The Bon Vivant
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–10pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sun noon–1am
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 34 (and 12 champagne)
- Private dining: N
- Also offers: Live music
- Music on stereo: Contemporary selection
- Capacity: 40
- Largest group: 30
- Open since: 2008
- Average price:
£13 (lunch)
£13 (evening meal) - House wine: £16 per bottle
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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 current (2011) edition.
The Bon Vivant is a stylish and well-stocked bar where the innovative cocktails are expertly made and the wine list is huge (44 available by the glass including 12 champagnes). Dark walls and candlelight set the scene, and amid the cosiness are decks lying in wait for DJs who play every weekend. If you’re hungry you’re very well catered for too. The dining area has a cleverly designed menu offering starters and desserts in the form of ‘bites’ for £1-£2, so if you’re struggling to choose between black pudding with apple chutney, and smoked haddock pate on oatcakes; or polenta blueberry cake, and banana cheesecake with salsa, you can have both. And this is a bonus, because the food is very good. Mains include pan-fried mackerel with Lyonnaise potatoes, and daily specials like a confit duck leg with mashed potato and red cabbage.
- High point: The 'bites' option lets you taste more…
- Low point: …but choice is limited for vegetarians
Reviews of The Bon Vivant (55 Thistle Street, Edinburgh)
- 2. NK, Ediburgh – 8 September 2011, 5:47pm
The Bon VivantReport -
A FANTASTIC atmosphere but food is hit and miss.
Went for dinner with my partner and a friend. We had mojitos, some bites, main courses (meat and tagliatelle), and dessert bites, and glass of wine each.
The mojitos were brilliant and having the starters and desserts as bites was a great idea - we really liked this and the overall taste was good.
The main courses were a bit hit and miss. I am not big on salt and have never needed to add before, but the food was just too bland. There just wasn't taste to it.
I would go back if I wanted a good night out with drinks nibbles and atmosphere, but I would not return in hope of enjoying good mains.
- 1. Hayley Roberts, Edinburgh – 26 April 2011, 9:14am
The Bon VivantReport -
My first time at Bon Vivant and I will definately be back! Faultless service, beautiful food and a cosy atmosphere.
I couldn't decide on which wine and was helped with some suggestions by the waiter/manager, we had a few 'bites' as our entrees and I must say the calamari was the best i've ever had.
A small but tasty menu to choose from for the mains ans very reasonably priced.
An all round impeccable dinner which I would highly recommend to groups (as there was sofa seating in the corner) or couples. A new favourite.
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