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Urban Angel

Urban Angel
1 Forth Street
Edinburgh, EH1 3JX
Phone: 0131 556 6323
Email:
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  • Food served: Mon–Sun 9am–late.
  • Pre-theatre times: Mon–Fri 5–7pm
  • Number of wines sold by the glass: 10
  • Private dining: Up to 22 covers
  • Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables
  • Music on stereo: Chilled out indie music
  • Capacity: 60
  • Largest group: 22
  • Open since: June 2008
View larger map of EH1 3JX
  • Average price:
     £15 (lunch)
     £15 (evening meal)
  • Pre-theatre price: £12.95
  • House wine: £14.50 per bottle

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Eating & Drinking Guide

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 current (2011) edition.

From stylish premises in Hanover Street and Forth Street, the Urban Angel team serve up hearty portions of ethical grub to Edinburgh's trendy foodies for whom organic, fair trade and free-range are key considerations. Both venues share white-washed walls and minimal, modern fittings as well as a basic menu, with some minor variations between the two outlets. All-day brunches include French toast and eggs Benedict, while trios of tapas can include olives, halloumi, gravadlax, chorizo, venison and duck. Urban Angel 'favourites' such as home-made burgers and sausage and mash can seem a bit dull in comparison to the exciting list of daily specials that are available as both starters and mains, along the lines of braised ox cheeks and smoked haddock and pea risotto. Interesting sides include crispy polenta bites and buttered kale. A short dessert menu offers up similarly honest fare, such as baked cheesecake and chocolate torte. All of this can be washed down with a good selection of organic, fair trade and vegan wines, beers and teas. Urban Angel offers reliably good eating with a squeaky clean conscience.

  • High point: Ethical, stylish eating at two central locations
  • Low point: Slightly on the pricey side

The LIST Card C36

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This restaurant offers the standard 2-for-1 LIST Card promotion for:

Lunch: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu

Dinner: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu

Remember: book by phone (0131 556 6323) 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.

Reviews of Urban Angel (1 Forth Street, Edinburgh)

14. ALB, Eh7 – 12 February 2011, 4:12pm2 starsUrban AngelReport

Been there again 3 times September to December. Each time nothing on the menu was really tempting. except the good ol standby burgers or fish and chips, unfortunately not available. Specials seem the same and uninteresting. Some stodgy pasta or risotto, same ol sausages, ho hum. Time for a new menu. I'm not going again since Broughton Delicatessen and Cafe Marlayne run laps around this place. Sorry.

13. Audy, Edinburgh – 30 August 2010, 12:33pm2 starsUrban AngelReport

After popping in to the Forth Street branch a few weeks ago for a coffee and sampling the most fantastic danish pastry ever, that was well worth the hefty price tag, i wasn't so pleased when i went out of my way to have lunch at the Hanover Street venue. I adore Cullen Skink but £7 for a miniscule portion of watery broth, lacking in flavour and no accompanying bread is daylight robbery and won't make me hurry back - well maybe for a pastry, but not lunch.

12. Morna7 June 2010, 9:55am5 starsUrban AngelReport

We went out for lunch yesterday at Urban Angel after spotting it in the eating and drinking guide and it was lovely! I hadn't been sure what to expect (sometimes style prevails over substance) but it was really nice. We were all well catered for, from the vegetarians to the meat eaters who wanted something a bit more substantial. Had puddings too and they were delicious (although it was a shame that there was hardly any ice cream left!!).

Will definitely go back - very pleased to see they are on the list card too.

11. ALB, Edinburgh – 2 April 2010, 2:52pm4 starsUrban AngelReport

I love eating at urban angel, and have found it addictive. With the changing specials, there's been something for everyone in all 3 visits I have made in the last 2 months. If some things were a pound or two cheaper, I'd visit even more often. Coffee and sweets are fantastic as well.

10. urbanangel, 1 Forth Street + 121 Hanover Street – 26 February 2010, 11:51am5 starsUrban AngelReport

All of us at urbanangel, especially our brilliant pastry chef Hubert Lamort, were very dismayed to read Leena’s comment about our homemade, organic New York style baked cheesecake.

At urbanangel we take enormous pride in the fact that we source the best natural, fair-trade, organic ingredients to make all of our cakes, pastries and desserts ourselves, fresh and in-house every day.

Hubert and his assistant arrive at 4.30am each morning to lovingly make all our natural, handmade baking, which we believe is outstanding and worth this commitment. Our pricing reflects the quality of our ingredients, is excellent value and a world apart from mass produced, factory products. This distinction is exactly what is valued by our customers.
We believe this continued dedication to making so much ourselves is what is exciting about urbanangel, and the trust our customers have in our integrity is at the heart of urbanangel.

