Just over a year after David Ramsden opened The Dogs on Edinburgh’s Hanover Street, the colourful restaurateur has followed it up with (a) more Dogs, an Italian offshoot that opens today.

The former owner of fitzhenry and rogue restaurants, as well as being the one time manager of Deacon Blue, Ramsden has always been a livewire whose restaurants have often owed as much to theatre as they do to food. A piece in yesterday’s Sunday Times adds to his story with Ramsden talking frankly about his long term struggle with anorexia.

On a happier note, (a) more Dogs hopes to follow in the paw prints of The Dogs which has been wildly successful over the last fourteen months. Not only has it had a genuine impact on the rest of Edinburgh’s restaurant scene (it would be hard to imagine Tony’s Table before The Dogs) but it has also scooped numerous accolades, not least of which is a Michelin Bib gourmand for good food at a reasonable price.

The Dogs’ formula is based on time-served British dishes which are wholesome, flavour-packed and rustic but delivered at a budget-pleasing price. Braised lamb hearts with bacon and prunes is typical.

Opening a couple of doors up from the original, in the premises that housed the short-lived Affair, (a) more Dogs offers dishes like baked coley served with sweet and sour peppers and tapenade, baked spinach and ricotta cannelloni and a range of simple pizza.

Alternative 5pm options to consider would be the following nearby Italians: Bellini, Centotre and Gusto.

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