The daffodils have arrived in our gardens and it’s getting darker a bit later every day. Spring is here, and with it comes restaurants’ new seasonal spring menus.
In Scotland we are lucky to live in a country widely considered to have the best larder in the world. Our 5pm restaurants recognise this, and many use local, seasonal produce to guide their menus. Here’s six Edinburgh restaurants who have recently added new spring menus to their profile.
Purslane
Stockbridge’s Purslane place such an emphasis on locality that around 80% of their suppliers are based in the Stockbridge area. They feel strongly about the seasonality of the ingredients they use, their menus changing to adapt to them. Their five course set tasting menu, which was just updated, showcases the best Head Chef Paul Gunning has to offer and includes Scottish salmon, pork and cheese.
£30 for 5 course set tasting menu at Purslane on 5pm Dining.
Wild Wood Cafe
Bright and cheery Wild Wood Cafe serves flexible menus that change with the seasons; dishes are cooked to order and local produce is to the fore. Popular starters include the seared king scallops with Stornoway black pudding, and typical main courses might be the beef cheek bourguignon or the fillet of hake with seafood bisque and cockles, lemon and dill crushed potatoes.
£17.95 for 3 courses on seasonal menu + a glass of wine at Wild Wood Cafe on 5pm Dining.
One Square
Located within the Sheraton Grand Hotel, One Square is a stylish restaurant in the city centre with views of Edinburgh Castle. Their menu is inventive modern British which changes seasonally and places an emphasis on using only the very best local products. The Chef’s Set Menu, which was recently updated, features Scottish salmon, pearl barley, fennel and salt baked celeriac, and pork belly, braised apple and red cabbage, sweet potato fondant and an Arran Thistle Cross cider sauce.
£16.95 for 2 courses on chef’s set menu at One Square on 5pm Dining.
A Room In Leith
A Room in Leith’s menu, which changes with the seasons, is packed with Scottish produce such as Shetland scallops, Borders beef, Stornoway black pudding, Scottish game (when in season) and a Scottish cheeseboard which is well worth investigating. Their recently updated dinner menu features dishes such as chive, chilli and caramelised shallot risotto cakes with organic egg, and seared sea bass, king scallops, pea and spinach puree with tattie fritters.
£18 for 2 courses on set dinner menu at A Room In Leith on 5pm Dining.
No. 8
A gastropub in the stylish Quartermile development, No.8 aims to be a modern take on a traditional neighbourhood pub. Head Chef Mario Ghelardi carefully selects the dishes on the menu using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Dishes on their Show Me Food menu include roast hake with sprouting broccoli, caramelized shallots, lentil puree, honeyed Asian radish and dill crème fraiche, and grilled cauliflower, roast salsify and wilted baby spinach triple cheese mornay with rustic bread.
£18 for 2 courses from our show me food menu + a drink at No. 8 on 5pm Dining.
Cucina
Modern twists on Italian dishes created using seasonal Scottish produce is what you’ll fine in Cucina within the five star G&V Royal Mile Hotel. Head Chef Mattia Camorani said: “Working with suppliers here in Scotland, we have created a series of menus that perfectly marry the larders of Italy and Scotland.” Their recently updated Pre Theatre menu reflects this ethos, with dishes including salmone in crosta con pure di broccoli e indivia (salmon Wellington with broccoli puree and endive salad) and brasato di manzo al vino rosso con verza, patate e torta di cipolle (beef braised in spiced red wine with Savoy cabbage, potato and roasted onion cake).
£17 for 2 courses on pre-teatro menu at Cucina on 5pm Dining.
For more seasonal menus in Edinburgh restaurants visit 5pm Dining.