Mezbaan is Edinburgh's only restaurant dedicated to just traditional and authentic South Indian cuisine. We are now open for lunch. If you are short for time you can sample our express menu or for a more relaxed our a la carte menu.
9 Cellars Restaurant and Bar
- Food served: Mon–Sat noon–2.30pm, Mon/Sun 5.30–11pm
- Pre-theatre times: 5.30–7.00pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 7
- Delivery: Free within 1 mile radius
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Takeaway, Pre-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: Indian instrumental and Bollywood sounds
- Capacity: 85
- Largest group: 30
- Open since: 2003
- Average price 2 courses:
£6.95 (set lunch)
£17 (evening meal) - House wine: £11.95 per bottle
- BYOB: £4 corkage
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
As Indian restaurants go, 9 Cellars is one of the more unusual. Not only does its impressively long menu boast unfamiliar dishes unseen anywhere else, but the space itself is a labyrinth of intimate eating corners on different levels rather than the more conventional open expanse of a dining room. Perhaps it is to one of the secreted cellar spots that diners go for chicken korma sutra, chef/proprietor Phool Thakur's special for lovers. The front room upstairs is more conventional looking. Lamb main dishes – babli handi and lal mass – both of which are caressed with a warmth of their own, the former from Indian rum, the latter from its blend of Rajasthan spices, are impressive. Other dishes of discovery give equally pleasant surprises. Chicken chilla – a sort of pancake – is more successful with lentils than the nondescript palak kebab, which is cooked with spinach. Otherwise, vegetables are cooked in combinations that are fulsomely spiced and rich in variation. The experience is a rounded one, thanks to Thakur's unfailing skill at knocking up home-made pistachio and mango ice-creams.
- High point: Atmospheric fairy-lit maze of cellars
- Low point: Early weeknights a little quiet
The LIST Card F34
This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:
Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
Dinner: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
Remember: book by phone (0131 557 9899) and ask for a LIST Card booking.
The LIST Card is a dining scheme that gives you promotional two-for-one offers at a range of restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. Find out more.
Comments
- 1. Sam, Edinburgh – 22 April 2008, 9:47pmReport
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I have been using The List to pick out restaurants for well over four years and I have never been disappointed - until I went to 9 Cellars recently. This restaurant is hit listed and I also noticed that it has got good reviews by other prominent reviewers in the field. However based on my experience at this restaurant I have to disagree with the reviews.
After reading the review on The List, I was rather excited about the dosa but mine was burnt and cold at the same time! The Okra side dish was also cold and rather unexciting. The Rajasthani lamb curry was good but nothing special. And when I asked for a Rasmalai I was told that they don't serve it anymore - though it is still there on the greasy dessert menu card.
I would be interested to get others' view on this restaurant. Maybe I was just unlucky and I am aware I can't come to any conclusions based on a single visit.
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