Nile Valley

On a stretch of places with which I’ve had mixed fortunes, Nile Valley brings a touch of east African cuisine to the heart of Edinburgh University student land, from its shop on Potterow.

A busy spot, with a mix of sit-in and takeaway custom, the interior is fairly down-at-heel. Their lunchtime menu focuses on khobz flatbreads (essentially big wraps) with a range of fillings. I settled upon one filled with baba ghanoush (a smoky aubergine puree) and chickpea-tastic falafel.

The friendly counter people were working at an efficiently speedy rate to meet the considerable demand. When assembling my item, I was asked a few questions about sauces and salad items, some of which I heard and some of which I didn’t, but in typical style I just said yes to everything.

I was rewarded with a very well-constructed and tightly wrapped item, which was lightly toasted to warm everything through.

It proved to be really quite satisfying, with the falafel having a good exterior crunch and packing plenty of moisture. The baba ghanoush didn’t offer much smokiness, but it brought things together quite effectively making each mouthful rather enjoyable.

So overall, Nile Valley seems to be doing a grand job in keeping students well-nourished and fit to face the challenges of academic life. I’d be happy to visit again, next time I’m looking for a hearty lunchtime snack packed with flavour and character.

Scores
Blythe scores Nile Valley
3.5/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for service
2.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 13/20

I ate: baba ghanoush and falafel wrap

I wore: black

Total bill: £3.95