Excellent, excellent food, however would highly suggest you wait until the construction work is finished on the exterior of the building. This restaurant has a reputation within Edinburgh for a reason and it is because the food is superb, however, with that comes an elevated price tag. On this, due to how much this meal will set you back I would suggest you wait until the building in which it is situated has finalized the construction work because there is no view (yes, literally no view) out of the windows because the blinds are down to avoid patrons from staring directly at scaffolding. read more

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Absolutely AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! My first visit to this place was 12 years ago and we had delicious food and drinks. Since then I was dreaming to come back! Lucky me this place is still open in Edinburgh and still has the same atmosphere, food and even better service!!! Everything was phenomenal! Their oysters are THE BEST! The fish was delicious. The bartender Ibo made my experience even better with his special cocktails. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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Amazing seafood restaurant! My family in Scotland are regulars here and I hope they find a new location soon because this is our favorite seafood restaurant :) read more

Fantastic seafood although a bit overpriced for a sole. The scallops appetizer was good. Nice flavor. The calamari was crisp and light. The bramble was fantastic! read more

Ondine - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The best fresh seafood I have ever had. Our server was lovely and helped us with all choices. We went with the Fruits de mer which is more than enough for two people. Incredible. The best oysters I have ever had. Nice wine list and whiskey list. We finished with olive oil ice cream and macerated berries - perfection. A memorable dining experience. read more

Places don't open up in Edinburgh until noon. If you want lunch at 11:30 a.m., forget about it. You're going to have to wait the half hour, and sometimes more because the UK is on island time. We arrived at Ondine at 12:05 pm and was asked if we had reservations. I said, no, as we didn't know we'd be coming here. The maitre'd was a little exasperated that we were coming in unannounced without making a reservation. Despite this, we were seated. The prices are a little crazy for lunch. For dinner, I could see paying what they were asking, but I ordered the fish and chips and that was 18.95 in pounds. I saw a lot cheaper fish and chips options, but of course you are paying for the ambiance and mediocre service. The mushy peas were fantastic, with a little hint of mint in them, but I can't compare them to any other mushy peas because they were the only ones I tried. The chips were great too. The fish I knew I wasn't going to love because I'm not a big fan of battered fish, and had actually asked for breaded. The waiter asked me if I wanted it battered or breaded, and I got battered anyway. I peeled off the batter and ate the fish, which was good. read more

Ondine - The deep fried haddock. The mushy peas were fabulous. - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

By reputation, this is one of the best restaurants in Edinburg. Yes, deserved! Service is excellent, friendly and very efficient. Everybody hustles and smiles. You'll feel cared for. Creative cocktails! Good bread, soft butter, an appreciated touch. Seafood focused menu, fresh local oysters, raw and also a baked buffalo version. Great grilled lobster. A spacious modern room, a comfortable bar. Worth repeat visits. read more

