EATING & DRINKING GUIDE 2019
EAT YOUR HEART OUT
With the latest packed edition of our annual Eating and Drinking Guide about to hit the shelves, we take a look at one of its most popular features – Tiplists of the best places in town in different categories
The brand-new Eating & Drinking Guide – now in its 26th annual edition – is out on Wednesday 17 April, featuring nearly 1000 restaurants, cafés, bars and other food and drink venues across Edinburgh and Glasgow, with over 150 new openings from the past 12 months, alongside updates on old favourites. While we’re proud of the comprehensive coverage – which can be found online too – one particular feature that’s popular not just with readers, but also the reviewing team who curate and compile them, are our Tiplists. Our team get to so many places each year, they’re well placed to offer tips, recommendations and suggestions about the best in town: not just the show stoppers, but the places you should know about in all sorts of different categories from best afternoon tea to kid-friendly venues or places for BYOB. There are over 100 Tiplists in the guide, and to whet your appetite we’ve highlighted a few of our current favourite selections. For more – many more – use the voucher in this issue and pick up a copy of the new guide when it’s published on 17 April.
TIPLISTS
EDINBURGH GLASGOW
DINING THAT DOES SOME GOOD UNUSUAL DINING EXPERIENCES
PARK LIFE A SENSE OF PLACE
Breadshare Bakery With a main bakery at Seafield Road and smaller shop in Jane Street, Breadshare’s mission statement of real bread for everyone certainly resonates. The Drill Hall Café Wholesome, good-value food which sustains and empowers the local community through training initiatives. The Grassmarket Café Bright, airy café with good value lunch and breakfast options, where the proceeds directly help Edinburgh’s most vulnerable communities. Punjabi Junction Suffice to say this cheerful café which supports worthy charity Sikh Sanjog with training opportunities is worthy of your attention while we still have it. Social Bite A grassroots social enterprise; profits go towards ending homelessness, diners can pay meals forward for people in need and each café offers job and training opportunities.
Vesta Restaurant and Bar West End restaurant run in partnership with Social Bite, featuring strong vegan choices, including potentially the best cauli buffalo wings in the city.
@pizza Select your dough, select your sauce, select your toppings – then watch as your pizza’s cooked in 90 seconds flat! Cook School & Dining Room by Martin Wishart Now open for dinner every Friday and Saturday night, this classy cook school / restaurant strikes the perfect balance between entertainment, education and pure enjoyment. Fazenda A parade of up to 15 different meats, offered on skewers by skilled staff. Fazenda is high-end and fun. Korean BBQ Fire up the tabletop grill and feast on your choice of meat, seafood and veg.
Six by Nico A brand-new six-course tasting menu every six weeks. Nico Simeone brings his fresh, accessibly priced Six concept all the way from Glasgow. Xiangbala Hot Pot Cook your own delicious dishes at this Dalry outpost for traditional Chinese hot pot.
An Clachan A rustic and welcoming café housed in a charming Kelvingrove Park building, with daily specials and luxury cakes.
Art Lover’s Café Elegant café for impressive lunching that borders on fine dining in a Mackintosh-designed visitor and events attraction in Bellahouston Park. Comet Pieces Close to the Botanic Gardens, this compact café includes plenty of nods to quality Scottish produce in its breakfasts, rolls and more.
Dandelion Café Southside café in Newlands Park with locals and regulars standing in line for some of Glasgow’s best home-baking. The Little Café A compact, welcoming café opposite Kelvingrove Art Gallery, offering great pizzas, salads, ciabattas and coffee to sit in or take away.
Sonny & Vito’s Classy West End Italian café close to Kelvingrove Park, serving freshly made tarts, warming soup and indulgent cakes, with added groceries.
A’Challtainn More than a great seafood restaurant, A’Challtainn shows creativity and skill and a strong community vibe, from its base in the Barras. Battlefield Rest Southside restaurant serving modern Italian dishes with a Scottish slant, in iconic and elegant surroundings.
Glasgow School of Art: The Vic Café Bar A hubbub of creative activity opposite the fire-wrecked Mackintosh building, with an impressive menu that captures more than just students. Rogano Glasgow’s oldest restaurant and an art deco haven in the city centre, ideal for enjoying seafood and cocktail decadence.
Ubiquitous Chip One of Glasgow’s dining institutions – a trailblazer in sourcing and creativity back in the day, and still one of the best venues for a special eating out experience. The Western Club Restaurant Elegant restaurant overlooking Royal Exchange Square, with smart service and clever cooking, focused on excellent produce.
1 Apr–31 May 2019 THE LIST 19