I’ve been once. Was fine, I don’t think I’d bother going back though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
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I’ve been once. Was fine, I don’t think I’d bother going back though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Had a takeaway from Slumdog at he weekend. Really good, pretty expensive compared to our normal , Abida, but food was definitely better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
I think at least one of the Corstorphine Indians will close, I dont see how there can be enough business for all of them
See another one opened within the last month, Dangal. Opened in the shop that used to be Cafe Rosa.Quote:
Originally Posted by mvteng
I was there a few months ago, can’t remember if I posted about it on here. It was pleasant enough, and I would go back though it wouldn’t be high, high priority - but that’s as much to do with the sheer amount of choice in Edinburgh as anything else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Food was good and the service was friendly. We had the tasting menu with matched drinks and the variation at Taisteal was that it wasn’t all wines. Struggling to remember what they were but there was at least one beer and a cocktail IIRC.
Not tried it yet. Just dont understand how they can all survive in such a small areaQuote:
Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales
I know 3 or 4 folk that live in Corstorphine sort of area and to be honest they seem to be fuelled by Indian food :greengrin.Quote:
Originally Posted by mvteng
We all signed an agreement when we moved to Corstorphine to consume at least two Indian meals a week. I’ve honoured that agreement for 27 years 😁Quote:
Originally Posted by mvteng
My new burd lives in Corstorphine. We are going to do an East to West Corstorphine Indian trail. Started last week at Eastern Pavilion. Not sure which is the next one along. We’re doing the same with the Corstorphine Chinese places too but West to East.Quote:
Originally Posted by calumhibee1
Edit: obviously not all in the one evening... I’m fat but not that fat!
Next Indian along is St Johns Curry ClubQuote:
Originally Posted by overdrive
Only if you miss out "curry night" at the White Lady,,,,Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
**Joking, obviously**
Starting at the best one (Chinese Manor House) and ending at the worst (Cool Jade)
Cool Jade opposite the Zoo gets very good reviews from everyone I have spoken to yet my one visit was a big disappointment.Quote:
Originally Posted by easty
It’s actually my favouriteQuote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
The fried rice at the Manor House is always soggy
Same for me. I’d heard good things. The food was so bland. I didn’t think anything we ordered was good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Wouldn’t go back.
Went to Franco Manca tonight at St Andrews Square for pizza.
6/10, wasn't up to much IMO.
Tried the Cavaliere in Dalkieth this evening.
Quite a nice Italian I thought. Haggis arincini was something a bit different but very tasty. 2 courses for £15 isn't bad value either. :aok:
Kismot Indian and Bangladeshi food at St Leonards. Was there last weekend - again - and as always the food was excellent. Family run and never a fail in many visits.
At Queens Spice in South Queensferry tonight, had a fantastic night, food was excellent. The restaurant itself looks a bit tired but food was top notch.
Trying El Cartel at Teviot tomorrow.
Best Taco's in toon. Jalapeno Poppers are also superbQuote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
It's excellent. Try the ox tongue tacos, they are unbelievably good.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
I'm sure the menus/food will be the exact same but I prefer the sister establishment over at Thistle Street.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
Apart from the excellent soft tacos, they're worth the visit just for the frozen Margheritas and the extensive list of tequila!
We chose Teviot because you can book a table. How easy is it getting a seat at the Thistle one?Quote:
Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales
Whenever we've went we always get one within half an hour, usually just leave my mobile number and go around to the Queen's Arms for pre-meal pint 🙄Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
Both are busy places and testament to the quality of the food. I love just ordering a dish at a time, pseudo Mexican tapas. My only gripe would be, I wish their menus had a few more options on them.
Tried Bodega on Leith Walk on Friday night. My first time since they moved back to Leith Walk (went a few times to their previous Leith walk location).
It’s BYOB for wine. We started with classic margaritas which were very good. Had the guacamole and black bean dip to start. Ordering both was a mistake. The guacamole was good but nothing special. The black bean dip was amazing. I’d just order the black bean dip between the two of us in future. It slightly irked us that they brought the chips for both then when they realised we had ordered both, immediately took one of the chips away and said we could ask for more if needed... we’re paying for both, so we should get both!
We then shared the cod, chicken, tempura prawn and carnitas tacos. The prawn one was a bit bland. The others were excellent.
All-in-all it was really good. It was perhaps too much food, though. My girlfriend was full so I ended up with both the carnitas tacos. I don’t mind that... I rarely get full.
Educated Flea for lunch yesterday. Very pleasant meal and excellent value.