VERY disappointing experience, from food to staff to pricing. Just overall one of the worst meals in two weeks of travel, and *of course* this was our anniversary dinner. We did our research, as always. A handful of restaurants kept popping to the top of our lists, but we didn't actually knuckle down and make a reservation until much later. I made it a point of adding that we were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in our request. I mean, *we* thought it was something worth celebrating, and though we weren't expecting balloons and confetti and champagne by the buckets, it would've been nice to have been acknowledged by someone other than the hostess (who was the only bright spot to the night, by the way.) We were seated at a table overlooking Victoria Street, and our hostess congratulated us on our anniversary, wishing us a good night as she departed. It all went downhill from there. Our waiter - who is also apparently the wine guy (he's the one who's pictured in a gigantic frame by the kitchen, leaning over a glass and mugging for the camera as wine is being poured in) never bothered introducing himself, asking if we had any questions, or offering to share the night's specials. He came over, stood by the table for a half minute without talking, and then finally muttered something along the lines of, "what'll you have?" My husband ordered a bottle of wine, and the waiter guy walked away without a word. We were going to place an order for appetizers but didn't get that chance. The waiter, meanwhile, was having a grand time laughing with others behind the bar and making it a point to fawn over another couple at a table not far from us. Again - not looking for the fawning-type attention, but come ON! At least crack a smile when we smile at you! Our second interaction with the guy was just as unpleasant. He brought the wine to the table, made a big production out of pouring a spot for my husband to sip and approve (all the while looking like he was so incredibly bored out of his mind), poured our wine and walked away - again, without asking if we were ready to order. Third encounter only came because my husband flagged him down. We told him we were ready to place our orders and didn't even acknowledge that. He just stood there, staring at a space just to the side of our faces, immobile as a statue. Thoroughly annoyed by then, I decided to play that game. So I sat there staring right back at him, wondering how long he'd continue to play a pillar of salt before acknowledging he had a paying guest in front of him. Almost 90 seconds. I kid you not. When he finally deigned to make eye contact, he bit out a curt, "You said you were ready to order. So..." and he made this hand gesture like, "spit it out, already!" I don't know why we didn't just pay for our wine and get the heck out. I really wish we had. I was shocked to run into someone so rude in the city, and even more pissed off to see that he didn't treat any other table this way. We did nothing to get this sort of treatment, and really shouldn't have stood for it. But, we didn't get up. We didn't let him know we were annoyed by his haughty attitude. We ordered our starters (asparagus and a soft poached egg for me; fish and shellfish soup for him), and lest we never see the waiter again, hastily ordered our meals, as well (Lemon Sole Meuniere for me; Brown Crab Risotto for him). At least I know my husband enjoyed his soup. It was hot and had good flavor, served with small bowls of cheese and bread crisps. My appetizer wasn't at all what I had hoped for - the egg was overcooked (soft poached is one of the trickier things to achieve when working with a heat lamp, I'm finding) and the asparagus was limp. I didn't even finish half of that plate. Our food was delivered to the table by the only other friendly person we encountered: an overworked but still friendly waitress. The best thing about my main was the chips - they were perfectly cooked so that they were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Much as I wanted to, I didn't finish them. About halfway through the fish (it was a large serving, I'll give them that), my stomach started to cramp up. I'm definitely NOT saying that there was anything wrong with the fish - I was fine all night and for the rest of our stay in Edinburgh - but I did start to feel queasy at the table, and didn't want to push to eat more than necessary. So, that plate went to waste, as well. My husband and I had decided early on that we were going to forgo dessert at this place in order to find a sweet shop that was more welcoming and inviting. And yet, when we once again flagged the absent waiter down to ask him to clear our plates, my husband surprised me by ordering the tart to share. Again, I wasn't feeling so hot, so I took one bite, but my husband did enjoy it. Really surprised by our evening, given all the love this place gets on Yelp and TripAdivsor. It was just a waste of good money. read more

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Overall a disappointing time. There was no one thing that made the meal truly terrible, but having had Ondine recommended to me I have to say my experience didn't match up with what I had been told. As Isobel C. said, service wasn't bad, per se, but very impersonal. No one introduced themselves, everyone was very cold and constantly busy, like I was a nuisance for daring to eat there. The happy hour menu is confusing; drinks at the top, oyster options at the bottom, but not clearly labeled or written in a way that's easy to understand. I felt like the waitress thought I was an unsophisticated dolt for not realizing that the random word jumble at the top was a type of drink (and not an oyster) until a table behind me had the exact same issue. Also, I thought it was odd that they only had one type of oyster on the oyster menu despite being a seafood restaurant. Usually you can get a variety of different breeds? They also had a bit of an attitude about seating me without a reservation, telling me they didn't know if they'd have room, only for the bar (where I was seated) to be mostly empty the entire time I was there. The food was decent, but not good enough (and too pricey) to offset the other issues. And there was a 10% service fee automatically attached to the bill. read more

I booked this place because of Michelin star status but unfortunately it was rather mediocre. The food is ok, not amazing. Cod in fish and chips was overcooked. Black crab appetiser was the star of the dinner. read more

I visited my son, a grad student at the University of Edinburgh. We went to Ondine the night before I left. I am so happy we selected this outstanding restaurant. As appetizers, I had a half dozen oysters on the half shell - delicious. My son had the Mussels in Garlic Sauce - also delicious. We both had salads, the names of which, sadly, escape me - but they were great. For our main course, my son had Lobster Thermidor and I had the local grilled lobster. The meal, and the service were as good as it gets. We could not have had a better time. If you go to Edinburgh, you really need to treat yourself and have dinner at Ondine. You will be happy if you do so. read more

Exceptional food and service - the food is very fresh and clean. The service was exceptional.

