The Merlin
Southside
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–10pm
- Bar open: Mon–Thu 11am–midnight; Fri/Sat 11am–1am; Sun noon–midnight
- Private dining: 120 (buffet only)
- Also offers: Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables, Live music
- Capacity: 140
- Largest group: 140
- Open since: 2001
- House wine: £9.70 per bottle
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With bold patterned wallpaper, gilt frames and a blazing fireplace adorned with a dramatic stag's head, this expansive dining and drinking space is frequented by a mixed crowd of Morningside locals. Food is served from noon onwards, all day, every day, with a roast dinner on Sundays. All the standard pub grub is here, from snacks to accompany a pint, to more hefty main courses of fish and chips, steak, sausage and mash, burgers, salads and jacket potatoes. The lamb skewer starter is nicely cooked but lacking in the advertised spice. The mini gammon joint glazed with brown sugar and served with a fried egg sounds good, but is dry, as if cooked too long. Although it seems strange that such a large menu would contain so few vegetarian options, the Quorn, spinach and rocket pasta is a good bet. The apple pie is the perfect way to round off your meal, especially when accompanied by rich Cornish ice-cream. The service is consistently attentive, even in busy periods. This place also offers the opportunity to enjoy the extensive wine list in a relaxed atmosphere or tax your brain in the popular Sunday night quiz.
- High point: Monday evening two-for-one offer on most main courses
- Low point: Menu is a bit hit and miss
Reviews of The Merlin (168-172 Morningside Road, Southside, Edinburgh)
- 4. geffy, glasgow – 17 May 2011, 12:41am
The MerlinReport -
had a steak oh dear, think it was recycled, its the worst ive ever had, it was edible but lacking in that fried taste, im afraid hunger had the better of me but i wouldnt eat there again unless it was free, the service was good enough and the beer was cooked fine!
- 3. AMJ, Edinburgh – 15 September 2010, 2:42pmThe MerlinReport
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Avoid!
A few years ago this place was OK, but something must have happened in the past couple of years because now it's just awful. The food is frankly disgusting and much too expensive. A plate of nachos the size of a tea plate set us back nearly a fiver, and they were revolting to boot. Food service is very slow. The drinks are also hugely overpriced. I'd maybe expect to pay four quid for a pint on George Street, although I still wouldn't be particularly happy to do so, but in a location like this I just don't understand how they can have decided they can get away with it.
One redeeming feature is the friendly staff, one of whom did actually warn me that my pint was going to cost £4.50 and ask me if I wanted something else instead, which was pretty decent of him. They also used to have a good Sunday night pub quiz, but seeing as haven't wanted to eat or drink there in a good long while, I've no idea if it's still going strong.
Go to the Waiting Room instead!
- 2. maz, the merlin roadhouse, morningside, edinburgh – 31 March 2009, 9:42amThe MerlinReport
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awful.bad service, luke warm food . service is so slow by the time the get around to taking your order the kitchen may be closed.
wouldnt go back if i was paid to.
- 1. maz, thge merlin roadhouse, morningside, edinburgh – 31 March 2009, 9:38amThe MerlinReport
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i was so disappointed in the merlin roadhouse.as 1 of a group of 6 we went there for a 3oth birthday meal on saturday 28th march 2009 . The service was awful. we ordered starter and main courses. As we started to order food we were told they had no rice, no pies of the day left , and no pudding of the day left. surely a place this size shouldnt run out of the basics?
The food was luke warm when it arrived and unfortunately nothing special( since they did replace the rice with mashed potato it wasnt quite right!)
after we finished our meal the plates were left on our table for ages. when a waitress did show up she told us we had 5 mins to decide if we wanted dessert as the kitchen was closing. The waitrerss never came back to see us!
another waitress eventually came over and as went to give her our dessert order she told us we couldn't as they had closed the kitchen! i am disgusted in the way we were treated if it wasn't for their bad service we would have been able to finish our meal, and they would have had better takings.
never again. i wouldn't recommend the merlin roadhouse to anyone.
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