Borough

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This review is taken from the 2010 edition.

It's not unfair to say that Borough is suffering from something of an identity crisis. Tucked down on Causewayside, it was initially pitched as a high-end destination that wouldn't have looked out of place on George Street. The main room is a network of giant leather booths designed for intimate, almost covert dining. Peculiar then, that the lunch menu is fairly catholic, heaving with crowd-pleasing staples – fajitas, steak pie, sandwiches, even a rack of ribs. But this, along with the beaming TVs and the bouncy retro soundtrack, seems out of sync with the stylised décor. It all suggests a genuine attempt to create something homely and familiar but, like the signature dish, the Bad Boy burger – a teetering tower of meat upon meat: two unwieldy 6oz beef patties, topped with bacon, chilli con carne and cheese – it tries hard to please and is certainly tasty, but it just doesn't hang together. Plans to launch a new Scottish-produce-focused a la carte menu for the separate evening dining room in spring 2010 suggest Borough has its eyes firmly on the tourist trade. Not a bad idea, as long as this is somewhere diners can feel at home in.

• High point: Big portions …
• Low point: … that would actually be better smaller

3. Fraze, Edinburgh – 12 August 2009, 2:27pmBoroughReport

Very disappointing! After our visit last year (which was excellent all round) there has apparently been a change of ownership. The stated offer on the snapfax has been watered down and the quality of the food was very poor. Hopefully the new owners are reading these comments and will be raising their game accordingly. On the plus side, the service was good but that would not be enough to make me hurry back any time soon.

2. Foodie Fan, Edinburgh – 7 August 2009, 12:27amBoroughReport

What is going on with this place? Dined here recently and had the worst, most tasteless burger I've ever had. No relish, mayo or anything on the bun except a slice of soggy tomato and some iceberg lettuce, yuk. This place seems to have lost focus, is it a hotel, bar, restaurant, cafe, grill? who knows, very disappointing.

1. Min, Edinburgh – 30 August 2008, 7:18pmBoroughReport

Had a drink here after a meal at The New Bell.Very disappointing-the bar staff, although numerous,seemed very inexperienced.The lounge area was grubby;our table was sticky with the residue of previous customers' drinks and there were peanuts on both the sofa and floor.This place really seems to have gone downhill from my previous visit a year ago.Shame-it's a really stylish bar.