3.5 Star Restaurant and Takeaway Reviews
Browsing the newest of 243 3.5 star reviews on EdinburghMenus.com.
Blonde
75 St Leonard's Street, EH8 9QR, Edinburgh
from Ann (18%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
I visited this restaurant with my daughter and adult grandchildren for an evening meal midweek. We did book beforehand which was a good thing as the restaurant was busy when we arrived at 7.30 (a good sign).
We were shown to our table straight away and the menus were already on the table. The choice of starters was excellent but we decided to forego these and order the main meal.
The choice was excellent - venison, chicken, steak, lamb shank and a good selection of vegetarian meals also. The dishes were accompanied by a good selection of vegetables both fresh and stir fried and the food was hot, which is always an excellent advantage!
We chose desserts which were again a good variety. The ever-popular banoffee pie, creme brulee and a very good poached pear with brandy baskets and ice-cream. There was also cheese. A good selection of various coffees ended the meal (unfortunately, no mints with the coffee!).
The wine list was adequate and we chose a white Pinot Grigio at about £12.
Service was good. Attentive with perhaps a slight wait for the main course.
All in all, I would certainly recommend this restaurant. Perhaps the tables were a little crowded together, but being a small restaurant this perhaps adds to the friendly atmosphere.
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Browns
131-133 George Street, EH2 4JS, Edinburgh
from pafc (47%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
I like Browns and have enjoyed all the meals and drinks that I have had there. I have been three times so I guess I like it! You don't have to book which is a bonus, they serve crisp Italian beer and the staff and food are both wholesome and filling. Good robust meat dishes such as Venison with rich sauce dominate a menu that may appeal to carnivores more than those of the vegetarian persuasion. I feel that the menu leans towards warming wintery dishes with desserts such as sticky toffee pudding rather than lite bites for the summer.
Reasonably priced and thanks to it's no booking policy generally alive with a dull roar of conversation.
(+2) (+1) (0)
Pizza Hut
Fountainpark (Unit 2), EH11 1AF, Edinburgh
from pafc (47%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
I didn't realise you could have thin and crispy pizzas at pizza hut but you can. We came here after bowling on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was almost completely empty, this did not affect the meal, the staff were very attentive and did not look as bored or fed up as perhaps I would have done if somebody had prolonged my shift by an extra hour - the aforementioned pizza was very good - and very reasonable, if I felt peckish after a hard bowl I would most certainly go again.
(0) (0) (0)
The Mussel and Steak Bar
110 West Bow, EH1 2HH, Edinburgh
from pafc (47%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
I have eaten here on three mid-week occasions and enjoyed each one. The restaurant is very cosy and reminded me of what someone's house would feel like if they opened it to the public and served food. I must confess that I have not yet tried the mussels opting for soup, steak and various other seafood dishes. The quality of the food is high and would suit a range of palattes as they offer healthy through to more luxurious dishes (you can choose what your chips are fried in for instance - when I went every boy had beef dripping every girl sunflower oil!) the staff are very welcoming and friendly and provide you with bread and butter and a drink with great alacrity. The price of this establishment is the only thing preventing me from giving it four stars as I seem to remember it was quite expensive (£15ish for main course) - perhaps a product of it's situation in the touristy Grassmarket - although having said that I would definitely go back.
(+2) (+1) (0)
Gennaro
64 Grassmarket, EH1 2JR, Edinburgh
from pafc (47%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
When I ate at Gennaro's I had been working in Edinburgh for about three months - staying in the Apex Hotel on the Grassmarket during the week and going home at weekends, as such I had tried a number of places in the local area and almost got used to dining alone and trying to read the paper while eating without looking too stupid. Gennaro's is a traditional Italian restaurant serving pasta, pizza and steaks/veal which also affords the diner the option of having a half portion of any of the pasta dishes as a starter. I began with pasta with mascapone and tomato sauce and followed this with a rare steak and a glass of wine. The steak really was rare but to my liking and the pasta reasonable although the sauce could have been thicker and more intense of flavour. The service was very good and although I was sitting at a table on my own I did not feel too weird; it looks like Gennaro's has a degree of local trade as some diners were obviously known to the staff and enjoyed some banter with them. Overall not bad at all - about £23 for starter, main, bottle of Peroni and glass of red wine.
