Restaurants, Round the world, Budget

Big brother to its recently opened sister restaurant Pomegranate, Hanam’s is a class act. No-charge BYOB keeps spirits high across a well-appointed dining room and lower-level overspill. Décor and lighting are warm and inviting with just enough…

It would be easy to wander past the narrow St Mary’s Street frontage of Empires. However, an inquisitive peer inside reveals a compact dark-wood interior that comes to life when illuminated by candles and coloured lanterns. A handful of ground-level…

Hardened patriots might lament this venerable old boozer’s transformation from dingy haven to high-end Swedish ϋber-pub, but only the most misanthropic skinflint can really resent its success. Indeed, JP’s has an uncanny knack of catering to wildly…

Leith’s Mongolian outpost welcomes a new owner with ambitions to add a little more polish to proceedings. Man v Food fans shouldn’t worry, however, as the all-you-can-eat barbecue feast remains centre stage and safari park exotic meats are still very…

A new opening in 2012 in the less fashionable culinary end of town, Riverlife brings to the Edinburgh market its singular blend of French and Caribbean cooking. Inspired by the upbringing of lead chef Mario Caneval on the island of Guadeloupe and a…

This new Persian and Middle Eastern venture sits with an Indian curry house to its left and an Egyptian restaurant to the right – which sort of makes sense in world terms. It's nothing fancy inside – clean, crisp lines and tables hugging the walls on…

The Left Bank has a truly varied clientele; from families to students and even the odd dog. Chunky wooden tables, big glass windows and a smattering of fairy lights make it feel warm and intimate both downstairs or on the mezzanine. Thanks to a cracking…

Billing itself as Edinburgh's new home of 'soul food' this Afro-Caribbean take away in Meadowbank has big plans: lunchtime opening starts in May 2012 and they are scouting sites for a dedicated restaurant. These are bold moves for a tiny site with just…

Food is often an expression of culture and Glasgow’s only Afghan eatery is a fine example of this. Combining almost familiar Pakistani flavours with the richness of Persian influences, it’s certainly a crossroads of culinary routes. Though somewhat…

Despite being festooned with an abundance of fairy lights and flickering candles and boasting a burnished golden ceiling, the dining room of this converted church has an intimate, relaxed feel. Chef Jonathon Macfarlane (formerly Ubiquitous Chip) is a…

Lauded as a West End gem for some years now, this upmarket 34-seat café definitely encourages indulgence. Wander in past a deli counter full of temptingly concocted cakes and a shop full of culinary inspiration, and find a seat on the snug mezzanine…

Nile Valley has remained almost completely unchanged for years. The posters wallpapering the stairs down to the dingy basement dining area rotate, advertising new club nights and student drama productions. It’s a Sudanese restaurant, with popular Middle…

Not far from Haymarket’s busy hub, Morrison Street’s Papoli is a little ray of sunshine. While still retaining its roots in Italian cuisine, in August 2012 it welcomed new management and a slowly evolving shift in emphasis towards a more rounded…

Crafting the perfect burger is about more than simply grilling the patty properly; all elements need to combine to create something more than the sum of their parts. This is something Ad Lib knows well. Its burgers are a revelation, whether beef, lamb…

This Bay Tree can count a good few rings in its trunk; it's been around for over 50 years and was one of the first Arabian restaurants in Scotland. With large portion sizes, and generous servings of salad and creamy hummus served with almost everything…

Boteco’s brightly coloured and dishevelled appearance is entirely in keeping with the sort of place it is. Samba music plays and Brazilian staff dance and laugh behind the bar. And like Brazil, famed for its melting pot of races and nations, its…

Complete with a continental bicycle above bread-laden shelves, Falko Konditormeister is a slice of lazy-afternoon coffee-drinking heaven. This corner of Germany in Bruntsfield is already a well-known hangout for cake connoisseurs and has numerous awards…

Proud to call itself Edinburgh’s first Lebanese restaurant, Beirut offers some of the best-value lunch deals in town. Its keen pricing and reasonable BYOB charges make it an attractive option for anyone looking for interesting food without breaking open…

This charming neighbourhood joint is the answer to the age-old couples' dilemma: what'll it be tonight, darling, Indian or Moroccan? If you can't decide, this is the only place offering two menus, from two separate kitchens, with choices from both so…

Opened by Kenyan owners in 2011, Scotland’s first pan-African bar and restaurant is a unique experience. It’s a great venue for people watching: diners from Glasgow’s African community create a welcoming atmosphere with sharp fashion and animated…

This is the sort of place people imagine when they think of a Greek restaurant. All the favourites are on the menu, while rustic bric-a-brac and cozy seating go some way to reaffirming the ‘old-fashioned neighbourhood restaurant’ vibe – which is exactly…

The menu at Konaki, located on Sauchiehall Street, is an embarrassment of Greek riches, all prepared with care and attention. While it may sound a bit much for a starter, the skordalia – mashed potato with garlic and olive oil – is delicious in its…

Chef Ali Hammudah may be the only Egyptian restaurant owner to lose his kitchen to a Scottish hurricane (Bawbag) but the reopened Nur is well worth the weathering of a storm. You can taste the passion for food when tucking into fava beans in garlic and…