Edinburgh Restaurant Tips by zizkov

Rapido: Chips for Veggies

Rapido chip shop/pizzeria is in Broughton St at the east end of the centre, near to the Playhouse and Omni Centre. While most chip shops fry in beef dripping, Rapido fries in pure vegetable oil. As well as the chips, there are a number of other veggie items for frying, and these are fried seperately from meat items. Thay also had a Vegan Society sticker on the door at one time, not sure if this is still the case. Other dishes also available, apart from just fried food, so it's a much harder choice than a normal chippy. Standard chip shop fare such as battered fish, battered sausage, battered haggis (you see the theme here?) available, though I can't remember if they had deep-fried pizza.

The 'deep-fried Mars Bars sold here' image on the front page is not from Rapido, but from Cafe Piccante, just up the hill from Rapido, if you are feeling more degenerate.

Address: 79 Broughton St, Edinburgh

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Broughton St heads North from the junction of York Pl and Leith Walk (veggie supermarket Real Foods is here as well).

Multimap: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=EH13RJ&title=Rapido

Phone: (0131) 556 2041

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Fast Food

David Bann: Top Class Vegetarian

Quality vegetarian food at reasonable (well, for Edinburgh) prices.

Mains are about £9-£11, though a soup/bread and a light dish/starter at around £7-£8 combined certainly makes a meal. Between 3 diners ( I tried everybody's food, of course) the minimum standard was very good, mostly excellent.

All the press reviews I have read of it have also been very favourable (though all going for the same annoying cliched "you'ld hardly believe it was a vegetarian restaurant" angle).

Address: 56-58 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SX

Comparison: about average

Directions: Going down Royal Mile, turn right at World's End pub. About 5 minutes walk from North Bridge.

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian

Website: http://www.davidbann.co.uk

Kalpna: You don't have to eat meat to be strong

You don't have to eat meat to be strong like the elephant, as it says on the sign.

Indian vegetarian food, mainly Gujerati, with some South Indian dishes as well. Quite a change from your usual curry house. Used to be a bit dowdy inside, but now a fresh, if not plush, contemporary styling.

Favorite Dish: I had the Royal Thali (thali is a plate with many dishes). Popadums and pickles to start, then a massive silver plate with starter, rice, puris, salad and sauces, and five silver bowls with small curries. These included navratan korma, mushroom curry, and dahl. A little bowl of spiced rice pudding to finish. Cost for this was £15 and everything was very enjoyable.

Standard, vegan and South Indian Thalis also available. It is of course possible to order individual courses, the cost for three courses would be about the same or less.

The List review:
http://www.list.co.uk/ead/info.htm?id=1808

Address: 2/3 St Patrick's Square, Edinburgh

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Southside, heading out from South Bridge. About 15 minutes walk from North Bridge, on right. Fairly near to Festival Theatre and Queens Hall.

Phone: 0131 667 9890

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian

Kebab Mahal: Edinburgh Institution

Not sure how long its been there, but long enough I'm sure to be an institution. Described as a takeway, but has limited seating for seriously no frills dining with prices to match. Near to the University and just round the corner from the mosque.

Favorite Dish: Not just kebabs but all the basic staples such as pakoras and curries. Well spicy.

Here is a link to a review from The List (Central Scotland's listing magazine) Food and Drink guide:

http://www.list.co.uk/ead/info.htm?id=1809

Address: 7 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Heading out from the centre on South Bridge, on your right on a small square.

Phone: 0131 667 5214

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Indian

Baked Potato Shop: Veggie Haggis Samosa Baked Potato Shop Review

As the name suggests, majoring in baked potatoes, with a variety of vegetarian/vegan fillings. Also available with pittas, spanakopita and just as salads; also snacks (like the veg hag sam), cakes and drinks.

One table which about six could squeeze around, though mainly for eating on the hoof.

Potato/pitta and filling £2.50 - £3.00, snacks/ cakes under a pound. Displays wide range of posters/flyers for music/alternative events.

Convenient for Royal Mile and Waverley Station.

Address: Top of Cockburn (pronounced co'-burn, heh) St

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Cockburn Street (just off the Royal Mile close to South Bridge) - a good shopping street for alternative things. Eventually leads down to the station. Steps (just before Avalanche Music) lead directly to station.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian

Peckhams Underground: Going Underground

Under the fine delicatessen of Peckhams lies the restaurant - compact, with steel tabletops and curved red banquettes. Serving a range of breakfasts, upmarket sandwiches, imaginative yet hearty main courses, and tempting deserts. Decent vegetarian choice. Lunch and dinner menus. Not exactly city centre, but about 10 minutes walk from Tollcross, and Bruntsfield has an attractive villagey feel to it (and is also home to other noted eateries Howies and Parrots).

Favorite Dish: Favourite by default, as, though I would have loved dessert, I only managed to eat one thing! But it was excellent. Spanish three bean stew with smoked paprika and apricots in a Californian sourdough bowl (vegetarian). Just as it sounds, an excellent loaf filled with the stew. Try as I might, I only managed about two thirds (and was not hungry for the rest of the day). Perhaps they would let you split it if you wanted two courses? At lunchtime, only £5.95, and if other dishes are anything like, the bargain of Edinburgh. Amongst other things, the soup can also be served in a sourdough bowl. Evening maincourse prices only a pound or two dearer. And the coffees come in two sizes: normal and ridiculous - of course I had to opt for the latter, and it was by a considerable length the largest cup I have ever had.

Address: 155/159 Bruntsfield Place

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: From West End of Princes St: up Lothian Road, along Home St at Tollcross, and continue past Bruntsfield Links (the park).

Other Contact: Near to Bruntsfield Youth Hostel

Phone: 0131 228 2888

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.peckhams.co.uk/restaurants.html