We visited this amazing restaurant that was listed in the Michelin guide. We have been all over the…read moreworld to dozens of Michelin stars places and this belongs amongst them. The staff was amazing and the food was incredible. The venison dish there is among the three best dishes we have had in our life. Highly recommend it! The wild mushroom appetizer was incredible as well. We LOVED our experience here!

A real favourite! Under new ownership since summer 2015, this stylish, friendly restaurant is a…read moremust visit. A great bar area with a huge range of gins and great selection of cocktails. The menu changes monthly and is always innovative and the decor feels very light and almost Scandinavian- it's decorated beautifully for Christmas. Have never had a disappointing meal!

Such a friendly and beautifully set restaurant. The food is picturesque and top notch. Everything…read morewe had, from the large portions of bread paired with roasted red pepper humus to the flaky and flavorful cod, was exceptional. The wait staff is helpful as well as friendly. They prepared a table for us even amidst a packed house. Know that this is not just a restaurant, it's a date night restaurant. We brought the kids, which was perfectly okay, but the setting and price is more date night worthy. This place is terrific! Enjoy!

Great atmosphere and excellent food! I visited Edinburgh with a friend and this is the only…read morerestaurant we went to twice because we enjoyed it so much! I had an awesome chicken & potatoes dish the first time and tomato soup & a salad the second time. The service was awesome too. We visited the first time without a reservation (luck) but if you're looking to go here, especially with 4+, you should make a reservation.

Walking in to The Devil's Advocate in Advocate Close, just above Market St, the large bar greets…read moreyou. We chose the Scottish Road trip whiskey flight. As someone who truly loved little about Scotch, it was a wonderful way to taste and compare smoky vs peaty whiskeys. Fun. Our table was upstairs and we sat next to an open door which allows for fresh cool air. It was a warm day in Edinburgh. Our server was wonderful, patient and really helpful. Our choices were truly delicious. We started with the fish board, olives, and mushroom skewer. We loved them all. I enjoyed the cod main dish, while my wife finished the starters. The side of asparagus was also excellent. The mouse dessert was delicious but very rich, it's enough for 4 people. The cost of dinner was also totally reasonable. I recommend this place highly.

I don't really understand why the ratings are so high at this restaurant. We tried going here one…read moreevening and I messed up the reservation. I'm not used to seeing it in blocks and our end time was bolded but not the start time. We showed up at the end time. We were charged obviously because you have to give a card for a guarantee. I get that. I was fine with it since it was my fault. What I wasn't fine with was the rude (dare I say bitchy?) hostess who I spoke with upon arriving. She was awful to me and looked at me like I was garbage. Even after that, I decided to rebook and pay attention to the time. The restaurant had been recommended to us by a relative as the "best place they had eaten" while in Edinburgh and I wanted to try it. I booked for lunch and when we arrived the male host was lovely. We were sat early (because I always show up to a reservation early) and then we waited almost a half an hour for the one waitress there to come and help. It was fine. I can understand they are understaffed and busy. But then the food, it was also just fine. It was decent but not great. Like a lot of things in the UK, it's understated and seasoned. My husband had the pappardelle and my two children and I had the flat iron steak. His pasta had zero flavor. It was a cream based sauce. It needed more salt. As for the steak, it was fine. It was cooked well. Mine was medium rare and the kids both had medium. It was also not seasoned well. However the steak was served with a dipping sauce (a garlic sauce, a peppercorn or lemon mint). We tried all three since we had three steaks and those were all good and kept the steak from being bland. On the plate were chips (fries), which were not salted well but we had the dipping sauces. Also on the plate was plain arugula and a couple on the vine cherry tomatoes. Nothing spectacular. The waitress didn't come back once the entire time we were eating. Overall, it just wasn't worth it for the money we paid.

Fabulous and generous portions. Our party tried multiple dishes and all loved them. I had the…read morechicken with smoked cheddar potatoes and it was amazing. Great service and we were in and out without feeling rushed. Definitely recommend a reservation

We visited Makars Mash Bar in Edinburgh and ordered the lamb shank and pork shank, both served over…read moretheir famous mashed potatoes. Both dishes were outstanding and showcased exactly why this restaurant is so highly recommended. The lamb shank was incredibly tender, rich, and flavorful, practically falling off the bone with every bite. The gravy paired perfectly with the creamy mash, creating a hearty and satisfying meal. The pork shank was equally impressive--crispy on the outside, juicy and succulent on the inside, with deep, savory flavors throughout. The accompanying red cabbage and slaw added a nice balance and freshness to both plates. Portion sizes were generous, the presentation was excellent, and every component felt thoughtfully prepared. If you're looking for authentic Scottish comfort food in Edinburgh, Makars Mash Bar is a must-visit. Both the lamb shank and pork shank were exceptional, and we'd gladly order either again.

