Review: Stockbridge Restaurant, Edinburgh

Stockbridge - the so called bohemian hub of Edinburgh, located in the North of city and named third in the Times top 30 ‘coolest’ places to live in Britain. It’s also home to the aptly named Stockbridge Restaurant, located smack bang in the heart of the village and proving a popular destination for food lovers, so we thought we best see what the fuss is all about.

Entering down the quaint cobbled streets into the area we came across the vibrant yet idyllic Stockbridge area, and could instantly see why this epitome of cool lives up to its name; with an eclectic mix of independent cafes, delis, quirky retailers, upmarket antique shops and market stalls. We took a stroll through the Sunday farmers market before heading to the restaurant on St Stephen Street.

This cosy basement box restaurant, hidden down a fairy lit staircase, shouts out laid back quality. Seating only 36 this family run business with its ambient lighting, great decor and intimate atmosphere is an ideal spot for romantic meals or for special occasions.

We were given the Sunday night menu, which starts at £15.95 for one course up to £23.95 for 3 courses with added supplements depending on which dish you choose (there’s also BYOB option too for those who aren’t looking to splash the cash).

With a delightful mix of casual fine dining dishes to choose from we decided to go for scallops and pigeon to start and duck and lamb for mains. As we waited, the staff brought over a selection of freshly baked bread with a parsley and chervil dip followed by an appetiser of mackerel and beetroot with horseradish mayonnaise.

The starters arrived shortly after, my dish consisted of two lightly seared scallops with pancetta, sweet potato puree and chopped apples. All the components were perfectly balanced by the sharp citrus sweetness of the apples, a very well presented and enjoyable dish. Our second starter was the spiced pigeon, the creamy celeriac puree topped with the bitesize portions of the rich gamey breast combined well with the port wine sauce with the added richness of the black pudding. The succulent and crisp pork belly topped off the dish.

For the mains, we went for the mallard duck with confit duck leg which again was cooked to perfection and matched with the aromatic, rich red wine jus, the creamy dauphinoise potatoes and lightly salted bacon cabbage complementing the tender slices of duck. The second main was rack of lamb, the lean flavoursome meat and the braised flank gave intense flavor, whilst the creaminess of the potato terrine, garlic confit and rosemary sauce help to tie the two meats together.

We managed to squeeze in desserts, one choice the banana tarte tatin with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream, a surprisingly light and delicious pud to end the meal with. The other was the cheese selection, consisting of six Scottish cheeses and an Irish cheese, locally sourced from I J Mellis, along with homemade crackers and a honey and pinenut dip, and again didn’t disappoint or take long to clean the plate. 

This restaurant really knows how to impress, all the dishes were well cooked, rich and packed full of flavor with the use of locally sourced produce. The chef has a fine eye for detail, especially when it comes to the presentation of the dishes. As with most fine dining restaurants don’t expect huge portions, although saying that it could be seen to some as little pricey for the amount of food you get, but you are, without a doubt, paying for quality not quantity. 

All in all a relaxed and wonderfully comforting dining experience, topped off with friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere, with customers slowly packing the venue out whilst we were dining, you could tell that this is a much loved restaurant in Edinburgh.  The Stockbridge Restaurant is a hidden gem, which exceeds culinary expectations, but definitely more of a destination restaurant then your average casual meal out.

Head here for further info.