Edinburgh
Mark Greenaway

Mark Greenaway

69 North Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3LJ, United Kingdom

Wine • French • Drinks • British


"This could only ever have been 5 stars! After the much publicised closure of Mark Greenaways restaurant at Piccardy Place we all waited with baited breath to find out where he was heading to. From his words at the Foodies Christmas Fair to his updates on twitter he was giving nothing away. So clandestine was this becoming that a head chef from another restaurants comment on twitter that he looked forward to having Mark as a neighbour lead to the rumour he was off to the Royal Mile. Then, just two weeks ago, he announced his new location as 67 North Castle Street the site of a former Italian Restaurant and once upon a time an RBS branch. I was delighted to have a reason for booking for opening weekend, as Stephs parents are in town for their birthday weekend and we couldn't think of anywhere we would rather take them. So roughly 3 minutes after the announcement of the new restaurant was made I had my reservation request sent. Roll on two weeks and last night was the night I've been waiting for, all the more eagerly after such positive comments from those who attended the launch party and Yelpers Jackie.G and Claire.L who were there for opening night. The first thing that strikes you upon entering in that all of the staff have stayed with Mark, infant he confirmed later he didn't lose any of his staff despite being closed for 7 weeks. Once seated you soon see that Mark and his team have been able to recreate the wonderful ambiance the had at Piccardy Place. To the menu and from the à la carte it was good to see he has kept the favourites while also introducing something new to lift the menu further. Once we had ordered, the sommelier Loic who we have gotten to know was kind enough to show us his new wine vault, with this having been an RBS the original vault in the basement remains. Given how little time they have has to prepare its amazing how much they have achieved. The wood work and the style they have given this room is really impressive. Loic explained that they intend to further develop the vault and diner will be able to select their wines with an illustrated world map on the wall providing further details. Loic will also be on hand advising and giving diners tasting samples of suggested pairing wines. As soon as we sat down we were presented with our amuse bouchée, as espuma on f shallots. Can't such much about this other than it was delicious. Slight sweetness with earthy undertones it was a great way to start our meal. For my starter I chose the pave of pigs cheek, served with warm apple jelly, apple purée a flavoured meringue, the pave is wrapped in beetroot carpaccio. This is a dish which has gone through a few developments since I first had it at the Great British Menu party and its only gotten better. The balance of the deep flavour of the cheek with apple and beetroot is superb. It's a dish I would happily order again and again. For my main I went for the tasting of lamb. Succulent tender lamb, deep jus, aromatic rosemary, buttery mash and earthy brussel sprouts.......delicious! The lamb came three ways, a loin chop, a piece of filet and some leg. The flavour of the lamb was just incredible, the seasoning brought out the taste as much as Amy producer could hope for. To finish I decided to revisit a favourite of mine the broken citrus tarte. This dish simply put is a work of art in appearance and just as tasty. The zing of the parfait is beautifully matched by the coconut, watermelon cubes clean the palate and the pistachio purée adds another dimension when combined. After dinner Loic was also kind enough to take me back to the vault and give me a sample of the most incredible muscat I have ever tasted, larger quantities will be required when my dry January has finished. All in all the meal was superb, Stephs parents were delighted and then even more so when they had a good ten minute chat with the man himself Mr Greenaway. Mark is such a friendly guy and willingness to chat to customers at the end of a service does him great credit. With the excitement that has surrounded this opening I can say the product more than lives up the hype. Undoubtedly they have a lot of work to do but with Marks inventive cooking and the team he has around him I am confident this new venture will be a massive success. Restaurant Mark Greenaway comes highly JD Recommended!"

Chop House Leith

Chop House Leith

102 Constitution Street Edinburgh, EH6 6AW, United Kingdom

Meat • Steak • British • Bar-lounge


"I've been wanting to try Chop House since I first noticed it during one of my early morning runs down to the shore. Thankfully after many more runs passing the restaurant I finally made it there for dinner! We went for a 6pm reservation (that I booked a month in advance so definitely book! and were seated at a cost table in the corner. I was a bit surprised to see how small the dining area actually was which explains why they are always booked up! I'm not sure if it's the design of the restaurant at fault or we were just in on a really noisy night but it was quite loud. So maybe not the best for a cosy romantic date if that's the regular noise level. The menu is pretty concise focusing on their steak offerings but I did note a few other mains if steak isn't your thing. We went for some pre dinner cocktails- I had the sweet street swizzle which was super tasty and I'd recommend it! For starters we shared prawn tempura and seared scallops, I liked that you could order these in numbers so you didn't get full from a big starter before your meal. We also had the granary bread with bone marrow butter that was really tasty and fresh. The prawns and scallops were also really good with the scallops being seared in a really tasty garlic butter. For mains I had the sirloin steak and my boyfriend had the rib eye. We shared a side of macaroni cheese, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes with gravy. The steaks were cooked really well and my spicy chimmichurri sauce worked really perfectly with it although my boyfriends blue cheese sauce was also seriously good. The macaroni cheese was super cheesy and thankfully not soggy which I hate. The mash and asparagus were both really nice but I may try different sides next time. For pudding I squeezed in a scoop of marshmallow ice cream that was good but I probably should have gone for the salted caramel.... Overall though I was really impressed with Chop House. The food was fresh, well cooked, and made a really enjoyable meal. A star off for the super loud atmosphere and also wrong charges on our bill which I had to ask the waitress to correct. That aside this place was worth the wait and the money! Looking forward to going back already!"

Rustom

Rustom

2 Grosvenor Street, EH12 5EG, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Asian • Indian • Pakistani • Vegetarian


"We recently dined at Rustam Restaurant, and it was a delightful experience that I highly recommend to anyone who loves authentic Indian cuisine. Ambiance: Rustam Restaurant boasts a charming interior with a blend of traditional Indian decor and modern comfort. The warm lighting and tasteful decor create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. It’s an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or a fun night out with friends and family. Service: The service at Rustam Restaurant was exceptional. The staff were courteous, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu. They provided excellent recommendations and made sure we were comfortable throughout our meal. Food: The food at Rustam Restaurant was the highlight of our evening. We began with a mixed appetizer platter that included samosas, pakoras, and paneer tikka. Each item was bursting with flavor and perfectly spiced. For the main course, we enjoyed the chicken tikka masala and lamb biryani. The chicken tikka masala had a rich, creamy sauce with tender chicken pieces that were cooked to perfection. The lamb biryani was fragrant and flavorful, with each grain of rice perfectly cooked and infused with spices. We also tried the dal makhani, which was smooth, creamy, and wonderfully spiced, and the garlic naan, which was freshly baked and wonderfully soft. Dessert: For dessert, we had the classic gulab jamun and the saffron-infused rasmalai. The gulab jamun was soft and syrupy, just the way it should be, and the rasmalai was light and delicately flavored, providing a perfect end to our meal. Overall: Rustam Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with delicious, authentic Indian food and top-notch service. Whether you are a fan of Indian cuisine or new to it, Rustam Restaurant is sure to impress. I highly recommend this restaurant for its outstanding food, excellent service, and warm, inviting atmosphere."