There are of course legal regulations in place to prevent businesses making claims for organic, homemade, and sourcing that are not true, and as a responsible business we take this very seriously. We are very careful about traceability and transparency of all of our products and use all of these terms faithfully and responsibly, without exception.

9. leena, edinburgh – 12 February 2010, 11:39am1 starUrban AngelReport

I was so happy when I found the organic urban angel, just of broughton street and on hanover street. However to my disappointment I was in costco about a week ago and found their "organic" american style baked cheesecake, also known as lawler's new york style cheesecake 1.7kg. So taking the lawler's new york cheesecake home I popped round to the urban angel and purchased a slice of their organic version, there was no difference. Keeping in mind a portion of the organic cheesecake with one ball of orgainc ice-cream costs £5.50, where as the 16 slice new york cheesecake comes in at only £10.49, working out at only 65p a slice.
I was gutted, especially as the food was very good, but after being ripped of for the cheesecake, I would rather spend my money elsewhere!

8. Shevs, Edinburgh – 21 November 2009, 1:39pm3 starsUrban AngelReport

Popped in for lunch today and had the falafel, which was pretty poor (greasy and bland). After all of these positive comments about the food I was very surprised! Service was good, but the food was expensive, especially for lunch. Won't be going back.

7. Big-Yin, Leith – 20 November 2009, 12:36pm4 starsUrban AngelReport

Lovely place, great service, and top-notch food. I visited on a Monday evening for dinner with my family and I had some lovely Tapas while my family had Haggis with beautiful creamy potatoes and cheese, and a fish risotto. It was all great, not to mention the fantastic puddings which were also delicious! I've not been to the Hanover Street branch, but I'll definitely be going back to the Forth Street angel. The staff were attentive and friendly and the whole meal was a pleasure. It didnt harm the evening that we got discount with our List card either! ; )

6. Finediner, Edinburgh – 21 October 2009, 9:39pm2 starsUrban AngelReport

I've been a fan of Urban Angel for several years and had a particularly good lunch in the Forth Street branch a couple of weeks ago. But tonight I went to Hanover Street and won't be hurrying back. Well cooked liver was not made up for by the indifferent service, draughtiness and high prices for small portions. And £4 for two tiny spring rolls is just taking the p*ss.

5. Nicholas Ashton, Edinburgh – 30 September 2009, 3:57pm5 starsUrban AngelReport

I haven't eaten lunch or dinner here but I have had the best coffee EVER in Edinburgh - better even than the magnificent Artisan nearby on Broughton St.( The cakes are also marvellous.) If you go early on Saturday, there may be an Australian/NZ barista who will make an unbelievably good macchiato -it comes in a glass and the crema from the coffee is so thick it is difficult to distinguish it from the intense spoonful of steamed milk above it . The coffee is pungent- sweet and caramelised - they must have access to some very classy beans. They give you a bottle of iced water on the side and charge you £2. Have one of the cakes and you will be in cafe heaven. Delightful service too.

4. PaulG, Edinburgh – 14 May 2009, 9:14am5 starsUrban AngelReport

The chap who was complaining about the price of the chocolate brownie should really have tried one - they are excellent and probably worth every last penny. I have always been a fan of the original Urban Angel (and always will be) but since Forth Street opened I have become something of a regular there. Breakfasts are fantastic, lunches satisfying and inventive, cakes and buns amazing, evening meals great. All that would be fine but the team that look after you are pleasant, friendly and helpful. Yes it can leave a bit of a hole in the wallet or seriously dent the credit card but you get what you pay for and more.

3. Shawn, Edinburgh – 18 February 2009, 3:29pm5 starsUrban AngelReport

I've eaten at the Hanover branch of Urban Angel probably a dozen times, and their new branch on Forth Street seems to be just as good in terms of the friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, cool decor and good organic food. Yes, some of the items on the menu seem a bit pricey, and as such i'd consider it more of a treat, rather than a regular place for lunch. Still, I voted for the Hanover branch in the list's readers choice last year, and was pleased it won.

2. seon, dun eideann – 19 October 2008, 10:12pm2 starsUrban AngelReport

Looks a bit soulless though food appears appetising. Didn't eat however - after wandering in for a coffee and cake we noticed that a chocolate brownie was £4!!!! Hence a U-turn. £4 brownies during a 'credit crunch'! Shape up or close down.

1. Jake, Edinburgh – 20 August 2008, 7:25pmUrban AngelReport

Very very tasty and friendly, if a bit on the slow side.

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