Flavours of the month

Food and Drink editor Donald Reid surveys what's new in the eating out scene around Edinburgh as the Festival frenzy looms

t’s hard enough keeping track of new

restaurants in Edinburgh on average more

than one a week opens over the course of the year but the lead up to the Festival is always particularly frenetic. The owners always plan, of course, to open around April or May, allowing a bit of time to get into the swing of things before it all gets too hectic. But delays, hold-ups, unforeseen problems. Let’s just say that during June and July it’s hard to find a free joiner.

One place that did manage to meet its predicted timetable was List readers’ favourite Urban Angel, which has opened a second branch in the old Tapas Tree premises on Forth Street. just off Broughton Street. Nearby, the Bakehouse is now offering classy afternoon teas and properly made sandwiches while Blue Moon Cafe has finally opened up its Broughton Street entrance as a take-away juice and snack bar called Sejuiced.

The Olive Branch Bistro, these days one of Broughton Street’s more venerable establishments, now has a third venue in town on George IV Bridge, while a New Town venue with an even stronger claim to venerability, the Magnum on the corner of Dublin Street and Albany Street, is under the new and revitalised ownership of Chris Graham with ex-Howies chefAshley Ford in the kitchen.

Elsewhere in the New Town the St Vincent Bar is now offering food under the auspices of local chef and at-home caterer Craig McAlpine, a past winner of Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me show.

Under the heading of pubs with decent grub you should also be able to file the Earl of Marchmont on the corner of Marchmont Crescent/Rosneath Street. recently taken over and refurbed by the team behind Café Renroc.

Moving into core Festival territory the longstanding North African restaurant Phenecia on West Nicolson Street has recently been

Olive Branch Bistro

44-46 George IV Bridge, 0131 226 4155, www.theolivebranchscotland.co.uk

This intriguing site has hosted pioneering modern Scottish restaurant Dial as well as Marque Central scion Herbe Bistro. The dining space is one below street level, so count it as one of your hidden secrets in the city centre. Good bistro eating with an increasing slant towards local and seasonal dishes.

10 THE LIST 17—31 Jul 2008

The street level entrance of the new Olive Branch bistro opens onto a small sandwich bar with the main dining room downstairs

(Ia/.«E’ijf’rkk 4,, I. e "~-\\kikitir.v‘ »." '.

~ ~-1’Lv‘?£“L(LLIQ (‘3

,, Ulla marghn'iaiitlté

e, o.» (1 czar! - 72- <

olive branch 0n the go

STYLISH DRINKS WILL BE TO THE FORE AT THE NEW NORTH BRIDGE BRASSERIE

replaced by Pink Olive (see Take Three, below). A block away, style bar 56 North has replaced Human Be-In, serving a fairly standard bar menu as well as an extensive array of cocktails in a setting that’s a winner when the sun is out. Stylish drinks will be to the fore when the

FRINGE FIRSTS - NEW EDINBURGH OPENINGS FOR THE

Pink Ollve

55-57 West Nicolson Street, 0131 662 4493, www.ilovepinkolive.co.uk

A new venture by ex-Howies and First Coast manager Kay McBride that replaces North African diner Phenecia. Designed with a bit of homespun funkiness, it’s essentially a simple, friendly bistro serving fresh, proper food with a canny eye on what's seasonal, sustainable and local.

North Bridge Brasserie in the Scotsman Hotel emerges from a major refurbishment in late July. Elsewhere in the city centre Cate Andaluz is set to open any day on George Street, while on Hanover Street Edinburgh has, once again, at least one restaurant dedicated to Greek cuisine with the opening of Athena from the owners of a restaurant of the same name in Bridge of Allan.

If that isn’t sufficient to give you a few new options for the weeks ahead there’s a more thorough round up of the best of the established restaurants and cafes around town in our Festival Preview Guide, included with this issue.

FESTIVAL 2008

North Bridge Brasserie

20 North Bridge, 0131 556 5565, www.thescotsmanhotel.co.uk

The Scotsman Hotel '5 brasserie and bar has been undergoing refurbishment for much of spring 2008, flinging its doors open again just in time for the Festival. The menu is overseen by head chef Geoff Balharrie with dishes such as Loch Tarbert scallops with black pudding, pea puree and cider.