Sweet Melindas
Monday 7 November 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
This is our second visit to Sweet Melinda's and it wasn't a disappointment. The atmosphere there is very homely, it feels almost as if you're in someone's home. The service is friendly and very personable, it's a lovely place to eat out and spend an evening.
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La Font del Gall - Pollensa
Friday 7 October 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
Although we only stopped in for a small lunch and a coffee we were still impressed. Located in a side street adjacent to the magnificent Calvari Steps in the center of Pollensa, it provides a wonderfully authentic feel as we were seated outside in a narrow side street looking towards a chapel at one end, and a small square at the other. This cafe and restaurant provides a Fresh contemporary cuisine with a Scottish twist.
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Howies - Bruntsfield, Edinburgh
Saturday 10 September 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
Recently, and bear with me on this one, I upgraded my Bank account to a special account that gives you a bunch of freebies and helpful phone and Internet services, one of these is for eating out and getting a nice 25% off your bill!
Thanks very much we thought and decided to book Howies in Bruntsfield, a very atmospheric restaurant in a lovely building and location. I had expected that the experience would be dampened by the 25% off deal, as we would get lesser a table or service.
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The Balmoral Bar - Ballater
Sunday 7 August 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
While visiting the parents in Portlethen for the weekend we decided to take a little drive, since we were taking the S2k we weren't really going to be stopping and walking anywhere, so we decided on a nice drive out to Ballater. Once there we fancied some simple pub grub and spotted the Balmoral Bar.
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Patio - Edinburgh
Friday 10 June 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (8)
When my friend and I ventured out for a few drinks one evening our hunger took the better of us and we decided we really needed something filling, since we were walking down Hanover Street at the time, Italian it was. That, for those of you who don't know, is because there are masses of them in one street. He chose the Patio, and I followed on.
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Urban Angel - Edinburgh
Wednesday 11 May 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
Walking into Urban Angel you could be forgiven for thinking it's just a coffee shop, and indeed on a few occasions I've walked by I've doone just that. Except that's a shame, because you'll be missing out on some good food, atmosphere, no smoking and Prosecco!
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Marshalls - Edinburgh
Wednesday 11 May 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
Lunchtimes at work can be difficult, finding the time just for your lunch hour is hard enough (at least in my job) and making something appetising in the mornings can either be too much to cope with or just too time consuming. So finding something quick, tasty in a healthy portion and not pretentious enough to break your wallet and in the short time you have can be quite a hassle. Another hassle you could probably do without during the day.
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Thai Lemongrass - Edinburgh
Tuesday 3 May 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
As soon as you walk into this restaurant you know you are in for an authentic meal. The staff are dressed in Thai clothing and bow gently with their hands clasped to greet you. The decor is warm and inviting, with nice wooden tables and uplighters embedded in the floor. The settings are bamboo style mats and each table has a small bowl of Thai crackers awaiting you before your appetiser. It all spelled out the perfect atmosphere for a lovely Thai meal.
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Caffé Luccano - Edinburgh
Monday 18 April 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (1)
Once we'd left Monster Mash without pudding on Pablo's recommendation, we decided to try out Caffé Luccano, and Pablo kindly offered to buy us some coffee and cakes. Good man, good choice.
It appears family run, and very busy, we stood and waited for a table - our first being taken by some rude Grannies - and we were attended to very quickly. Cakes weren't hard to choose, they looked big, rich and very bad for you. Right on all counts, which meant they were even more tasty!
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Monster Mash - Edinburgh
Monday 18 April 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (1)
I am a huge lover of mashed potatoes, in fact potatoes in any form, but I particularly love the mashed variety, add to that the fact that I love sausages - good ones, not ones mixed with hooves and noses - and it sounds like Monster Mash is my personal heaven.
We've been trying to go here for ages, and Saturday was the day, heading across early because we've seen it get really busy, we grabbed a booth before the rush started and began to be a little concerned. It doesn't look that well kept, and everything looks like an old English cafe.
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Betty's Tea Rooms - York
Thursday 7 April 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (3)
We couldn't visit York without going to Betty's, I was told anyway. So we did. It's a proper English tea room, which really does try and retain the old standards, unfortunately not in price, but definitely in quality, taste and style.
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Peter Gate Fisheries - York
Thursday 7 April 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
York was about food, drink and trains for us. Another good meal that we managed to cram in was at Peter Gate Fisheries. What initially looked like a very popular Fish and Chip Takeaway turned out to have a small restaurant in the back, well I say restaurant, it was sit down takeaway really, but it was great food.
