the-oracle's Qype profile

First time that i have been here since it’s ‘re-vamp’. The west End is not normally my scene but i was relatively impressed. Yes, there is the typically Edinburgh West End/New Town decorative couture, but minus the pretentious goons who usually frequent such bars excerting an over-flated sense of grandeur

Now for the food: I had char-grilled mediterranean vegetables with talggio cheese, served on a green olive ciabatta with homemade chips and salad. I won’t lie, i was really hungry, but it wasn’t like when you eat a sausage supper from the chippy when drunk and think it tastes exquisite. This was a genuinely tasty fresh ciabatta and the home made chips were especially nice (they had skins!).

Unfortunately, this heavenly West End experience was slighty tainted by one thing – the wee blonde waitress. Now, i’m not one for feeling the need to complain about staff, but I noticed early on that her coupon was tripping her. When i asked for the bill, she screwed up her face in such an unpleasant manner that i can only compare it to a pitbull devouring urine off a jaggy nettle. There was also a slight nod, but no eye contact. How rude. Bannish her to the Kitchen.

Apart from that, it was good. Very good.

Really liked this wee place as soon as i went in. We received a very warm welcome and its cosy, which was great on a cold winters night !

Honestly, it was the nicest steak i’ve ever had (and i speak for my partner too). I seldom have a steak but when i do it has to be good. Both our steaks were cooked to perfection and practically metled in our mouths. There are also variety of sauces to choose from to have smothered over your steak and i opted for the pepper sauce but the one with brandy looked nice too!

We both had steak with chips, fresh salad and the legendary ‘Katies homemade colslow’ which also undoubtedly lived up to its reputation….

Although we had steaks, the rest of the menu looks great (apparently the burgers are good) .I will definitely be back – and its BYOB, what more can you ask for really? Nice people, intimate, independently ran and serving last but not least…..fantastic value-for-money food !

Ok, it’s free to get in, but they should be PAYING people to step into this cesspit. Overpriced and full of clowns looking for sex – or people who, quite frankly, have no taste when it comes to the venues they frequent for a night out.

There is a funny stench too, a bit like a combination of sweat and bleach. Eugh.The decor has been the same for about 13 years (and probably longer?). Tacky mirrors on the walls and checkered floors just like the film – The Shining. And then there are the creepy straight couples looking to pick up any lesbian who is remotely attractive – which is few and far between in CCs. Interms of Gay Clubbing in Edinburgh, CC’s is a total embarrassment.

Great food. A bit pricey – but the vegetarian options are cheaper and i didn’t feel like i was ‘missing out’ by not having meat in my dish. The Green curry is amazing, the sauce is full of flavour and the consistancy is perfect. They have a £6 corkage charge which is far too high (i think). However, because we drank all of our wine we had some from their list – The French Pinot Noir, which i would highy recommend if you like soft reds. The wine list is not too pricey, extensive and impressive. Good service, nice people.

I have been in twice now within 8 weeks and i am very happy with the service. On entering a the salon for the first time, i received a very warm welcome from the staff and was made to feel at home asthough i was a regular a familiar customer. The Director (Jo Myles) cut and coloured my hair, and it was very refreshing to have a hairdresser who actually listened to what you wanted and followed through.

Edinburgh isn’t short of high-end competitive Salons such as; Saks, Toni & Guy and Cheynes etc. But really, if you are looking for a professional Salon, with nice down-to-earth friendly staff, providing value for money cutting edge styles/colouring ( at a much better cost) then i would highly recommend Myles Hairdressing.

I really like Kebabish Original. I go often simply because its across from my flat and the food is good, fairly priced and the service is also reasonable. I cant say that i have ever had a bad (or even average meal there). Its always really busy and lively and thats always a good sign. No corkage on the BYOB either !

No other Turkish restaurant in Edinburgh beats Empires. Its rustic, atmospheric, friendly and truely captures a sense of Turkish dining. I have been here several times and with the mezi being around £3.95, my friends and i get around 4 each and with the small corkage fee and tip this amounts to around £18 each.

The only thing i will mark them down on is the fact that the menu hasnt changed over the 3 years or so that i have been going. I always enjoy what they serve but perhaps a bit of innovation is needed with the menu?

My first review on Qype had to be for El Quijote. This HAS to be the Spanish hidden gem of Edinburgh. Prior to eating in EL Quijote, i wasnt overly impressed by any of Spanish the restaurants in Edinburgh. On the outside, it is very unassuming without the cliched decoration featured in the likes of La Tasca - here is traditional ceramic crockery, surrounded in a truely authentic Spanish setting.
When my partner and i entered were instantly made to feel very comfortable and given the best seat at the window. I visited Barcelona in the recent months before and eating here took me back to the delightful experience of eating rustic, fresh Spanish food - at not too much of a cost ! I had the Spanish Fishcakes - and i can honestly say that they were the nicest fishcakes i have ever tasted, oh and the manchego is lovely. Fairly priced. i would recommend this wee delight to anyone looking for a nice Spanish meal in Edinburgh. I will definetely be back.