We'll start with the news that The Melville Bar on William Street is no more.

In its place is The Green Room.

It promises 'Good wine. Good food. Good people'. And who could argue with any of that?

The food menu is split into nibbles, small plates, boards, main plates and desserts.

The main plates include options such as a burger, haddock and chips in an Innis and Gunn batter, a rib-eye steak and polenta with a tomato and Aragon olive salad.

The small plates look intriguing. Anyone fancy seared prawns wrapped in pancetta with a balsamic and honey glaze? Or green haggis croquettes with a sun-dried tomato tapenade?

Sticking with William Street, The Brunch Club Edinburgh is still working towards opening at 13a.

As we noted in a previous blog, The Brunch Club is expanding east from its original Dumbarton Road premises in Glasgow and establishing a foothold in the capital.

Basil's by the sea

Heading out from the centre of town and down to the seaside suburb of Newhaven, Basil's is bedding in on Annfield. Main pic is from Basil's Facebook.

Named after Sir Basil Spence, the Scottish architect who designed Edinburgh Uni library and Coventry Cathedral among others, the venue describes itself as a 'chic new neighbourhood bar and kitchen... with a hint of 1960’s interior design'.

In addition to five different burgers, the kitchen dishes up rib-eye and onglet steaks, a gammon steak, pan-fried sea bass and a confit duck leg.

Veggie options include a beetroot, grain and sheeze burger plus a spring vegetable chowder.

Basil's attractions also include an outside seating area and we're hoping to have the opportunity to enjoy a Grape Expectations cocktail in the sun.

Basil's is operated by Neil Douglas who also runs Ardnamurchan and Café Antipasti in Glasgow. Both can be booked via 5pm while Basil's can be booked here.