Excellent Brunch
What a great find!
The brunch was delicious and great service
The beetroot Bloody Mary a must too!
The interior is lovely and comfortable which is perfect for a lazy breakfreat to start the day.
We walked up to The Look Out ( sister restaurant ) which we we be visiting to when back in Edinburgh.
Every trip we take, we like to have one “fancy meal” something we splash out a little more than we normally would, in the thought that we are there already and holidays are about treating yourself to something a little special, plus when we holiday, we walk… a lot, so I think we deserve it.
I've heard about this restaurant and possibly walked past it a hundred times. But never really noticed it until today. Wanted something a little bit different from the norm. And this place certainly delivers. Walking in the entrance you aren't entirely sure whether you're entering someone's front door. But once inside you're greeted by very pleasant staff. I ordered the potted kippers with brioche bread and asked for a poached egg. Also asked whether they could give me cream for my cafetière coffee. Everything was possible and with a smile. The potted kippers were delicious. Only gripe being that you sit very close to the other diners at the same table.
There’s something endearing about that name, isn’t there? The Gardener’s Cottage. Something that conjures up thoughts of cabbage patches, cosy fireplaces and Enid Blyton books (or maybe that’s just me!). Well that’s something akin to what we found here. I was following my colleagues along a particularly green Edinburgh street, face buried in my scarf and shoulders hunched against the piercing wind, chastising myself for wearing ballet pumps without socks around Scotland in December, when there it was. Set back from the main road in a little pocket of greenery, an inviting cottage-shaped beacon of warmth with a mini allotment out front of vegetable patches and seasonal fairy lights. A sight for sore eyes (and damp feet).
I rave about this place any opportunity I get. I truly love this place. It ticks all my foodie boxes.Fresh, local produce - yes you cant get any better from their own garden.Creative geniuses using food - the dishes are simply gorgeous and you can see that love and attention to detail is high on their agenda. Taste - every single aspect of the entire dish is well and clearly thought out to create a symphony in your mouth.The place is small, only two rooms and if its intimacy your after, you certainly wont get it here. There are a few long tables and your seated all together. But the only reason you should be visiting this place is for its food!Go, you will not be disappointed
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I learnt a valuable lesson about being prepared on the way out for dinner, I had a major breakdown somewhere between relying on my own intelligence (always dangerous) and being over-reliant on Google maps leading to difficulty actually finding the restaurant for the first time in ages. I did the usual type the address in, get a rough idea of how far away we were and wander in the vague direction then went up and down the steep steps in the park trying to figure out whether it was along Royal Terrace at the top of the park or London Road along the bottom. In my defence, spending the day walking round one of the hilliest cities in the UK had scrambled by brain After a quick stop and chat and a conversation along the lines of “What’s it called again”, Gardeners cottage” ……… At which point I finally had my lightbulb moment of “Oh god, it’s the cottage that’s actually in the garden” and thus there it was. Cretin. Gardeners Cottage then, a very literal name with the restaurant sat in the middle of a park and is surrounded by a garden space at the front and rear in which they’re growing fresh ingredients to use in the restaurant. Walking up past the hand written set menu and through beds marked with tags showing exactly what is growing (I did start to wonder how they fend off drunken revellers wandering in and soiling things after a night out but rapidly thrust that thought from my mind). Then being greeted by shelves lined with jars showcasing Kvass starter, beer vinegar and sauerkraut (which all went on to be ingredients in the actual meal this evening). My heart melted when I noticed an actual REAL LIFE record player at one side of the dining room, spinning classic records that were being switched by the staff as they hit the end of each side. I won’t go full music nerd but that hiss in the background of the music throughout a candle lit dinner really did raise the atmosphere up a notch. The food on the Sunday evening was a 7 course set menu based on the seasonal produc
Keep Calm And Fanny On
+4.5
I didn't intend to sneak into Gardeners Cottage today, but when I met a foodie pal for lunch at a spot that has no seats, we decided to wander past and see if there was space... Despite both being big foodies we chuckled to realise we'd never ventured through the Cottage doors before! The shame of it. Maybe they wouldn't let us in?
Once inside we were delighted to see that we were in luck, yahoo, seats! I opted for a really light lunch of salad and bread. But much more amazing than it sounds... The salad was Roasted Carrot, Ricotta and Turnip Tops. But this was the lightest freshest Ricotta, lightly seasoned and beautifully arranged with roasted carrots and turnips. And the bread... So tangy and chewy, sourdough perfection topped off with a dipping bowl of Rapeseed Oil... So lovely. My foodie chum had Cheese and Onion Quiche.
Our food was fantastic and we were made to feel so welcome. The communal tables were sociable for lunch, and meant you could have a good gawp at what everyone else was eating. Perfect for me.
It really all felt like the chef just popped out to the garden when you ordered and whipped up your chosen treats... You can see the chef at work from your seat too, but I maybe missed seeing him digging up those carrots... I'll definitely be back through those cottage doors sometime soon. Maybe in the evening. Maybe including wine. Maybe I'll have dessert too.
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We’re delignted to report that the Gardener’s Cottage is now open. It’s a lovely warm space located just off London Road set in a burgeoning garden. The food is simple, honest and full of flavour. You’ll sit on communal tables and soak up the atmosphere – and watch the guys cook at the same time. We loved the fresh tastes including a wonderful pea and lovage cold soup and gorgeous crispy toasts with variou toppings.