At Ondine, when you see food, eat it. One of Edinburgh's top seafood restaurants. Elegant setting, properly appointed, pressed linens, and well-dressed patrons ready to get their hands dirty diving in to piles of Scotland's best seafood. Straight to it, uber fresh cold water oysters are to die for. 4 to 6 different species, each with its well-defined salinity and incredible creamy texture like nothing available in the States. All show a very clean oceanic finish. It's liquor like sea water accented with just a squeeze of lemon. Do not pass on the roasted shellfish platter. New Haven lobster claws, barely warmed through oysters, roasted Dunbar crab (similar to Florida stone crab), Mull scallop in shell, piles of east coast cockles, sweet, succulent razor clams, plump, fatty creamy Shetland muscles, and tender Tarber Langostines all cooked in rich creamy Scottish butter, a splash of wine, and parsley. A mountain of seafood for 2 to 4 to share. Simply put, outstanding. Each item is cooked separately to proper doneness then assembled together for serving. The simple preparation brings out the best flavor of each shellfish. Still craving more? A plate of grilled scallops. Presented and still attached to their own shells. A broad bean purée adding a vegetal touch that heightens the sweetness. Sausages of pork and offal adds a subtle metallic flavor that accentuates further the clean oceanic characteristic of the scallop. The lemon sole, gently crusted with breadcrumbs lemon peel capers and parsley then fried. Crisp on the outside, moist on the inside. Sautéed brown trim adds a deep "shrimpy" flavor that greatly enhances the flavor of the fish. Finally a Scottish classic, haddock and chips. What to say. Perfectly cooked. The classic minted pea puree further enhancing the mild flavor of the fish. Very well chosen selection of European, old world wines at very reasonable prices. Average bottle price £40. Extremely friendly, proper, efficient and accommodating service. Reservations two months in advance required. In a word, wow! read more

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Exceptional food. The Smoked Salmon crumpets with bacon jam were to die for, you would go there just to have those alone! Main course we had east coast lobster which was wonderful but the star of the shoe was the halibut with the most amazing cauliflower purée..... smooth, creamy & sweet. We pushed ourselves to have dessert, blackberry pavlova which was sensational. Service backed up the food with a great team. 100% will return read more

Ondine - East Coast Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The worst thing about Ondine was the waitress, the cocktail (badly attempted moscow mule), and the oysters. The waitress seemed annoyed that I was asking questions about the menu and didnt seem like she could recommend anything, or knew what even was on the menu. The oysters seemed fresh but just tasteless and not worth it in my opinion. I had asked for a moscow mule and what I recoeved was a watered down vodka drink with some essence of lemon and sparkling water. The lemon sole was pretty good but it needed salt and a bit of lemon - which I ended up taking the lemon from the oysters to drizzel on top of the fish. This dish had a TON of butter. Overall, wouldn't really recommend. The things they're know for are not that tasty and not worth the prices in my opinion. read more

I'd booked Ondine based on on-line reviews and, as it was my girlfriend's birthday, I was hopeful that we'd have a similar experience. Thankfully, there was no need for any concern as the restaurant more than lived up to expectation. We opted for the lunchtime set menu (£19.95 - 2 courses, £23.95 - 3 courses), both choosing Seaside Gin Cured Salmon with pickled cucumber & wasabi mayo, followed by Monkfish Tempura & then we shared a portion of Brie with oatcakes & quince jelly. To accompany this feast we had a lovely white Rioja (the name of which escapes me as we've just consumed said bottle...) The food was fabulous. The flavours in the salmon were stunning and the subtle warmth coming through from the wasabi complemented it perfectly. The colours on the plate were also a wonder to behold. The next course, the monkfish tempura, was the real standout. I love monkfish and its meaty texture and it was ideal in this dish. Crisp and light tempura batter surrounded it and the fish was beautifully cooked. Those flavours added to the ones in the Vietnamese salad accompanying proved to be a stunning combination that had my mouth watering throughout. To finish, we shared a lovely Brie with oatcakes & quince jelly. Sometimes eating an oatcake is like trying to swallow a dry coaster but these were lovely. The Brie was also a fitting way to round things off. (I realise I haven't mentioned the lovely bread to start or the post meal chocolates...!) A wonderful meal that was enhanced by great service. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Ondine was just what we were looking for dinner - seafood! I'd booked about a week before and could only get a quite early time (5.45) but that actually worked perfectly for us so that wasn't an issue. The restaurant is upstairs next to the G&V and is a bit smaller than I expected but really nice decor - classy but not too over the top, so you don't need to worry about dressing up to go here. They offered us the a la carte menu as well as a pre theatre which I didn't realise was available - it had nice offerings on it but we ended up opting for the a la carte just because there was so many more options. The waiter was really helpful when I asked for some advice as I was torn between four dishes - he told me which would work best together for starters & mains and I have to say, he was totally right! I had potted dressed brown crab which came with mini crumpets and was beautifully presented in a little jar. There was actually a tonne of crab as well, a very generous portion and just delicious. For main I had a fillet of sea bass with asparagus and beans. Again, heavenly - a perfect sized fillet with lovely skin and really tasty. A side of baby new potatoes was perfect and I was perfectly stuffed after this! We didn't have dessert and just headed elsewhere for some beers but this was such a lovely meal that I'm sure I'll be back soon. It is on the pricer side but it IS Edinburgh and this restaurant is right in the heart of it all, plus the food was amazing. So it's totally worth it. read more

