Visit La Garrigue, arguably the most authentic French restaurant in town and be transported into the Languedoc region of France. Enjoy the food, sample the 'Terroir wines' and the warm service. Winner 'Les Routiers Guide; Scottish restaurant of the year'.
La P'tite Folie
- Food served: Mon–Sat noon–3pm, 6–11pm; Sun 6–10pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 7
- Also offers: Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs
- Music on stereo: Gallic crooners and cute retro pop
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 60
- Open since: 1996
- Average price 2 courses:
£8.95 (set lunch)
£21 (evening meal) - House wine: £11.25 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
Like the best local chains, the two branches of La P'tite Folie seek out and serve quite distinctively different customer bases in their different locations. The West End branch in Randolph Place buzzes with business talk at lunchtime. Its popularity is deserved: food is consistently good and the service is professional and charming. Downstairs (complete with new wine and cheese bar) is airy and chic, while upstairs is cosily clubby with wood-panelled walls. The Frederick Street branch has always had a more naïf bohemian vibe, candle-light flickers in front of handsomely tattered old movie posters above little wooden tables. But though its atmosphere is still rough and ready, the food has grown up: new chef Thomas Bruno trained under three-star Michelin wunderkind Paul Bocuse, and sends out a series of simple but faultless dishes, from smoky rillette of rabbit to warmly spiced monkfish tagine or juicily honeyed Barbary duck with noodles. A whole rib of beautiful Aberdeen Angus beef, for two people, is spectacular on its enormous wooden serving board, accompanied by the fluffiest of frites. Carnivorous couples need look no further. The wine list here runs from refined Chablis to high-kicking Crozes-Hermitage; or try refreshing Breton cider. For dessert, a vanilla cheesecake, dripping with red berries, is so light it seems to have half a mind to take flight. This branch has upped its game a lot in the past year and is now one of the best French restaurants in its price bracket.
- High point: A welcome revolution in the kitchen at Frederick Street…
- Low point: …though the service doesn't yet match Randolph Place
Comments
- 1. "Faim" Gourmet, Edinburgh – 2 April 2008, 9:31amReport
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La Petite Folie in 61 Frederik Street is the perfect exemple that things can change... I heard about the new Head-Chef, and I was very surprised.
Menu : Clever and appetising, beautifully presented ; Service : Professional and efficient.
Nonetheless, it would be churlish not to admit that overall it has been a very, very good meal, and reasonably priced...A new adress where I run... Crazy ? Definitely Not.
- 2. B-Boy, Edinburgh – 10 April 2008, 5:09pm
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I thought this was a delightful and charming restaurant.
- 3. billy bo, 61 frederick street – 19 April 2008, 11:42am
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It was fantastic! I had the kings scallops with passion fruit dressing and follow by the monkfish served with the best risotto of my life!! a lot of thanks for the staff, specially for the head chef to do a great food with imagination!
- 4. molly, edinburgh – 13 June 2008, 8:33pmReport
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Do not eat here, rubbery fish & pureed potatoes with lumps.
My partner and I ate here two weeks ago. After reading lots of comments on how good it was. We were impressed by the simple but characteristic decor, that was all that impressed us. The menu was very limited, offering monkfish, haddock & cod and the popularly worded 'corn fed chicken'. Nothing exciting or interesting. We both had starters, I had the smoked salmon pancake, which was very tasty. My partner had veal and was satisified with this. The main course I had monkfish and it was ok, my partner had the haddock and cod with pureed potato and asparagus. Well, firstly the fish was tasteless and appeared to have been frozen and defrosted (unnecessary when there is a fish monger around the corner). The pureed potato was lumpy and watery and the asparagus was brown not green. When asked by the waiter was everything ok we said no. He bodly told us we shoul have complained earlier (may I mention two bites had been taken). At the end of our meal the waitress that was clearing our table asked us if we enjoyed our meal, we replied no and she just looked and smiled at us without enquiring further. We just had to laugh, maybe it is a new way of dealing with complaints. We were also able to look into the kitchen from our table and the chef looked about 15 years of age and not very well presented. Totally dissapointed by the food and service and would not reccommend this place to eat.
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