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Forage and Chatter

4.7 (43 reviews)
ModerateScottish
Closed • 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Forage and Chatter Photos

FORAGE AND CHATTER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Forage and Chatter

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Jay G.

Food was beautifully presented and delicious. The only drawback was the booth that we sat at was very uncomfortable and actually distracting from the quality of the restaurant. The restaurant is overly casual for the quality of the food.

Kathleen L.

From beginning to end, Forage & Chatter was the best dining experience during my four days in Edinburgh. As a solo traveler, you never know how you will be received, but I never felt more at home and comfortable as I did when I walked through the doors of the restaurant. I spent over two hours dining here. Daniel, if you are reading this I will be forever grateful because you taught me so many new things about wine and whisky & were probably the best waitstaff I've ever had. Food: I ordered A LOT! The beef tartare was like an explosion in your mouth and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I also got the Cod and the pasta, both delicious, but the flavors in the Cod won me over. I also did the cheese tasting plate paired with whisky for dessert. I was fortunate to hate nearly the entire place to myself for a little bit of time since I booked an early reservation and I am so glad I did. The ambiance and decor was picturesque - calming garden/farm house vibes almost. The entire staff worked together to make sure everyone was well taken care of, they all worked as a team which I always appreciate. Just make a reservation and try it for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Beef Tartare
Taylor W.

If you are in Edinburgh, this place is a MUST. It is a charming, quiet escape from the busy city streets with a farm-to-table vibe. The staff and service were wonderful and welcoming, and very attentive (especially traveling solo, this is an important element for me!) I had the beef tartare and mushroom tagliatelle, and they were SUPERB. Can't recommend this little gem enough, and definitely make a reservation to avoid any disappointment.

Butternut squash
Sarah A.

Found d this place on yelp and it was 3 min walking distance from my hotel. We did made reservations just in case. IT's tucked away on the bottom floor so not very visible if you are a US visitor. Stuff was professionals and friendly. The food was probably the best I had in Edinburgh. And I had all kind of food in all places. The ambiance was also pleasant, even though it has no windows because it's on the bottom floor it didn't feel cramped. It's a small restaurant do not very ideal for big groups of over 6 We will be going back. The menu is small and it was perfect. If you are in the area you must stop by and try them.

Emanuel G.

If you look for a cute restaurant in Edinburgh with great food and a friendly service, I can highly recommend this restaurant!

Peterhead Cod, crab bisque, celeriac, peppers   £28

Wow, so glad we found this restaurant. It was our first meal during our trip to Edinburgh and it was one of the best I've ever had! The duck leg confit and tomato focaccia starters were amazing. I had the cod and crab bisque for my meal and drank all the drippings from the bowl. The service was perfect as was the setting. I absolutely loved my experience here. Well worth the money.

A tasty Arancini
Ben J.

A spectacular dinner, my absolute favorite in Edinburgh to date. From the charming tucked-away ambiance and little differently decorated rooms to the attentive and helpful waiters to the delicious food, this was all in all a true 5 star experiance. High class dining without pretension will always be my holy grail, and Forage and Chatter has done an excellent job of achieving just that. The appetizers, arancini and "mushroom 7 ways" showcased local ingredients, cooking finesse, and creativity. The mains, duck and leek pasta were hearty and satisfying. The dessert, especially the cheese board, was very thoughtfully selected and a great value. Overall it was awesome. Great service from the staff, who helped us pick wine, and comped a meal at the table behind us at the merest hint of dissatisfaction from the diner. Would, and likely will, return.

liana n.

This was the best meal I have probably ever had in my life. I tried TONGUE and it was incredible. Service was unmatched. This is on my must return list for when I am next in Edinburgh. Do not skip.

Monkfish

I can't say enough about my experience here. Hands down, the best meal I've had in the UK! I came in about 6:30 alone and was warmly greeted by all the staff. It is an adorable and quaint restaurant that's perfect for small groups or solo travelers (like me!). I had the baked beetroot, the monkfish, and chocolate mousse. The detail of presentation, flavor, and preparation was perfection. Upon leaving, I kept thanking the staff for my experience. If ever in Edinburgh, you HAVE to eat here. I strongly recommend a reservation, as people came in after me and they didn't have anymore available tables. The patio area looked adorable, but I was grateful for wherever they sat me. I will remember this meal from my trip!

