The Scottish Café
The Mound
- Food served: Mon–Wed, Fri/Sat 9am–5pm; Thu 9am–7pm; Sun 10am–5pm.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 8
- Private dining: 70 seated in restaurant
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Jazz
- Opening times: Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm; Thu 9am–7pm; Sun 10am–5.30pm.
- Capacity: 250 (150+ cafe)
- Largest group: 250
- Open since: 2009
Tell us more about this place.
- Average price:
£10 (lunch) - House wine: £15.95 per bottle
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.
Run by the acclaimed team from Centotre – Victor and Carina Contini – the Scottish Café and Restaurant has been a stylish addition to arts venues in Edinburgh since 2009. There is a Garden Café within the gallery reception, but the main operation is a large two-tiered space with hungrier restaurant guests seated in the raised restaurant area and the café below serving lighter options. Their motto is ‘fresh, simple and Scottish’ and this is taken very seriously with the engagement of local suppliers and a menu that showcases their produce. Tuck into soups, sandwiches, salads and elaborate platters for two including fish and chip pails, haggis balls with whisky sauce and homemade pates. Traditional hot Aberdonian butteries (butter pastries) are a speciality, topped with clava brie with spinach and red onion marmalade or Loch Arthur cheddar with their own Borders boiled ham. The cake display is enticing and full of freshly baked sweet treats. The operation is fairly slick but there can be a huge variation in the quality of service in busier periods.
- High point: Good food with a beautiful view
- Low point: Book ahead or be prepared to wait
Reviews of The Scottish Café (National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh)
- 3. NMcW, Edinburgh – 21 October 2011, 11:34amThe Scottish CaféReport
-
I visited for lunch yesterday, with an hour to spare before going to Waverley, and it couldn't have been better. The eating area is big and spacious - no cramming in of tables - and the service was both friendly and professional. The black pudding & apple salad was superb, and it's really impressive that a big city centre eatery like this takes so much care over its ingredients. My cappuccino was pretty much perfect, and served with a wee shortbread round. It's not a fast food place, thank goodness, but it took no longer than I'd expect to prepare good food - and no complaints about waiting with one of the best views in Edinburgh. Hats off to the Scottish Café.
- 2. HMS, Edinburgh – 29 September 2010, 10:27pm
The Scottish CaféReport -
The longest wait I have experienced in whole Scotland (and in a empty restaurant!!). Also very rude and impolite staff. The point is that I was there as a TURIST.
6 months later I decided to pass there again, and give one more chance to the beautiful view. What happened? Rude impolite and impacient people again! And the cappuccino was very week and tasteless and the hot chocolate was more a cold chocolate.
Well, at least I know where I WON'T go any more in Edinburgh.
- 1. Morna – 10 March 2010, 11:45am
The Scottish CaféReport -
Mmmm the butteries were lovely!
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