The List's prestigious Edinburgh and Glasgow Eating & Drinking Guide for 2013/14 was published yesterday, and over 60 local establishments made the cut, confirming Broughton as one of the city's premier tasty destinations.
Even more impressive, 8 Broughton establishments made it to the very top Edinburgh Hit Lists, being picked out by independent judges as among the best in their category.
The relaxed ambience of Fred Berkmiller's L'Escargot Bleu (Broughton Street) has been winning fans here for some time, but judges were particularly wooed by the kitchen where 'French regional cooking meets a genuine commitment to using the best local and seasonal Scottish produce'.
'Too refined an experience to roll into after a few pints', Indian sophistication mixed with 'the comforts of home cooking' charmed palates at The Spice Pavilion (Dundas Street). It was also recommended as a perfect setting for a romantic meal.
Meanwhile, Locanda de Gusti (East London Street) was praised for seasonality and 'sympathetic treatment of seafood and vegetables' (try telling that to the squid). A downside was 'Knowing no matter how hard you try, you can't eat everything'.
North American-style 'bright and breezy ... comfort food with a conscience' pleased at
Smoke Stack (Broughton Street), as did 'a truly pleasurable and different dining experience' provided by 2 'talented chefs' at
The Gardener's Cottage on Royal Terrace Gardens.
Cuckoo's Bakery (Dundas Street) and Valvona & Crolla's Caffè Bar (Elm Row) were among the city's finest cafés. Cuckoo's cupcakes – 'perfect portions of iced design' drew special praise, whilst V&C 'chimes with a sense of well-established quality'.
As a 'wee place', newly opened Casa Angelina (London Street) was described as a 'gem ... offering one of the finest afternoon teas you can find' (and with delicious options for those with special dietary requirements).
Honourable mentions also went to: Al Fresco (Union Place), Anima (Henderson Row), Appetite Direct (), Artisan Roast (Broughton St), The Bakehouse Co. (Broughton St), The Basement Bar and Restaurant (Broughton St), The Bellevue (London St), The Blue Bear (Brandon Terrace), Blue Moon Café (Broughton St), Bon Papillon (Howe St), Bonsai Bar Bistro (Broughton St), Broughton Delicatessen (Barony St), Café Marlayne (Antigua St), Café Nom de Plume (Broughton St), Café Portrait (Queen St), Circle Café (Brandon Terrace), Coffee Angel (Brandon Terrace), The Cumberland Bar (Cumberland St), Drill Hall Arts Café (Dalmeny St), Earthy Canonmills (Canonmills), Elbow (East Claremont St), Elbow (Haddington Place), La Favorita (Leith Walk), French Press Coffee Company (Dundas St), Gaia Delicatessen (Criighton Place, Leith Walk), Giuliano's (Union Place), Glass and Thompson (Dundas St), Hamburger Heaven (Broughton St), Joseph Pearce's (Elm Row), Karen's Unicorn (Abercromby Place), Khushi's (Antigua St), Leo's Beanery (Howe St), Loon Fung (Warriston Place), The Magnum Restaurant and Bar (Albany St), The Marshmallow Lady (Rodney St), New Town Deli (Broughton St), Olive Branch Bistro (Broughton St), Pierre Victoire (Eyre Place), Pomegranate (Antigua St), The Roamin' Nose (Eyre Place), Ruan Siam (Howe St), Russian Passion (Canonmills), Shilla (Dundas St), The Silver Bowl (Albert Place), Stac Polly (Dublin St), Steak (Picardy Place), The Street (Picardy Place), Treacle Bar and Kitchen (Broughton St), Urban Angel (Forth St), Windsor Buffet (Elm Row), Word of Mouth (Albert St), Zen Kitchen (Dundas St).
The full details are issued free with this month's List (Special Issue 711, £3.50). If your favourite pub, restaurant, café, haunt or low dive does not appear, tell us where it is and why it should have been included. You can contact us by
email: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @theSpurtle Facebook: Broughton Spurtle
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Reactions
I'm a Café Numero Nueve [9 Croall Place] customer who went along to the Friday night Mexican pop-up restaurant and was delighted! Described as fresh and interesting, it certainly was that and a great idea to have BYOB! The food was delightful. Full of flavour, not too spicy, and a really fair price. — Jane
