Since ever I can remember, the corner of Morrison Street and Gardener’s Crescent has been home to a chip shop, most recently called Pierino’s.

I was intrigued when signs for a Turkish BBQ place went up, a little while back, and was frankly astonished when I saw the refit of the place through the window, when I was walking home from dinner, the other night. I made a note to visit, at the earliest opportunity, which was this evening.

Seating around 30, the place has been completely transformed. The layout of tables is a little strange, and everything feels a little new, but it’s really quite smart, with some lovely slate detailing.

The menu is classically Turkish, with a strong emphasis on their impressive open charcoal BBQ. I’m a big fan of Turkish food, with my strong connections to Istanbul, so I was glad to see so many favourite dishes on offer. I ordered sucuk to start, followed by a chicken and lamb kebab served on a bed of aubergine.

Pieces of spiced sucuk sausage was simply presented, on a bed of lettuce, and served with lovely fresh bread. It was a good opener.

The main course was a notch or two better. The chicken and lamb pieces were served in tomato sauce, then accompanied by rice, a side salad and two really unusual onion dishes. The first of these was burnt shallots in an intense dressing, which I strongly suspect was pomegranate based. It was an absolutely outstanding combination.

The main event, the skewer barbecued chicken and lamb, was excellent, too. The meat was beautifully tender and packed with flavour. The other accompaniments were all strong dishes, making it a considerable feast.

Things were rounded out with outstandingly good homemade baclava and Turkish tea. It had been a most enjoyable restaurant experience, with service warm and friendly, throughout.

So overall, Rodi is a really welcome new addition to the dining circuit. Once they’ve grown in to their new premises a little more, I’m confident they will become a firm favourite with Edinburgh diners, as their food is delicious. I look forward to my next visit, and would strongly recommend that you pay it a visit.

Scores
Blythe scores Rodi
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 15/20

I ate: sucuk; patlicanli kebab, baclava

I drank: Turkish tea

I wore: classic pinstripes

Total bill: £20.80