So here we’ll let you read how they started refining their menus.
t was a sunny – if brisk – April morning. In a break with tradition, I got up early and headed to the Edinburgh farmers’ market at Castle Terrace, for a 10 o’clock brunch served by The Gardener’s Cottage pop-up restaurant. The white-clothed table was set with flowers and Queen’s Green china. The sun shone on the castle cliff and serious shoppers were arriving in droves as we took our seats. Pretzels and Virgin Marys beckoned.
The Gardener’s Cottage opens in July. The owners, Dale Mailley and Edward Murray, have taken the cute-as-a-button gardener’s cottage in Royal Terrace Gardens, at the foot of Calton Hill (on the Leith side). The building has stood empty for a long time is being refurbished before Dale and Edward can move in. Between the two, they have 15 years of experience and have worked in a number of well-known restaurants: The Kitchin, the Atrium, Blue, Café St Honoré and The Outsider. While they wait for the restoration to be finished, their practicing their skills and cooking in pop-up restaurants at the Castle Terrace Farmers’ Market, and, at the end of the May, at the Hopetoun Farm Shop.
An outdoors pop-up restaurant in Scotland doesn’t sound like the best idea ever, but it is. Wrap up and pop along. It’s good fun as well as delicious eating. I went on my own but chatted with my fellow diners and watched the chefs cook our food on a hotplate. I also saw them start preparing lunch. Smoked pigs cheeks sound yum and the smoke smelled wonderful.
So what did we eat? We started with a delicious pretzel from Falko Konditormeister (where Edward was head chef). I like pretzels. I’ve only had pretzels with mustard or cheese before but can tell you that they go wonderfully with farmhouse butter and strawberry jam too. With the pretzels we had our Virgin Marys, made with the year’s first batch of tomatoes – delicate tomato and Tabasco concoctions that tasted truly virtuous. There was also organic apple juice and lashings of really nice coffee. And blankets. Tasteful black blankets that really made a difference wrapped around my knees.
For the main attraction there was smoked haddock and poached eggs on a bed of wilted spinach. It was lovely. I have mentioned my love for a well poached egg before. These were perfect and sat on flaky smoked haddock. It was really tasty. The smoky flavour of the haddock was enhanced by the little wafts of smoke that came from the smoking lunch. Based on what I’ve seen and tasted so far, I really look forward to visiting the restaurant when it opens.
Having eaten my full, and topped up on coffee, I shouldered my tote and went off to forage for dinner. What a perfect start to the day!
Have been here a couple of times and the food has always been excellent. Yes it is always a set menu but I think this encourages you to try things you might not normally, and they will cater to any dietary requirements. The portions aren't huge but there are six or seven courses of simply-prepared and presented food.
They do keep bumping up their prices, but it is a warm and cosy place that is definitely worth visiting once.
We were visiting from the states and had an opportunity to enjoy dinner on a Friday night. No expectations other than the listing in the Michelen guide. The menu was a 5 course offering that had the added wine pairings. There was a small faux pas with the first wine delivery, but other than that the meal was excellent. The bread was served with a tasty strawberry butter that was a great start. We also enjoyed a crab tart, cod over crab bisque and carrots, venison that was incredibly tender and flavorful, and a dessert tart that included a berry assortment. We were fortunate to be seated next to two couples that shared conversation to make the meal even more enjoyable. Highly recommended. The price was commensurate with a starred restaurant but worth the price. Many thanks to the staff for an nice dinner experience.
Don't miss out on visiting this delightful, laid-back place, serving a fixed lunch of excellently prepared and presented dishes. We loved the whole experience! Thank you Gardener's Cottage.
The food was excellent, but it was very small portions and quite expensive for the amount. Tasted excellent though. Really nice place and friendly personal.
We ate there one night on our visit to Edinburgh. I was so impressed and enjoyed every moment. What fun and excellent dining!!
My wife and I had a wonderful meal at the Gardner’s Cottage. It was the first time both of us ever had a set menu and it did not disappoint. Do not go here if you’re a picky eater, but if you want to have a good adventure, you’ll have one. The food was all nearly local as well. Every dish was delicious and a great combination of flavors. The staff was all very friendly and hospitable. Highly recommended.
Unique and romantic experience from a very friendly and knowledgeable team. Great service and wonderful food with the wine flight to accompany it. I will certainly be back. Highly recommended.
Lovely lunch. 3 course Set menu plus shared cheese plate beautifully cooked, simple but delicious, and served with well priced matched wines. Bench seating and the small room means it’s quite noisy and not very private, but if you’re ok with that it’s a lovely room. Maybe felt a little rushed this time?
A really special place - beginning with its unique location proximate to the center of the city, but hard to spot even when you're in front of the cottage. Wonderful food, locally and sustainably based, with the dishes highly varied and consistently delicious. Two communal tables and prix fixe menu; don't come if you're exchanging state secrets or only like chicken nuggets. Multiple menus (standard, vegan and pescatarian). A bit pricey, but not for an evening's entertainment at this level. Highly recommend.
Had a wonderful meal here that I probably would have rated highly on its own, but what truly made this special was the spectacular wine program and the outstanding service. I truly love spending time in Scotland—the people are just remarkable.
This place was really great. Reasonably priced tasting menu in a cosy less than 20 covers converted bungalow. Excellent flavours in the dishes using something from the garden in each one. Really impressed and lovely wait staff too. Worth trying for a table or coming early or late. Very much recommended. Wine list uninspiring hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Wish places like this would spend more time curating their wine offerings.
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