Eighty Queen Street

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

Soft candle-light, live jazz and good cocktails are surely on the recipe for a good start to any night out. Eighty Queen Street displays these elements in abundance to ease you into your meal. From an extensive menu, which is served from 8am Monday to Saturday, start with a winning baked oysters and chorizo concoction. Finely diced chorizo lend the dish both colour and spice, with fresh spring onion setting off the flavours nicely. Linguine with peas, pancetta and venison ragout, available as a starter or main course, is wholesome and rustic, though it misses the black truffle oil promised on the menu. A meaty venison burger made with good quality meat is tasty and well textured, though hungry diners might expect more than eight chips for nearly £10. For dessert, hot chocolate pudding has a soft chewy crust, a luscious molten filling and tuille biscuits for dipping (though what the solid lump of frozen crème fraiche is doing there is anyone's guess). A selection of petit fours includes a lemon tart, rosewater meringue, mint biscuit with chocolate ganache and a cinnamon Madeleine. There are plans for a major refurbishment later in the year. Watch this space.

• High point: Great ambience
• Low point: Some dishes fail to live up to fantastic menu descriptions

The LIST Card F1

Eighty Queen Street

The following information has been provided by the restaurant.

Fed up of Edinburgh’s ‘style bar' phenomena, 32 year-old businessman Dario Pacifici is set to challenge the spate of style bars sweeping across the capital with grown-up venture Eighty Queen Street Bar and Restaurant. Following the success of his catering company Devil's Kitchen, Pacifici aims to approach style with substance at the newly purchased premises.

Located in one of Edinburgh’s prime areas, Eighty Queen Bar and Restaurant will be fuss -free and slick, serving luxury quality food and drink catered for by The Devil’s Kitchen, whose clients have included Hugh Grant, Joan Rivers, U2 and Billy Joel amongst others. The excellent attention to detail will appeal to the neighbouring corporate business clientele as well as providing a sexy destination for visitors and locals alike. Pacifici is bringing back sophistication for people who know what they want.

2008 will bring a stream lined look, as well as a new name, yet to be disclosed. Situated in a stylish Georgian building on Queen Street, there’s no overall theme or concept, instead the interior will remain of traditional décor complementing the existing architecture with some eclectic influences. The removal of the bulky booths and freshly painted walls will give a light, vibrant and spacious feel in daytime and something of a sophisticated ambience in the evening. The bar, created by an ‘up and coming’ London based designer will be the main focus promising to deliver a luxury service like no other. A designated area will be provided for manufacturing ice, the finer details remain top secret! From the best known spirits to specialist malts, you will be spoilt for choice. Cocktails too. Each cocktail will be traditionally hand blended, not shaken, by a talented team of bartenders, with waiters on hand to serve them.

The new owner of Eighty Queen Street, Dario Pacifici of The Devil’s Kitchen is delighted to embark on this new and exciting challenge. He explained:

“The main ingredients in this recipe would be the product and then the service, the product being the food and the latter being the way one would receive the food and the cohesive glue in creating a fluid atmosphere. I find Edinburgh the perfect back drop for my new venture and to have a successful restaurant in this beautiful capital city would be one tick in a box of many boxes to tick.”

Head chef Dario Pacifici and his team have spent months perfecting the new a la carte menu which will use the best quality, wild produce from duck, pigeon, venison, beef and pork. A few highlights? Pumpkin with pancetta and parmesan risotto and venison bourgignon with pomme puree and shallots. There’s a full selection of vegetarian options too, all of which reflect the ethos of Dario’s kitchen and the luxury choice on offer. Wherever possible products are sourced locally. The Restaurant will comfortably seat 80 with a menu for all occasions whether you are dropping in for your Saturday morning coffee or feel like comfort food from the gastro pub menu. Groups larger than six can prebook their ‘beast of choice,’ whether it be pork, lamb or beef for a more intimate Sunday roast with all the trimmings, you will feel equally at home in Eighty Queen Street’s unique setting. Renowned for its Jazz, ‘Open Mic’ night will continue every Wednesday evening, with Jazz on a Friday and string on a Sunday for comfortable, easy listening.

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