Peckham's Underground

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• Average price 2 courses:
   £11 (lunch)
   £15 (evening meal)
• House wine: £9.99 per bottle
• BYOB: £4; wine must be purchased in the shop corkage

• High point: Choose any bottle of wine from the deli to accompany your food
• Low point: Average food
• Food served: Sun–Thu 10am–10pm; Fri/Sat 10am–10.30pm
• Open since: 2000
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs

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

Boasting a lighter, brighter, more spacious restaurant space than its Newington sister operation, Peckham's Underground is a favourite among Bruntsfield residents at all times of the day. Diners can choose between patisserie delicacies, a brunch menu that's served until 5pm, a selection of more substantial meals, salads and pastas as well as home-made desserts direct from the deli upstairs. The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff helpful, but sadly the food is lacking the 'wow factor'. For instance, a light bite starter of gnocchi tossed in garlic butter served on a bed of rocket is disappointingly bland and the balsamic reduction doesn't particularly complement the dish. Similarly, the Thai fish-cakes are over-spiced. Leafy salads of organic Scottish produce include tasty choices such as monkfish and shark skewers with black olives, capers and home-made anchovy dressing. Sirloin steak topped with garlic butter and accompanied by potato wedges is pretty standard, no-frills fare but still hits the spot. While the food on offer here is often hit and miss, the desserts from the deli are always guaranteed to please. Home-made banoffee pie is a safe bet, as are the dessert specials. If you are feeling really decadent try a scrumptious dessert platter.