Joanna's Cuisine
Leith
- Average price 2 courses: £13
- House wine: £16.50 per bottle
- Hitlisted
- High point: Exquisite, subtle flavours ravished on fresh produce
- Low point: The décor doesn't quite match up to the quality of the food
- Food served: Tue-Sun 5.30-10.30pm. Closed Mon
- Delivery: from £1
- Open since: 1999
- Also offers: Children's high chairs, Takeaway
The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.
This review is taken from the 2007 edition.
Although a little off the beaten track, near the bottom of Leith Walk, Joanna's is well worth the trek. The unassuming frontage belies the quality fare inside, which is all based on owner Joanna Wong's proud advocacy of healthy eating. The simple but refreshingly authentic starters include Beijing-style dumplings, which, although slightly soggy, are packed with freshly minced pork, while the lighter pickled vegetable option offers a subtle chilli bite to prepare the palate for the meal ahead. An impressive range of main courses follows, including a small but adventurous vegetarian section. The three-mushroom chicken proffers succulent, organic meat with vegetables so fresh they are practically still growing. The red-hot tofu is misleadingly mild, but the gradual revelation of flavours from chilli to ginger more than makes up for its failure to deliver on the fiery front. The side dish of yung chow fried rice, combining duck, ham, shrimp and vegetables, amounts to a worthy dish in itself, and, if you fancy dessert, choose from a somewhat Westernised chocolate fondue, or the toffee apple decked in a light, sweet batter, let down only by the UHT cream accompaniment. Joanna's portions aren't huge, but the service and food are simple, elegant and respectful.
Comments
- 1. lindsey, edinburgh – 18 February 2008, 9:59pmReport
-
Joanna's is an excellent Chinese in an area saturated with average takeaways. No gloopy sauces, fresh fluffy rice (rather than a congealed brick) and their 'geung chong beef' is to die for! However it suddenly closed a few months ago with no explanations, and I for one miss it terribly. Hurry back Joanna!
To post a comment you'll first need to log in - not registered? - forgotten password?
RSS feed of these comments


