MJ’s Verdict

Having really enjoyed Meadowood Cafe, I was hoping that the restaurant that took over the premises didn’t let its legacy down, and I have to admit that I wasn’t disappointed.

After having a few minutes to ponder the unusual lights in the ceiling, BKR arrived and we set about choosing our lunch. I opted for one of their bento boxes, with salmon sushi, tuna sushi and sashimi. We started this off with an order of veggie gyoza. All this was served with delicious green tea.

The gyoza arrived looking fresh and hot. They turned out to be some of the best I’ve had in the city, even if the chili oil dip wasn’t to my taste, I know it was accomplished in its tasty simplicity and I am just weird in that I don’t particularly care for it.

The tea deserves a special mention here. It was served by our lovely server who poured it for us whenever our cups got low and yet who somehow managed to never hover – she just appeared, poured our tea, refreshed the pot and was gone again. The tea itself was lovely, with hints of smokiness and a rich taste.

The mains arrived in neat bento boxes. My sushi looked plump and fresh and indeed it was! The sushi itself put this into one of my top sushi places in the city and along with the two wontons and salad, it was a filling and fresh meal. Plus, I love that they served the wasabi in the soy sauce, in the centre of the bento box.

All in all, I think that Bentoya is doing a fine job and I really look forward to going back and trying some of their other dishes some point soon.

Blythe’s Verdict

The race to keep up coverage on Japanese places took us to Bentoya, on Bread Street, today. It was great to have MJ along for the first time in 2015. Her excellent Xmas gifts will definitely feature in future reviews.

We were both hopeful that this place would be good, not least because the previous occupant, the Meadowood Cafe, was so excellent.

I’d made my selection almost before sitting down, as their lunchtime bento box range looked like it held plenty of treats. On top of a standard miso soup, you could choose a range of different main course sets. I opted for sashimi with avocado maki, while MJ chose a nigiri, sashimi and maki selection. Each box was rounded out with prawn salad and crisp wontons.

The veggie gyoza arrives first and looked very bonnie. Crisp on one side and soft on the other, these were freshly made and very impressive. It was a very pleasing opener.

The bento boxes were even better. The miso was plentiful and very tasty. Each element of the bento was a winner. The wontons were really light and crisp, the salmon and tuna in the sashimi were both outstanding, and the maki was very accomplished. It was a brilliant lunch selection.

Throughout, we drank very good green tea, which was continually replenished by the friendly and attentive waitress.

So overall, Bentoya is right up there in the hierarchy of Edinburgh Japanese places. It’s very different and much less formal than Kanpai, but that’s the only place to challenge it on quality. I’d recommend that you visit soon and visit often. Indeed, I’ve already been back to try their evening menu and was similarly impressed.

Scores
Blythe scores Bentoya
4.5/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 16.5/20

MJ scores Bentoya
4.5/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 16.5/20

Today’s questers were: MJ, Blythe

We ate: vegetable gyoza, bento boxes

We drank: green tea

We wore: green, burgundy

Total bill: £21.90