first coast

first coast is 'quality neighborhood bistro' in edinburgh's not so nice area between haymarket and gorgie, in dalry road. if you brave yourself and don't let the location scare you, i promise that you will experience wonderful cooking, food made with pass

about 300m south west of haymarket station along dalry road, beautiful small restaurant.

i highly recommend going there for regional nights - a monthly (or could be quarterly) event , fixed cost unlimited set menu covering cuisines of the chosen region with regional music etc . i was there about 3 weeks ago for brazilian night and about a year ago for indian night... both were very good and very popular (crowded - in a good way).

on a regular day, it is less busy but going without a reservation might not be a good idea. food is good - simple but tastes great and menu is always changing and ideal for vegetarians struggling to find something more than just salad as they have some good veg dishes.

came here for a work outing. was quite nice. the bathroom is a bit of a mission to get to. good food and good drinks. can get quite stuffy inside tho.

as you would expect from the name, first coast does do fish very well. that's what i had when i first visited here over a year ago. more recently, i was here with the work crew for a christmas-ish meal. we chose from the christmas lunch menu. my colleagues went for starter and mains whereas i opted for mains and dessert. the starters (gyros) looked good. my main was the pig cheek which was beautifully cooked, rich but overtly so, and full of flavour. for dessert, i opted for the chocolate mousse with orange jelly which was different and delicious. a very pleasant experience both times, attentive service and a peaceful setting. definitely worth seeking out if you are looking to eat in the area.

i went here as a last minute lunch with work colleagues. despite it being mid xmas party season the service was very good and the staff lovely and friendly. my food was excellent and every one else had the same opinion of their own dishes. i had the beef gyro to start and pig cheeks with polenta,peas, apple and parmesan as my main. my boss picked up the bill as well making my visit even better. i will have to return with my girlfriend in the near future. recommend.

the meal i had at first coast was one of the best meals i've had in a long while - the food was fresh, perfectly prepared, and absolutely delicious.

from monday to friday between 5pm and 6:30pm they offer an early evening menu with any main course for £9.95, two courses for £12.50, or three courses for £15.50 - which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food.

i had fennel and leek soup to start - which was lovely - and the mushroom goulash for my main, which was amazing. a rich and flavourful sauce with baby potatoes, courgette, incredibly tasty dumplings - topped with a few dollops of sour cream. 

the portion size was on the small side, so i'd definitely recommend having at least two courses.

i went to first coast on friday with my friend for a quick bite to eat before heading on to see a show. i was a little bit early, but the staff made me feel really welcome, quickly offering me a wine (which was much needed). when my friend arrived, we opted for the set menu - she had soup and pork and i had grilled watermelon and feta then the pork. 
the plate sizes were full, and given it was around £13.00 pp, excellent value for money. my friend went on to have the ice cream and i regret not joining her - it looked fantastic.
with a handy setting, and lovely decor, first coast was somewhere i hadn't been before, but will make a point of going to again.

first coast is at the top of dalry road, edinburgh opposite the good seed and la partenope. i’ve been going there for years, for dinner and lunch, celebrations or just when i don’t want to cook. over the years, i have grown increasingly fond of the place. the food is consistently good and interesting. the menu offers seafood as well as steak, has good vegetarian options and are very accommodating to people with special requests. it’s a perfect neighbourhood restaurant. yet it never seems as busy as i think it should be.

it’s not that first coast is quiet. it isn’t. but it’s never so busy that you can’t get a table, either. this is great for locals but i cannot help but think it’s a pity for the restaurant. i think it is a great place and people should flock there. first coast has the neighbourhood thing down pat. the interior is classy in cool, new england blues, staff is friendly and helpful, the menu is ever-changing and interesting and a night out there is not very expensive.

the last time i went to first coast was for impromptu lunch. i started by falling in love with the bread: white, warm from the oven and densely sweet. it was the kind of bread that butter exists for. good bread, as i’ve mentioned before, is a mark of a good restaurant.

they offer a two or three course lunch menu. i opted for a starter and a main and started with a sublime duck egg on buttered onions. the egg was just right: the whites were set and the yolk was runny and rich. the onions were a revelation. i cook with onions almost every day and forget how good they can be when treated as the main ingredient, not just a background flavour. they were sweet and rich.

my main was a barley and couscous pilaf with crunchy onions, balsamic vinegar tomatoes and soft cheese. the flavours and textures of this dish were nicely judged and both interesting and tasty. the soft cheese and the tangy tomatoes popped in the mouth and the crunchy onions gave a pleasant bite to the pilaf.

lunch: £11 for two courses, £14 for three.

now for those of you who are not already familiar with first coast, i suggest you get yourself down. it’s one of our favourite places to eat and when my dining partner agreed to meet here on wednesday night i was like a big kid all day.

first coast is situated on dalry road, just up the road a wee bit from haymarket. it’s full of lots of little romantic corners, making it great for date night, or they also have a longer room to the right of the bar for larger parties. i’ve been here before for a birthday party and there was 20 odd of us and being in the one area ourselves made a great night even better!

for our full review, please visit edinburgers.co.uk/first-coast-review/

overall first coast, has a relaxed atmosphere and the staff are lovely and friendly. the food is reasonably priced even if you dine from the al a carte menu and it is always well presented and tasty.

you're unlikely to be served anything that you won't find pleasant or nice, but the place seemed to be trying too hard to be a jack of all trades, and succeeded at being master of none

...if you’re looking for a good bite to eat in edinburgh, but don’t want to spend too much, first coast is a good alternative.

a gem. been to first coast on a number of occasions, service, food, atmosphere where all excellent. they do a delicious steak, moist and tasty and fantastic puddings. been with just my wife and with a table for ten, service still outstanding. would recommend.

i really don't get why people live this restaurant. it's ok but do you really want to pay for an "ok" restaurant when edinburgh has so much to offer?

really liked this laid back restaurant. has a big thai influence in the menu, but its great gorgeous food