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Well this place was a bit special. A seafood joint with a real hint (actually a full on hoof) of class through their entire operation. Having only been able to get a 530pm reservation it made sense to dine at this time (I'm getting old...) so as the night was full ours head. First things first a warning - this place is expensive and things quick add up. Without looking too much into it when booking the starters are all £10 and up with mains more. Sides are a fiver each and even the cheapest wines by the glass are on the pricey side. So yeah make sure it's a special occasion kick of place but you'll be well rewarded for the cost. Highlights were the tempura squid to start, which were followed by the scallops and sausage (a strange combo to me anyway but something that I enjoyed) The only downside was that at 7ish they brought our bill over without us asking as if to rush us out (although we were still thinking they maybe got it wrong and meant it for another table...) - but by this time we were so stuffed that dessert was never going to be a goer anyway. Very impressive, a great find! read more

Ondine - Tasty tempura squid to start - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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To give you an idea about how popular and in demand this restaurant is at the moment, I called up last week at the start of the week to try and get a Saturday night table, and was told that the restaurant was fully booked, and had been for five weeks in advance. So my first piece of advice would be to get in there quick if you want to book a table for dinner here, but I would also add that if you enjoy amazingly tasty fresh seafood, of super fantastic quality, then Ondine is well worth the wait. I was lucky enough to get a lunch time table here, which could be a good alternative call if all the dinner sittings are booked up. This is really awesome dining, and has some ornately maritime decor going on, which is classic, but also very stylish. The bar is also super hot, get your date thing going on in here, and then if by the book romance is your thing, order some oysters. I went for the crispy squid with garlic mayonnaise to start, followed by the fish curry, with basmati rice and raita. The menu is simple and unpretentious, but really modern, and undeniably tasty, plus the staff were lovely too. Highly and absolutely recommended. read more

Ondine - Photo from ondinerestaurant.co.uk - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The boy brought me here for a birthday dinner, and since the reviews on Yelp were so favorable I was really expecting something special. Unfortunately, Ondine fell far short and our experience was rather less than stellar. The evening started off on the wrong foot when we were seated next to the only table in the otherwise empty restaurant. Why? It was a bit awkward. Service throughout the meal was aloof and our server was a bit haughty and distant, which, combined with the swish decor, made us feel a bit out of place (and this is far from my first fine dining experience). The real letdown, however, was the food. Ondine's seafood mastery is touted far and wide, but we didn't glimpse it. My 'potato and leek soup, poached oysters' had oyster, singular, and generally lacked variety in texture and flavor. It wasn't bad, but I only ate a third of the bowl before I got bored. The boy's smoked haddock on toast was good, just good. My main, mixed shellfish with white wine and garlic, was unforgivably gritty and several of the clams were overcooked, giving them an awful, snot-like texture. The white wine and garlic broth was overpowered by a generous helping of parsley. The boy's brown shrimp risotto got the same treatment as the soup - boring, and should have been listed on the menu as 'risotto with brown shrimp' considering the quantity of the shrimp in the dish. The best part of the meal was the strawberry Pavlova. I really don't know what went wrong. Maybe it was because we ordered off of the pre-theatre menu and the kitchen didn't want to bother with small spenders. Maybe we chose the wrong dishes. Maybe the kitchen was having an off night. Maybe my expectations were just too damn high. Still, sandy, mushy oysters and bland flavors make for a disappointing meal. read more

Ondine serves up mouthwatering fresh and innovative seafood dishes in a chic, modern atmosphere right in Old Town. We started with 6 oysters (18 GBP), and all of them were unique -- some robust and briney, others fresh and tangy. For mains, we got the brown crab risotto (19 GBP) which was funky and stuffed full with crab, and the monkfish (26 or 28 GBP). Both were tasty, although the presentation of the risotto was a bit subpar (looked a bit like oatmeal) and the portions were on the small side (but hey, I'm American!). We rounded out the meal with the cheese plate (11 GBP) and the treacle tart. The tart was lovely, not overly sweet, although the cheese plate was a bit of the miss for me -- the brie and one of the hard cheeses were both completely devoid of character. Overall, Ondine was a great fine dining experience for our last night in Edinburgh. I was a bit disappointed with our service -- our waiter seemed quite aloof and brusque that evening (not just with us but seemingly with all the tables in our vicinity) but everyone else we interacted with was quite nice! read more

