Iglu
- Food served: Mon–Thu 6–10pm; Fri/Sun noon–2pm, 6–10pm
- Bar open: Fri–Sun noon–1am
- Children welcome: until 7pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 11
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs
- Music on stereo: Mixed/modern
- Capacity: 28
- Largest group: 28
- Open since: 2001
- Average price 2 courses:
£9.95 (set lunch)
£22 (evening meal) - House wine: £12.95 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
Iglu is a venue that takes its organic, local and ethical food policy very seriously. But don't feel guilty if you need to take a taxi there should you find it hard to locate: it's hidden away from the main drag of the city centre and lurks inconspicuously round a New Town corner. A square-shaped bistro, whose quirkily furnishings include a lively fish tank, lurks above a fairly small bar area – a separate, simpler bar menu is served here. The bistro menu restricts itself to a handful of options for each course and has found favour with a range of customers, from the trendy young professionals who work nearby to older, eco-minded couples. It comes as no surprise to discover there's a regularly changing vegetarian dish, but it's the fine cuts of Scottish meat that best showcase the quality of the produce in here. Wild venison is mature, moist and cooked pink, while a thick slab of Fife rump steak comes with extremely fine hand-cut chips. Ethical dining needn't mean bland food, and if you don't believe that, pay Iglu a visit.
- High point: Ethical principles, classy bistro
- Low point: Service can be a bit curt
The LIST Card F29
This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:
Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Dinner: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun
Remember: book by phone (0131 476 5333) 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. Jen8, Edinburgh – 19 June 2008, 9:48pmReport
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A really relaxed place to go for excellent food and wine - definitely worth a visit!
- 2. Lulu, Edinburgh – 24 July 2008, 1:06pmReport
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Great restaurant, lots of Scottish ingredients (cheese and beer). The venison was cooked to perfection, the veg potato and red onion fritters were delicately flavoured and yummy. Organic lemonade was the best I've tasted. The cheeseplate could have done with a soft cheese to compliment the quince, but all in all top notch. The bar downstairs offers similar food for cheaper prices. Will be going again.
- 3. Brendan, Edinburgh – 23 August 2008, 10:41amReport
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We should have realised that it being August we would be treated badly wherever we ate. And Iglu didn't disappoint last night. The ambience was great, the space is cool. Starters of Mushrooms and Mackerel Pate were to everyone's liking as was the wine. I ordered Rump Steak. The waitress and I agreed it should be ordered medium rare if I wanted a hint of blood in it. A companion ordered his rare.
Mine arrived grey and well done, his medium. Why kill great steak a second time? And when we were told they couldn't replace them there was an obvious glint of joy in her face.
And was that a microwave ping I heard just before my replacement lamb shank arrived. It was certainly quick to the table but having a wrapping of fat I had to wonder if it wasn't in fact mutton. Alas I couldn't answer by taste as it was the most bland piece of meat I've had this side of school. Competing for obscurity was the bean stew served as an accompaniment. For once I didn't finish my meal.
Others had Pollock which, being polite, was bland and Venison salad, perfectly cooked but the raw peppers were an oddity. Scottish peppers?
A truly cold experience.
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