Café Grande

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• Average price 2 courses:
   £9.50 (lunch)
   £19.50 (evening meal)
• House wine: £12.25 (red)/£14.75 (white) per bottle

• High point: Convivial atmosphere
• Low point: Raucous rather than refined
• Food served: Mon-Wed 9am-10pm; Thu-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 10am-9pm
• Bar open: Mon-Wed 9am-11pm; Thu-Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 12.30-11pm
• Open since: 1996
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

This café, bistro and bar has been bringing a touch of ooh-la-la to Bruntsfield for more than two decades. Although the French café-style wooden tables and chairs are now a little rickety, it is showing no sign of becoming any less popular with locals, and the rich claret walls and tightly packed tables create a relaxed, cosy ambience that is often buzzing with happy chatter until late. During the day there's a simple menu of light meals and snacks, such as burgers, baked potatoes, panini and salads, as well as a good selection of cakes. Come the evening, the kitchen becomes more adventurous. Fresh, local ingredients are combined using diverse international influences, producing starters such as Stornoway black pudding sandwiched between chunky, rustic herb pancakes and a rich and creamy roasted red pepper and prawn soup. Succulent char-grilled west coast scallops make a main course served atop risotto fish-cakes infused with a lively streak of lemon-grass and kaffir lime. The relaxed management will happily welcome those simply looking for a late night coffee or a quick bite from the snack menu right up till closing time.