Bread with pesto and butter
Naz C.

My husband and I decided to come here after seeing how close it was to our hotel (read: Edinburgh is so beautiful and after walking for several hours, we didn't want to take any extra steps) and reading the fantastic reviews. This cozy spot is the best food we have had in Edinburgh so far. Before you go, you will want to make a reservation, since even on a Tuesday night during the non peak season (for tourists) this place had to turn some folks away (very politely though, asking if tomorrow was suitable for them to get a reservation set up). You can call or set up a time online. We started with a bread course with pesto and butter. Nice bite size start and different from other restaurants in the area that serve sliced "sandwich" bread with your meal. We opted for two starts, the venison carpaccio and the scallop. Both were outstanding in their presentation, flavor, and attention to detail. We ordered the mushroom risotto and the lamb for entrees. Both were reasonable portions and again, some of the most creative and delicious food we have had. We finished off with a delicious praline custard and ice cream. Everything was beautiful and the service was fantastic. We really enjoyed the experience! We did not order any wines or spirits, but their list is extensive. There is a service charge automatically included (it was reasonable). We would love to come back to this spot should we have a chance in the future!

Alicia C.

Came in for lunch with a reservation, which I recommend just so you make sure you get a table. We sat in the back terrace area and it was really charming and cute. The wait staff was very friendly and welcoming. We had a fantastic meal that felt like we were eating the best of Scotland's wonders. The seafood, vegetables, and poultry were all stunning. I walked away with a smile on my face, fully content, full and wishing I could come back immediately. A winner in my book.

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Review Highlights - Forage and Chatter

“The wait staff was very friendly and welcoming.”

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A Room in the West End

A Room in the West End

4.3(11 reviews)
0.1 mi•West End
•£££

This is a Scottish themed restaurant, just downstairs from the pub, Teuchters…read more Vibrantly painted, yet still quite traditional - it's warm, comfortable and welcoming. 'Tables for two' tend to be placed in tiny little alcoves. Very intimate. But not so ideal if you're not particularly hoping for an 'intimate' dinner. I've felt rather uncomfortable when I've been put in an alcove with a 'date' that I didn't know very well at allI felt completely separated from the rest of the restaurant and wished I was sitting up at a normal table with the rest of the clientele! But it made for comedy value later anyway. The food is delicious. And even better is the fact that Vegetarian Haggis usually finds its way onto the menu in some form or anotherwhether as a starter or a main course. Definitely a favourite of mine! The restaurant is licensed, but feel free to take along a bottle of your own wine if you like. The corkage is rather reasonable too. Lunch deals are rather excellentbut expect to pay more if you go in the evening. Well worth it though. A lovely restaurant and one of my favourites in Edinburgh!

I brought two irish friends here for dinner for a Scottish experience and they certainly got one!…read moreThe restaurant is under Teuchters bar and you can get drinks from there to have with your meal. The bar has a very extensive drinks menu so we tried some different ales and whiskeys. The food was delicious, I had a really nice chowder to start and then pollock wrapped in parma ham, it was great. The winner at the table was the chorizo and pidgeon salad, very tasty. The desserts were good, not amazing, my friends were unsure what was in their creme brulee but it turned out to be cranachan, an odd combination! The table was split 50:50 on whether it was good or not so the verdict is still out! Overall we had a fantastic meal. Oh yea it is BYOB too which is always good ; )

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A Room in the West End
A Room in the West End
A Room in the West End

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Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Crown Of Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder With A Rich Horseradish Infused Gravy

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

4.8(549 reviews)
0.6 mi•Old Town, Royal Mile
•££

Tip: There is a long wait here, so make a reservation or check in and then go for a shop on nearby…read moreVictoria street and total mile. However do not let the wait deter you, this place is not overhyped in the slightest. Everything came out delicious, hot, and fresh. Highly recommend the mustard mash and the lamb shank. Also a pro for the Americans - service was awesome and they brought us a water bottle every 5 minutes - immediate five stars!! Olivia and Neo were great and so nice and accommodating. Definitely stop by!

