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7 Edinburgh restaurants that are perfect for special occasions

OpenTable March 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

If you have a special occasion coming up, there are lots of great places to celebrate in the Scottish capital. Edinburgh’s restaurants are among the best in the UK when it comes to outstanding food, great service and charming locations. Here’s are some of the best restaurants for special occasions – be it a birthday, wedding anniversary or special date night.

The Honours
Martin Wishart is one of Edinburgh’s top chefs and a visit to his modern brasserie leaves no doubt that he deserves every award he has received so far. Enjoy French cooking in the heart of the Scottish capital and tuck into dishes like Orkney scallops and apple tarte tatin. The restaurant is named after a moment in Scottish history when Sir Walter Scott uncovered the Scottish Crown Jewels, or The Honours of Scotland. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.

Rhubarb
Dining at Rhubarb will make you feel rather special – the restaurant is set in twenty acres of stunning parkland. Only a short drive from Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, Rhubarb charms guests with classic dishes and a wine menu boasting more than five hundred wines. Take a seat in the baroque-style dining rooms with giant chandeliers and silk wall coverings and enjoy outstanding service by black-kilted porters. The restaurant is at the heart of the five-star Prestonfield House – why not stay the night?

Restaurant Martin Wishart
Restaurant Martin Wishart located in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith has been wowing foodies since opening in 1999. The multi-award-winning restaurant is one of the city’s most refined dining spaces. We recommend you try one of Wishart’s tasting menus to make the most of his culinary offerings – there are classic and vegetarian options to choose from. The chef’s dedication to creating an unforgettable dining experience shines through everything here – when he opened the restaurant, Wishart even tiled the kitchen and painted all the walls himself.

Tower Restaurant
Perched on the roof of the Museum of Scotland, Tower Restaurant is the ideal place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and more. You’ll be able to enjoy outstanding views of Edinburgh Castle as well as the entire city skyline whilst tucking in to sophisticated dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. We recommend their famous Scotch beef and the Cairngorm venison, or if you prefer vegetarian options, the squash and chestnut risotto is truly irresistible.

The Pompadour
Located in The Caledonian Hotel, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, The Pompadour will make you feel like royalty. Why? Well, for a start, the restaurant takes its name from the celebrated Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV’s favourite mistress, which gives you a clue as to why its sumptuous décor resembles a royal court. The restaurant’s French cuisine does not disappoint either and seduces guests with fresh Scottish produce prepared using classic Parisian cooking techniques.

21212
21212 is part of a small boutique hotel of the same name located on a Georgian terrace in Edinburgh’s New Town. Chef Paul Kitching really does cook up a storm – guests can observe what goes on in the kitchen through tall glass windows. The menu changes weekly so every dining experience is unique – just like your special occasion.

The Stockbridge Restaurant
If you’re on the hunt for a romantic dinner location, look no further than The Stockbridge Restaurant. It’s located right in the heart of Edinburgh’s most idyllic neighbourhoods, with tiny cobbled lanes and the Water of Leith running through it – perfect for a post-dinner stroll. Fairy lights and candles flicker while you enjoy carefully crafted Scottish cuisine and some of the most innovative cocktails the city has to offer.

Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants in Edinburgh.

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

Mother’s Day: Free treats for Mums at top London restaurants

OpenTable March 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

Still looking for the perfect place to dine out with your Mum next Sunday? We’ve rounded up some of the best Mother’s Day offers in town where Mums can enjoy free drinks, gifts and even meals.

Bocconcino – Enjoy fine wine and authentic Italian dishes at this elegant restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. Mums will receive gifts from Skin & Co Roma to take home.

Le Pont de la Tour – Head chef Orson has created a special set menu of his favourite dishes, from halibut with Champagne velouté to Gressingham duck with braised chicory and blood orange. Mothers will also enjoy a complimentary tipple served at the table from their cocktail trolley.

Theo Randall at the InterContinental – A favourite with London diners since 2006, Theo Randall’s Mayfair restaurant serves rustic Italian dishes the whole family will enjoy. This Sunday, all mothers will receive a complimentary bouquet of beautiful spring flowers to take home.

The Cinnamon Collection – Mums are invited to dine for free at The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Bazaar, and Cinnamon Kitchen in Battersea and the City. Go on, spice up your Sunday!

MASH – Make it a night to remember at this Soho steakhouse where Mums dine for free with every three paying adults.

VIVI – Mums will love the retro dishes and pastel pink booths at West End newcomer, VIVI. They will be offered a glass of bubbles on arrival and trifle for dessert with any a la carte booking this Sunday.

Giraffe – If you’re keeping it casual or you’ve got a gang of little foodies to feed, Giraffe is always a winner. Mums eat free all day long so the rest of the table can splash out on dessert.

Barbecoa – At Jamie Oliver’s City restaurant, the whole family can tuck into delicious roast meats with unlimited trimmings and Mums will be treated to free-flowing prosecco for two hours.

Floral by LIMA – Step out of your culinary comfort zone with a Peruvian feast at Floral by LIMA. Mums will enjoy a fruity Evita cocktail on the house when dining for lunch or dinner.

Visit our Mother’s Day page to see what more of London’s top restaurants have planned or ask our experts for recommendations on twitter.

Introducing Cravings: The world’s first afternoon tea for mums-to-be

OpenTable March 19, 2019 Leave a Comment

This Mother’s Day, we’re giving expectant mothers the chance to indulge their weird and wonderful food cravings with a special mums-to-be afternoon tea.

With a menu that boasts an array of unexpected flavour combinations such as gherkin ice cream and Nutella and ricotta sandwiches, Cravings is the perfect solution for mums-to-be who feel unable to say what they really want whilst dining out.

The Cravings stand-out dish is The Full Meghan: a royally outrageous combination of French fries, pasteurised cheese and chocolate sauce on a single plate, in homage to the Duchess of Sussex’s reported cravings in the media.

Mums-to-be will also have the chance to create the sandwich of their dreams, using some of the most craved goodies – peanut butter, pickled onions, cheese, beetroot, and even charcoal shavings.

Partnering with Jim’s Café in Clapton, the Cravings menu will be available all-day on Saturday 30^th and Sunday 31^st March. Mums-to-be can book on OpenTable for the limited-edition menu that will include either The Full Meghan and build-your-own-sandwich, both served with tea or an alcohol-free cocktail.

However you plan to celebrate this Mother’s Day, visit OpenTable for a full range of restaurant experiences.

10 outstanding neighbourhood restaurants in south east London

OpenTable March 14, 2019 1 Comment

Never mind ‘worth the detour’, as most guides would state – these neighbourhood haunts are destinations in themselves. Locals love them and there are plenty of reasons why you might too.

Kudu
African comfort food kicked up a gear, via the European small plates method of dispense. That means chicken liver parfait with leek ash crackers, or braai (fire-grilled) lamb neck with smoked yoghurt. A year in the making, Kudu is proof that it doesn’t take long for a good restaurant to be firmly embraced by local eaters.

Marcella
Sequel to Peckham’s Artusi, Marcella brings soothing Italian, no-BS, and not-just-pasta dishes to Deptford. All complemented by Italian wines, cocktails and beer from nearby Villages brewery. Three-course Sunday lunches, at £20pp, are a heck of a steal.