Situated in a basement location on Edinburgh’s prestigious Hanover Street is the newly opened 83 Hanover Street, and on Wednesday I was lucky enough to try out the array of delicious cuisine on offer at this new addition to Edinburgh’s culinary scene. 83 Hanover Street is the first dining project from former Gleneagles restaurant manager and owner of the acclaimed Edinburgh bar 99 Hanover Street, Juan Jose Castillo Castro.
Walking in, the first thing I noticed (being an interior design fan) was the beautifully designed interior carried out by Edinburgh’s very own Jaco and Co. The walls are embellished with a beautiful deep grey hue, a perfect backdrop to the brightly coloured yellow seating. Exposed brick provided another depth to this small but perfectly formed restaurant. If it wasn’t for the rain outside I would have truly felt like I had just stepped off the streets into some European eatery.
The food is delivered as bites and plates to be shared at the table, combining a fantastic blend of Scottish produce with Chilean flavours inspired by the owners’ mothers home cooking. Before I knew it colourful servings of fresh food began to appear at the table on equally colourful plates. The food was displayed impeccably and you could tell that every effort was taken to provide a perfect culinary experience. Each plate was a perfectly composed explosion of flavour and fragrances, combined thoughtfully so that each mouthful provided a different texture and taste. Just as I had finished one dish another would appear, and like an excited child, I couldn’t wait for what was to come next. The dishes were perfectly matched and washed down with delicious medium-bodied Tempranillo, ‘Ja!’ Tinedo.
You could see the passion oozing from the owner Juan, who explained each of the dishes as he laid them out before me. It was evident that he and head Chef Ross Clarke wanted to create a menu to excite and delight their customers and it certainly did just that. The stand out dishes for me were the simple but flavoursome Sopaipillas (a kind of fried pastry or quick bread traditionally served in the Americas) accompanied with Pebre, a spicy Chilean salsa with a citrusy kick. The ceviche with chilli, lime and coriander was zingy, fresh and moreish and the charred octopus was succulent and tasty. To finish was the delightfully sweet and sticky Tres Leches Donuts drenched in a condensed milk like sauce.
I can honestly say that there was nothing on the menu that I didn’t like and it is a place that I will have no hesitation in visiting again. It’s laid back vibe, high-quality food and a fantastic service makes it the perfect place to hang out with friends, take a special someone or simply a place to pop in for a glass of wine and a few nibbles. So if your a resident or visiting Edinburgh head along now to experience a truly great addition to the city.
83 Hanover Street, Edinburgh.
Opening Hours
Monday & Tuesday – Closed
Wednesday to Sunday – Noon til’ Midnight
Kitchen closes 10.30pm
Cheese & Charcuterie until Midnight
