Came across this great place this week (30 June). A really trendy little restaurant just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. In fact all the graduates and their families piled in after us. Excellent lunchtime menu with a varied and good selection. Portions are not huge but quite adequate. Brilliant views of the castle and service was slick although could have been a little friendlier. Nevertheless an excellent place to ‘do lunch’ and feel you have had good atmosphere, food and wine. Must try this next time we are back for the evening

I’ve eaten at the outsider a few times now and have never been have only ever had one complaint: get the raisins out of the damn coleslaw! (Who ever first thought of drying out perfectly good grapes to turn them into the vile thing that is a raisin is one sick puppy!!!)

Other than that the outsider is great; mains shared with a friend for a starter, good looking staff serving your food and you may even be lucky enough to get one of the tables with a view onto the castle.

And remember just say “no” to the raisins!!!

Have eaten here 3 times recently with different groups of friends. Really good each time. Great staff, friendly but unobtrusive service & delicious food. Easy going ambience, would recommend it!

I was recommended The Outsider by a friend and thought I would check it out. It is a nicely decorated restaurant. Modern, but not standoffish. The food was quite good to me…I would recommend you get a side of sweet potatoes if you go, as they were the best. And, the food was not very pricey (11-15 per main course). The view was nice…huge windows that look out at the castle. The service was awful. The staff seemed to just forget about my table, and didn’t come take our food or drink order for about 20 minutes. They seemed to be in their own little world, snacking (yes, eating) and chatting in the kitchen/bar area. When they did help us, they were friendly. The service really was the only part I did not enjoy, but the food was so wonderful that I would go back again.

Sister restaurant to the Apartment, the Outsider has a similar menu and ‘no starter but share a main’ philosophy. The food is lovely, but it can get very busy here during the summer. The upside to this is that if you request a window table when you book you get a stunning view of the castle and the fireworks. This is a very romantic setting, but also good for larger groups too. The menu is well put together and the wine list is great.

We were recommended this restaurant by locals from edinburgh and were looking forward to an enjoyable evening there. Upon entering this venue, the manager proceeded to comment on our nationality - Irish and also pointed out to us that “did we know we were in a restaurant”. As Irish and European people who have travelled extensively worldwide, never have I encountered such bad manners. Then in an attempt to backtrack on his comment, he then proceeded to tell one of the ladies in our company that she was beautiful….. We are all still in shock. He was approached about his comments at the end of the meal and refused to retract the above statement saying he knew Irish people. Notwithstanding the meal was adequate but the comments by this manager left a sour taste on our palates.

Not particularly attentive staff, poorly cooked red snapper (batter like concrete), slow turnaround between order & service. Won't be back.

The food here is great and afforadble for a great meal out. The atmosphere is classy and the service and staff are lovely. You get a great view of the castle from the upper floor which complements the whole experience. It has some lovely paintings aswell. Heres an interesting idea: As you walk down the stairs to the bathrooms check out the tiny painting on the wall down by the floor which is sideways?? It always grabs my attension.

There are no starters in The Outsider, you chose one of the main courses between two or three of you then a main course too. This is a novel idea as I know that I have so many times looked at a menu and thought I want more than one of the mains! The whole restaurant is spacious and gorgiously designed too.

Great interior and cracking food. Lots of lovely fresh fish plus plenty o healthy sexy veggies and sprinklings of naughtiness. Rabbit, duck, cod, mucky moules, to be rounded off with icy slabs of chocolate parfait or pleasingly, heavingly, volcanic rhubarb crumble. Everything totally yum and very reasonably priced; most of the main dishes are around a tenner. Tables sometimes have quite a tight turnaround time. The staff are beautiful angels, and stringently strict door policy means that braying twats are banned (as are stags and hens). You can see the castle out of the back windows, which is kind of spectacular in its floodlit after-dark posing.

Great food and quite cool. Great for group bookings and eating out with friends. The food isn't super expensive but it's not a cheapy either.