Nargile
- Food served: Mon–Thu noon–9.30pm; Fri/Sat noon–10pm. Closed Sun. [Extended in Festival].
- Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sat noon–7pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 9
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: Classic 60s to 80s pop
- Capacity: 45
- Largest group: 60
- Open since: 2010
- Average price:
£11.95 (set lunch)
£22.75 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £11.95
- House wine: £13.50 per bottle
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.
For a fresh take on Turkish food, Nargile is the place to go. The contemporary elegance of the setting is seamlessly matched by the food and wine. Born into the business, manager Ruya Iridag makes diners feel immediately at ease in choosing from her Scottish partner Stuart Anderson's exotic sounding menu. Meze may be the most familiar of these dishes but the selection of Middle Eastern delicacies brings a range of unusual flavours to typical ingredients such as chicken, kalamari, tuna, chickpeas and sucuk, a halal Turkish sausage. As with the main courses, all is prepared with fine attention to detail. Portions are generous, with the creamed aubergine bed of hunkar begendi or char-grilled lamb a match for all but the ravenous. Other speciality dishes similarly pair meat with vegetable sauces while kebabs come in at least six different guises, all served with rice, salad and pitta bread. Sticky, gooey sweets are everything that Turkish desserts should be, the nut baklava topping a list that also includes the fashionably gourmet and moreish Mövenpick ice-cream from Switzerland.
- High point: Unusual Turkish wines
- Low point: A tad heavy on the aubergine in the main course
Reviews of Nargile (73 Hanover Street, Edinburgh)
- 5. UJ, stockbridge – 30 November 2011, 9:03amNargileReport
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Wow. This place is amazing. The vegetarian meze fairly blew my mind. Exquisitely cooked, bright and zingy favours, expertly combined. Beautifully fresh, generous portions, presented with care and love. Service was friendly and attentive. Probably the best meal I've had in Edinburgh. Can't recommend enough.
- 4. NK, Ediburgh – 8 September 2011, 6:48pm
NargileReport -
I have taken various friends here lots of times and it has always been a success. There is something for everyone; the food tastes good and the price is right for what you get (the portions are good size).
The mezes are particularly nice when you are with a group of people - there is plenty to around.
- 3. RickyB2003, Edinburgh – 25 August 2011, 1:44pmNargileReport
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Fabulous meal on a quiet Monday night during the festival. Very different to the traditional Turkish restaurant (no kebabs here) and a real riot of flavours, many unexpected and lovely.
Starter of halloumi reminiscent of lunches by the Med, and the beef with coriander was a real surprise. Even more extraordinary was the lamb with aubergine mash; the latter does not look like much, but tastes gorgeous and with the exquisitely cooked and flavoursome lamb, makes for a lovely dish. The chicken with couscous was also good, if not quite so special.
Quick service, reasonable prices and a great meal left us wondering why Edinburgh (and the Festival crowds) have bypassed this excellent restaurant. Well worth a visit if you are after something different, and good, for your palate.
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