleasant place to eat, and somewhere I would be very happy to return to. I'd also like to try other Nicolson's pubs: although they are apparently all different, presumably they are all of a good standard and care has been taken in creating a nice atmosphere.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 15, 2012

Greyfriars Bobby (Bar and Statue)
34A Candlemaker Row
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2QE
+44 131 225 8328

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Nando's

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Restaurant | "Spiced"

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Until my trip to Edinburgh in October this year, I had never been to a Nandos restaurant, despite the fact that the Portuguese chain seems to be everywhere these days. There was one right across the road from the flat my mum and I were staying in, on the corner of George IV Bridge and Chambers Street, and she seemed keen to try it - so on our final evening we decided to give it a go. Having spotted a sign outside advertising that they did takeaway, we phoned in our order and I went to collect it.Although we had made our choices from the online menu, phoning in the order was a bit more complicated than I expected. I had the same feeling that I had the very first time I went to a Subway stor...Read More

Until my trip to Edinburgh in October this year, I had never been to a Nandos restaurant, despite the fact that the Portuguese chain seems to be everywhere these days. There was one right across the road from the flat my mum and I were staying in, on the corner of George IV Bridge and Chambers Street, and she seemed keen to try it - so on our final evening we decided to give it a go. Having spotted a sign outside advertising that they did takeaway, we phoned in our order and I went to collect it.

Although we had made our choices from the online menu, phoning in the order was a bit more complicated than I expected. I had the same feeling that I had the very first time I went to a Subway store - that the staff expect you to know exactly what all the options they offer you are, they don't expect hesitation, they expect you to know what you're doing. Well, I didn't. I knew my mum wanted a plain (i.e. no spice) chicken wrap, but I hadn't realised I would also get a choice of spice levels on my mushroom and halloumi burger. I was also asked questions about the side orders of chips and garlic bread. I felt totally out of touch, and didn't like it. The staff shouldn't assume that everyone knows their order system.

Having haltingly navigated my way through the order, I was almost surprised when I managed to cross the road to collect it without any problems. There were no further complicated questions on collection, and I just had to pay (around £15 in total).

The food was packaged in a paper carrier bag, and each item was wrapped in its own thick bag to keep in the heat. We each had our sandwich/burger, and were sharing chips and garlic bread. I had chosen the medium level of spice for my mushroom and halloumi burger, as there wasn't a low option and I wanted a bit of flavour. I had mistakenly assumed that medium, being the lowest option unless you went for a herb flavouring or nothing at all, wouldn't be overly spicy. I was wrong. I have a reasonable tolerance for spicy foods and do enjoy a spicy curry from time to time, but this was nuts. It was incredibly hot, and I really couldn't believe that this was their medium level. If that was medium, I dread to imagine what hot and very hot are like. Aside from the level of spice, the burger really was very good, the cheese complementing the mushroom perfectly, and there was a really good mayonnaise style sauce on it. The chips were average, nothing to rave about but tasty enough. The garlic bread was good, there is definitely better out there but it was nice. My mum enjoyed her plain chicken wrap, looking a bit smug as I attempted to douse the fire in my mouth with large quantities of juice.

I had never been terribly bothered about trying Nandos, but aside from the surprising level of spice, I really enjoyed my mushroom and halloumi burger and would happily go back. £15 isn't bad for a filling and tasty meal for two.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 19, 2012

Nando's
32A Chambers Street
Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1JB
0131 220 0710

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Red Fort

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Restaurant | "A Fort Full of Food"

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One evening during our trip to Edinburgh, I was in the mood for a curry. My mum wasn't terribly hungry, she was just going to have a small portion from whatever I ordered, so the choice of takeaway and meal was up to me. There was a Nepalese-Indian restaurant and takeaway a few doors along from our rented flat, but having looked at the menu online, nothing appealed. I looked slightly further afield, and found the Red Fort Restaurant & Takeaway located just of Nicolson Street, near the end of Chambers Street. I phoned in my order, and then set off a short while later in the rain to collect it, aiming to be there 20 minutes after I phoned, which is how long they said it would be; the order was ready...Read More

One evening during our trip to Edinburgh, I was in the mood for a curry. My mum wasn't terribly hungry, she was just going to have a small portion from whatever I ordered, so the choice of takeaway and meal was up to me. There was a Nepalese-Indian restaurant and takeaway a few doors along from our rented flat, but having looked at the menu online, nothing appealed. I looked slightly further afield, and found the Red Fort Restaurant & Takeaway located just of Nicolson Street, near the end of Chambers Street. I phoned in my order, and then set off a short while later in the rain to collect it, aiming to be there 20 minutes after I phoned, which is how long they said it would be; the order was ready when I got to the restaurant.

