Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I am in Edinburgh in a couple of weeks time. Through habit I tend to visit Hendersons and occasionally David Banns. I did venture out and try the cafe at Engine Shed on my last visit. Any other venues that folk thinks I should try?

If you don't mind non-veg*n places, Mike and I really like YO!Sushi (4th floor of Harvey Nicks), Bonsai (West Richmond Street, Old Town) and Phuket Pavilion (Union Street, across from the Playhouse Theatre). There's also the Mosque Kitchen, which has just moved into an actual building (it used to only have outdoor seating), though I haven't been to the new location. Oh, and Kalpna is excellent - £7 vegetarian lunch buffet, and the mains are usually all vegan.

I like Empires although it does do meat dishes too it has a good selection of vegan food. The meze is very tasty although it is quite expensive I think it is worth it. I know they are often full on a Saturday night so it could be worth booking but if you go out of peak hours it is usually okay to get a table. I think they have live music on Saturday too.

http://empirescafe.wordpress.com/

The Baked Potato Shop!

hahaha! Oh, wait. You were serious. (sorry, I'll never get the baked potato shop thing!)

I always forget about the Baked Potato Shop! I wouldn't call it a must-hit eatery, but it's great when you're on the New Town side of the Old Town (i.e., the High Street above the Bridges going towards the Castle) and hungry and don't have time for a proper meal.

quarrygirl had good things to say about Black Bo's.

Why not? I mean, it's super dumb, I get it. Here's a baked potato...with toppings! But it's also amazing--because SOMETIMES you are a vegan Canadian tourist freezing and starving and oh hey, for three pounds you can have two potatoes smothered in some weird shiitake we like to call vegan haggis. No shame. I liked it better than Hendersons!

Aww, it's not dumb! I just always find it funny when people talk about the baked potato shop as I grew up in Edinburgh and used to go there when I bunked off school before going to the afternoon £2 show at the Filmhouse. I find just about everything about Edinburgh people like hard to comprehend!

Many thanks for all the suggestions

You'll have to forgive me if I don't venture to The Baked Potato Shop. As good as it may be, years of eating baked potato and baked beans as the only vegan offering in some establishments (often from the children's menu!) means I have a slight aversion to the excellent dish :)

Ha, well I'll just flounce out of this thread then, you ungrateful lot. :)

i'll be sure to continue the proud tradition of North American tourists once i finally venture up there.

Does Kalpna mark on the menu which dishes are vegan?

Not the last time I was there, but that was over 2 years ago (my husband doesn't like Indian food, so we never go). It's all veg, and they're good about either knowing if it's vegan or asking the cook. I've just had a look at their menu, and it looks like it's changed a lot, but they do have a vegan thaali.

Thanks. I get very self conscious about asking if stuff is suitable, especially if it's in a restaurant setting where I have to ask in front of the people I'm with.
I'm not used to eating out at all but it seems to be happening more often now so it's good to know places that I can eat. Edinburgh is pretty good though.

Thanks for your suggestions, I'm just home from Edinburgh today. We managed YoSushi (1st time there) and Henderson's Bistro, plus a trip to Planet Asia to stock up on ingredients

KrC

Just bumping this as another trip to Edinburgh is promised soon, any new venues since my post of last year?

I second Black Bo's -- here are some shots of their awesome food:

(hazelnut and asparagus burger for me)

(sweet potato brie for my husband, obvs not vegan)

Great photos, thanks for posting. Black Bo's is on the list, shame I only have two nights as there are a few places I'd like to try. The vegan thali at Kalpna looks good, although I cook a lot of Indian recipes at home

Black Bo's website was down last week and they weren't too keen on answering their phone, so... the vegan thali at Kalpna won through as it was near the Queen's Hall where we were attending a concert. Never been to Kalpna before and enjoyed the subtle spicing of their food. Just got a Henderson's carry oot on the 2nd night. Managed to visit Maqbools as well. Black Bo's definitely next visit (when will they ever finish the tram work!!!)