I’ve been hunners of times (three times this month :greengrin) to El Cartel. Too late now but the special they had on this weekend - ribs barbacoa - was outstanding. As is the pork and the cod. The only one I ever feel disappointed by is the steak.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
It's funny how people like different things as I quite enjoyed the steak one. The special was a chorizo one which was tasty. We tried 7 different dishes between 4 of us and we were all well fed. I found the cod a bit dry personally.Quote:
Originally Posted by calumhibee1
Very enjoyable meal though.
New Spanish restaurant coming to Corstorphine soon in the site of Peach Garden/Imperial Empire Chinese, a welcome addition to the already busy restaurant scene.
So is the Chinese closing?Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Already ceased trading I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Been there for a very long time. Was the Wong family who owned the Great Wall, who owned the premises I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Went with my mum and wife to the Fishmarket on Tuesday. They’ve both wanted to go for a while, but I don’t eat fish!!!
They both had Fish and Chips which the loved
I had the Chicken Goujons, which were lovely too, but I find that £14 for 5 Goujons and Chips is really expensive
Went to El Cartel last night. Didn't see any specials though? :confused:
Had cod and pork tacos which were really good, but the duck leg taco they had was my favourite, sensational.
Also shared the wings, jalapeno poppers, guacamole, and quasadilas which were all good.
A margarita and a Mexican beer (Pacifico - really nice) to wash it all down.
The specials are usually up on a chalk board (the one with the frozen margaritas on it), you don’t get given a specials menu. They may have just not had any on the board though.Quote:
Originally Posted by danhibees1875
We continued our Corstorphine curry trail last night with a visit to the St John’s Curry Club which is my girlfriend’s favourite. It didn’t start off well as they hadn’t recorded my girlfriend’s booking and it was full. They dealt with it well. We went next door to the White Lady for a cheap drink for half an hour.
Strangely, it was the exact same menu as one of my favourite Indian restaurants, Intouch on Ferry Road. When queried they gave a strange answer that the families are “similar”.
Anyway, the food was excellent. We got the poppadoms on the house for the mixup with the booking. Baby aubergine pakora and chicken pakora were good and a good portion. Karnataka Khum Chicken and Bengali Green Chicken for mains are they were top notch.
Much preferred this to the Eastern Pavilion (booking mixup aside).
'Indian' restaurants in Edinburgh are primarily run by Bangladeshis and, less often, Pakistanis. The Bangladeshis all have loads of family connections and quite often flip ownership of the restaurants to each other. In Touch and St John's will almost certainly fall into that group.Quote:
Originally Posted by overdrive
Used to work beside one of the owners of In Touch, really nice guy but always felt it was a bit strange he did a mon-fri 9-5 job then went to the restaurant at night. Was always a bit suspicious if he was really the owner but he drove a car he certainly couldn’t have had on the credit controller job he was doing beside me. Went once or twice and he seemed to be pretty legitimate so think it was more of a family ownership than him actually owning it himself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Anyway, he was saying it was his family also had the Britannia spice at ocean terminal but there had been a fall out in the family and was quite complicated.
Staying in Glenelg this week so trip to the Glenelg Inn tonight. Venison Sunday roast was superb with sticky toffee pud to follow.
Well the Britannia Spice has got everybody talking 😂
Saw that earlier, what a mess! I'm all for businesses defending themselves but they went too far with it, IMHO and that in itself would put me off using them.Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
It’s just down the road from me so been in a few times with the missus - food was decent enough but zero atmosphere as both occasions we were the only people in. Also drive by it on my way home from work and I’d have thought they’d have been grateful for the custom, considering the size of it and it looks constantly dead.Quote:
Originally Posted by matty_f
The manager has came out of this looking worse than the customer, almost as if he thinks he’s above Groupon customers. I’ll not be back.
The first time we went is also our last as the place was dead, two tables occupied and no atmosphere. Food was okay nothing special.Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
Not been for ages but always enjoyed the food.
Was at Mother India last night. In Infirmary Street. First time.
Thought it was really good food served in smaller, tapas type dishes. Enabled us to have lots of different tastes at our table. Nice, informal atmosphere. Place was packed. Really good value too.
Went to Hawksmoor again on Saturday. Between 1 and 3, 5 and 7 and after 9pm on a sat they do an express menu - 2 courses for £22 or 3 for £25. Had rump and chips and a sticky toffee pudding sundae. Was immense.
Think they also do that menu from 12-7 every other day or the week.
Was in Tattu on Friday afternoon for some lunch. The cocktails were really good, and I was impressed with the food. I’ll definitely go back soon.
