What makes this place special
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Has great beer selection
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Serves great dessert
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Popular for dinner
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Good for solo dining
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Casual
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Cosy
✓
Romantic
✓
Trendy
Features verified by Google Maps data
Verified Dish
Add Missing Dish
🚚
Delivery
🥡
Takeout
🍽️
Dine-in
🍺
Alcohol
🍹
Cocktails
🍷
Wine
📅
Reservations
♿
Wheelchair accessible
♿
Accessible restroom
😊
Casual
👥
Good for groups
📊 Popular Times
Not busy
Moderate
Very busy
Contact Information
📞
Phone:
+44 131 553 1000
🌐 Website:
http://cuttingchaii.co.uk/
📍
Address:
18-20 Salamander Street, Edinburgh
📷 Photos (11+)
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Google Reviews
276
Google reviews
Fantastic wee place, amazing food, great atmosphere, and exceptionally attentive staff.
Well worth visiting if you’re in the area, or are after proper food.
Google
Hands down the best Indian in town. Outrageously good food, very friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere. Been here for food more times than I can count and never once been disappointed. If you like good food then this place is for you.
Google
Great food and good sized portions. Service was excellent and food arrived hot and quickly. Indicated spicy food level was accurate, 2 peppers is spicy, I probably would struggle with the 3 peppers one. If you are not used to spicy food, stick with one pepper or less. Would visit again.
Google
Ordered take away for collection on Friday evening, half hour wait which was totally fine. Staff friendly on arrival, restaurant looked nice would come back to sit in.
Food was really good, non greasy and tasted really fresh. Portion size was very generous; we ordered two mains, a rice and a naan - plenty left over.
Prices on higher side but paying for quality good food. Will be back.
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Google
I've visited 4 times now, a wonderful local restaurant.
Great options for Vegans
Always worth checking the specials board!
(No draught beer available last night, but they do have bottled beer)
Thanks to Dixa for looking after us!
Google
Cutting Chaii is brilliant and if you know someone who lives nearby then it is a duty to recommend the restaurant to them. After all, it's on the corner of a road hardly anyone walks down and surrounded by construction. How would anyone find Cutting Chaii by chance?
Of course, don't take my word for it; check the cosy Indian tapas place out for yourself. By "Indian tapas" I mean you'll order two to three dishes per person rather than one big meal.
I've been many times, try and have something different each time and am yet to find something I didn't like.
The food is fresh and fun. I really like the chance to sample broadly from the menu. Cutting Chaii helps me answer questions that begin with, "Do I like?"
However, while it would be wrong to rate the food as anything less than excellent, I have to point out the atmosphere of the cosy corner too!
Tip: Book in advance!
Cutting Chaii is great for couples, small parties and even solo diners. I don't think it's the place to take 10 office co-workers too!
The doorway (which is not wheelchair friendly) is an archway of flowers and decorations. You'll step into a romantically lit, warm, delicious smelling murmur of quiet conversations. It's lovely! It's also a dramatic contrast to windy winter nights!
Staff are friendly, not particularly numerous but since Chaii isn't huge, this is never a problem. I've never had a wait at Cutting Chaii.
The worst thing that's happened to me is forgetting to book, trying my luck anyway, walking down and finding no tables free.
Tip: The toilets (customers only) are nice and clean here. I think they were put in a few years ago when the location was the Elbe Room, have been maintained well and are a huge improvement to what was there before.
Cutting Chaii is also on Deliveroo but I'm yet to test that option. I'd much rather turn up for COVID safe (masks, table cleaning, etc) and friendly in person.
Overall? Delighted to recommend this treasure to you.
[April 2022: update - still great]
[January 2023: update - busy for an impromptu midweek first. Still great and worth booking for]
[April 2023 update - guess what? Still great]
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Google
Incredible, authentic indian food, fairly pricy mind you, so definitely a once in a blue moon visit, but i couldn't fault it. Possibly the best lamb chops I've had. Everything was just cooked perfectly full of flavours and spice.
Google
The restaurant was very cozy and charming and the staff was extremely professional and friendly. The food was really delicious though they’re more tapas style so the portion is a bit small. Id highly recommend the deep fried aubergine dish with naan!
Google
Want to do a favor for yourself? Then visit this lovely restaurant in Edinburgh.
The food is absolutely amazing – everything I tasted melted in other mouths. The Mas Butter Chicken is highly recommend. Don't forget to taste the Garlic Nan and Shaak Lamb.
Google
Edinburgh’s finest Indian restaurant. Cosy environment, friendly staffs and extremely delicious foods. Must try their Amritsari Lamb Chops, mother butter and malai murgh.
Google
Features & Services
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has great beer selection
Serves great dessert
Popular for
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Has free water refills
Serves halal food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Serves late-night food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Has table service
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Romantic
Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly
Good for groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Planning
Reservations required
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Paid street parking
Plenty of parking
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