Café Modern Two
73 Belford Road
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–2.30pm. [Coffee & cakes served: 10am–4.30pm].
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access
- Music on stereo: Nothing
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 12 or more but advance booking is required.
- Open since: 2010
- Average price:
£11 (lunch) - House wine: £14 per bottle
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.
Housed within the former orphanage that is the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two (formerly the Dean Gallery), this is the smarter cousin of the counter-service café at Modern One across the road. The café has recently expanded into two rooms and offers table service, giving breathing space to what was previously a cramped enterprise. Food here is freshly made in-house and with obvious care: as they point out on the daily changing menu, the only thing bought-in is the bread. Brie and caramelised onion tart or rosemary-infused steak pie sit alongside soup and sandwich combos and salads. This is not fast food (nor do they claim it to be) but it's worth the wait. Dessert specials might include a delightfully mouth-pinching lemon tart with crème-fraiche, while brownies and caramel shortbread feature on the regular menu. Despite Eduardo Paolozzi’s ‘Vulcan’ – a massive work of galvanised steel – dominating the main dining room, an atmosphere of almost reverential peace prevails within the whitewashed walls. A relaxing spot to recharge after some serious cultural appreciation.
- High point: Fresh food, lovingly made from scratch
- Low point: Popular dishes get snapped up quickly
Reviews of Café Modern Two (Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two, 73 Belford Road, Edinburgh)
- 1. Hillocks, Blairgowrie – 5 January 2012, 11:29pm
Café Modern TwoReport -
We met friends from Italy here for lunch and were very disappointed. I had a chicken stir fry that was nothing special, plonked on top of salad leaves and the size of a reasonable starter. Others had tapenade with very mediocre bread and a bit of wilted salad - for £6.50 I think.
This was all served on disposable plates and cutlery because the dishwasher had broken down. Soup was served in paper cups. Do they not have a sink?
Service was pretty lackadaisical.
To describe it as the smarter cousin of the place across the road is very misleading. The room and the Paolozzi may be impressive but I have had a better meal and much better value in a bus station cafe.
We were embarrassed that our Italian friends were exposed to this.
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