It's hard to pinpoint with some restaurants why they don't hit the spot. Some, it's alarmingly obvious - the service is surly and the food is poor. But with Ondine, that feels a little unfair. The service wasn't surly, it was dutiful and prompt, but just lacked warmth and sincerity; and the food wasn't poor, just average and underwhelming. I don't particularly like to write negatively about a restaurant and it's not easy contradicting the opinion of a great chef like Tom Kitchin, who recommended Ondine in 'Where Chefs Eat - The Ultimate Insiders Guide'. The irony is, I couldn't get a table in his restaurant, so settled for one of his favourites instead. There you have it. If there's a waiting list, it's for a good reason. Ondine has built a reputation for its fresh shellfish which was a huge draw for me. I can't imagine ever not starting with oysters if they are featured on the menu; and if they're on a menu that states Oyster Bar Happy Hour, then that's even more of a draw; happy days indeed. Such a pity they limit you to a dozen each. As with most aquatic entities like bivalves, they speak for themselves - or should do at least if sourced well - with only subtle enhancements necessary so as not to divert from their natural properties. Oysters ceviche packed just enough of a punch to lift this little 'Loch Fyne' up without drowning out its sea breeze nuttiness. Crispy oysters in panko breadcrumbs were also very good - the breadcrumbs light and golden and the oyster mayo dip, silky and subtle. But, tasty as they were, cooked oysters can never retain that immediate impact for me; the breadcrumbs are an unnecessary distraction and I long for that initial odour of the ocean. The young twenty-somethings on a date, perched next to me at the Oyster Bar however, couldn't get enough of them. I suspect their palettes were not quite ready for 'au natural' but the joy of eating oysters together in a smart restaurant obviously felt sophisticated and sexy. It is, of course, both of those things, whichever way you decide to eat them. A 2 course pre theatre menu at £19.00 represented good value for the dishes featured so we opted for that, although our server didn't seem overly impressed when we ordered it at 6.20pm, just before the 6.30pm cut-off. It then crossed my mind .....Happy Hour, Set Menu, House Wine......perhaps we weren't his favourite kind of customers. In retrospect, we should have gone off the a la carte, because if Tom Kitchin is right, 'the shellfish is of fantastic quality' and our oysters had already hinted at that. Starters on the set-menu may have sounded appealing, but duck and chicken liver parfait was too sweet to sit alongside apple jelly and brioche, the sweetness needed toning down, not bumping up. And smoked haddock chowder was all smoke and no haddock; it lacked refinement and was way too thick and starchy, grateful no doubt for the support of the accompanying cornbread which was contrastingly delicate and light. Mains were equally disappointing. A small portion of risotto makes no sense on a set menu. It's an inexpensive dish and set menu restrictions or not, a restaurateur can afford to offer more than a starter size portion. However, it would have sufficed had it been a good risotto. The brown crab was in hiding, and the butternut squash was hard and on guard. In contrast to this, the size of my 'fish of the day' was almost intimidating. A huge filleted plaice in burnt (as in not browned burnt, but burnt burnt) brown shrimp & nutmeg butter, looked like it had been slapped on the wrong size plate. There wasn't any room for manoeuvre, let alone garnish, but that didn't matter because there wasn't any; not even a smear or shred of anything, just this big old slab of fish. Strange how it never occurred to them how unattractive this looked or where a side dish would sit if their clever avoidance of any garnish did have the desired effect. If I was working on the pass I think I'd have to flag this with the chef, even if he is Roy Brett. How odd it must sound, me griping about the size of the plate, not the portion! Sadly, the portion, however large, didn't deliver either. The fish was watery and bland and the burnt burnt butter, with no hint of brown shrimp, did nothing to lift it. I felt my heart sink a little; I so wanted to enjoy it to erase any judgements of its initial appearance, but it wasn't to be. I'm not going to go there with the décor, I'm quite sure most people would love it. The sleek, chic, monotone interiors and elevated position gives the place a sense of drama I suppose. Would I go back? No. But if you do, perhaps heed Tom's advice - stick with the shellfish. And my advice, for what it's worth, don't stray from the a la carte path. read more

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I'm a stereotypical New York snob. I don't mean that I'm a snob who lives in New York, I mean I'm a snob *about* New York. I think New York does everything best. It's unusual for me to proclaim something as "best" outside of NY (that includes, say, gelato or pizza in Italy). We're just awesome, what can I say? But not only did I have the best scallops I've EVER had at Ondine, I also had the very best lobster. Ondine just took these familiar items to a new level. Also, the chorizo that came with the scallops was the best ever too. So that's three items, at one restaurant outside NY, that do things better than my beloved NY. Amazing! Ondine is exceptional, and worth a visit (and the money) if you're in Edinburgh. I want to go back! read more

