Opening in June is the eagerly awaited Grand Café on North Bridge, Edinburgh. Located in the former advertising and notices department of the Scotsman Newspaper, this new café brings a touch opulence to the city.
As you walk in you are greeted with an elegant interior of marble pillars, sparkling chandeliers and scattered palms. The space is beautiful and airy with a very European feel as if you’ve walked in from the streets of Paris or Vienna. The dark furniture is set off with lush velvet material of blues, emerald greens and reds.
As the cafe is open from 8 am until 3 am there is an extensive menu, taking you from morning until late evening. Enjoy brunch until 5 pm or simply pop in for a delicious cocktail and listen to the live jazz every Thursday or live piano that plays every evening from 10 pm.
I chose to dine in the evening and sample their delicious choice of food. I opted for their lamb rump which being well done (such a no-no I know) it was still succulent and full of flavour. I also tasted their signature dish of Moules frites, delicious fresh mussels and fries with homemade mayonnaise. The poached and roasted chicken was flavoursome especially the accompanying burnt onion, cabbage, smoked bacon and creamed potatoes.
If you know me then you know that I am a dessert person, so it was hard to resist trying all the desserts they had to offer (don’t worry I was sharing). There were a few delicious highlights such as the earl grey crème brûlée and the poached peach. The stand out dessert for me, however, was their steamed marmalade sponge with whisky butterscotch and creme fraiche sorbet. It was sweet, sticky and deliciously satisfying.
I highly recommend the grand cafe, not just for the food and surroundings but for the exceptionally friendly service which unfortunately nowadays is hard to come by. I now can’t wait to go back and experience brunch or cocktails and of course to get another helping of that delicious sponge!
20 North Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1TR
BLU BLAZER GUY 