Bia Bistrot
- Food served: Tue–Sat noon-2.30pm, 5–10pm. Closed Sun/Mon.
- Pre-theatre times: Tue–Sat, 5pm–6pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 10
- Private dining: Up to 25 covers
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: Easy listening
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 60
- Open since: 2010
- Average price:
£9 (set lunch)
£19 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £9 / £10.50
- House wine: £13 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.
Bia Bistrot is the brainchild of Franco-Irish couple Matthias and Roisin Llorente, who bring their experience of cooking in top flight (including Michelin-starred) kitchens around the world to this cosy but classic Edinburgh bistro. Their passion and pride is evident in the sourcing of quality local and seasonal ingredients, which are prepared and presented with respect and skill. A starter of crab dumpling is served in a delicate fennel and lobster bisque, while a more rustic dish of potted salt beef with apple and pickles is equally well-executed. For mains, Goosnargh duck breast and braised leg with liver pâté and rumbledethump demonstrates all the finesse you’d expect of the chefs’ culinary pedigree. Desserts such as treacle tart or drop scones with maple syrup and blueberry ice-cream are simpler but satisfying. If the excellent wine list from Villeneuve is anything to go by, the regular wine-themed evenings with matched tasting menu should be unmissable. On any other day, the regularly-changing menu and daily specials are never less than intriguing and the fixed price lunch and early dining menu is stunning value.
- High point: Impressive quality and affordable prices.
- Low point: A couple of tables verge on ‘too close for comfort’.
The best restaurants in Edinburgh and Glasgow for cheap eating in January
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9 Jan 2012
Reviews of Bia Bistrot (19 Colinton Road, Edinburgh)
- 2. bangersandmash, East Lothian – 19 September 2010, 8:28pm
Bia BistrotReport -
We have visited Bia Bistrot twice in the last month and it has been faultless each time. The quality of the ingredients has been superb:oysters, orkney beef, lamb, scallops, foie gras...treated with respect and always delicious. The wood pigeon and game pie was indescribably good and silence fell when the whole table had the gooey chocolate cake until it had all gone. This restaurant is a real treasure: fabulous food, very good value and charming service. Without doubt the best meals we have had in Edinburgh this year.
Sample dishes:
foie gras on home made brioche
sirloin of orkney beef
wood pigeon breast with game pie
gooey chocolate cake
- 1. Gastronomica, Edinburgh – 10 September 2010, 9:28pm
Bia BistrotReport -
I made a last minute booking for Friday night and they were very obliging in squeezing us in. The place was comfortably busy making for a good atmosphere. We started with the parsley pesto & bread which sounded unusual and was quite, quite delicious...wanted more but was saving myself for their signature dish of lamb rump, layered potatoes, spiced aubergine and mint sauce - simply wonderful- lamb cooked to perfection. My hubby had plaice with brown shrimp,tomato, potato and other ingredients blended together with a very subtle anisette flavour....as good as if not a tad better than the lamb. For pudding I had lemon possett with the shortest of shortbread and strawberries and the other half had pear crumble and icecream - both excellent. I like the limited menu and emphasis on seasonal specials of good quality local produce. We shall be returning soon
Sample dishes
•Soup of the day
•Ploughman’s lunch
•Lemon posset, fresh strawberries and shortbreadlamb
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