Photo of
August 18, 2015
The chefs at Bistro Provence prep for service.
The chefs at Bistro Provence prep for service.

5pm Dining is adding new restaurants to its roster all the time. These are the latest to join the glittering array of Edinburgh restaurants which can be booked through us.

Incidentally, it may be festival time but our restaurants are still offering great deals.

Bistro Provence

Housed in a converted Leith warehouse, this award-winning French restaurant is on Commercial Quay facing the Scottish government buildings. The Michelin inspectors have taken note of their Provence-inspired food and recommended the restaurant in the current guide. The menus change regularly but a typical main course might be the duck breast with ratatouille, roast garlic and a port jus.

At the moment, you can book in for three courses from the menu du jour for £19.

The Constitution Bar

Staying in Leith, The Constitution Bar has joined 5pm Dining. A veteran of the Leith bar scene, it had a facelift a few years back and still looks box fresh. The lunch menu is very keenly priced and, as well as a selection of burgers, Thai curries, chilli and fish ‘n’ chips, the main menu has more unexpected options.

You know Leith has changed when a bar offers a super foods salad on the menu.

The Constitution Bar in Leith.
The Constitution Bar in Leith.

Gaia Deli

Moving up Leith Walk to Crichton Place, the family-run Gaia Deli is where to get your Sicilian fix. It’s a comfortable, homely space serving everything from freshly made panini to daily pasta specials. Many would vote their espresso as one of the best in the capital.

They are currently offering 5pm bookers two courses from the daily menu plus tea or coffee for £9.

Gaia Deli  for all your Sicilian specialities.
Gaia Deli for all your Sicilian specialities.

Café Cassis

At the other end of town, Café Cassis is a family-run French café bistro in Newington. Part of the Salisbury Hotel on Salisbury Road, it is open all day and offers several menus, all packed with classic French dishes.

At the moment, 5pm bookers can tuck into two courses from the pre-theatre plus a glass of wine for £14.95.

We would go for the moules marinières followed by the corn-fed supreme of chicken served with a creamy wild mushroom sauce, garnished with seasonal vegetables and potatoes.

Beef cheeks at Cafe Cassis.
Beef cheeks at Cafe Cassis.