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.

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £8.50 (lunch)
   £16 (evening meal)
• House wine: £14.50 per bottle
• BYOB: £1.95/£2.95 sparkling corkage

• Hitlisted
• High point: Sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere
• Low point: Dry sugar-stuffed pancake
• Food served: Mon/Tue 5.30–10.30pm; Wed/Thu noon–2pm, 5.30–10.30pm; Fri noon–2pm, 5.30–11pm; Sat 1–11pm; Sun 4.30–10pm
• Open since: 2006
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Takeaway, Pre-theatre menu

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
– in the shops now or buy online.

Tucked below street level down a spiral staircase from the main Mother India foyer is Mother India's Cellar. It's decorated in the style of a hip and trendy wine bar with clean white walls, semi-open kitchen and exposed masonry, and the atmosphere still succeeds in being cosy and inviting. Surprisingly, it seats 70 people in total, while a snug alcove is available for small groups (a popular choice for special dining occasions). The Cellar menu – similar but distinct from the flagship upstairs – is wonderfully varied. Lamb kofta (spiced meatballs) is a rich and filling starter. Mussels cooked in a tamarind sauce, a sweet and sour flavouring agent from the fruit of the tamarind tree, are deliciously aromatic, but not overpoweringly so. The butter chicken main course is decadent, cooked with cloves, green cardamoms and almonds. There are plenty of vegetarian options as well as king prawns and monkfish for seafood lovers. Side dishes are also refreshingly inventive and include breads stuffed with potato and mint or spinach. Only desserts are slightly disappointing in contrast to the rest of the menu.