Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen is a recent addition to 5pm Dining and they have a night of elegant Italian cooking lined up for Thursday 14th September.
This blogger still shudders when recalling the bad old days of pub food.
Essentially, you had two choices: take your chances with a gristly pie from the hot cage lurking on the bar. Or risk the bar staff successfully deep frying something they found in the deep freeze.
Thankfully, things have changed beyond all recognition.
And Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen underlines just how much things have improved.
Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen: gastro bar
Fully refurbished and relaunched in the summer of 2017, Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen is a gastro bar on Roseburn Terrace.
As the name suggests, it is within kicking distance of Murrayfield Stadium and the bar is hugely popular before and after concerts and on match days.
The chefs at Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen produce a menu that cheerfully combines Scottish classics with dishes whose roots are more far flung. This means starters such as haggis, neeps and tatties sit next to Thai fishcakes, nachos and black pudding with sweet chilli tiger prawns.
From the main courses, a trio of burgers with a wide array of different toppings are always popular. Beer-battered haddock and the steak and ale pie will appeal to traditionalists.
The pan-fried sea bass with a spinach and garlic linguine is perhaps a lighter option while the lamb shank in red wine has winter warmer written all over it.
They even have a doggy menu of pooch-friendly snacks from House of Hound in order to keep their more furry customers happy.
Italian pop-up with Chef Chiara
As well as their own menu, Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen has also started doing pop-ups.
First up is An Evening with Chef Chiara… The Tale of her Scottish Journey.
Taking place on Thursday 14th September, the pop-up evening is a three course dinner from private chef Chiara Scipione.
The menu for the evening is at the bottom of this post.
There will be two sittings, one at 6pm and 8:30pm.
The normal price is £35 per person.
However, you can book in via 5pm Dining at £49 per couple.
Chiara Scipione runs Italian Food with Style, a personal chef service which caters for events and individuals.
Here’s the menu which Chiara will be preparing on the night:
Starter
Prosciutto parcel with mozzarella, roasted hazelnuts and balsamic
Main course
Rack of lamb with pea purée, caramelised carrots with cumin and Hasselback potatoes.
Dessert
Scotia cardamom panna cotta, 80% dark chocolate semi freddo, shortbread crumb, Scottish strawberry coulis and whisky butterscotch sauce
There is a veggie version which substitutes the first two courses for a frittata medley followed by vegetarian lasagna.
The pop-up looks fun. If you can’t wait that long to check out Murrayfield Bar and Kitchen then you may wish to book in for this Big Deal on burgers or brunch.