NOW CLOSED - Lunch for 1 at The Edinburgh Larder

On Saturday I found myself with some time between my wedding dress appointment and some pampering at Chamomile Sanctuary, so I took myself off to The Edinburgh Larder for some lunch. We’d missed the chance to dine here a few weeks ago at a blogger evening but made a mental note to visit soon. Today was that day. I was a little nervous about dining on my own, given that it’s not something I do that often. When I arrived all my fears were put to rest. A friendly smile greeted me around the corner and showed me quickly to a raised seating area to the back with lovely natural lighting. So armed with my book, I settled down and browsed the menu.

The menu changes daily and I’d been keeping an eye on their instagram to see what delights I could expect today. The Edinburgh Larder pride themselves on using only the freshest ingredients found right on our doorstep. Everything on their menu is seasonal and because of that doesn’t travel very far. I was excited to see the chicken and mushroom bridies I had spotted earlier were on the menu today.

Nothing on the starter menu perked my interest so I opted for the Gartmore farm chicken and mushroom bridie, slaw and chips and thought I’ll maybe save room for the hedgerow crumble and ice cream.

Gartmore Farm chicken and mushroom bridie, slaw and chips

The smell when my plate arrived was making my mouth water. It took all my strength to not tuck in before I’d taken a picture. The bridie pastry was cooked well, no soggy bottoms here. The chicken and mushroom filling was well seasoned and there was plenty of it. The slaw was a great addition to the plate. Full of crunchy fresh vegetables. The chips didn’t last long. They were the crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside type. I made quick work and before I knew I was on the last mouthful. The bridie was fantastic, I could easily have eaten two but that would just have been greedy. Instead I did order the hedgerow crumble.

I find crumble hard to resist on a menu and when there is lemon tart it’s a tough choice. Thankfully on this occassion there was no lemon tart so the choice was easy. There was a little wait in between the two courses which I was thankful for as it allowed me to read a few more pages of my book and also allowed my food to settle. I had ordered an elderflower cordial and fizzy water which was very refreshing.

‘Hedgerow crumble and ice cream’

The crumble was delicious. It was obvious it had been freshly made as the crumble was crisp and crunchy and the fruit underneath was piping hot. The fruit was a good mix of sweet and tart. The ice cream was a nice addition as it cooled down the dish and balanced out the fruity flavour. I was a little disappointed when the dish was finished.

Everything about my lunch at The Edinburgh Larder was great, the staff friendly, a casual, comfy interior and fantastic food made my first visit a good one. I didn’t once feel uncomfortable reading my book or dining on my own. I would definitely say The Edinburgh Larder is a hidden gem and with set menus of £12 for 2 courses and £15 for 3 courses it’s central location it’s a must visit.

I can’t wait to come back with Mr E and sample some more of the delights they have to offer.

Her x