Cafe Royal

I’ve been a regular visitor to the Cafe Royal, over the years. With its signature tiled historical scenes in the circle oyster bar, its excellent array of cask ales and other beverages, and its famously good bar menu, I’ve been reeled in by its charms on many an occasion.

On this visit, I was accompanied by a dazzling array of old chums, many of whom I hadn’t seen for quite a while. When the call came for some food to go with our free-flowing ales, many among the company were of the same mind, so three dozen natural oysters were ordered, with little fuss or ceremony.

Others opted for things like burgers and pies. Their sausages and mash, with daily changing sausage varieties, provided by Crombie’s, are also excellent. When the dishes arrived they looked good, but the oysters were, for sure, the main event.

I’m a straightforward fella where oysters are involved. A little squeeze of lemon and down they go, simple as that.

The oysters were to their usual high standard, and provided lovely morsels to take the edge of our hunger, with rockpool saltiness in every mouthful.

The magnificent class and simplicity of this dish was only matched by the splendid bow-tie, provided by tieclub.co.uk, that was gracing this occasion, expertly tied around my neck.

I’ll no doubt be back, over the coming weeks and months, so will write more extensively on that visit, but it’s safe to say that I’d heartily recommend that you pay the place a visit, glug down and oyster or two, and savour the buzzing environment of another noble Edinburgh institution.