Today we bring you glad tidings of two new restaurants in Edinburgh: The Herringbone and The Ivy on the Square.
One is a small neighbourhood joint. The other is an offshoot of a much feted London institution, known primarily as a hangout for the more glitzy stars.
We’ll start with the neighbourhood joint. Mainly because it has already opened while the other place looks unlikely to unlock its doors until the autumn.
The Herringbone expands to Edinburgh
Since 2015, The Herringbone has operated as an all day bistro in North Berwick.
A couple of weeks back, they launched a second branch on South Trinity Road in Edinburgh’s Goldenacre area.
It is a good looking space. All exposed brick, reclaimed wood, beams and interesting lighting. You could see it as a double page spread in a Sunday supplement. Anyone remember them?
The Herringbone bistros promise ‘local craft beers, a selection of our very favourite wines, beautifully crafted cocktails and the best seasonal and regional ingredients, served simply’.
It has a daytime menu and an evening version. As far as I can see, they are the same except that the daytime menu has breakfast items such as eggs Benedict and what sounds like a kick-ass Bloody Mary.
The rest of the menu reads well.
This scribbler would happily tackle starters such as the ham hock and cheddar potato cakes or the East Lothian seafood chowder.
Main courses like the slow-cooked crispy pork with spring greens, cider broth, butter beans and crackling are just as appealing.
There is also a selection of burgers and seasonal salads like the smoked mackerel with Jersey Royals, chicory, asparagus and soft boiled egg.
This blogger has yet to visit but it looks as though The Herringbone is trying to be everything you might want from a neighbourhood hangout.
New restaurant in Edinburgh: The Ivy on the Square
By contrast, The Ivy on the Square, scheduled to open on St Andrew Square in the early autumn, aims to offer something rather different.
Guests can look forward to ‘approachable sophistication and luxury with an underlying feeling of glamour and theatre for local residents, businesses and visitors’.
It will be the first Scottish venture for The Ivy Collection. This is a group of restaurants, brasseries and cafés that originated with The Ivy on London’s West Street a hundred years ago.
The original Ivy on has long had a reputation for being a celeb hangout. Last year, Kylie performed a set there to mark the restaurant’s 100th birthday. See below for video.
Over the last couple of years, The Ivy Collection has been rolling out its Ivy Cafe, Brasserie and Grill brands in places like Guildford, Bristol and Bath.
The new Edinburgh venture will have around 130 seats, a bar and mezzanine overlooking the square.
All day dining is on the menu along with dishes like the shepherd’s pie and the chocolate bomb with hot salted caramel sauce. Menu options which helped cement the reputation of the original Ivy as a place for reliable comfort food.
Don’t hold your breath for appearances from La Minogue.