blue

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

In applying Slow Food philosophies, properly educating its staff and delivering superbly designed dishes, blue is doing a lot of things right. A fastidious sourcing policy forms the restaurant's backbone, the name of the game being those elusive goals: seasonality, locality and quality. Not here Spanish asparagus in October or unripe raspberries in January; instead, expect a menu that reflects the weather, with fare that's warming in winter and invigorating in summer. The spacious interior, with its Danish designer furniture, earthy wall hangings and subdued lighting, is understated and neutral, allowing the food to take centre stage. The largely Scottish menu is augmented by influences from across Europe. So, in a nod to Scandinavia, a starter of grilled sardines is served on pickled red cabbage, its sweetness marrying brilliantly with the oily fish. Meanwhile, a stack of oatcakes with chunky piccalilli forms the perfect foil to a delicious confit duck and foie gras terrine. Mains run along the same lines: a powerful game pie arrives with a classic contrast of succulent honeyed parsnips, while pan-fried Fraserburgh mackerel in a herby puy lentil broth proves fantastically earthy. As a finale, a warm chunk of lemon and almond sponge topped with an edgy Mojito sorbet leaves you feeling wide-eyed, perky and fully sated.

• High point: Wonderfully crafted dishes don't disappoint
• Low point: Feels like a classy canteen on quiet nights

The LIST Card F50

blue

The following information has been provided by the restaurant.

blue is an elegant, contemporary Edinburgh city centre restaurant. Its proximity to the Usher Hall, Traverse and Lyceum theatres, the Cameo and Filmhouse makes it ideal for pre or post theatre dining, early morning coffees and intimate suppers for two.

blue celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007 with a stylish refit transforming blue into a destination restaurant offering award winning food and service. The introduction of Danish chairs, handmade rugs, stunning lighting and impressive floor to ceiling oak panelling has created a lovely dining room in which to relax in comfort.

blue uses the freshest and finest seasonal produce from local suppliers and growers. On Saturdays our head chef can be seen buying straight from the adjacent farmers market or doing a food demonstration on the slow food stall. Our philosophy is simple; absolute quality ingredients, handled lightly, cooked precisely and presented with the minimum of fuss.

Blue has a fantastic bar that lists 30 well chosen wines, plus a wide selection of spirits, beers and cocktails.

Our friendly informed staff, renowned for their relaxed, attentive, yet unobtrusive service, look forward to welcoming you to blue.

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