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Cornish Pasty Bakery - York
Thursday 7 April 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
While visiting York recently we, strangely, ate and drank loads. Odd how that all comes together on a trip away, still, that's what we did. One such place we visited was the The Cornish Pasty Shop in York, which I think is actually called the Cornish Pasty Bakery on Colliergate.
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Schezuan Chinese Takeaway - Portlethen
Monday 28 March 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (1)
I've never met someone who can remember one of their customers names for years on end, despite them moving away and only returning once or twice a year. Not only does the owner remember my name, but my job, my car, where I live, and loads about my family. Each time one of the Brunton's arrives, he'll ask all about everyone and how they are doing. After not visiting for around two years, my Mother phoned in an order and the voice returned "Mrs Brunton. Is Richard home for the weekend?". Now that is customer service.
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Subway
Friday 18 February 2005 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (3)
I love Subway sandwiches. Foot longs with tuna and cheese and all the salad you can cram in, finishing it off with honey mustard sauce, but no salt and pepper please. Love them. I probably have one a week...well, maybe more like one every two weeks and more often than not they are fantastic.
Skippers Bistro - Edinburgh
Saturday 18 December 2004 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
It's getting ever so close to Xmas, and with that the Xmas lunch\dinner is upon us. So it was a nice surprise to find that we were going out for a big meal on a Saturday afternoon with quite a few friends, some I knew and some I didn't.
The setting chosen was that of Skippers Bistro which is quietly hidden around the back of Dock Place and opposite its sister eatery, Waterside. At first glance it seems a little out of the way place, but as you walk in the door you are suddenly hit by the warmth and individual style. Plaques, pictures and paraphanalia align the walls from what could be assumed as many holiday's abroad for the staff and owners. There certainly seems to be a number of snow based holiday signs, and my favourite, apart from the crocodile skin against one wall (it's okay, it is slightly hidden from view) is the brass plaque proclaiming that Any wedding that the Captain presides over is valid for the duration of the journey, we can but assume they meant the journey of marriage!
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North Bridge Brasserie - Edinburgh
Saturday 11 December 2004 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
During out stay at The Scotsman hotel, we could hardly miss out on eating at their aptly named North Bridge Brasserie which we'd been in before for a quick drink on our way to another party and were very impressed.
The decor is wonderful, mixing marble and modern to great effect. We were seated on the mezzanine floor which offered us the view of North Bridge itself and the well stacked oval glass bar beneath.
The food was excellent. I started with the Tuna Carpaccio which was amazingly tender and was complimented beautifully by the taste of the perfectly poached egg on top, and the little I tasted of the rich goats cheese was enough to make me wish I had ordered both!Tuna Carpaccio, Poached Egg, Green Beans, Truffle Mayonnaise [£6.50]
Goats Cheese Fritter, Marinated Aubergines, Tomato Chutney (v) [£6.50]
Venison Loin, Goats Cheese Mash, Rowanberry Jelly [£16.00]
Fillet of Beef + Mash, Stroganoff Sauce [£17.00]
Green Beans [£2.95]
Three Scottish Cheeses [£6.00] to share [£9.00]
The venison was very moist and almost melted in the mouth, slightly pink in the center it tasted wonderful along with the goats cheese mash. The beef was more towards rare than the medium that had been asked for, but it didn't affect my tasting, full of flavour and it just came apart so easily.
We somehow pretended that we could eat the cheese, and surprisingly did! The three cheese may not sound much but when the large pieces are presented you suddenly wonder if you really can eat them all. Unfortunately one of the cheeses was quite bland and was lost compared to the other, stronger cheeses, but it still made for an excellent meal.
I forget what Rioja we had, but it was an excellent compliment to the food on offer and was packed with strength and flavour. The only drawback was the price, something which was reflected in the final bill as well. Still, overall I think perhaps it was worth it, it's just a shame we can't afford to go back so often!
Relish - Edinburgh
Monday 6 December 2004 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
We noticed this little place while we were walking along the High Street and thought it looked pretty cool. The signs advertising 100% traceable Scottish Beef and free range chicken made us look at the menu which boasts such enticing burgers as:
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Olive Branch Bistro - Edinburgh
Sunday 21 November 2004 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
My girlfriend had visited this bistro on broughton street (not the deli in Cannonmills) before, and as we were waiting for a movie to start and had just enjoyed a wonderfuly exciting shopping trip, we thought we would both try it.
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Muang Thai Restaurant - Edinburgh
Monday 8 November 2004 | Eating Out - 4 Stars | Comments (0)
This is the second visit to this restaurant I've had and both times the service has been very quick and friendly, with the staff willing to recommend food depending on some questions they ask.