Elephants & Bagels

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £5

• High point: The paper on the walls
• Low point: The paper plates
• Food served: Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm; Sat/Sun 9.30am-5pm
• Open since: 1997
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

The name pretty much says it all. At the specialist bagel wings of Edinburgh's beloved Elephant House empire, the menu revolves around those chewy, ring-shaped rolls that are both healthy and filling. The décor, meanwhile, revolves around those loveable pachyderms, with much of the artwork having been made by customers. It is not untypical to see scrawled drawings of elephants signed by 'Davey, age four' or, for that matter, 'Jessica, age 33'. The bagel creations are similarly artistic. The 'bagel of the day' is usually a good bet and helps narrow down the seemingly endless choice of varieties and fillings. Cakes are more of the tray-bake than gooey wedge variety but are definitely sweet enough to provide a fix, all washed down with a cup of strong coffee. The café works well as a quick lunch stop or an accompaniment to wading through textbooks or newspapers. The smaller branch on Leven Street, which opened in 2006, has a little way to go to match up to its established Nicolson Square brethren. With a slightly reduced menu, there is often more chance of bagging a seat away from the weekday student and weekend crush, which gives you the perfect opportunity to add your own elephantine masterpiece to their walls, whatever your age.