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Knocked off for the festive period? Looking to try some of Edinburgh’s latest new restaurants and bars before the turkey tsunami strikes?

Step this way…

First up, we have Laila’s Bistro on Cockburn Street. The latest from Jamal Ahmed, the man behind Pomegranate and Hanam‘s, Laila’s dishes up food from the Levant and Med along with more unexpected dishes such as burgers and fish ‘n’ chips.

Storming success

More representative dishes include the stuffed vine leaves, feta salad and baba ghanoush from the mezze section of the menu.

Laila’s replaces Dello’s Kitchen and the Sultan Kitchen which were blink and you miss ’em joints. Having made a storming success of Hanam’s and Pomegranate, Jamal has the odds on his side when it comes to making a go of Laila’s.

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A five minute walk away, The Scottish Burger Bistro has replaced Porto and Fi’s on The Mound. Well, it’s actually North Bank Street but you know what I mean.

It’s an independent, family-run venture serving handmade burgers featuring meat from the good people at Fife’s Puddledub Buffalo Farm.

Diners can wash their burgers down with beers from Scottish brewers such as BrewDog, the Eden Brewery and Innis & Gunn.

Paws for thought

Finally, we bring news of the Lioness of Leith which has roared into life on Duke Street.

Sherbert Lemon Martinis and a rotisserie are among the new features at the just launched bar and restaurant. Both would have been highly unlikely during the bar’s former life as Mintos.

Their Facebook proudly proclaims that the Lioness is a ‘bampot and trouble free zone’ – always a plus in a bar.

Candle light; freaky murals and curious examples of the taxidermist’s art set the boho tone.

Draught beers available include Brooklyn, Staropramen, Leffe Blonde, Weihenstephan, Barney’s, Lioness Lager, St Mungo’s and Thistly Cross.

We haven’t been in but, judging by their Facebook posts, the kitchen in the Lioness of Leith has pulled out all the stops. A recent dish on the menu was the breast of Guinea fowl served with braised shallot casserole and pommes dauphinoise, pictured below.

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