MJ’s Verdict

It’s been a while!… sings in my head as I sit down to write this review. Blythe blithely reminded me that it’s been since June 11th since the two of us have sat down for a lunch together. For shame. I know.

Interior

So it was with great joy that I announced to my colleagues at Scottish Book Trust (where I am moonlighting to help with Book Week Scotland) that I was going to lunch with Blythe and would be longer than normal. I tottered up the hill to the Signet Library where the Gran Caffé has set up shop.

I’ve been to various literary events and launches in the library, but I’d never been in this particular room (it’s to the right when you enter) and was pleased to find that they hadn’t put a cafe-esque stamp on the place and it still looked very much like a cafe in a library. The clientele ranged from tourists who wandered in to a guy with his Macbook working, to business types on a deadline, to old-Edinburgh ladies who lunch. And somehow the cafe was able to comfortably accommodate us all.

I was there a few minutes early, and you know, after a couple of months of getting out of the habit of being early like me, Blythe was a few minutes late. Slippage.

Soup

I was shown to my choice of table down at the far end and ordered a glass of water. While I waited I perused what was a well-balanced menu that ranged from soups to ciabattas that could also be served as a salad and baked items. I saw a few of the seafood platters going out, and for a moment I was tempted to order one all for myself (they serve 2), but managed to rein it in at the last moment.

Once Blythe arrived and I had given him a wee gift from my trip to Iceland, we ordered. I opted for the chicken, basil mayo, green beans, oven roasted tomato and spinach ciabatta, turned into a salad with oatcakes, holding the mayo.

Salad

When I asked about the soup of the day, I was very pleased to hear the server tell us what it was and that it was both gluten and dairy free, which meant that I wanted to try it, so asked for a wee cup.

We had a bit of time to catch up and chatter about life and how bloody busy it has become of late while we waited on our lunch. We were both happy that the place seemed to be filling up nicely and that there wasn’t the usual hush that I thought might prevail in such a setting.

When our food arrived it looked beautiful. The soup was presented in wee cups/mugs that were dainty and delicate. The contents of the cups was a smooth sweet potato and chilli soup that was every bit as elegant as the surroundings with just a mild punch of chilli that I reckon non-heat loving diners would find just perfect. I was quite chuffed that I got the soup.

But the salad was the star. Yes, I’m sure Blythe’s scone was tasty, but the salad had all the visual appeal I wanted from the dish with the vibrant greens and the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes. The light dressing was enough to give the whole thing a coherence without taking away from the freshness of the ingredients. The chicken was well seasoned and not at all dry as some chicken salads can be. I took my time and enjoyed the entire meal.

A quick and simple espresso finished off the meal and we were ready to go back out into the world, or, in my case, from one home of books to another bookish organisation, bookending what turned out to be a really well-done lunch, quite beautifully.

Blythe’s Verdict

As MJ has said, it had been an inordinately long time since we’d reviewed a place together, as our diaries have grown completely congested with all the various commitments we’ve gathered on our merry ways.

Exterior

We’d originally been approached to come and visit the Pommery Bar, which has run in the exquisite Signet Library for the last two Augusts. Our calendar congestion didn’t allow for it, but when they decided to keep a permanent presence in the space, in the form of the Gran Caffé, we were delighted to take up the invitation.

This was my third or fourth visit, as it has become quite a regular haunt, since it opened, particularly when entertaining people from out of town, as the room is incredibly impressive. The café has been well integrated, with the atmosphere retaining a little of the sense of library reserve, but that’s much as you’d expect.

Soup and scone

Their menu offers a selection of lunchtime staples, with daily changing soups, salads and sandwich combinations, and a fresh range of cakes. I’ve grown particularly fond of their savoury scones, so matched one of those with today’s soup, which was sweet potato and chilli. MJ tried a wee bowl of the soup to go with her chicken salad.

Upon arrival, dishes looked very smart. The soup proved to be very good, and the scone, filled with lovely mozzarella, courgette ribbons and sun-dried tomatoes was impressively tasty. MJ looked pretty pleased with her choices, too.

We rounded things out with decent espresso, then stepped outside to continue our day, after a rather splendid lunchtime adventure.

So overall, a trip to the Gran Caffé is highly recommended. The outstanding setting is the height of stylish elegance, and the café offers quality consumables to match. We look forward to further visits.

Scores
MJ scores the Gran Caffé
4/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for service
4.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 16/20

Blythe scores the Gran Caffé
4/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for service
4.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 16/20

Today’s questers were: Miriam, Blythe

We ate: butternut squash, sweet potato and chilli soup (2); savoury scone with mozzarella and roasted vegetables; chicken salad

We drank: sparkly water; espresso

We wore: black top; pink shirt

Total bill: c.£25, picked up by our hosts