As I didn't sit in the restaurant, I can't comment on the service or atmosphere, but I did have a look around while I paid. The front section seems a bit stark, and the restaurant doesn't feel like it has any separation from the entrance. There is a slightly raised rear section however, which looked more of a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a meal.

I chose a vegetable biryani, a portion of vegetable pakora, and a plain naan bread. Poppadums, sauces and salad were also added to the order by the restaurant, and I have a feeling I paid a bit extra for the poppadums, something which really annoys me when I haven't ordered them. The total cost was £13, which is reasonable given the amount of food we got, but seems a bit above average given that at home we get takeaway for around £14-15 for two meals.

It was just as well my mum hadn't ordered something of her own, as the biryani was huge. Of course Indian takeaways are always very generous in quantity, but this really was huge - a large carton of the vegetable rice along with a large carton of the vegetable curry sauce. It was very good, the vegetables just the right texture, the sauce spicy but not so much as to mask the flavour, and the rice was not dried out. One thing I did miss was the few pieces of cucumber or tomato which are often on the top of the carton of biryani rice - the Red Fort didn't do these. I like the few warm pieces of salad which have softened and absorbed the flavour of the warm rice. We were given a pretty large bag of salad, but that wasn't what I was looking for (those bags of salad always seem a waste to me, does anyone ever eat any of it?).

The naan was a little bit on the tough side, but it was nice and thick which made up for it a bit. I was comparing it to a frankly fantastic naan bread I had had just a couple of weeks before in a restaurant in London though, so by normal standards the Red Fort naan would probably be fine. The pakora however was really very good, quite spicy, oily but not too much, and with a crisp batter and soft inside. The only real disappointment of the meal was what I had assumed were spicy onions in a tub which accompanied the poppadums, a weakness of mine (it runs in the family - my dad, uncle and cousin are also very partial to spicy onions), but it turned out to just be a tub of chopped onions. Nothing wrong with onions, but disappointing if you are expecting spicy onions.

The food was very enjoyable and definitely satisfied my taste for a curry, but the lingering impression was one of quantity. The biryani was an immense size, and even between us (and I have a big appetite) we didn't even manage half of it. I would recommend the Red Fort if you are in the area and looking for a nice Indian meal, but consider sharing a main meal or you'll find yourselves with a huge amount of leftovers.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 19, 2012

Red Fort
10 Drummond Street
Edinburgh, Scotland
0131 558 8014

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Bella Italia

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Restaurant | "Icy Italia"

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Before my mum and I went to Edinburgh in October, we got a free trial from tastecard - this is a restaurant discount scheme which gives you 50% off your bill or 2 for 1 in lots of restaurants in the UK. We thought we might as well try to save some money while still enjoying some nice meals. We chose to visit Bella Italia specifically because it offered a 2 for 1 offer through tastecard.The Bella Italia restaurant that we visited was on Northbridge, in Edinburgh. It was a weeknight we visited, a Wednesday if I remember rightly, and the restaurant was very busy. We had attempted to book a table but there had been no answer when I called several times. We were told there would be a bit of a w...Read More

Before my mum and I went to Edinburgh in October, we got a free trial from tastecard - this is a restaurant discount scheme which gives you 50% off your bill or 2 for 1 in lots of restaurants in the UK. We thought we might as well try to save some money while still enjoying some nice meals. We chose to visit Bella Italia specifically because it offered a 2 for 1 offer through tastecard.

The Bella Italia restaurant that we visited was on Northbridge, in Edinburgh. It was a weeknight we visited, a Wednesday if I remember rightly, and the restaurant was very busy. We had attempted to book a table but there had been no answer when I called several times. We were told there would be a bit of a wait for a table, but we were lucky and were seated within five minutes.

We were shown to a table beside the door, tucked in by the window. One seat had its back to the window, and looked to be sheltered from the door - I indicated to my mum that she should sit there, before she had a chance to realise that the other seat was going to be getting draughts from the door, and that I was taking it to ensure she was comfortable. I was right in thinking it was going to be draughty - every time the door was opened, I got a blast of cold air across me. I tried tucking my jacket around me but it made eating awkward, so I just pulled my chair as far into the table as possible, and therefore into shelter, and put up with it. At one point a group of very inconsiderate people held the door open as they couldn't all fit into the entrance and some were still outside. I made a bit of a pantomime out of putting my coat on, and a waiter asked them to keep the door closed.

