My Big Fat Greek Kitchen
- Food served: Tue 5–11pm; Wed–Sat noon–2.30pm, 5–11pm; Sun 12.30–8pm. Closed Mon.
- Pre-theatre times: Tue–Sat 5–6.30pm; all day Sun
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 4
- Private dining: Up to 25 covers
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables, Live music
- Music on stereo: Greek music
- Capacity: 52
- Largest group: 25
- Open since: 2009
- Average price:
£7.95 (set lunch)
£16 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £10.90
- House wine: £13.95 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.
My Big Fat Greek Kitchen does not have the most enticing of exteriors, but once inside you are promised cuisine ‘like your mama would make – if she was Greek’. As you would expect, all the Greek favourites are on offer in mezethes (small dishes). Choose from a selection of dips that includes hummus, tzatziki, taramasalata or dolmades (stuffed vine leaves) alongside feta, kalamata olives and endless pitta bread. The restaurant's calamari dishes are created using some incredibly fresh squid while the other main course options are heavy on the meat and include pork, lamb or chicken souvlaki, moussaka and gyros, the popular street food of pork or chicken encased in pitta and topped with tzatziki. Vegetarians have a couple of choices such as stuffed peppers, halloumi souvlaki or courgette rissoles. Round off an enjoyable sitting and warm service with baklava, a traditional pastry dessert with pistachio nuts, which arrives wonderfully sticky and drenched in honey. Look out for the restaurant's lunch and pre-theatre deals to sample Greek cuisine at a more reasonable price.
- High point: All the flavour of Greece in Tollcross
- Low point: Unwelcoming exterior
Reviews of My Big Fat Greek Kitchen (6 Brougham Street, Edinburgh)
- 14. Cat, Edinburgh – 23 November 2011, 2:30pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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Visited on a quiet Thursday evening in November 2011.
The food came so quickly I thought that it was for another table. It was cold and not even served with spoons to share, etc. The food itself was OK but nothing special and completely and utterly overpriced for the portion sizes.
The chef hung about in the restaurant quite a bit as I'm guessing that taking pre-prepared food out of the fridge is not that time consuming!
The whole evening ended with an argument over the bill. The waiter's main aim seemed to be to embarrass us into paying. We eventually paid up but left very unhappy.
My only word of advice to anyone thinking of dining here is DON'T. There are far, far better restaurants nearby that will be honest with you and give you much better food and value for money.
- 13. Lucy Pearl, Edinburgh – 4 June 2011, 12:40pm
My Big Fat Greek KitchenReport -
I went to this restaurant last week and thought it was great. There has perhaps been a change of waiting staff since some of the other posters as the women who served us were frienldy, smiley and efficient. And very pretty! My friend and I had the vegetarian platter and our other friend the meat platter. What a treat to be able to sample so many tasty dishes. All of us found the food absolutely delicious, and certainly plentiful as none of us were able to finish all of our platters. I like the ambience too. Sunny and holiday feeling. Its clearly not designed to be an intimate dining for romance type place, but great for a fun evening. Our platters were good value and so was the evening. I'll be going back!
- 12. Adam.R.1983, Edinburgh – 14 May 2011, 6:45am
My Big Fat Greek KitchenReport -
Really horrible ambiance, I visited a while back but found the food bad and the service worse. My advice would be "avoid like the plague!". A waitress of Indian extraction served me and she was beyond rude. I can safely say she provided the worst service I have ever encountered. Plenty of shrugging, sighing and dirty looks. Can't believe the management accept that kind of behaviour.
- 11. cmn83, Edinburgh – 11 April 2011, 2:01pm
My Big Fat Greek KitchenReport -
Food ok, but overpriced for what it is. A fiver for two mini-samosa sized spinach and cheese pies (we worked out each bite cost about £1.50!), and I was amazed to be presented with a saucer of the Tirokafteri recommended by The List and billed the same. Mains were more generous - a large Moussaka and good chunks of skewered grilled chicken, but didn't think it was worth the £12-£14 charged. I have nothing against paying for decent food but felt that this was pub quality food at restaurant prices. House wine £14 a bottle and not very pleasant.
Service was good, and atmosphere was ok - the decor and furniture give it more of a cafe feel which would be fine for lunch but leaves something lacking for the evening. Overall, we left £50 lighter and with no desire to return - there's too many other places in Tollcross which offer better value.
- 10. Solo, Edinburgh – 15 February 2011, 5:09pm
My Big Fat Greek KitchenReport -
This is my new favourite place to take people. I first went here with my parents and got a mixture of starters to share as a snack; it was all delicious but did work out a bit pricy.