What an amazing experience. Great historic establishment…read more I got my first taste of Haggis and it was grand. You have to go here !

A short distance off the Royal Mile, this tavern and restaurant has historical charm and is quaint…read more Service was a little slow but the food and beverages were good and it wasn't touristy.

We stayed here for five days while attending a wedding at the nearby Barony Castle, and I can't…read morepraise The Horseshoe Inn enough! The rooms at the inn were small but cozy, with comfortable beds and everything you need included. The free breakfasts at the attached pub were generous and delicious, as were all the meals. The fish and chips were heaven! The chicken and leek pie was amazing, with a flaky crust and creamy, tasty interior. The staff were friendly and helpful but not at all intrusive. And to top it off, the bus from central Edinburgh stops right outside the inn door. The setting is bucolic, the food beyond delicious, the rooms cozy - I really hope I have another chance some day to stay here!

WE SEEMED TO hit every traffic light from Newhaven to Sir Harry Lauder Road as we journeyed south…read moretowards The Horseshoe. I cannot stand others' lateness, particularly when it comes to eating arrangements, so I was slightly embarrassed to call ahead and advise of our unfortunate delay. This unassuming restaurant with rooms is situated 17 miles from Edinburgh city centre, just outside of Peebles (Eddleston to be exact). I knew very little about it, bar the odd comment that "it has a good reputation" and held two AA Rosettes. After a torrid hour-and-a-half trek I was in need of a glass of wine, never mind a three-course lunch. Let's hope that those earlier comments were accurate. A chat with the Maître d' ed to a glass of a rather special Albarino (2014) "Contrapulto" from Rias Baixas, Spain being ordered. It had a stunning colour and texture to it with fruity notes and a hint of lemon. Its richness meant that it was the perfect sipping wine and I reckoned it would pair very well with the seafood dishes I was about to tackle. My starter was an eye-pleasing bowl of smoked pancetta, clams, coco beans and chorizo. It had a wonderful aroma to it. I delved in to find a slight bite to the beans and a rather opulent sauce-come-soup in the bottom that had a welcome smack of salt and smoke from the pancetta. The clams were grit-free, thankfully, and melted in the mouth along with little morsels of squid that graced the plate with a hint of the sea. There was no chorizo as billed, but I didn't miss it; the pancetta flavour was more than enough. Sarah elected to try the pressed pork terrine with sour cherries, cashew nuts, chutney and chicory. Serving temperature can often be an issue with terrines but this one had been allowed to come to room temperature before leaving the kitchen. It was moist and properly set with crunch from the nuts speckled throughout. The apple chutney sliced through the fattiness while the chicory brought contrasting bitter notes, as well as texture. An earthy sweetness was chaperoned in by some courgette ribbons but the best thing about it was the cherries. They weren't overly sour but really harmonised with the other tones of flavour. I fancied the roast but for reviewing purposes had to go for the hake with a crispy fish cake, broccoli and mussels since Sarah won the toss. I say that like it was a chore - it wasn't at all. The fish was beautifully cooked, crisp skin and all. The tasty flakes of hake marvelled in the puddle of juices at the bottom of the bowl where it gleefully played around with some tender shallot rings cooked well enough to still bring bite to the dish. The lemon flavour from the fish cake was what really brought this dish to life; its prominence was admirable and even complemented the expertly executed broccoli stems. Sweet mussels were a little bonus on what was a very accomplished piece of cookery. It would have to be a spectacular roast to top that main course and it was as equally superb. The sirloin of borders beef yielded with little resistance. The Litmus test for a great roast is in the spuds for me, but this attempt was spot on - crisp exteriors and fluffy interiors all round. A crunchy homemade Yorkshire pudding hit the brief but it was the medley of autumnal vegetables that made this dish memorable. The assertive, slight bitterness of the chard was met with sweet carrots and roasted beetroot, but those delectable onion petals were the real star for me. The only quibble here was that Sarah felt the beetroot could have been slightly softer. All good things must come to an end and my lunch concluded with an old-school vanilla rice pudding with poached apricots and apricot sorbet. The key here was that the rice pudding wasn't too sweet and the rice still had a presence. It was creamy but with waves of vanilla tantalising the palette. I got a flavour of cola bottles from somewhere that I really liked and the cold sorbet weighed in with a contrast in temperatures. Cherry savarin with cherry sorbet, vanilla and fig was another pretty dish. The savarin was moist and the different textures on the plate were a deligt to eat. Fig was the dominating flavour rather than the expected cherry but the combinations of the smooth sorbet and the cake, coupled with the vanilla cream, were divine. This was one of the most enjoyable meals I've had this year. The consummate professionalism of the service, outstanding cooking and exemplary wine offerings coalesced to create a fine dining experience that not only ticked all the boxes but came at an extremely reasonable price to boot.

