1780

The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the 2011 edition.

Formerly known as the Bad Ass Bistro, this Rose Street pub has a dusky but snug interior, with walls peopled with iconic photos of the twentieth century’s good and great, making for a slightly clichéd yet classic pub vibe. Although 1780 seems to be in two minds as to whether it’s a boozer or a restaurant, it fulfills both descriptions admirably, with a decent choice of beers on tap, a very large selection of real ales, and a solid, mainly Scottish menu. Scallops and black pudding mash make for a generous starter, while the lamb shank for main is tasty and tender, and the steak full of flavour, if tough. Perhaps the biggest plaudits should go to the freshly made pear tart, which comes with ice-cream and a devilishly tempting rosemary toffee sauce.

• High point: Exceptional dessert
• Low point: Slightly dingy

1. Mr P, Edinburgh – 9 May 2011, 10:23pm1780Report

Looking for some fancy free pub grub and thought we'd try the 1780. No stranger to the bars on Rose street our expectations were not especially high; however, the lunch we had in the 1780 was particularly disappointing.

Firstly - and to its credit - the 1780 stocks a very good - albeit pricey - selection of Scottish beers. However, it was the food and service that let it down badly. The food - a chicken pie and haggis dish - were far too salty. The chicken pie in particular had mushrooms and courgette which were not detailed on the menu and was not even a proper "homemade" pie. The over salted sauce was runny and sat in a dish with a shop bought puff pastry on top. The veg? Half-cooked and yellow in the case of the broccoli. The service was non-existent. Once payment had been made at the bar (no table service) that was the last we heard from the staff. No apologies for the 30 min delay; no courtesy enquiry as to how we enjoyed the meal and no acknowledgement on our departure.

The worst part is the place was full of tourists. Is this the best that we in Scotland can produce? It's an embarrassment. The 1780 may be able to survive on the high turnover of customers provided by the tourist tours but I as a local will not be back and wholeheartedly do not recommend you pay a visit to it. Not good.