C-Shack

As the last item of business before we closed the book on consideration for this year’s Lunchquest Guide to Edinburgh, I was keen to visit recently opened C-Shack, as I’d heard good things.

Formerly the Newhaven branch of the Port of Siam, it had been something of a victim of the success of their Broughton Street branch, which opened last year, alongside the Bangkok Bar, and had seen many of their regular customers transfer their loyalty.

Still in the same ownership, they viewed the situation as an opportunity to try something different and so the idea for the C-Shack, a place focussing on seafood and Belgian beers (there are burgers, too, but given Edinburgh’s saturation with new offerings in that oeuvre, I won’t linger on that), was born.

I was joined this evening by Claudio from Zomato, who has been a stalwart supporter of Scran Salon and knows his way around the Edinburgh restaurant scene having worked at La Piazza.

They have a staples menu that is augmented by an extensive specials board based on the catches of the day. I was keen to try the ceviche from the former, while Claudio opted for the scallops from the specials board. We both stuck to the specials for mains with seafood taglierini and seabream with asparagus our selections.

After we’d sipped a little of our good wheat beer, our starters were with us looking decidedly bonnie. Both were of very good quality with Claudio particularly taken by the combination of scallops, black pudding and cauliflower puree. My monkfish ceviche was a light, fresh and accomplished dish.

Main courses maintained the standard. Claudio was very happy with his pasta, which packed a nice array of seafood morsels. My bream dish accompanied by mash, asparagus and lightly pickled mushrooms was very good.

Claudio couldn’t resist a slice of their white chocolate cheesecake so I did try a little spoonful of it. Again, it was all very enjoyable.

So overall, C-Shack is a really good new addition and represents an excellent decision on the part of the owners to change direction. The compact little place seems to be doing an excellent trade so it’s worth booking ahead. I’d be happy to recommend a visit.

Scores
4/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 15.5/20

Today’s questers were: Claudio, Blythe

We ate: scallops with cauliflower and black pudding, ceviche of monkfish, seafood taglierini, sea bream with mash, mushrooms and asparagus, white chocolate cheesecake

We drank: Vedett extra white, water, brandy, frangelico

We wore: spectacles, sun spectacles

Total bill: £65.20