Ondine - I think this was a duck egg on toast with mushrooms. It was delicious. - Seafood Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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A place I've been wanting to try for ages. It seems you have to book several days/couple of weeks in advance for the weekend. A good sign I guess. The food was top notch. Lovely oysters and scallops to start with and amazingly fresh tasting. I don't know if I had built my expectations up too high beforehand but was a little underwhelmed. But on saying that can't criticise any point really. Lovely setting/atmosphere. Good service and great food. The table next to ours had ordered the fish platter which looked stunning. Maybe I just left feeling just a bit jealous. A little pricier than others but would probably rate the quality of food to match the cost. read more

Great restaurant, great atmosphere, great food. The oysters here are so fresh with a bit of sweet taste, grilled scallop is awesome, though a bit too much for me with sausages. I really really want to try the fruit of the sea, basically a full rack of different kinds of seafood, looks like there is another cooked version, also looks delicious! If I bring my friends to this place one day, I will definitely order one of the two, or both! read more

The seafood platter is enormous. Two of us couldn't finish it. Scallops, oysters, clams, mussels and we added the half lobster because why not. Wonderful service. Hard to get a reservation because of it's ranking but if you can get in grab what ever time is available read more

I had the set menu with baby grill shrimp on the fish, the soup, and blueberry cake. The fried calamari was good also. My friend had each of the oysters which he enjoyed a lot. read more

Walked in right as they open and didn't have a reservation but they were very accommodating. The service was excellent and the food great and tasted wonderful. I am not local but would definitely eat here again when i am back in town. read more

Did our research and were pretty excited. Extremely over rated. This may also be first negative review I ever left. The risotto was pretty nasty and rice under cooked. The squid tempura tasted no better than a late night fried fast food take out spot. Our waiter, who I guess was also one of the managers, should not be "serving" people. Nothing about this place justifies the cost or the category of fine dining read more

Wow this place is up there. Organised a dinner for two for the missus on her birthday, admittedly had it been my own, I wouldn't have went for seafood but Jennie has an - at times unhealthy - obsession with be-tentacled sea-dwellers (she clearly hasn't seen Oldboy!) and on this occasion it was to both our benefits. Seated at a lovely viewpoint by the windows on the corner of George IV and Victoria, we were able to indulge in a spot of one of our (and everyone's) favourite past-times: people watching, while being presented with some complimentary bubbly to celebrate the occasion (an ace touch). The restaurant itself is immaculate, lighting perfectly intimate and the staff absolutely stellar in manner, not coming over as stuffy or imposing, the waiter would pop round every now and then to have a neb and make sure we were fine but didn't feel the need to ask us every five minutes.... points for that! For starters we both went for the Tempura Squid with Vietnamese Chilli dipping sauce..... oh the sauce! Some of the tastiest sauce I've ever encountered. Even the bread got dipped in that badboy, it was unstoppable. The squid itself was also amazing, on par with say the Sheep's Heid Inn. The batter was light and crisp and the squid succulent and crumbly. Lovely. For mains Jennie cleverly chose the Lobster Thermadore with Fries, while I foolishly opted for the Crab Meat Risotto. Don't get me wrong it was great, but filling. And after tasting the lobster, it was obvious I had failed epically.... cue return visit! At first glance the prices made me wince a little, but Ondine are producing some of the best seafood in Edinburgh (okay I don't have much experience to go on with that one but it was all bloody good!) so when the bill came along in no way did I feel cheated. Would gladly go again if only to indulge in that Thermadore again! Another great touch is Ondine's social media presence, almost immediately thanking Jennie for our visit and kind comments. Well played, Ondine. read more

We haven't been to Ondine for a good six years so I had made up my mind for my birthday dinner to come back and revisit! I was really pleased with the window seat as it overlooked Victoria Street and on this particular night it was snowing, so you can just imagine it was picturesque!! The OH choose the wine and it was a French white. It was very dry but went well with the dishes we choose. For starters the OH choose the potted crab and I choose the tempura squid. Both dishes were exquisite. The tempera was deviously crispy! Mains were just as delicious, lemon sole for OH and Isle of Mull Scallops with sausages for me! Desserts were a pretty picture - they look so fragile and such ashame to cut into with a spoon. Ok by this point we are both getting quite full but you can't miss on dessert. Chocolate & Praline parfait was his choice and the mango passion cheesecake was mine. Both came with superb sorbets. Ondine has a lovely chilled dinning experience yet still has that sophisticated edge. We shouldn't leave it for too long again! read more

Joe A very kindly took me here for my birthday in December and it was amazing. Seafood is my favourite genre of food and I have wanted to visit this place for years. When we walked in they wished me a happy birthday, seated us and then brought us both over a complimentary glass of champagne. The environment was very relaxing and the staff were happy and keen to help without being over the top. To start with I had tempura squid. Squid is my favourite dish and this did not disappoint. The portion was a really decent size and it was nice and light. For my main I chose a half lobster thermidor. This was heaven on a plate, beautifully cooked, melt in the mouth cheesy lobster. It was served with a generous portion of chips. There was so much riding on this restaurant as I had wanted to go for so long, but they did not disappoint. I would eat here every night if I had the money. They even wished me a happy birthday on my way out and had tweeted me before I went and after to ask if I'd enjoyed myself. Excellent customer service on Twitter goes a long way in my book! :) Thank you Ondne, you are awesome! read more

