I would like to suggest only five places in
the Old Town. The number of independent cafes is high, but a wide percentage of
them is frankly miserable, despite the effort: grumpy stuff, wrong cooking
procedure, poor primary sources, clumsiness in the how-to-roast-a-coffee.
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| The old town, back in the days |
Considering the average prices a customer usually has to confront with, it is
then reasonable to choose only what’s best on the market: like bees do, it is
worthy picking up solely the nectar from the top flowers.
Why only this five? Some people may argue –
with some rightfulness - that Le café Gourmand, Bar Artista, The Olive tree,
Biblos, Black Medicine, Patisserie Valerie (though it is chain), Elephant
house, The Scottish storytelling centre and Café Turquaz are pretty good as well. Many other friends talked
favourably of the Chocolate tree on
Brunsfield, but I could not pay a visit! In the end I wished to review those
place I knew better, where the staff was always friendly, helpful and
professional and where the food was every time impeccable and innovative.
Ollybongo: simple and splendid, especially the cutlery
that seems to belong to a Scandinavian monarch (for my Canadian best friend
Chels) to the Easter Island mysterious former inhabitants for me.
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| Easter Islands or Rapa Nui |
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| Magnificent Cappuccino |
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| Helpful portion of pancakes |
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| My vegetarian breakfast |
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| Greek-ish Mediterranean breakfast and Chels' French manicure |
The food is
delicious, coffee and cappuccino were over the usual standard, the portions
helpful, the service very kind. I tried it for a veggie British breakfast, but
I feel it has some interesting wild cards for the other daily-meals as well!
The toilet is functional.
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| How Olly Bongos looks from the outside (red frame) |
Peckhams: lunch…oh what a memorable lunch! I have been here with several
friends: David & Carolina, Marie & Gaëtan to mention two solid couples. My own couple did not survive, but I preserve a relish of great memories. Anyways, in Peckhams can pick up from the aisle what captures your attention and then an
extremely enthusiastic staff will promptly serve you at the tables. Quality is
superb, prices are a bit too high for a student wallet. Yet, if you wish to
treat out someone or just yourself for a blossoming brunch Peckhams is
brilliant choice. Moreover, if you wish to food-shop you can seriously find
some of the best delicatessens in town. The toilets are downstairs: an occasion
to peep into the cellar.
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| Antipasti artichokes as big as scepters |
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| Soup of the day with brown bread |
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| Quiche comes always with salad |
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Peter’sYard: Peter, as a person, can be considered a fanatic,
yet in a good sense. His ambition is that of making people happy and
comfortable, to deliver the best to them. Check this review as well.
Basia, a recent incredible friend, told me, Peter
changed his oven almost after the purchase, since he wanted to deliver a
different pizza, not jut a belly-filler one. He truly believes in what he does!
Pizza, desserts, bread, scones, tea and coffees are embarrassingly gorgeous.
I
regret it is too central, so, of course, swarms of people who appreciate his
philosophy gather there. The university is close by and because it is
fashionable it is full of hippy-hipsters as well.
Food-prices are convincing
and the staff looks committed and sympathetic. Perhaps the service is too slow!
Toilets are clean and spacious and marked by cookie cutters.
VictorHugo is, instead, dimensional portal to France.
From the frame, the tablecloths and the offer of produces you are not anymore
in Edinburgh. Now that I live in Paris, I can confirm this early impression.
The variety of tarts and specialities puts some joy-powder on your wings. They
also display a wonderful range of teas: as you may remember Teapigs is becoming
my tea-obsession. And, for carnivorous palates, their aisle keeps both Spanish
and Italian hams is well equipped. The Italian Parma ham I tasted was beyond
imagination, yet dully cut too thickly.
Prices are meant to attract the posh
students dwelling in Marchmont road,
but the standard is seriously high and the staff well trained to make you stay
at ease. Even the toilet is fancy, dark and glittery as a cave or a submarine,
Spartan and elegant at the same time.
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Possibly the greatest French writer,
buried inside the Panthèon, Paris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Hugo |
Evidently, pioneers of sustainable nourishment
run Earthy. We have to make a
distinction between the food warehouse
and the cafeteria. Within the first
one you can find raw materials and primary sources, like in a supermarket,
whereas the cafeteria puts in acto
the care for this food philosophy. Both are top quality areas. I won’t comment
on the food hall here, but it deserves a visit: especially if you wish to find
organic and biodynamic wines when you pay homage to some of your friends.
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| The patio area |
The cafeteria offers a unique
coffee…wondrously done and close to the best Italian tradition. I feel to
complain only with sizes. If you want a cappuccino, ask for a white coffee,
since the actual cappuccino is a bath full of milk: the service is quick and
extremely warm and in the end you seriously wish to leave tips. The environment
is woody and rustic, but efficacious.
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| A cleverly done Macchiato |
Cakes, tarts, scones (OMG) and salads are a
serenade of taste and health. Water comes in old bottles filled with mint or
cucumber. Every sugar bag is branded with fair-trade logo and MOST IMPORTANTLY during
the Scottish “summer” (hoping it lasts) there is an astonishing backyard, half
a garden, half a patio, half a playground, half a plant nursery that will positively
surprise you. Thanks to a wide mirror, you can actually see who’s coming at
your back, if you are waiting for more friends, and spaces are redoubled!
The
toilet is welcoming and desecrate and you can be sure that toilet paper comes
from renewable sources. There also is a comfortable easy access for strollers and wheelchair. Finally a good size parking lot enables you to park really close, in case of big shoppings.
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