Always Sunday

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £8.50
• House wine: £12.50 per bottle

• Hitlisted
• High point: Excellent vegetarian and wheat free options
• Low point: Table service would make everyone feel extra special
• Food served: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat/Sun 9am-6pm
• Open since: 2003
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Take away

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

This review is from the 2007 edition.

Amid the tourist traps of the Royal Mile, there are a few places where the locals really like to go. Always Sunday is one of them. A bustling café, it offers a wide range of breakfast choices and freshly-prepared lunches that are both practical and feel like a treat. As well as create-your-own style platters, the daily changing menu revolves around a few specials (both vegetarian and not), hot 'casual food' and steaming soup. All nourishing fare, it is perfect for a business rendezvous, catching up with friends or a solo spot of people watching. The dishes may be named 'casual', but a wealth of preparation by chef JM Meny obviously goes into the well-considered vegetable bakes, balanced focaccias and the spinach and sweet potato special house salad. Likewise, coffee and cakes are all pleasantly generous and of a high standard. The ethos of owner/manager Mary Macdonald extends a welcome to all, and there are baby changing facilities and children's portions available on request. Even the most delicate of constitutions can indulge with a wheat, dairy and sugar-free apple crumble. Sadly, they don't take bookings so it is advisable to go early for the full range of daily specials, which are a treat any day of the week.