The Regent

I’d heard good things about The Regent, at Abbeyhill, from a number of people, both about their selection of ales, and about their food. Given its proximity to my place of business, it seemed rather silly that I hadn’t popped in before now, but I was glad to resolve that, today.

The interior is a wonderfully quirky blend, with a good range of different seating options, to suit dining, drinking and general lounging. Aside from bull horns and a curious collection of old keys, the work of local artists features prominently.

Their menu is a long, colour-coded board down the side of the bar. It contained a dizzying array of options, with traditional pub favourites interspersed with some more diverse choices. So, haggis, soup, hot dogs, stovies, Singapore noodles, mince and tatties, nachos, pies, puddings and pastas. I opted for soup, which today was parsnip and ginger, followed by stovies and oatcakes.

The soup arrived promptly in a stylish bowl, accompanied by impressively dark brown bread. It was really very good, with a thick, rustic texture and plenty of parsnip goodness to the fore.

The stovies were equally satisfying, with a good balance between meat and potatoes. The oatcakes brought a good crunch to proceedings, making for an enjoyably hearty dish.

So overall, I thought The Regent was a really good pub grub option. Now that I’ve finally made my first visit, I’ll definitely be back. I’d happily steer you in their direction, next time you’re needing the refuge of a warm and comforting lunch.

Scores
Blythe scores The Regent
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 15.5/20

I ate: parsnip and ginger soup; stovies and oatcakes

I drank: sparkly water

I wore: lilac shirt

Total bill: £10.50