Shopping in Edinburgh

Itchy Edinburgh's been eating at...

Coconut Grove
3 Lochrin Terrace
(0131) 229 1569
The bright, cheery décor and scrummy chilli fragrance are the first things to greet visitors of this popular Tollcross eatery. While the usual nachos and stuffed chillis do feature on the menu, this is not your usual tex-mex fare. The fish dishes, steak and super sizzling fajitas are exceptional – clearly a lot of thought has gone into creating each dish, and there’s a great veggie selection too. The busy kitchen is in full view of diners as these folk obviously have nothing to hide, and everything to show off.
Mon-Sun, 6pm-11pm

David Bann’s Vegetarian Restaurant
56-58 St Mary’s Street
(0131) 556 5888
Leave all your preconceptions about vegetarian restaurants at the door, as a trip to David Bann will turn even the hardiest of carnivores. The premise is straightforward: exciting flavours, well presented in a classy environment. They do simple dishes very well – good mash, good pasta, great chunky chips. Even the ketchup is a special homemade blend made with apples. And the desserts… if we could make veggie food this good we’d never need to eat meat again.
Sun–Thu, 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat, 11am–10.30pm

Howies Waterloo Place
29 Waterloo Place
(0131) 556 5766
Howies’ successful formula of upmarket food served at affordable prices is still entertaining city dwellers over 15 years after its debut. And quite rightly so. The fixed price set meal options combine the best of Scottish cuisine with a dash of European style, and the menu changes monthly so you’ll always be spoilt for choice. A BYOB option means you won’t be stuck forking out a tenner for a duff house wine either.
Mon–Sun, 12pm–2.30pm & 5.30pm–10.30pm

Buffalo Grill
12–14 Chapel Street
(0131) 667 7427
www.buffalogrill.co.uk
Meat lovers will feel like they’re in heaven. The main courses are as good as any New York steakhouse, particularly the steak and shrimp surf ’n’ turf. Portions are filling but leave a sneaky space for dessert (mmm, pecan pie…). Veggies aren’t really catered for, but what do you expect from a restaurant with cow horns on the wall? It’s also worth noting that the Chapel Street restaurant isn’t licensed so pick up some plonk.
Mon-Fri, 12pm-2pm, 6pm-10.30pm; Sat, 6pm-10.30pm; Sun, 5pm-10.15pm

Suruchi
14a Nicolson Street
(0131) 556 6583
Cooking demonstrations, live jazz and a menu written in broad Scots – this is no ordinary Indian. All the classics like chicken tikka and lamb jalfrezi are here, but there’s an emphasis on North Indian food, particularly vegetarian dishes. This makes Suruchi stand apart from the identikit curry houses that have popped up all over town. It’s all done well, with the chilli and garlic chicken a particular treat. Although your sweaty brow and smelly breath may not convince your date of this.
Mon–Sun, 12pm–2pm & 5.30pm–11.30pm

Fishers Bistro
1 The Shore
(0131) 554 5666
www.fishersbistros.co.uk
When looking for a decent fish restaurant in the capital, Fishers should always be your first choice. Its menu changes daily so you’ll rarely find the same dish twice, apart from the famous Fishers fishcakes. The Jekyll and Hyde contrast of the dark bar and the light airy dining room, are nowhere near big enough to supply the constant demand of hungry fish eaters. Mon-Sat, 12pm-10.30pm; Sun, 12.30pm-10.30pm

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