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[\ AL DENTE RESTAURANT Feel the Taste Traditional and Regional Cuisine from Italy [\ The Winner of the Ethical Good Foods Award 2009 in the category of Best Local Italian Restaurant. Hit-Listed in The List Eating & Drinking Guide <strong>2010</strong>. 139 Easter Road Edinburgh, EH7 5QA Tel: 0131 652 1932 info@al-dente-restaurant.co.uk www.al-dente-restaurant.co.uk ‘The best of Scottish produce prepared for you in the heart of Edinburgh’ Deli & Licensed Cafe 15 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NB NEW MENU NOW AVAILABLE Tel: 0131 556 6922 www.edinburghlarder.co.uk
By sheer coincidence as I commence this review I am sitting on a train to London next to a couple bemoaning the lack of gastro pubs in Scotland. Apparently a Google search prior to their trip netted very little. Curious, I type in the phrase and lo and behold, up pops, www.thebestof.co.uk; the very website that recently awarded The Mercat the best-loved gastro pub in the UK. According to wikipedia, the term ‘gastro pub’ was coined by David Eyre and Mike Belben in 1991 when they acquired The Eagle in Clerkenwell and denotes a combination of traditional pub with British gastronomy. The Mercat fits the description perfectly. Proprietor Graham Blaikie is every bit the convivial pub landlord whilst the new menu and wine list are well thought-out. I started with the fishcakes (£4.95). Crab, potato, heavy on the fish and served with a superb home-made saffron mayo. My companion had the paté maison (£4.95) and was equally pleased. Smooth, silky chicken liver paté served with caramelised onions and toasted brioche. The wine list matches varietals with dishes and Justine is the helpful sommelier who studied at the University of Reims. Next, I ordered 10oz rib-eye, rare, with all the trimmings (£17.95) and my companion chose North Sea haddock REVIEW THE MERCAT The best steak in town? in beer batter with chips, lemon, garnish and tartare (£9.50). A ‘Moby Dick’-sized portion of fish was draped across a plate of golden chips. He commented:- “lots of places try to do fish and chips, especially for students, but none as good as this!” There is a bit of an urban legend associated with the Mercat steak. Apparently the best steak in town used to be found at Cobey’s restaurant in Edinburgh’s west end. It was the ‘best’ because proprietor ‘porky George’ had a ‘secret recipe’ which has since passed to The Mercat. All I can say is that my steak was, without doubt, the most tender, most melt-in-the mouth steak I have ever experienced. The pudding menu contained all my favourites. I easily polished-off an Eton-mess cheesecake whilst my companion had dark chocolate mint delice - like a giant choc-ice and very retro. We do have some excellent gastro pubs in Scotland and The Mercat is a fine example. It executes the simple things exceedingly well. THE MERCAT – 28 West Maitland Street Edinburgh, Midlothian EH12 5DX – 0131 225 3861 – www.mercatbar.com OPENING HOURS Everyday 7
Page 1: THE MONTHLY MINI GUIDE TO EDINBURGH
Page 4 and 5: More than just a wine store with a
Page 8 and 9: Scottish Bistro FISH MEAT GAME POUL
Page 10 and 11: 10 WINE VINHO VERDE Wining with wee
Page 12 and 13: Joseph Pearce’s Crayfish Party A
Page 14 and 15: 14 OUT OF TOWN ROMAN CAMP HOTEL, CA
Page 16 and 17: 16 THE INSIDER THE PIERRE AND TONY
Page 18 and 19: 18 RAW FOODS WITH REAL FOODS Tips f
Page 20 and 21: 20 ETHICAL EATING LOVE FOOD HATE WA
Page 22 and 23: 22 BITE ‘n’ SLURP BEER WHAT IS
Page 24 and 25: 24 BITE ‘n’ SLURP BEERS A STYLE
Page 26 and 27: 26 BITE ‘n’ SLURP BEER THE CALI
Page 28 and 29: 28 BITE ‘n’ SLURP Harvistoun BE
Page 30 and 31: 30 BITE ‘n’ SLURP What follows
Page 32 and 33: BITE ‘n’ SLURP 32 constantly ch
Page 35 and 36: The Shore in Leith tends to be domi
Page 37 and 38: RESTAURANTS AMERICAN Hardrock Cafe
Page 39 and 40: in Scotland’ The Observer Food Mo
Page 41 and 42: POLISH Pani Solinska - Fully licens
Page 43 and 44: large selection on offer. Open Tues
Page 45 and 46: minds. We serve a lot of different
Page 47 and 48: Competitions Win some Puddledub Por

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