Hotel du Vin
- Food served: Mon–Fri 7–10am, noon–2.30pm, 5.30–10.30pm; Sat 8–11am, noon–2.30pm, 5.30–10.30pm; Sun 8–11am, 12.30–3pm, 5.30–10.30pm. [Extended in Festival]
- Pre-theatre times: Mon–Sun 5.30–6.45pm.
- Bar open: Mon–Sat 11am–1am; Sun 12.30pm–1am.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 12
- Private dining: Up to 26 covers
- No. overnight rooms: 47
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu, Post-theatre menu, Outdoor tables
- Music on stereo: Easy listening/jazz
- Capacity: 82
- Largest group: 20
- Open since: 2008
- Average price:
£14.95 (set lunch)
£21 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £14.50
- House wine: £18.50 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.
You might be in central Edinburgh, but this is one bistro with a strong French accent. Classic dishes are present and correct: French onion soup, onglet steak, coq au vin, boudin blanc and so on. And the vin, oh the vin…..over 700 choices. The sommelier will guide you with enthusiasm and insight. Away from the wine, plentiful daily specials favour local ingredients above French clichés. The soupe du jour, beetroot, has a somewhat heavy stock. The quiche du jour, caramelised onion and ham, isn’t quite perfect, but a tasty enough starter. Slow-braised pig cheeks from ‘local food hero' Peelham Farm are meltingly-rich, well-paired with a warm sauerkraut. Smoked haddock fish cake is generous, and definitely more fish than potato. For dessert, the Paris Brest pastry, named after the legendary cycle race, is worth the journey alone, with golden crunchy hazelnut praline. There’s crème brûlée, pavé au chocolat and so forth, too. As a highly ironic nod to Scotland’s food ‘culture’, you could end your meal with petits fours influenced by Irn Bru and the deep-fried Mars bar. But then again…
- High point: Support for local suppliers
- Low point: Better at night when it's usually buzzing
Events at Hotel du Vin (11 Bristo Place, Edinburgh)
| Location | Date | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Treat mother to this three course lunch where she'll soak up the atmosphere of a live jazz band. View full details |
||
| Hotel du Vin | 18 Mar Noon | 0131 247 4900 £30 Price per person. |
| Location | Date | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Master Sommelier Nigel Wilkinson presents this four course meal with appropriate wines from the classic regions of Europe and their New World counterparts. View full details |
||
| Hotel du Vin | 3 Mar 12.30pm | 0131 247 4900 £65 |
| Location | Date | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Enjoy a romantic dinner in the Burke & Hare room or a more sedate table for two in the Bistro. Sample canapés in the Whisky Snug (or your table) before a three course meal followed by tea and coffee with petit fours. View full details |
||
| Hotel du Vin | 14 Feb 7pm | 0131 247 4900 £75 Price per person. |
Reviews of Hotel du Vin (11 Bristo Place, Edinburgh)
- 3. Ducksauce, Edinburgh – 27 August 2010, 12:53am
Hotel du VinReport -
I treated a good friend and my partner to dinner at the Bistro on 16th August as we had wanted to go there for a while. The decore and layout were lovely and the place had a nice atmosphere, the service however was shocking!!
It was a Monday night and therefore not overly busy so there was little excuse for the 30 min wait to get water for the table.
The starters and mains were excellent but the deserts were not. Our after dinner drinks didn't even arrive and when we complained that they had the cheek to put them on the bill, the offered to call us a cab! Sufficed to say the drinks were never offered, complimentary or otherwise.
Sloppy service for the high prices and dire recovery when things go wrong.
- 2. combat, Edinburgh – 13 February 2010, 7:20pm
Hotel du VinReport -
This atmosphere and decor in this restaurant is amoung the best that I've ever experienced. It's a shame that the rest doesn't quite live up to it.
There are so many better restaurants in Edinburgh. The Stockbridge Restaurant or the Kitchen for a start.
We went on a Saturday and Sunday night as part of a special deal for staying in the hotel. We only experienced the mains and desserts and while they were well presented they just didn't deliver on taste. I also find it really annoying when you have to spend an extra £4 on a few boiled carrots and another £4 on a few green beans.
Worst of all my girlfirends mum's chicken was raw in the middle. She had it replaced and got her steak for free but when we went back the second night she wanted the chicken again but cooked. The waitress claimed that it could be red in the middle which was completely taking the mickey. But she persuaded her to not order it. One of us ordered it anyway and it was cooked properly this time. There's no way it was cooked the previous night! That's so dangerous to serve raw chicken but to have the head waitress defend it was unforgivable.
I have also been for a friends birthday party and had a set menu. All three courses were terrible and felt like we were eating in some buffet restaurant.
- 1. splorp, Edinburgh – 2 September 2009, 9:24am
Hotel du VinReport -
We went to Hotel du Vin on a Tuesday night and although it was fairly quiet, the bistro had a pleasant, cosy atmosphere. The food was interesting - pigs ear starter and beef & snail pie main were unusual but absolutely great. Wine list was very extensive but the sommelier was friendly and helpful (and brutally honest about some of the listed wines).
The service tailed off towards the end as waiters lost interest and a 10% service charge was automatically added to the bill - grr! Annoying perhaps, but not enough to mar a very nice evening.
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