One of our first meals in Scotland so we had to try hqggis…read more Having made a reservation we had lunch just after our Edinburgh castle tour at Makars which was just down the hill. Service was efficient and friendly despite the full house. Although we were seated next to the kitchen, our booth still had the privacy and was shielded from the sounds and bustle. Everything was pretty good although a tad salty for our palate. Haggis is an acquired taste though and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. We celebrated one of our gang's birthday by ordering sticky toffee pudding and some other desserts to share. To our surprise the restaurant waived the cost of the sticky toffee pudding which was the most expensive dessert we had. That simple thought made a great impression for us as we were totally not expecting it and the server didn't even tell us until we told them they made a mistake by not charging us.

Photos
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Downstairs inside the restaurant

Downstairs inside the restaurant

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

Homemade Free Range Gourmet Scotch Egg

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Pork shank and mash potatoes

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Pork shank and mash potatoes

Howies - Ribeye

Howies

4.2(229 reviews)
0.6 mi•Old Town
•£££

What a great place for some good food- gin forward drinks were great and they have a lunch special…read morefor 20 pounds - seasonal soups and great food options We started with focaccia and olive oil I had the mushroom soup and the pea and asparagus risotto/ others had the salmon / fish soup Would definitely return Vegetarian friendly

Howie's was our first dinner stop on our first day in Scotland. I wanted a nice restaurant that had…read morea vegetarian version of haggis (so I could dive right in...), and we had made a reservation weeks in advance of our trip. All good! This Howie's location is on Victoria Street (one of the most photographed streets in the world and the visual influence for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley...it's a few minutes' walk from the center of the Royal Mile, so the location is fantastic. Our reservation was on the early side, and the host made a point of telling us a couple of times that they'd need the table back after a certain period of time. We don't really dwell for hours in restaurants, so that note is not something we really needed, and after seeing it in the reservation confirmation, as well as being told twice by the host, there was a little bit of a feeling that the entire purpose of us being at Howie's was to get out as soon as possible so they can have the table back. Besides that tone-setter, the service and food were fantastic. Our server took a lot of time going through the options with us...she gave me a good perspective on the vegetarian haggis I was getting to help me contextualize its flavor and texture with the real thing, and was very nice! The asparagus and pea risotto I had was also beautiful and had good flavor. As a vegetarian, I appreciated that the menu had everything labeled with dietary restrictions. (which seems to be more of a standard in the U.K. than in the U.S., but this was our first dinner stop in the country, so it's worth noting.) Howie's gave us a good introduction to Scottish cuisine. Its location couldn't have been better, and our server was aces. I hope we gave the table back in time to not cause a panic. ;)

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Howies - Beautiful bar

Beautiful bar

Howies - Lobster 1/2

Lobster 1/2

Howies - Mussels appetizer

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Mussels appetizer

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Vegetarian sausage with spicy sauce and Mash.

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

4.5(28 reviews)
0.1 mi•West End

Thanks to something that went viral, the whole world knows about, and is seeking out, Makars Mash…read morein Edinburgh now. What does this mean for you? MAKE A RESERVATION. And make it sooooooooo, so, so much further in advance than you think you need to. Bookings open 90 days in advance; there's no bookings taken in August; and while they always "welcome walk-ins and do their best to accommodate folks on a first-come, first-serve basis", you should still expect an hour (or, let's be honest, more) wait no matter what time of day it is. Is it worth it though? Yes! I've sat inside and outside over the past decade, and have loved both experiences/atmospheres (the inside is very intimate, cozy, and bustling; the outside feels a little more relaxed, like you're sitting on a friend's patio). The staff (minus the host who - no matter who it is - is always super surly) is friendly and engaging. And the food? SO GOOD. You want that haggis, neeps, and tatties experience? Come here. There is literally something for everyone regardless of your dietary restrictions. The plant-based options are delish, and I can't recommend the Roasted Chestnut & Carrot Haggis with Whisky, Peppercorn, and Cream Sauce (make sure to ask for it vegan, I think it has something to do with the sauce). Also, just because it's a cute note from their menu: "For the haggis purists, the mixing of spices, tree nuts, seeds, lentils and pulses is something that has happened for centuries, meat was extremely rare in Scottish cooking." So there, stop saying veggie haggis isn't real haggis. LOADS of mash options: if you're vegan I'd go with the Wholegrain Mustard first, Olive Oil (if they have it) as a second option, or the Chilli Smoked Bean Medley as a third option (just because there's already a lot of other flavors going on). Now I just wish they had more vegan dessert options (sorbet is boring, give me a vegan sticky toffee pudding option please)!