What a find! Wonderful food, drinks and service. As a vegan I don't expect a lot from any menu but…read moreI have found repeatedly, especially in Scotland, that there are always great choices. I had a lovely sausage in garlic, cranberry and tarragon gravy and fresh vegetables. My husband had the fish special and raved. If you are in the area, I highly recommend this lovely little pub.

To this day their Steak & Ale Pie is the best I've ever had, wish it wasn't across an ocean or I'd…read morebe a regular for that alone! Delicious and tender beef, savory gravy and a light and flaky top all made this a meal I still dream about, definitely try it if you have the chance!

Ah the kings Arms a fine establishment, outside seating was comfortable and enjoyable. The wait…read morestaff was pleasant and kind, and the food was very good. I had a the fish and chips, the fish was nicely fried and was a generous portion. Fries that came with the meal, and Cole slaw was equally as good great crunch on tang on them.

I've visited twice on my way to ascend the Eildon Hills and tour Melrose Abbey, unfortunately it…read morerained too much to climb on my first visit last week. The service is very personal, great coffees, full Scottish bar with about a dozen taps. They have a few TVs for watching g football or golf and a several nice dining areas. They play jazz over the intercom during the day so it's very relaxing. The food! It's astonishingly good. I had a very good burger with trimmings on my first visit (sometimes beef burgers are not what Americans are used too in the UK). Today I had a wild mushroom bruschetta and a salad with smoked haddock omelette. Yum. Stop by if you're in the area.

What a little jewel I found!…read more The Mill Inn is located in Coulter 5 min down the road from Biggar and 45 min from Edinburgh. It is easy to find as it is pretty much the only restaurant/bar in that area. It also has its own beer garden and in the summer this must be a plus. I believe that this building was once an old Mill and you might think so from the name it got today :-) Inside the floor is covered with typical Scottish designed red carpet, dark furnishing, wooden benches and beams. There is no doubt the restaurant downstairs has its charms. On the other side of the room, away from the dining tables there is a small bar with lots of different whiskey choices. Upstairs you will find additional seating and a small whisky bar with lots of different whiskey's on offer and for sale. The most expensive one costs £1500 Highland Park and last week they sold a £3000 special edition of some sort. No worries, you can also buy affordable whiskey from well known brands. Our voucher deal offered a starter and main course for a very good price. We ordered Shrimp salad and baked brie as a starter. The brie was soft and filling (you get two pieces), served with cranberry sauce. There was no brie spared. As a main we ordered Chicken Fajitas and it came with 3 sauces (salsa, sour cream, guacamole). Not only this, the chicken was served still on a hot plate, sizzling in delicious spices hot and mild, garnished with peppers and onions and a delicious sauce of some sort, which made the taste even more delicious. We also decided on coffee and with it they served a small piece of fudge, which was such a nice gesture. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. It is a very busy place and best you book a table before turning up unannounced. I will be back ! Whoop

One of the worst dinner services I've had in a LONG time…read more The food was barely mediocre. My lemon sole, a special of the day, was utterly tasteless, and didn't have the slightest hint of lemon. Not even a lemon wedge. And it was raw in the middle. Yuck! The worst part of our experience was the absolutely horrendous service, which was so incredibly slow that it was obnoxious. Waitresses buzzed past our table in their hurry to other tables, while we sat for an eternity. The only explanation I can think of is that my husband is Black, and we've encountered this issue before at restaurants. In any case, the service was downright inexcusable. I wouldn't ever go back.

Stopped for breakfast before heading home to Scotland, lovely full breakfast and free coffee…read morerefills. Great cafe with a good selection of cakes, bakes and sweet treats, and a cracking breakfast menu. Nice outdoor play park for the kids and excellent farm shop for picking up good quality local produce.