Guilty Lily
- Food served: Tue–Thu noon–9pm; Fri/Sat noon–10pm; Sun noon–9pm.
- Bar open: Mon 4pm–midnight; Tue–Thu noon–midnight; Fri/Sat noon–1am; Sun 11ammidnight.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
- Private dining: Up to 40 covers
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Live music
- Music on stereo: Motown
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 60
- Open since: 2008
- Average price:
£6.95 (set lunch)
£12 (evening meal) - House wine: £11.95 per bottle
Send us more details about this place.
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.
Guilty Lily certainly can’t be faulted for effort. Its selection of good beers, a comprehensive cocktail list and reasonably priced wines ensure a steady flow of drinkers. And a range of entertainment offerings that include quizzes and music nights draw clientele from a range of ages and demographics. Decorated in a style that is deliberately slightly shabby – in keeping with its avowed aim of setting a burlesque tone – with dark red walls and pin-ups of that era, the split-level bar has a range of table sizes and seating types, the plum location being the settee beside the picture window. A menu featuring bar food staples and a range of burgers is enhanced by specials that reflect themes such as steak nights. Starters include an antipasto platter suitable for sharing that combines meat, vegetables and cheese. For mains, the Lily fishcake is comfort food at its best, matched only by daily specials such as a hearty chilli hotpot served with warm bread. Desserts combine staples such as chocolate cake or cheesecake and dare to be different with waffles in maple syrup.
- High point: Food and entertainment to suit all tastes
- Low point: The race for the comfy seats
Reviews of Guilty Lily (284 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh)
- 7. Yvonne, Leith – 19 October 2010, 2:11pm
Guilty LilyReport -
We went to the Guilty Lily on Friday 10th October as it's now dog friendly and it was a nice walk by the Water of Leith for us to get there and back. The service and drink was good and the food was excellent. The waiter offered us a drink of water for our dog, which was a nice touch. I had Fish Pie off the specials board. It was served with chips and salad and it was absolutely delicious. My daughter had a burger, which she enjoyed, but there was so much to eat she couldn't get through it all. The atmosphere is lovely and relaxing. I'll definitely be going back.
- 6. irish77, bonnington – 17 August 2010, 9:48am
Guilty LilyReport -
My partner and I visited last night as we live locally. There has been a few changes recently, and apparently with chefs. The staff (only one) cannot be faulted - friendly and chatty. The beer and wine - great.
Downfall - the food. I ordered a chicken breast with goats cheese, and the other half a veggie burger, both sevred with chips and salad. When the plates arrived we both had two small pieces of lettuce with a slice of tomato; the chips (not a great quanity) were undercooked.
We thought about pudding, opting for chocolate brownies with ice cream - all i can say is that if you are hungry, you will not be full after eating here.
Unsure of the reason, but The Guilty Lily has gone down in terms of good food, which they used to do. The price for what you got - terrible. The sort of meal you'd expect at a one stop burger shop.
Will not be back
- 5. EJ, Edinburgh – 22 June 2010, 10:48pmGuilty LilyReport
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My wife and I popped in here for a bite to eat last night as it has been a while since we have frequented the guilty lily. We were served by a lovely chap who ironically has also worked in a pub we visit every summer in Skye. It was great to see that he had brought his welcoming and friendlly chat with him.
We both opted for the macaroni cheese with chorizo sausage as it seemed a little different, the dish tasted great and was washed down with a tempranillio which I probably should not have had 2 off on a work night... When told that a fresh apple & cinnamon crumble had come out of the oven we could not refuse! (Who could?).
All in all we had a lovely meal, good service and shall be returning!
- 4. Louis Jadot, Edinburgh – 25 May 2010, 7:12pmGuilty LilyReport
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Very rude staff and it seems to attract a rather unsavoury element on Friday/Saturday nights who are no doubt there for the dubious "cabaret" shows. A limited low quality selection of wines despite being near an excellent wine merchant (Friarwood). Its a shame because the food is actually very good and the interior is pretty cool.
Perhaps they should try and focus more on being a community based establishment?
- 3. Miss Jean Brodie, Edinburgh – 15 June 2009, 11:01pmGuilty LilyReport
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Fab food, fab atmosphere and great staff... just bring back the chunky chips we all love... you know it makes sense!!
- 2. Sarah78, Edinburgh – 9 June 2009, 1:05pmGuilty LilyReport
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I was immediately put off by the reception I received when phoning to book a table. Rude, abrupt and unwelcoming - I would recommend a few training sessions on customer service.
- 1. Guilty Lily, Leith Edinburgh – 2 June 2009, 9:12pmGuilty LilyReport
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Rude service, we're not going back, they lost us as customers.
My wife and I went in to have some lunch - she was also desperate for the toilet. Unfortunately because she started the conversation by saying 'can I use your loo?', before she ordered, the waiter/barman said "No" rudely, turned round and walked away. We could barely believe our ears and left.
Presumably he must have thought that we had just come in to take advantage of the toilet rather than eat, but something more polite, along the lines of 'I'm afraid the toilets are only for customers' would have brought out an explanation from us that we were indeed customers. Being rude and walking away was totally uncalled for.
Simon Crofts
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