Latest contender for my fave restaurant in Edinburgh - this is a great spot for an upmarket seafood-oriented dinner. My companion was taking me for a special treat so had booked a few weeks in advance which I'd recommend - the tables around us only seemed to be empty for a matter of seconds before the next party arrived! The setting is simple, modern and elegant in the dining room, with tables mostly for two around a central bar with some raised bar seating. I slid into my seat enjoying all the smooth dark wood and clean lines, and large windows looking out over the old town. The service was very good at striking that tone that's both professional yet down-to-earth - so let's you know you're somewhere quite posh but at the same time gives you convincingly good advice. We started with some oysters which our waitress confided in us that she couldn't really taste much difference between the different areas, and assured us she'd just choose us some big ones. To me they just tasted of the sea anyway. We followed with salt and pepper tempura squid which was very moreish so thankfully came in a good-sized portion with vietnamese dipping sauce, that had a sharpness that I wasn't sure I liked but was strangely addictive nevertheless! Our waitress also helped me decide what to do for main - I asked her how the lobster was grilled and what it came with, and in the end she offered to do the dish half grilled, half thermidor as I couldn't decide. I'm a newbie to lobster but I thought it was delicious - the thermidor half was tasty but I couldn't have had a whole one with all that sauce. The grilled half was good fun if slightly hazardous as they gave me the proper heavy duty crackers for the shell and claws. Also tasty and a nice complement to the other half, being simply cooked in a little garlic butter. Served with thin-cut chips which got a thumbs up from me. My buddy seemed to enjoy his lemon sole, which also looked perfectly cooked, and we made our way through a nice bottle of Viognier alongside it. We enjoyed seeing some of the shellfish platters arriving for people on nearby tables, but were a bit wary of them being piled high with ice and perhaps a little unfulfilling. Nice to look at, but I'm glad we made the choices we did! It was nice to know they try and source everything as locally as possible too - my lobster was from Newhaven for example, and you could taste the freshness of the oysters. All in all it was a gorgeous meal and a nicely satisfying evening all round - would recommend to any seafood fans who are after a swish meal with family, friends or colleagues (though look out for the naughty painting on the wall by the entrance!). read more

So I have been back and again they did not disppoint!! Was a Monday lunch time and I was keen to spoil my better half. A long lunch beckoned! We started with a bottle of prosecco - great taste and well priced at £22. To our order - as shellfish fans we were torn between the fruit du mer and the roast shellfish platter. After some deliberation we went for the roast shellfish. For starters I had their tempura calamari and she had razor clams with chorizo. Both were fresh and delicious!!! The calamari was tender and the batter crispy - she pointed out it maybe wasnt quite as good as Kanpais...... controversial but I think its close! :o) The greatest thing to me about eating shellfish in a restaurant is the food theatre aspect! before it arrived we were presented with no fewer than 5 different 'instruments'! When it came it looked stunning: lobster, crab, clams, mussels, scallops......all doused in garlic butter!! Not the easiest/neatest thing to eat by dear god was it tasty!! Jd = happy man!! read more

Very elegant, amazing service. Three course dining menu was great, quite a few selections. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked read more

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Since this place served me the worst meal I've had in my entire life, I feel obligated to give them the worst review and rating I've given in my entire life. Walking in, the decor was outdated, the host was missing, and another couple tried to retrieve their own coats from the coat room after finding no one available to help them. These should have been the first warning signs. Regardless, due to the high ratings on Yelp, and the note we got saying our card would be charged if we cancelled our reservation, we decided to keep our table. If you're reading this after making a reservation at Ondine: RUN! Now! Whatever cancellation fee they may charge you is far better than the kind of food and service you'll get here! We arrived for an 8 PM reservation, and our table wasn't ready for nearly 10 minutes after, though the restaurant was almost half empty. We ordered drinks and starters, and our mains. The drinks came quickly, the starters took a while. And this is where things really went south. After our starters, we ordered a second round of drinks... and then waited... and waited some more. Finally, a little after 9 PM, we flagged down our server and asked about our main course. It finally came out, more than an hour after we had placed our initial order. The food was terrible. My boyfriend's langoustine was just ok, and was £30 for 6 pieces. I'm visiting, so I don't know if that is the standard price, but it seems expensive for just "okay." I also had a £20 risotto, and the rice was underdone and still crunchy in the center. The whole thing was pretty inedible, and the portion was small and poorly plated given the cost. What made the experience 10x worse is that the entire wait staff seemed to be ignoring us. Nobody stopped to ask how our meal was, or offer a refill of water. Honestly, most of the staff seemed to be avoiding eye contact or talking to us as they walked by. By this point, there were as many staff as diners in the restaurant, so there was no excuse for the inattentive service. Finally, once we flagged down our server and asked for the check, he asked if my meal was okay after seeing half the risotto on the plate-- I said it was good. Because what else are you supposed to say at the end of your meal, after you've already wasted over an hour and a half at the worst restaurant you've ever been to? We were ready to get out of there. I even tipped like an idiot because I'm American and do so out of habit. Our bill was over £100 before tip, and I regret every pound I spent here. I'm only spending 3 nights in this city, and I'm pretty sad that this dump took up a dinner slot on my itinerary when there are so many more amazing restaurants here. Either way, it's a story to tell, and I hope everyone reading this will be warned of the poor quality. read more

