The Riparian Rooms

I want to love this place just for its eloquent name and décor. This was a third visit, again to upstairs only, and staff dressed in jeans, shirts and waistcoats (saloon style) were polite and super efficient. This time made use of a LivingSocial voucher, so 2 courses and Prosecco for two, to which we added drinks, cheese platter for two and a 5 yr old port — which was lovely! — for me.
On the food side though I was sadly underwhelmed by the options and fresh/​flavour quality. The atmosphere is very hush-​quiet and grown up in the evenings, so I also felt a little like a noisy child in a library! I will go back, probably to sample the much recommended brunches. But if RR are reading (whisper), vegetarians are sooo over mushroom risotto.

Solid service. I’ve been for brunch and dinner-​both experiences being positive. The food is average. I’ve ordered a large tub of mussels and the broth could use more flavour. And quite attentive to our needs. The atmosphere is relaxed and calm. It’s family friendly. I went with my nephews and they were given a tub of crayons.

Been twice and had great meals both times.
Great for gluten free. The market menu was on last time I was here. 3 choices for each of the 3 courses. Some of the choices weren’t suitable for gluten free so I was given additional options to choose from so I still had 3 choices for each course. Total 5 stars for this level of detail and being so accommodating.
Food is bistro style, hearty potions and very tasty. Chicken, duck, fish and lamb shanks have been typical options and all dishes have been well balanced with great flavours. I’ve been with friends and parents and its been a hit both times.
Service has been great when I’ve been in and the place is well maintained. The bar downstairs has always been empty but I’d always come for the food.

Three teas and three scones with cream and jam: £15.75, nice touch providing the timer so the brew is just right.

Well I said I’d be back in my first review for this place, and lo & behold, here I was again tonight! We were saying goodbye to one of my awesome co-​workers, and really couldn’t have asked for a better place.
Granted, it helped that the girl serving us used to work with us all at one of our old jobs, so she was super-​attentive & chatty with us throughout. I can also say in good confidence that the rest of the staff were every bit as engaged with the people they were looking after too.
The girls were practically giddy about their drinks — there was even a squeal of delight after tasting their first prosecco! Being all blokey, I went for their own craft lager & was very much impressed with that too.
The food was even better — I had scallops with pancetta & risotto — they were amongst the best I’ve ever had! The other two went with the crab & pigeon — again, all the right noises being made during that too!
My only mistake was with my main — monkfish with Israeli cous cous. Tasted fantastic, but on reflection was a little too similar to my starter in both look and accompanying flavours. That was my error though, and the quality of what I was served can’t be faulted. I then got mega food envy seeing the sharing meat platter they shared amongst themselves — being the nice souls they are, they let me have one of the venison sausage rolls. Twas most epic!
All in all, another fantastic meal, and a fitting send off for our Nicky H!

Lovely décor & ambience. Some quirky décor but not all industrial New York loft like a lot of the recent additions in the Burgh. Lots of thoughtful touches like the coat hooks so you don’t have to put your coat on the back of your chair.
The staff were friendly & attentive and coupled with the good food, I’ll definitely recommend it.
We both had the pork filleted with toasted sourdough & apple sauce for starters. The portions well generous & the filleted were full of flavour.
For mains we both had burgers. I opted for the Isle of Mull cheddar topping & S had the Dunsyre Blue. The burgers were handmade and cooked to order.
The offer included a glass of wine each so we opted for the rose.

Unlike the other reviews, we had dinner here, and it was so good! There are a lot of things I found interesting on the menu and wanted to try them all. But got to stay fit, so my DC and my negotiated on what we both found most interesting and made our selections. We had the meat and cheese sharing board to start. Mainly because I’m a charcuterie freak and love the idea of the local made things. The place was very nice, I would have perferect to swap the oatcake things for bread, but I’m sure that is just me. The cheese were very good.
Then the pigeon came. You don’t see this much in the states so we jump all over this. Plus the idea of confit beet root was something I had to check out. This was lovely done. Perfectly cooked, nicely seasoned and very tender. The chef did a nice job on this. Then the oxtail came! OMG! A bit of tender, fatty (in a good way!) on a plate. The oxtail was very tender and flavorful. It was placed on mashed potatoes. Called them mashed does not do them justice. I’m thinking these were put through a food mill and made with love and lots of butter. Plus a hint of truffle. On the menu they are called «creamed truffeled potatoes» FYI. Some wilted greens made a nice counter point. We were ready to fight over this one!
Didn’t try dessert, went for some dessert drinks in stead. Wine list is very nice and you’ll find something to enjoy I“m sure. Service was friendly, helpful and patient with our negotiations of what to get. WE’ll be back before we leave town, that is for sure.

Not long opened on a site that has previously been a landerette/​café & two variations on an Italian theme, The Riparian Rooms seems to be going for an urban rustic (quite a lot of roughly finished wood, waiting staff in tweed waistcoats) feel augmented by a basement cocktail bar.
The Scottish & Vegetarian breakfasts are certainly a good option (having paid the same price for one in Glasgow’s Central station the previous weekend & been let down by the Lorne sausage) and the service was efficient throughout.
There seems to be variation on the good old Bloody Mary that the place is proud of so that’s probably good enough reason to go back and check out the bar element some time soon.

Another week and another new eatery in Edinburgh, however, this one feels a little different. It’s the location of the old Locanda de Gusta on London Street. Open from 8am til late, upstairs there is some extremely plush and welcoming tables where you can dine on a selection of Scottish dishes all the way through from breakfast to dinner, downstairs there’s a cocktail bar that opens from 5pm. I like the touch of all the staff wearing a relaxed uniform of waistcoats then jeans, it gives the air of chilled dining but a cut above the rest.
My first visit here was for a Sunday morning breakfast which is accompanied by a serene soundtrack that’s just loud enough to be heard but not so loud that you don’t feel relaxed. Imagine listening to John Lewis Christmas ad styled covers, I really liked the cover of When Doves Cry.
The prices are a little top end with Eggs Beni at £8.95 which is also the price for the full breakfast. I went for the Beni with Salmon and it was a great choice. Two good sized English muffins piled with spinach and then top quality thick slice of smoked salmon and a beautifully cooked poached egg.
According to the website, the chefs and managers have a great pedigree having worked in some famous restaurants around the world and Scotland including the New York Astoria, Pompadour by Galvin and Champany No.1 and that background shows up in the way the restaurant looks and works.
It looks like the Riparian Rooms have really gone for attention to detail and it shows in their service, quality of food, and general ambience. I think this is going to be a great addition to the Edinburgh foodie scene.