This really was the main problem with Bella Italia, and we couldn't even ask for another table as the place was so busy. The food was tasty - my mum had lasagne, and I chose a vegetarian quattro stagioni pizza. My mum's lasagne came on its own, with no sides at all, which made it look rather bare, however she did point out that because there was nothing else to fill up on, she managed to eat almost all of the reasonably generous portion of lasagne. She said it was good, and seemed to be enjoying it. My pizza was very nice - I would have liked more toppings on it, but at least Bella Italia aren't as stingy with their toppings as Pizza Hut are. The base was a little bit on the crispy side, but it was fine.

We decided not to have dessert, as we were planning to get some cakes from the Patisserie Valerie across the road (which I was delighted to introduce my mum to, I've visited many branches in London and didn't realise they were outside London) and our bill came to about £15 after our tastecard discount - before discount it was about £24, and it was the lower price meal which was taken off. We also had drinks, one beer and one soft drink.

Although I found the restaurant itself cold, or at least where I was sitting, the decor itself was quite cosy. There were a lot of pictures on the walls, and bits and pieces on the bar - oddly though it seemed a bit more French than Italian, putting me in mind of Cafe Rouge, although the old posters on the wall were in Italian.

Service in Bella Italia was reasonable. The waiting staff were friendly and as attentive as you could expect given the restaurant was full. I would have appreciated more attempts to keep the door closed than just the once, but at least they spotted that the door was being held open. I also felt one waiter made an inappropriate comment when talking about a homeless person who was outside the restaurant window - the waiter said to a customer that many of the homeless have nice big houses to go home to later. Perhaps he's right, but I don't think it was appropriate for him to say so.

Aside from the fact that it was a bitterly cold night and I kept getting blasted with cold air from the door, our visit to Bella Italia wasn't bad. The menu holds no surprises, and the food isn't spectacular, but it is a reliable and tasty Italian restaurant. They just need to reorganise their seating to keep seats away from the door.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2012

Bella Italia
55 North Bridge
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1
0131 225 2044

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Castlerock View Cafe

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Restaurant | "A Cafe With A View"

Quote:

When in Edinburgh, my mum and I decided to visit the Grassmarket, thinking there were lots of nice little shops there. However when we got there we found it was mainly pubs and restaurants, something which rang a bell from our last visit a few years ago. We wanted to get some lunch, but nothing big - but there were only a few cafes to choose from. One was very crowded so we went to the quieter Castlerock View Cafe.The name is not actually misleading - the cafe does have view up to Edinburgh Castle. The cafe itself is nothing special to look at, inside or out, with fairly basic furniture and decor. The menu is reasonably extensive, but we just chose a vegetable panini and scone to share, al...Read More

When in Edinburgh, my mum and I decided to visit the Grassmarket, thinking there were lots of nice little shops there. However when we got there we found it was mainly pubs and restaurants, something which rang a bell from our last visit a few years ago. We wanted to get some lunch, but nothing big - but there were only a few cafes to choose from. One was very crowded so we went to the quieter Castlerock View Cafe.

The name is not actually misleading - the cafe does have view up to Edinburgh Castle. The cafe itself is nothing special to look at, inside or out, with fairly basic furniture and decor. The menu is reasonably extensive, but we just chose a vegetable panini and scone to share, along with tea and coffee. The total cost was around £11.

The staff, it has to be said, seemed rather uninterested in their customer. Our order was taken by a bored-seeming guy, and they were chatting among themselves behind the counter most of the time we were there. They weren't rude or slow though, so I can't really fault the service.

The vegetable panini wasn't anything special, but it was fine. It was obviously toasted, but the vegetable filling wasn't very warm, and the roasted mediterranean vegetables were a bit on the slimy side. It was fine though, but the main problem was the side salad, which seemed to be half water - I had to balance the panini on the edge of the plate to stop it getting soggy. As for the scone, we weren't offered a choice of the type - and this combined with the fact that the menu just said "scone" made us expect a plain one. We got a cherry scone, something neither of us would have chosen - but we don't like to cause a fuss so we just ate it. My tea was fine, just regular tea which I'm happy with, but my mum did enjoy her coffee, she said it was very good.

While looking online to double check I had the name of this cafe right for writing this review, I found some other reviews raising concerns that the Castlerock View Cafe had been in trouble for having poor hygiene and cleanliness standards, as well as some poor staff habits that reviewers had witnessed. I did not see anything like this while I was there, but knowing that a number of others have is a concern.

Overall, the Castlerock View Cafe wasn't great, although it wasn't terrible. If I'm back in the area I'd definitely try somewhere else instead, because I'm sure there are better cafes nearby, particular given others comments on the hygiene standards.
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Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 25, 2012

Castlerock View Cafe
21 Grassmarket
Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2HS

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