Friday night was in The Scran & Scallie, been there a few times and it’s always great. Finally tried the steak pie which I’ve seen others have before, it was as amazing as it looks.
Going to The Witchery tonight, never been before but the menu looks class.
Coming up for two nights at the end of the month to coincide with the Kilmarnock game.
As my other half was expecting to only be spending £50 all in for a Groupon dinner and B&B package in North Wales rather than the £110+ it has cost for trains and hotels, we'll be on the lookout for somewhere with a decent evening meal deal for the Friday evening if anyone has any recommendations? Seen a Groupon at The Rosehip for £25 for steak and chips for two which seems reasonable enough if anyone has visited there?
Saturday, of course, will largely be consisting of Tennent's and chips with salt and sauce so no worries on that front :greengrin
Went to German Doner Kebab for lunch today on Lothian Road. Fully opened on Monday. Lovely kebab
AgreeQuote:
Originally Posted by GreenNWhiteArmy
I’ve been to the one down in London and really enjoyed it.
Been to one just of Piccadilly Circus a couple of times - it's a fabulous place! Steaks are immense, and their wine selection enviable.Quote:
Originally Posted by calumhibee1
Trying Fazenda on Friday.
Heard nothing but good things.
Go and buy a jean size up, it’s unreal.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
Don’t go nuts when they offer you the salad bar at the start - keep plenty space for the good stuff coming round.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
It's excellent.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
I was a bit concerned it would be all style over substance but it's not. I'd echo what is said above about the salad bar. Some of the stuff on it is amazing so there's a temptation to go overboard. I think it's very deliberate that they encourage you to go there first.
I'm not overly keen on beef but it was fine. The gammon and lamb were my personal favourites.
I'm there tomorrow night too......first time.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
I tell myself the salad bar is a trick before every visit and it always ends the same way: a little rice, a few potatoes, some black beans, guacamole... :rolleyes: it just all looks (and is) so good!
Happily made it round their full selection last time, with 2 or 3 tries of some of my favourites though. :greengrin
Went to New Chapter down Canonmills for dinner last night. Was very very good. Food and service were great.
Take a torch! Last time i was there lighting was so dim we couldnt read the menu. First class nosh tho 👍😁Quote:
Originally Posted by easty
Might be too late in telling you this but Vittoria are selling gift vouchers for all their restaurants with 40% off if you're looking for somewhere cheapQuote:
Originally Posted by LancashireHibby
https://vouchers.giftvouchersolution...ved_COPY_01%29
:aok:
I was at the original Mother India on Sauchiehall St a few weeks ago. Awesome. Dare I say it but the Weege seems blessed with better curries than the capital?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibby Bairn
Cheers mate, shame to have missed out on that - ended up going with the Groupon at The Rosehip. Food was REALLY good. Other half loved her lamb shank (ooh err) and my rib eye was absolutely superb. Service was abysmal though, too much time stood chatting to each other and not enough taking note of customers. Plates collected 20 minutes after we finished our mains, no how was your food etc. Half an hour later and still waiting to be shown dessert menus or asked if we wanted a drink etc so took matters in to our own hands and managed to pinch a dessert menu from elsewhere. Banoffee pie and sticky toffee pudding both outstanding. Such a shame the kitchen are let down by front of house staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by calumhibee1
Offer still available today if you're interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by LancashireHibby
Gone off Vittorias recently but that’s a pretty good deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
That sounded a good idea until 5pm. It’s now become a Tennent’s and chippy kind of night!Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Off to Grazing by Mark Greenaway for Sunday Lunch this weekend. Heard good things :agree:
Any good?Quote:
Originally Posted by MagicSwirlingShip
This coming Sunday SH! Will be sure to post up on Monday and let ye ken :agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Pet hate of mine, poor staff, on the flip side one of the things that can make a night out is good service and both determine the tip or lack of.Quote:
Originally Posted by LancashireHibby
o/t - I am shocked and stunned to see the Caley is now Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh (the Caledonian). When did that happen? I had a summer job in the bit that's Grazing when it was "the Gazebo". Tidying up the sweet trolley was always good. :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by MagicSwirlingShip
It’s been the Waldorf since 2011.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens
I’m keeping up as well as ever, then. :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
It will always be the Caley regardless of the name above the door.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens
Yup.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Was at Chef Chi in Portobello last night. Heard a lot of good things about it so decided to try it. All round excellent. Having been battered by the wind and rain walking to it, received a very warm and friendly welcome.
