Olive Branch Bistro
This restaurant has ceased trading.
- Food served: Mon–Fri noon–2.30pm, 6–10pm; Sat/Sun 10am–2.30pm, 5–10pm
- Pre-theatre times: Any time on presentation of theatre tickets
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 13
- Private dining: Up to 24 covers
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu, Post-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: ipod mix
- Capacity: 65
- Largest group: 24
- Open since: 2007
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the 2010 edition.
The Olive Branch, which has restaurants at either end of the capital, is a very reliable local café and bistro whether you’re on the hunt for breakfast or brunch, a pre-theatre deal or a reasonably priced dinner in pleasant surroundings. The Bruntsfield branch has a warm, inviting ambience with its stripped dark wood floors, brown leather seating and flickering evening candlelight. The menu features a mix of hearty staples such as Crombie’s of Edinburgh sausage of the day accompanied by smooth buttered mash and a sweet onion jus, or a rich, juicy pea and Strathdon blue cheese risotto. The relaxed atmosphere and friendly, informal service add to the sense of a real neighbourhood locale. The popular lunchtime spot on Broughton Street also displays a clean and classy presentation with its waist-to-ceiling windows. Like its sister across town the menu boasts a good mix of sandwiches, salads, Mediterranean-style mains – such as the pasta special or a goat’s cheese tart – and the ever-popular home-made burgers. Served with chunky chips and salad this thick and juicy, slightly pink in the middle beef merits its constant inclusion on a menu which otherwise changes every six weeks.
- High point: Warm, convivial atmosphere
- Low point: A little on the pricey side for a bistro
Reviews of Olive Branch Bistro (19 Colinton Road, Edinburgh)
- 2. Nelly, Grange – 6 July 2009, 9:19am
Olive Branch BistroReport -
Had a disappointing meal at the colinton road branch saturday 27 June.
My yardstick of decent bistro food - cafe marlayne - serves excellent tasty food in a trad french atmosphere - sometimes chaotic, but always entertaining - these guys just dont stack up on any measure (ok, I will concede that the front of house staff were good, and the house red was decentish).
Miniscule starters (fair enough if it was dirt cheap - but its not), lack of any discernible seasoning in meatballs - unforgivable in a restaurant really.
My main was ok, hence the 1 star (but given it was crombies sausage and mash, not exactly tricky cooking).
My wifes main course was a bland, bland, bland spaghetti with prawns - no seasoning again, and not even butter through the pasta to give a semblance of taste !!
We asked for the special cheesecake and a cheeseboard for dessert - the cheesecake, unsurprisingly, was tasteless - was sent back and replaced by a chocolate torte - see comment dated 8 June- ditto.
As you can imagine, by this time I had fairly low hopes for the cheeseboard - and was not disappointed. 3 pretty bland cheeses (and even the blue cheese was tasteless - how do they manager it ??)
Had our babysitter not called with a problem, I would have had discussions with the chef - because if I want bland cooking, I can do that no problem myself.
Suffice to say, no follow up visit will happen.
- 1. I Love Edinburgh, Edinburgh – 8 June 2009, 8:01am
Olive Branch BistroReport -
Had a lovely meal here last night, 3 courses, all of which were beautiful. Nice atmosphere and music playing, friendly staff who let us chat for ages. My only criticism was the size of the chocolate torte, I felt half of it was missing ! It was delicious but for normal price of £5 would have been rather on the small side. I used my list card here without any problems.
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