The List published the 22nd edition of their excellent Eating and Drinking Guide recently. As always, they hit listed the restaurants, cafes and bars which stood out in their categories.
Here are the hit listed Edinburgh restaurants which are also 5pm members, along with their current 5pm offers.
Both The Atelier and Café St Honoré were hit listed in the Scottish category.
The latter may sound as if it belongs on the Left Bank of the Seine (and it certainly looks like a classic French brasserie) but it is fiercely proud of delivering dishes that showcase the finest Scottish produce.
Head Chef Neil Forbes is no stranger to the 5pm Dining blog and we have often written of his passion for Scotland’s larder.
You can taste the results of that dedication on his café classics menu. Book through 5pm and two courses at lunchtime are yours for £15.50.
The menu changes regularly but typical dishes might be a starter of hot smoked mackerel pâté followed by a Scotch beef and shallot pie.
Café St Honoré is on North West Thistle Street Lane.
Wildly inventive
At The Atelier on Morrison Street, Scottish ingredients are given wildly inventive treatments to create dishes which can surprise as well as being pleasurable.
The Eating and Drinking Guide puts it well: ‘The Atelier manages to be casual and relaxed, delivering a down-to-earth yet exhilarating experience’.
Two courses from the pre-theatre menu are £15.50 through 5pm. A typical main course might be the pan-roast pigeon with Spanish black pudding, plum, potato gratin and crispy kale.
In the Italian section, Victor & Carina Contini Ristorante and Cucina at G&V Royal Mile Hotel both featured in the hit list.
According to the Guide, Cucina at G&V Royal Mile Hotel offers ‘as good an Italian meal as you’ll find this side of Milan’. We would add that there is a strong regional flavour to many of the dishes and that Cucina is not afraid to put a contemporary spin on Italian classics.
The dining room is as striking as the cooking.
You can try two dishes from the lunch menu for £15.95 with 5pm. A typical main course might be the pan-fried hake with stewed lentils followed by a dessert of Catalana foam with fresh berries and vanilla ice cream.
In an eye-catching former bank on George Street, Victor & Carina Contini Ristorante is going strong after ten years in business.
Family-run and skilled at sourcing great Italian and Scottish produce, Contini Ristorante produces dishes which the Guide describes as ‘simple yet beautifully crafted’.
Our take on it is that the food here is always evolving but authentic Italian flavours are key. Regional dishes such as the cassouela from Lombardy also stand out.
Cali soul
For something completely different, try Calistoga – a Scottish Californian hybrid with a cracking and keenly priced Cali wine list.
The Guide praised its ‘California soul’ and ‘creative approach to Scottish/Cali fusion’. We say that ‘at Calistoga diners are able to order contemporary Californian food alongside the best wines that the Napa and Sonoma valleys can offer’.
Book through 5pm and you can order a main course on the lunch or early evening menu for £8.49. A typical choice might be the baked cod with mixed spring vegetables and garlic and herb butter.
Wine lovers should try the tutored wine tasting and dinner packages at the city centre restaurant.
Finally, it was no surprise to see Fred Berkmiller’s L’escargot Bleu restaurant on the hit list. Classic French cooking and great Scottish produce make for a happy marriage chez Fred.
‘Quirky Gallic charm’, ‘bold cooking’ and ‘serious sourcing’ are mentioned by the Guide. We would also point out Fred’s commitment to interesting nose-to-tail eating and his determination to be hands on in seeking out the produce his kitchen uses.
The £12.90 two course, lunch/early evening offer is one of Edinburgh’s greatest culinary bargains.
