Gandhi's

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £5.95 (set lunch)
   £16 (evening meal)
• House wine: £11.95 per bottle

• High point: The lively, fresh feel
• Low point: Standard bought-in puds
• Food served: Mon-Sun noon-2pm, 5-11.30pm
• Delivery: free for orders over £15, £1 otherwise
• Open since: 2003
• Also offers: 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.

Escaping the seedier elements of Lothian Road, the first thing that hits you on entering this relatively recent addition to Edinburgh's restaurant scene is the brightly lit, buzzing atmosphere, with its smart cream and crimson colour palette, spotlit modern art and light wood tables. Packed with a mix of students, local office workers and visiting out-of-towners, the corridor-like room places tables close enough together to be cosy, but not so close that you can hear the next table's chat, and staff are helpful and efficient. Although it's a small space there's a big range on offer - from great thali lunch deals (neatly described on the menu as 'Indian tapas') to the more hefty specials such as fiery pimento-packed salmon rogon and buttery king prawn kumbi, all backed up by a well-thought-out (and well-priced) wine list. Dishes arrive speedily and look as pretty as the décor, with zingy pakora starters, creamy tandoori niblets and a tongue-tingling sag panir loaded with chunky cottage cheese and fresh spinach - perfect for soaking up with a fluffy almond and sultana naan. Thanks to its careful and contemporary approach, this busy little restaurant just goes to show that small can be beautiful too.