It’s been many years since we’ve returned here and we were not disappointed! Everything was perfect - lovely, attentive staff; the food was absolutely wonderful and reasonably priced; and a great wine list. I had the goats cheese and beetroot salad to start; the masala lamb with lentils for main; and the coffee brûlée to finish. Each was delicious and we just enjoyed every minute of our dinner. It’s such a cosy and intimate setting too - can’t recommend it enough.
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Neil Dennis
Google
4 weeks ago
4.0
You'll need to book as there are only 30 covers max but it's worth it. It was full when I went. Tasty food, good proportions. Duck was excellent. Very limited, sensible drinks list as the focus is on the food and rightly so. Well located.
K
Kuba Mierzejewski
Google
2 months ago
5.0
Absolutely fantastic. Outstanding food and service. Had the pleasure of trying the mussels and risotto which were life changing and introduced me to flavors I’ve never experienced before. Was absolutely speechless by how amazing the whole experience was. Will definitely come back to this great establishment. If you’re ever in town in need of top notch cuisine definitely stop by.
S
Scott
Google
2 months ago
5.0
Lovely little restaurant, brilliant food, 10/10.
K
Kathryn
Google
2 months ago
5.0
Excellent lunch experience with the set menu - each dish was very tasty (my partner *loved* the cauliflower soup), and the staff were welcoming and attentive. It's quite a small restaurant and clearly very popular so booking is highly recommended.
P
Peter Spaz
Google
2 months ago
5.0
Why would you come to Edinburgh to have French food when France is so close by? It’s because the food is better here!!!! I’m not a fan of mussels but these are by far the best I have ever had, Our mains were impeccable, it’s hard to get moist chicken breast with a ton of flavour but they achieved it, dessert was ordered and mind blowing. Give these guys 10’s all round
I
Iain Craig
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Lovely dinner for five last night, very reasonable 2-course menu with a lot of variety. Wine was delicious, and we topped it off with some cheese and desserts. The staff were all very friendly
A
Ann Browett
Google
3 months ago
5.0
This restaurant was an unexpected, delightful find. A 2- course set price menu was lovely. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend. Bookings are recommended. However, always pop in and ask if it looks full 🙃. You may get lucky like we did
S
Sarah Miller
Google
3 months ago
5.0
A truly stellar meal. The food was authentically French, with high quality ingredients and great flavors. Lovely service and charming atmosphere. Highly recommend!
S
Susan Dunn
Google
4 years ago
4.0
This is a great small French restaurant. Popular so busy. A small set menu had enough variety and the food was delicious. Best pannacota I have ever had. Wine good too as you would expect. When booking ask for a table near the kitchen or window ( more polite than asking for one away from the toilet——it’s a very small restaurant. )
A
Aaradhya
Zomato
Feb 21, 2019
4.0
Very nice small French restaurant in the centre of Edinburgh. Good choice of food on the menu, not too many dishes. All freshly prepared and well presented. Very reasonable prices too! Would highly recommend!
K
Kasia Makowska
Zomato
Sep 13, 2017
4.5
Nice, friendly atmosphere with some quality food. This is a well suited place for a causal dining, business meetings and gatherings at night time. Finding space can often be problematic, but the restaurant is much larger than it looks from outside.
K
Katie Braid
Zomato
Jul 12, 2015
4.5
A delight; great local food with a french twist, candle lit, intimate, great service, small but special, chalkboards that require a french dictionary, great wine! Book in advance! ♡
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Nian Li
Zomato
Jun 16, 2015
4.0
This place is tiny, cosy and intimate. I had the duck leg here - perfectly done with tender meat falling off the bone and a rich and sticky jus. Honest and delicious bistro cooking with no unnecessary frills. At peak times be sure to book and be prepared to have your elbow in your neighbours soup.
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Lunch Quest
Zomato
Dec 07, 2012
0.0
Café Marlayne was extremely good. The quality on offer was very high, and the dishes priced very competitively. I’d heartily recommend paying it a visit.
F
Fras78
Zomato
Sep 20, 2010
4.5
Tasty, relaxed and simple. Popped into Cafe Marlayne for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The cafe itself is petite which only adds to its charm; the staff are marvellously friendly, with animated conversation at all times and the décor is relaxed; all of which creates the impression that you are popping round to a friends house to eat rather than eating out.<br/><br/>The food itself is delicious. Really delicious. From where we were sitting we had a good view of the chef preparing everything fresh; I had trout and my wife cod, both of which were cooked perfectly with simple, yet tasty, vegetables in a light sauce.<br/><br/>The relaxed atmosphere, perfectly prepared food and friendly staff all combined to create a really enjoyable lunch out for us. We will definitely be back.
A
Adventures Of Alice
Zomato
Oct 07, 2009
4.5
Lovely Lamb. This place is small and can be a bit crowded--so make sure you book because it's worth it! They're lamb is amazing--cooked in a yogurt sauce and so tender. I've been there before and it wasn't on the menu--I asked if they still had it and they happily cooked it for me! <br/>Highly recommend this place! I have not been to the other branch off the Royal Mile.
C
Ch_scott45
Zomato
Aug 10, 2009
4.5
French at its best. An amazing find, there's nothing pretentious about this place. The food is wonderful and clearly as fresh as it can get, great value for money and a firm favourite.
O
Outnumbered
Zomato
Jun 22, 2009
4.5
Small, but Perfectly Formed.. There is a very fine line when it comes to restaurants so small which you couldn't swing a cat. Cosy and intimate can very quickly tip into poky & cramped. Cafe Marlayne does a grand job of staying just on the intimate side of this line, with its soft lighting and hidden, hole-in-the-wall feel.<br/>The menu is handwritten and is refreshed almost daily. To some extent the food shows this a little bit, with some dishes needing refined or just rethought, but the quality of the cooking is excellent & for the price about £13 for two courses, truly excellent value. Where it really shines is on classic French dishes where the quality of the ingredients & the obvious fact that they have been cooked from scratch really shines through. Another gem on what must be Edinburgh's best value street for quality restaurants.