Since then I have been back twice on a Sunday when they offer pre theatre prices all day. I have tried several of the dishes and they all had great flavour! It is true that they aren't huge portions but the two courses for about £10 is perfect.
The service is fantastic, friendly and relaxed. Similarly the atmosphere is great. I would definitely recommend it!
- 9. Moore,, Bolton – 4 June 2010, 11:13pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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Went there by chance this lunch time and the food was amazing, also they brought us a jug of water which we weren't charged for, and there was no presure into buying any drinks.
The place was lovely and clean and actually felt like we were in Greece.If ever we return to Edinburgh we will definitely being going back.
The owners were friendly and made us feel very welcome.
They deserve to do well
- 8. arnold, Edinburgh – 29 May 2010, 2:24pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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Very disappointed.
The menu reads very well and we were excited to see what would arrive - the 'incredible' greek bread was garlic bread with oregano (two small slices), the olives £2.50 for 10, the dolmades no better than you can buy in most supermarkets.
The main courses were better - the lamb kebab was juicy and well seasoned but they came with 'seasonal salad' of a ramekin of rice topped with diced pepper - i had no idea this was rice season - maybe in Greece.
One of our main courses didn't arrive because the waitress had forgotten to write down the order - rather than apologise the manager spent the next 15 minutes avoiding our eye.
When the bill came we had been charged for the late main. After complaing he took £5 off the bill. The bill still came to just under £50. At this price level there are so many better places to eat - Chez Jules, Anapurna, Hanedan to name the first few that come into my head.
Don't waste your time and money in this mean and disappointing restaurant.
- 7. rekd, edinburgh – 19 May 2010, 10:33amMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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I went here last night and will definitely be going back. We ordered lots of starters to share amongst our group rather than main courses and they were all delicious. The wine was good, and the staff were very helpful and attentive. Brilliant place.
- 6. jessiepps, edinburgh – 18 March 2010, 9:39pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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I went in because I cook Greek food and love it. I was welcomed nicely, it looked lovely and clean and the music was good, I had a main course, Gigantes and spicy sausage. What a disappointment. This is not a difficult Greek dish to cook but this was an abomination. It consisted of a thick tomato gloop, roughly 8 butter beans and some sort of sausage, not spicy and resembling a "mathesons" pre cooked thing all highly salted to the unpleasant level. A few dry chips and some chopped up veg in a ramekin. £11 odd. Fire the chef and get someone who can cook. I wont go back until they do. They also needed more serving staff as I waited 15 minutes for the bill and gave up snd got my coat. Another potential client left after standing waiting to be seated for the same amount of time without being acknowledged. Poor show.
- 5. Gordy, Edinburgh – 26 February 2010, 8:13pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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Went there with my wife and son last night. The food was very good but the quantities were stingy. The main courses were more like starters! They did not have Greek or Cypriot beer which I thought was strange. Lighting could be more ambient. Won't go back I'm afraid.
- 4. EJ, Edinburgh – 13 February 2010, 11:46pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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My boyfriend took me here for valentines day, arrived at 7.30pm, there were candles on the table but the place was really bright, all of the lights were full beam.
Waited 20mins before the waiter asked if we wanted drinks, then another 20 before he came back to take our order. He seemed quite uninterested, to the point of ignoring us.
Dirty wine glasses and cutlery did not impress and my dentists waiting room has more ambience... we also had some bonus hairs on our starter...
The reason this place has actually gained 2 stars was the main meal, I had the kebab and it was really tasty, my boyfriend had a gigantes bean and sausage dish which he also said was really good. We chose the pinot grigio from the wine list which was really nice. The meal came to £70... I think we were ripped off!
At the end we went looking for our jackets as the waiter again couldn't be bothered.
All in all, nice food shame about EVERYTHING else. :(
- 3. scarlet a, edinburgh – 4 February 2010, 9:46amMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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I went there by chance last night and had a such different experience to AK.
what a great little find! the service was discreet but friendly and the cooking was simple yet delicious.
the greek kebabs were amazing.
Definitely coming back soon.
- 2. scarlet a, edinburgh – 4 February 2010, 9:38amMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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I went there by chance last night and had a such different experience to AK.
what a great little find! the service was discreet but friendly and the cooking was simple yet delicious.
the greek kebabs were amazing.
Definitely coming back soon.
- 1. AK, Edinburgh – 25 January 2010, 7:18pmMy Big Fat Greek KitchenReport
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I had heard rave reviews about this new place but alas I hugely disappointed by the quality of the food when we visited at the weekend.
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