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I love Mexican cuisine, but know that Edinburgh isn't renowned for this type of food. However I'm easy to please as long as my meal is warm, fresh, tasty and nicely presented I'm a happy bunny.

My vegetarian main course was none of those. The vegetables actually weren't that bad, but the rice was bland and cheap, the refried beans were almost cold and none of it tasted particularly fresh. I would have expected a main-course mexican meal to arrive complete with fresh salsa, but it did not, so there was no spicy foil for the guacamole and sour cream, which were unceremoniously slopped on top of the wrap. As a result it looked about as appetising as a dog's dinner and didn't taste much better.

Add to that the fact that a vegetarian main course at lunchtime cost a whopping twelve pounds and you'd be forgiven for thinking I was disappointed. The place was pretty empty even though other nearby restaurants had people queuing at the door. Given the sub-par meal and the grubby/tired restaurant decor, I wish I'd joined them and waited a little longer for a better meal. On the plus side the margaritas were good, but that was no compensation.

Amber is quite literally a hidden gem in what is otherwise one of the busiest parts of Edinburgh, at the top of the Royal Mile and tucked away at the back of the Whisky Heritage Centre. You enter the Heritage Centre and descend the stairs at the rear to find Amber. It's more 'laid-back bistro' than posh restaurant, yet it is smart and has a relaxing ambience; a perfect combination if you enjoy good food, but not a formal atmosphere.

Alongside the eating area is a cosy wee bar where they have a massive selection of whiskies for you to sample and, should you wish, be educated about. The bar is well stocked with non-whisky tipples too!

Some of the food at Amber (unsurprisingly) has a whisky theme, though the whisky never overpowers the food where it has been used. Haggis and Vegetarian Haggis comes with a whisky cream sauce which is divine. The meals are very well prepared and attractively presented. Desserts are also very impressive and the wine list has been very well put together and isn't overpriced. It's possible to eat very well and very cheaply at lunchtime. A real treat! Highly recommended by locals!

One of the oldest Italian Delis in Edinburgh, if not the oldest, Valvona and Crolla hides a pleasant surprise if you walk through to the back of the shop. Tucked away at the rear is a surprisingly large bright and modern looking cafe. All light wood and roof windows, it's a very pleasant space that seems popular with locals and savvy visitors; it's a bit off the beaten track tourist wise, but just a few minutes walk down the road from the Omni Centre which is itself just beyond Princes Street down.

Had a pleasant enough brunch in the cafei. Lovely croissant, great breads, good bacon butty, and tasty vegetarian breakfast which included grilled polenta, roasted and grilled italian veggies topped off with a fried egg. Mmmmm. Bit more expensive than the usual cafe fare, but a nice treat.

Have been to Pancho Villas quite a few times and most of the time it's pretty good. I love Mexican food but Edinburgh isn't the place to find the best stuff. However if you don't have your expectations too high, Pancho Villas should keep you fairly happy.

The portions aren't the most generous, but the food is tasty enough and the margaritas are excellent. I like the decor, though they could do with some soft furnishings to damp the noise down when busy. Being a bit further down the Royal Mile than most restaurants it's sometimes possible to get a table there when you can't get one further up the hill. Pancho Villas is a pretty neat place to have lunch, and they have a few items on the menu for vegetarians, which is always a bonus!

Ate at Villa Toscana a while back after reading a favourable review. It is a traditional family Italian eaterie with a fairly basic rustic look, and the sort of acoustics that come when there are hard surfaces everywhere. Easy to wipe clean I suppose but not very warm and cosy.

Villa Toscana is not the sort of place to while away the hours with a glass of wine. More the sort of place to grab a bite and be on your way. The pizzas looked nice but I decided to go for the scampi for a change. Mistake!

I was expecting fresh scampi, but this particular scampi had said goodbye to the sea long ago and spent a good deal of time getting cosy in the deep freezer. I didn't make a fuss as I didn't want to spoil the ambience for my fellow diner, so kept schtum. At least I can let everyone else know through the power of the internet. If you must go here, stick to the pizza and make it pronto.

This is the only branch of the small family chain I have eaten at and always had a good meal. I am particularly fond of the rosemary foccacia bread as a starter. Very tasty! It's on the expensive side but has a cheerful ambiance and good food, so I go there when I'm feeling flush.

Fratelli sarti's is a bit off the beaten track away from the shopping hoards, but despite this is almost always busy, though I never fail to get a table. The restaurant is located in an old bank building with lots of historic woodwork, marble and chandeliers. Looks the part!

The desserts all piled up in the chiller cabinet look divine, but alas I'm always too full to try them out. Would definitely recommend, though I would like to note that the stairs to the loos looks like it could do with a deep clean and repaint.

I ate here recently simply because Pizza Hut next door had to close because their oven broke down. I am a regular at Wagamama restaurants but this was my first visit here.

The staff were friendly as is usual at this chain, and I remembered to ask for the free green tea (well I like it anyway!) with my vegetarian noodles. The food was good, but then it always is, and the service was fast and efficient.

I love that Wagamama has plenty to offer vegetarians, though this particular branch seemed to offer less choice on the menu generally than the larger branches; probably due to the limited space at Silverburn. Would definitely return given the chance.