Exterior
We’re currently in the midst of a curious phase where a number of Leith eateries are in the process of transitioning to city centre premises.
The Vintage,
Chop Chop,
Mithas and
Guchhi have recently closed after bringing much joy to the neighbourhood, with only the re-imagined Vintage, soon to re-open as the curiously named V Deep (with Hardeep Singh Kohli at the kitchen helm), left to fill the void.
The first to re-emerge in its new city centre incarnation is Guchhi, with new premises secured on East Fountainbridge. The place they’ve taken over from another of our city’s more disastrously named places – Gandhi’s All-You-Can-Eat Indian Buffet.
Mussels
The new residents still getting to grips with the premises, so there’s some work to do to get it feeling quite as settled as the old place. The menu retains most of the same elements of their previous incarnation, with a strong emphasis on seafood, and some of the same tapas dishes, but it feels more like a straightforward traditional Indian.
Given the familiar look of the menu, I placed my trust in the owner/waiter to choose the dishes, confident that he would serve me the govan mussels to start, then something interesting for main.
Chilli garlic chicken
The mussels duly appeared. There isn’t a dish in the city that has divided opinion between MJ and I more starkly than this richly earthy dish. For MJ they were over-powering (an opinion shared by Meena of
Chai Lounge fame, if memory serves) but I found them absolutely delicious. I practically licked the plate.
The main course of chilli garlic chicken offered tender chicken pieces in a punchily fiery sauce. The accompanying naan was very good, too.
Naan
So overall, it was very good to renew acquaintances with Guchhi in its new setting. If the other recent Leith closures can transition to the city centre with such assurance, I’ll be a very happy man. I’d recommend a visit.
Scores
Blythe scores Guchhi India
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: poppadoms, govan mussels, chilli garlic chicken, naan
I drank: Kingfisher, espresso
I wore: winter boots
Total bill: £28.15
