Cafe Andaluz, 77 George Street, Edinburgh
A tapas-style restaurant with a swoon-worthy interior. Ceramics and beautiful vases abound, and a skylight manages to capture the reticent Scottish sunlight to great effect. I went for lunch, which was £9.95 for 3 plates of tapas - more than enough for any glutton. Couscous-stuffed aubergine, seared scallops with creamed leeks and crisp serrano ham, braised pork cheeks in red wine - HEAVEN. I've never had pork cheeks before! Admittedly heavy fare for lunch, especially when paired with a large glass of wine, but the good thing about tapas is the variety available.
A high point was the waiter switching seamlessly from a Scottish accent to a Spanish one, when presenting our dishes [does anyone else feel like a dick when they read out their meal choices in the appropriate accent? I do it anyway.], who then sidled up to us later to ask where my friend's ring was from - an absolute sweetie.
All in all, fabulous and prompt service, an amazing choice of food at very reasonable prices, and good portion sizes. I always worry about portion sizes at tapas bars, quite needlessly in this case - not to say I didn't finish it all. Purely for the benefit of the review, of course. If you're in Edinburgh, make a visit.
Nice to read you´ve had such a good experience in a Spanish restaurant not located in Spain. I´m Spanish and I have to say that not always it ´s like that, many times they offer tapas or typical dishes that it really doesnt look or even taste like a real spanish one, at least I can notice it, but´s a pity cos sometimes what they do is pull the leg of costumers, and take much money for a "non really spanish speciality". I guess this happens when the business is not run by a spanish person, if he/she is spanish "should" offer quality. I´ve been to a spanish place abroad just once in life and the experience it was bad! (London), I´ve never been to Edinburgh yet but if sometime I visit and I feel the need of tasting spanish food I´ll go for sure. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it's very frustrating for you to visit all the chains of tapas bars like La Tasca! I'm sure Cafe Andaluz is run by someone Spanish - you can tell by the quality of the food.
ReplyDeleteI'll always remember the tapas I had in Barcelona - arroz negro and caracoles - we just can't compete!
Exactly!and to avoid "surprises" that´s why I don´t go, plus I preffer to try the local food when I´m abroad.
ReplyDeleteI live in Germany and here I also eat good and I find yummy things, but I miss Spain so much in the "gastronomy" or simple things such as do my shopping in a "Mercado" , find fresh fish every day, here´s impossible!
Anyway, caracoles!Brave!... u love it or ate it! The sauce I´m sure it´s great but caracoles, dont know...not my world! What about "Haggis"?
I´m back to Spain for a week in July and I can´t wait to eat a decent paella on the sea side....
Enjoy the weekend!
Laura.