eito's Qype profile

I do a lot of recommendations for out-of-town academics & businesspeople visiting the city and I've never hesitated in keeping it simple, and sending guests here when they first arrive. It gives you a great feel for the city, it's history and it's development. I think it's so easy to take the street for granted when you live here, but look through the eyes of a tourist and you're quickly reminded. You've got a number of great museums, exhibition spaces, pubs, restaurants, public spaces, gift shops, and some of the most important public sector headquarters - all before even mentioning the Castle & Palace. Enough for a full day of sightseeing without ever leaving the street!!

We had our staff Xmas dinner here; it's the first time I'd eaten in this branch - loved the Leith Walk original and La Favorita. The standards are just as high, the service is excellent and the food can't be faulted - the rich flavours and fresh ingredients are exactly what you hope for in Italian food. It's a hustling-bustling fun place to be.

Olly's is a stylishly-finished Greek cafe, very friendly and central. I've been here a good few times to meet friends for lunch and I really enjoy it. It tends to fill up each day by 1:30 so always good to stay just ahead of that rush.

For some reason, they overcrowd their menu with greasy-spoon Brit dishes but as long as you stick to the Greek options you can forgive them. The mezze platter is fantastic, and pork or chicken kabab is just the right amount for lunch. They do excellent Turkish coffee to finish. I feel strangely stimulated to keep going back. Hmmm?

I've always found Khushi's to be consistently excellent - even after the move to W Nicolson St. The starters and sides (aubergine pakora everytime!) are just as good as the main show, usually tandoori prawns for me.

Free corkage and BYOB means you can have a very good & reasonably priced dinner. Best of luck to them for the next move!

This Filipino restaurant is now where the first Calistoga was and is certainly unique. My wife and I ordered the 8 meat dishes from the set menu, which ranged from the very tasty barbecue pork, to the not so tasty beef in liver sauce (can we have more pork please?), but everthing was well presented and cooked in an authentic/rustic style.

The staff were homely, the decor is fun and they've made a good attempt at using the little space they have although even Calistoga was just as cramped. I'm not sure I'm converted to eating with my hands (definitely not a first-date restaurant) but I'll ask for a fork next time.

Value for money is their winning trait, good food and easy on the wallet.

I'm afraid I'm siding with the latest few negative reviews of this place. I ate there with a group and we ordered the feast, so a big mix of everything.

The dumplings were bland, the tastiest of dishes were far too salty and greasy, even the veggie dishes like aubergine - you can't escape it. The staff were very friendly but service was slow and inconsistent, you didn't get the impression they were particularly interested in the food they served. The gents toilets were what you'd expect from a grotty pub, full of flies and a sticky floor. Eww.

The phrase "a billion Chinese people can't be wrong" springs to mind; and the fact there were no Chinese people eating there speaks volumes.

Come back Uluru, all is forgiven. Your groovy Aboriginal paintings have now been covered up by discount priced wallpaper. They've taken away your attributes, left all the frays and slapped on the stupidest name anyone could give a pub.

Indian tapas?! Yes please. I've been for lunch and dinner, and Mother India is a great choice for both. If you're like me, you can stare at a menu of Indian cuisine for hours before you make up for mind, you'll know that you only have room for one main dish and a side - but with these portions you can just go for it!

Its also safe to say that the portion sizes have not jeopardised the quality thanks to some excellent chefs, everything I've tried on the menu so far (which is a great deal of it) has been a stack above the rest.

We'll be back soon!

Sofi's is a simple, stylish little bar with excellent staff. Though it's a half-pint smaller than sister pub Joseph Pierce, it's very well-stocked with a short but carefully selected wine list. As a space, it's a book-of-matches-sized bistro for enjoying tea, quirky art and knitting - but as a hub, it packs in a huge amount of Leith culture and character. We heart Sofi's x

The Meadows Bar (or Moo Bar to a lot of students) is a reliable, small pub off the north-east corner of the Meadows park (Buccleuch St.). It's also a stones-throw from University of Edinburgh main George Sq Campus and leans toward a more student clientèle. Though cramped, the pub is friendly and inviting with just enough character of it's own to stick in the memory.

The free function room on the first floor is handy for parties of up to 80 people, with a separate bar. I've organised a couple of friends birthdays here and they've gone down really well.