Omg went there for happy hour and thought we would take a seat at the bar, PLEASE NOTE EVEN BAR SEATS NEED RESERVATIONS OR YOU MAY NOT GET ONE. the drinks were delicious and the crab risotto might have been the best one I've ever had. The service was stellar. I had fried oysters that were sinful and I usually don't like oysters. My husband ordered beet and goat cheese salad. The beets we're golden and red and the goat cheese was whipped. I don't usually like this combination either but if all salads tasted like this....id eat beets. Dessert was so worth it. I hope to be back in Scotland and I will eat here again. Just magnificent. read more

Bummer... Was good not great and I feel like I did my research. I only have 3 dinners here in Edinburgh and this one was the let down. I feel bad but honestly Ondine doesn't live up to the article I read. Service is mediocre. Friendly service but not really paying attention... I think they don't train the waiters very well. The waiters mostly looked like college students ... They made many mistakes and I wouldn't usually notice one or two.... But 30 pounds was mistakenly added to our bill by accident... They forgot to replace my fork so I had to ask for one. They kept forgetting to refill our tap water (we drank slowly I promise) ... Embarrassing to ask twice for a refill. Anyhow, there were more mistakes. I saw the young (& very well meaning) waiter spill soup on another table.... Oh dear. Anyhow... Go to "The One" even though it's slightly expensive they have a 3 course option that is actually comparable to 3 courses at Ondine. The One was phenomenal. Amazingly friendly and attentive service. Fantastic flavors without it being 'weird' food. read more

The five stars for this place is largely because the service is the best we've encountered in Edinburgh on our quests, so far. Overall, we said: "we'd have no hesitation in recommending Ondine for the seafood lover in your life. They'll need to pack a few extra quid to gain access to the real fireworks on the menu, but we having a feeling they'll be nicely rewarded. For us, we think the service, which was outstanding and as good as we've experienced anywhere in Edinburgh, was the really outstanding thing. The food wasn't quite to that level, so we don't think we'll be beating a path to their door with quite the vigour we would with some other places, but there's little doubting that Ondine is a high-quality establishment, and well worth a visit" read more

I really enjoyed my experience here. I was here last week with a large group (little note, on booking, because there was 10 of us we had to book about 2 weeks in advance and could only have a table on selected dates.) I think...correction know...that everyone had a wonderful meal. Personally I had the duck liver pate to start, it was glorious. You know when every time you take a bite you wait, just a little bit and let yourself melt? It was like that for every single bite. Probably the best duck liver pate I've ever had, and I'm a bit of a fiend for pate. For mains, I shared a fruits of the sea platter. A mound (a literal mound) of shellfish on ice. Again, it was top notch. Not the most graceful of meals I'd admit, as cracking open crab claws and sucking meat out of various shells is rarely ladylike. I've never had seafood this good. Elsewhere on our table, there was a similar platter but in this case served in garlic butter which just smelled heavenly (and tasted even better than that if accounts are to be believed). they even let my friend keep her shells, which they washed and vacuum packed for her. Dessert wasn't intended when we arrived but everyone was having such a good time we decided to stick around. I had rum and raisin ice cream served with a shot of a delicious caramel sherry. Divine. The coffee smelled amazing too. The restaurant itself is very plush, and not only has comfy chairs at tables, but stools at the 'bar' where people can dine if they're alone. There was at least 5 people over the course of the evening who came in for oysters and sat at the bar. The service was very professional from start to finish and everyone was friendly. the only negative I have is that the toilets are a bit pokey. As we were celebrating this was the perfect choice! I'll definitely go again...if I can afford it! read more