Café North

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £6
• House wine: £8.95 per bottle

• High point: Artistic, family-friendly surroundings
• Low point: Home-made hummus an acquired taste
• Food served: Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm (lunch served 11.30am-3pm). Closed Sun. Open during the evening on performance nights.
• Open since: 2004
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access

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

This review is taken from the 2007 edition.

If Café North was in the centre of Edinburgh, you would be fighting to get a table. So perfect is it for family lunches, every toddler in town would treat it like a second home. In reality, North Edinburgh Arts Centre (NEAC) is a little off the beaten track, meaning most visitors to this bright, inviting café are already there to see a show or attend a class. All the proceeds from Café North go towards NEAC's socially inclusive programme for families and schools. But that doesn't mean the prices are steep - far from it. Everything on the menu is made from scratch on the premises, with tasty soup for £2.20, and hot specials such as sweet potato enchiladas or chorizo and butterbean stew for a mere £3.75. Baked potatoes, toasted panini and sandwiches are the staple fare here, with a nice mix of exotic and more down-to-earth fillings. Little ones can choose from soup, pizza, sandwiches or a bountiful 'snack plate' for just £1.65. Boxes of toys, chalk boards, books and an outdoor play area keep children occupied, and grown-ups can tuck into yummy desserts such as lemon tart or chocolate polenta cake as they sit back with a coffee and soak up the ever-changing artwork adorning the walls.