Perusing the menu suggested nothing out of the ordinary, but when the food came it was excellent. Very reasonable prices, just over £50 for two of us, 2 courses and 4 beers - and that included the person I was with having one of the dearest mains on the menu! Does takeaways as well, so will definitely be back
It’s funny you say that and I agree it will always be the Caley to me as well. Tourists however don’t know that and they will always call it by whatever it’s called now, this causes problems in the taxi. So many hotels have changed hands recently or fairly recently. The Caley is now the Waldorf, the Royal Terrace is now the Crown plaza, the George is now the Principal, the Roxburgh is now the Kimpton having briefly also been the Crown Plaza and the Carlton is now the Hilton. It’s an absolute minefield :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
The thing is locals will still use the old names.
This post blows my mind. I grew up in Edinburgh, moved away in my thirties but am regularly back. sometimes to ER and more often for a treat eat out, TBH. I knew the Caley was Waldorf/Galvins whatever but had no idea about the others.Quote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
I guess you expect restaurants to turn over on a regular basis but assume the hotels stay relatively constant.
The hotels were always pretty constant until recently. Even if they changed hands the name stayed the same, but recently so many of the big chains have moved in. They don’t necessarily change the name, but they change the branding and they then become known to tourists as whatever that chain may be. When I first started doing the taxis there was one Hilton in Edinburgh, now there’s loads, it’s the same with Marriott. Don’t start me on the budget hotels which are everywhere and they all have ridiculous names. The Premier Inn central is in Lauriston Place despite the fact that there’s two others much more central.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
I can imagine :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
The website identifications for the locations for the chains don’t stand up to much logic, agree with that.
Just to confuse you further Galvins are no longer at the Caley, Mark Greenaway has taken over the bistro on Rutland Street and it’s now called Grazing. The Pompadour is now back in the hands of the hotel and no longer run by Galvins.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
I never thought of so many name changes until you pointed them out, I didn’t even know the Kimpton at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Hotel restaurants are a funny lot. They open to great publicity then fade into nothing eg Galvin nonsense. If I were them, I would be deeply shamefaced
to have my name on this but I guess it is not a priority for them.
Never eat in hotel restaurants I was told when younger and I think that is still true especially in a city like Edinburgh.
I got married last year at this hotel. When we first viewed it it was the Roxborough, when we got married there it had changed to the principal then when we went back for our complimentary one year anniversary stay it was the Kimpton!Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
I think the North British has finally become the Balmoral even to locals.Quote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
Yes, but the Dragonara is still the Dragonara, at least to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Princess Diana stayed there in 1982 or 1983.
I understand it was quite a celebrity haunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by pollution
In fairness, I never went there when it was the Drag. I first started going with my mates circa fifth year at high school, so we were just underage but not by much. The mum of one of my best friends at the time had worked there when it was the Drag, so we referred to it as that, though I think it might have become a Hilton by then or was something else and then became a Hilton.
Abiding memory was there were a couple of students who worked in the bar. They were in a relationship. He was a really nice guy and one time, when we had run out of money, gave us a lift up to Haymarket to go to a cash machine and come back to keep drinking. His girlfriend was gorgeous and we were just in awe of her!
They liked our music choices so they used to just open up the jukebox and give us free credits.
Glory days :greengrin
Was that the Belford Road hotel?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Yeah, down on the Water of Leith. Think it burned down at one point but was rebuilt. It was definitely the Dragonara and later a Hilton, but I think it might have been something else in between, which frustrates me because that’s probably when I was drinking there! It’s not a Hilton anymore, think it is Britannia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
When it opened it was a beautiful hotel, used to have a pianist on a Saturday night.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Used to go the pub underneath it was called the Granary, and it was always busy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
I was a porter there in the summer that it opened.
The Granary was good but was constantly damp. The river flooded frequently.
Aah, the Granary, that’s what the bar was called. The memories are flooding back now, cheers :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
When I moved here in 92 pretty sure I knew it as the MenziesQuote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Yes it was the Belford Menzies, I’m pretty sure it then became a travelodge before becoming the Britannia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Really enjoyed that. Delicious Sunday roast. Would highly recommend
👍Quote:
Originally Posted by MagicSwirlingShip
I wonder why no major group has looked at this hotel and grounds. In a beautiful part of Edinburgh, right on the water of leithQuote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Wouldn’t be surprised if property developers were looking at it
Used to go loads in the 80’s
They don’t come much bigger than Hilton.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
My favourite was the first time a tourist asked me to take them to "Leonardo Murrayfield"Quote:
Originally Posted by lord bunberry
When was the top of Clermiston road ever considered Murrayfield :hilarious
Sorry thought it was a Britannia?Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee