north bridge brasserie - the scotsman hotel

i can see why this restaurant has 2 aa rosettes. the food was prepared with a lot of love. the booths were nice to eat in, although the bread selection before starters was a bit meager. it's be good if they offered a wider choice of bread and gave each table a bread basket - instead of a single bread roll (1950's rationing style). the food was cooked well, i'd highly recommend the lamb and also the slow cooked pork belly starter (it is wafer thin). the end of my meal was a big surprise. while the starter and main were gourmet portions the desert (a chocolate pudding) was substantial and very enjoyable. although, my wife said: "nothing beats m&s chocolate pudding", but i'd have to disagree. the bill was reasonable.

french martini next to broad shoulder lamb roasted definitely sounds like a combo which one should try but the restaurant failed to live upto the expectations. the lamb could have been cooked for properly, the inside of the meat was still pink, when it should have been white and the meat was not at all juicy.

we wanted a mussels place, were not disappointed on the options. the staff is very caring and attentive. additionally the live music was amazing.

two years ago to the very day, 23 december, we visited the scotsman hotel’s north bridge brasserie. the fare we were served was very mediocre. i wrote a feedback letter to that effect. one month later i wrote a further letter to complain about the lack of response to that feedback. i’m always happy to give a place a second chance, though.

we went on a sunday lunch time to try out the new lunch menu. we were sat down at the table and presented with a problem – i wanted everything on the menu! after much deliberation i decided on the seaweed and apple cured loch duart salmon with mushroom, apple and seaweed salad, my dining buddies chose the summer pea and lettuce soup and dave ordered everyone’s favourite venison haggis fritters with whisky mayonnaise.
my salmon was one of the prettiest plates i have ever been served  it was delicate and the apple matched perfectly with the seaweed and wasabi in the sauce. despite my love of haggis fritters i didn’t share!
for the main course i was still trying to be good (wedding diet!) so i ordered the roast fillet of gurnard, caramelised chicory and orange salad which was a lovely light option and having never tried gurnard before i certainly will look out for it next time i am in the shops. the boys went for the classic roast scotch hangar steak with duck fat chips, watercress and béarnaise sauce.
dessert was vanilla pannacotta with strawberry jelly and basil sorbet was my choice. the pannacotta was silky smooth and perfectly match with the sweet strawberry and sharp basil sorbet. it was a fantastic end to a really delicious meal and i didn’t feel too naughty either! the boys had sticky toffee pudding with ice cream which was a huge portion which despite them feeling there could have been a little more sauce was nothing short of perfection.

the scotsman offers various options for it’s afternoon tea including gluten free, a strawberries and cream tea and this little lot which is what we opted for:

david harfield finds north bridge brasserie to be a shining example of scottish fine dining fare. the high ceilings of the scotsman hotel’s restaurant seemingly held aloft by towering pillars while dripping candles light the darkened, atmospheric dining room.

the brasserie has a formal restaurant and a bar/cafe area, given it was lunch we opted for the latter. the place looks like a former bank or office building hall with high ceilings, a spiral staircase and the bar in the middle...

what a treat rarely do you find a restaurant that is this lovely inside and has food to match recommend the steak and the pinot grigio and very reasonable will go again when i return to scotland.

impressive surroundings, delicious food. if you are looking for a really nice meal out, not too far from the high street, look no farther than the north bridge brasserie. offering a lunch, pre-theater and dinner menu as well as a wide selection of cocktails and other drinks at the bar this place does it all and does it well. the food is fantastically prepared, reasonably portioned and beautifully presented by a team who are obviously proud of what they do. the wine list is ample and the cocktails at the trendy island bar are lovely and unique costing no more than in similar bars on george street. the historic (while remaining open and airy) atmosphere of this high end restaraunt makes it a treat to visit time and time again.

a restaurant that lives up to it's surroundings. i freely admit that my first visit to nbb was prompted not by the menu, a review or a recommendation, but the building.
the restaurant sits in the old editing room of the scotsman newspaper building. with it's incredible high ceiling, the mezzanine level that hugs the wall in strip around the edge creating a series of intimate booths, the wrought iron spiral stair case, grand piano & island bar this is one brasserie that wears it's ambition on it sleeve.
after all that it would have been truly gutting if the food hadn't been up to scratch. fortunately they try to make the food as impressive as the surrounds. sticking to the classic french/scottish style so beloved in edinburgh, they barely put a foot wrong. by no means cheap, but equally not overpriced, this is an ideal spot of a romantic dinner in the city centre.