The food was absolutely incredible. By far the best meal we had while in Edinburgh, and while there…read morewas a wait, it was worth it. The only minus is that people are packed in, so if you're lucky enough to be seated next to someone who has the typing noises on their phone set to 500 dB and is typing all throughout the meal, it's going to take some shine off the experience.

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Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Mushrooms with cheddar and chive mash

Mushrooms with cheddar and chive mash

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Salad with Scotch egg.

Salad with Scotch egg.

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar - Lamb shank with Mash

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Lamb shank with Mash

Usquabae - I'll just take it all.

Usquabae

4.7(41 reviews)
0.1 mi•New Town
•££

Three of us came for a whiskey tasting and were fortunate enough to land with Daniel who took us…read morethrough a flight of whiskeys. The experience was educational and Daniel was charming and a great guide through our whiskey education. I am not a whiskey drinker and I don't think I will ever be. That said, I loved this tasting. I learned something new and different! Definitely give it a shot if you're curious. It was well worth it.

I'm going to swim against the current on this one, but Usquabae ([ooh-ska-bay], n. aqua vitae,…read morewater of life, whisky) just didn't do it for me. We came in around 3 or 4pm and asked if we could get a drink; the host asked us if we had made a reservation. We hadn't, and they made a bit of a fuss about "squeezing us in" (at this point there was only one other person in the entire place - a man drinking at the bar). As long as we "weren't there for food" they could accommodate us. For the record: we were here for an hour, and no one else came in during that time. The whisky options were impressive featuring something from all the regions of Scotland, and we also appreciated their cider and cocktail options. In the end we each had one drink, but genuinely felt a bit disinterested and disappointed by the place on the whole after the hype we had read/heard. We just didn't get what made it THE place to go to in Edinburgh according to so many. We found much more interesting, down to earth, genuine places elsewhere in the city. The cold reception didn't help, but -- really -- what are we missing about this place?

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Usquabae - Veggie option--risotto! Very well presented.

Veggie option--risotto! Very well presented.

Usquabae - Veggie neeps and tatties--don't know what the sauce is, but it was delishhhh!

Veggie neeps and tatties--don't know what the sauce is, but it was delishhhh!

Usquabae - Bunker decor!

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Bunker decor!

The Scran & Scallie - Scottish asparagus crepe

The Scran & Scallie

4.5(168 reviews)
0.6 mi•Stockbridge
•£££

The food at this place was truly remarkable... Maybe one of the best meals I have ever had -…read moreespecially the scallops. The environment was also remarkable. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Did I mention the scallops? The mocktails were also tremendously good. Best haggis we ever had!

Had an amazing dinner at The Scran & Scallie last night - our first evening in Edinburgh and it was…read morea terrific way to start our Scotland vacation! Service was friendly and efficient. Cute space in a neighborhood outside of the touristy area - easy bus ride from old town especially if you take it in the correct direction to start, oops! - Scallop and potato starter - 5/5 really delicious three scallops on a small bed of smashed potatoes with something deliciously crunchy on top, presented in scallop shells, pretty! - fish pie - 5/5, dining partner had this and the bite I had was delicious - shrimp, fish, don't know what other seafood inside but yum! - fish & chips - 5/5, I laughed when the plate arrived with an enormous piece of fish and then proceeded to eat the whole thing. Homemade tartar sauce the best I've ever had. Chips were like steak fries, so good! Crisp on outside, soft and steamy on the inside. I tried to finish them all but could not there were so many! - broccoli on the side - 4/5 solid offering to round out the meal - toffee sticky pudding with pecans and vanilla ice cream - 5*/5 this was outstanding! The best I've ever had and wish I hadn't polished off the entire fried fish so I had more room to have more of this! Highly recommend Scran & Scallie when you're in Edinburgh and want to get a terrific friendly meal outside of the tourist zone

Photos
The Scran & Scallie - Kitchen view

Kitchen view

The Scran & Scallie - Scallops

Scallops

The Scran & Scallie - Whiskey cocktail

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Whiskey cocktail

Forage and Chatter - scottish - Updated October 2026

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