(+2) (0) (0)
Gusto
135 George Street, EH2 4JS, Edinburgh
from jwjlewis (77%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
Note: This business has rebranded since this review was written
I had a pleasant, if brief, visit to this restaurant.
Having just seen a show at the Assembly Rooms, my friend and I opted to dine somewhere nearby. We headed for Est Est Est on George Street. When we walked in we were greeted in a friendly manner, but one could not help noticing that the maitre d' was programmed to be very efficient. She may as well have had a blue tooth headset tucked behind her ear and a PDA in her pocket.
We sat down and were given menus - the selection was just what you would expect from this sort of restaurant; varied, but nothing special. As we were handed our menus our drinks orders were taken - very efficient! After a perfectly timed interlude, when we were meant to be perusing the menu (do you think they've consumer tested the menus for average time taken to read?), the waiter came up to us and said (in rapid fire, Italian voice),"any deserts or coffees? Oh sorry, would you like to order". I feel my point is made.
Anyway, the food took the correct amount of time to arrive and my pizza was pretty tasty. When we asked for the bill, they handed it to us within seconds - help!
We paid and walked out and the bar staff were all smiles - Stepford ain't got nothin'!
Perhaps I overstate the efficiency somewhat, but as another reviewer mentions, the staff are assigned an area and they are obviously signed an optimally sized area (for efficiency, rather than personal contact).
Would I recommend this place? Yes, if you want what you expect and if you are in a hurry. No, if you want a fun evening out with friends or partners.
(0) (0) (0)
Browns
131-133 George Street, EH2 4JS, Edinburgh
from clarindavine (64%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
DEPENDABLE: THE VOLVO OF EDINBURGH RESTAURANTS
Browns like the reviewer above highlights offers a good standard of food at reasonable prices. I have eaten at this Browns several times in both small and large groups and both the food and service has been of a consistently high standard.
Browns being a chain is never going to be at the cutting edge of cuisine, but what you are guaranteed is that your food will be tasty and that there will be something on the menu to please everyone in your group. It is a fail safe option for entertaining picky relatives and friends alike.
The large dining area and mass of hard surfaces does tend to make it noisy, so it is perhaps not the most conducive location for an intimate date. Although, the one definite plus it has over many other restaurants is that there is a no reservation system, which is blessing if you have left it too late to get in elsewhere!
The bar is reasonably priced and the bathroom facilities are clean and large.
(+2) (+2) (+1)
New York Steam Packet
31 Rose Street Lane North, EH2 2NP, Edinburgh
from clarindavine (64%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
I totally agree with Andy's review above, the set menu is really good value but the restaurant is very small so you would need to book in advance. It is also up a very narrow spirally type staircase which is not ideal for those not fully mobile or fully sober!
I enjoyed the food and it was certainly good value, the menu is not very varied - just a few dishes, but for about £15 per head for 2 courses who is complaining & surely everyone likes steak. Although be warned, unlike most places who seem to find judging when a steak is cooked difficult, my boyfriend asked for his rare and it was so rare it was almost still a cow - it is the first time I have known him order rare and send it back to be cooked for longer!
(+3) (+2) (0)
Starbucks
106 George Street, EH2 4LJ, Edinburgh
from clarindavine (64%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
Yes, I know what you are thinking...a Starbucks is a Starbucks and yes I mostly agree. However, living round the corner from this one and frequenting it at mostly peak times I feel a little praise should be given to the staff.
This must be one of the busiest branches in the city and yet the staff are always in my experience patient and polite. For example, I heard one American tourist ask for a double skinny cino with a syrup shot that didn't have too much foam, but don't make it flat, and make it cool enough to drink straight away but keep it hot not warm! Amazingly, the girl didn't groan but did this all with a smile. Well done George Street Starbucks I say, you get worse service elsewhere when paying a lot more!
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Native State
32-34 Potterrow, EH8 9BT, Edinburgh
from irishphat (80%) on August 28th, 2007 (1 year ago)
Eaten here a couple of times - once in a big group, once on my own while I waited for someone. Enjoyed it both times. Good grub, great fish and chips and friendly service. Never mobbed and seemingly never completely empty. I'll go again. Prices are good and the desserts are lovely.
They often have all the event guides in there as well - it's quite student friendly. Probably more bar than restaurant.
(+1) (+1) (0)
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