Ignite is your oasis of taste in Edinburgh's west end. Lauded by those who rate restaurants for a living, loved by just about everybody else, Ignite is one of the most well-presented, richly colourful and enjoyable of Bengali and Indian restaurants in our capital - and most keenly deserving of your custom. Discover! Enjoy!
The Prince Balti House
Portobello
- Food served: Sun–Thu noon–2pm, 5–11.30pm; Fri/Sat noon–2pm, 5pm–midnight
- Delivery: free; minimum order £10
- Private dining: Up to 25 covers
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs
- Capacity: 48
- Largest group: 48
- Open since: 1997
- House wine: £10.95 per bottle
- BYOB: no charge corkage
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
It may not be the most enticing spot for a restaurant, being wedged between a busy roundabout and a bus depot at the end of Seafield industrial estate, but the enthusiastic, cheery welcome from staff at this Portobello curry house more than compensates for any external grimness. Décor is traditional - dark wood tables and panelling, peach walls, bubbly fish tank and piped music - and the huge A4 folder-style menu reveals the regulars by listing discounts for the local council and NHS staff. As befits the backdrop, staple Indian and Bangladeshi dishes dominate the menu, with bhunas, kormas and massalas aplenty, alongside a healthy veggie section and great kids' meal deals of diddy-sized curry, rice and a drink from £4.95. But don't be fooled by the old-school looks, as there's no clueless swamp of spices here, but rather a subtle, skilled blending of flavours. The pilau rice with saffron is deft and delicate, and goes just as well with a light chicken kashmiri murgh markhani - a fruit cocktail of a curry marrying warm spices with lychees, banana and pineapple - as it does with a rich jaipuri lamb brimming with marinated meat, warming coriander and fresh mushrooms.
- High point: Traditional curries done with flair, style and warmth
- Low point: Dining room a bit nippy in cold weather
Reviews of The Prince Balti House (11/12 Seafield Road East, Portobello, Edinburgh)
- 7. gremial, Leith – 13 March 2011, 7:42pm
The Prince Balti HouseReport -
Having just had my first take-away from The Prince, I can't comment on how the standard has or hasn't changed compared to years past, but I can say that the food was certainly on the very good side of average! Nothing spectacular, but for the price and quality of service, which was *very* polite and helpful, I'd definitely go again. If you're lucky enough to have a council rewards card, I'd say that this would make it a no-brainer for anyone in the general Craigentinny/Portobello area.
- 6. punjab pete, Portobello – 6 August 2010, 10:31pm
The Prince Balti HouseReport -
I have been a customer for many years. I have entertained guests with take-aways and have dined in the restaurant on many occasions. The food and the service was always exemplary. However, it's my duty to report to you fellow curry lovers the demise of the restaurant in recent months. The quality of food has left me ashen faced. I have been caught with my pants down and a horrible taste in my mouth (literally) in front of distinguished guests. Unfortunately, the service has also deteriorated significantly. My ten year love affair with Prince Balti has sadly came to an awful climax. Goodbye my Balti, goodbye my friend. X
- 5. punjab pete, Portobello – 6 August 2010, 10:28pmThe Prince Balti HouseReport
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I have been a customer for many years. I have entertained guests with take-aways and have dined in the restaurant on many occasions. The food and the service was always exemplary. However, it's my duty to report to you fellow curry lovers the demise of the restaurant in recent months. The quality of food has left me ashen faced. I have been caught with my pants down and a horrible taste in my mouth (literally) in front of distinguished guests. Unfortunately, the service has also deteriorated significantly. My ten year love affair with Prince Balti has sadly came to an awful climax. Goodbye my Balti, goodbye my friend. X
- 4. Jade15, City Centre – 14 April 2010, 8:56pmThe Prince Balti HouseReport
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I have been once to this establishment and I will definitely learn by my mistake! I ordered chicken pakora which was sweet, soggy, and old. I also ordered chicken tandoori masala with one garlic naan and a plain naan, and pilau rice. The "curry" was sickly sweet and the chicken, all uniform pieces, was out of a frozen pack, similar to the type I normally serve my dog. The pilau rice was so over salted it was inedible and the naans were doughy, tasteless, with no garlic whatsoever. Also, the sauce/dip that was served with the pakora was sweet and disgusting, and the salad was warm and days old! I left the 'restaurant' with the untouched meals still on the table, with the waiter mocking me and my friend as 'why else would the "curry" be anything else but sweet?' Furthering their customer dissatisfaction, they refused to put the heater on behind me after I asked twice and them agreeing to do so! I will never return to this "award winning restaurant" and I will make sure that I warn all my friends and family not to waste their time, money and effort visiting this dingy, poky, freezing cold dump.
- 3. Graeme Monteath, Gorebridge – 22 April 2009, 2:43pm
The Prince Balti HouseReport -
I have been a regular at the Prince since its opening day and i have never had a bad meal from this restaurant the staff and management are warm and freindly and the food is ALWAYS of the highest standard.
I am a self confessed curryholic and for consitently good food at very reasonable prices i couldent recommend a better place to go.
- 2. Mark Walker, Musselburgh – 18 May 2008, 4:32pmThe Prince Balti HouseReport
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Great food - definitely recommended. Only once had a mediocre dish from here but usually the standard is consistently high.
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