Epicures of Hyndland

After the intervening hours between breakfast and lunch had be duly sacrificed to the relentless juggernaut of progress, regular guest quester Tim and I toddled up the road to Epicures of Hyndland.

This part of town is all new to me so it was with considerable wonderment that I crossed the threshold. We found the place abuzz with brisk lunchtime trade, so were pleased to find a corner table free where we could plonk ourselves.

The interior was really smart with a long bar and counter with high quality meat and sausages hanging behind it. There’s something of a Tuscan influence but the menu has a more generally eclectic feel to it.

Reflecting that, Tim opted to try their Cullen skink while I chose their asparagus risotto. The friendly waitress, from a battalion of highly efficient servers, brought us water and cutlery, then promptly our food arrived.

Both dishes looked very smart. I immediately set about checking the poached egg that topped my dish. It was just about the best poached egg I’ve been served in all quests, with an excellently executed ooze to the yolk.

The risotto was also absolutely first rate. It was beautifully seasoned, packed plenty of chopped asparagus and was texturally spot on. I’d recently been served risotto in one of Edinburgh’s new, up-and-coming restaurants just recently and it had been very disappointing. This version banished the memory of that dish and then some.

Tim was very pleased with his skink and from the spoonful I tried I entirely agreed. Double thumbs up.

So overall, Epicures was highly impressive. It served us dishes of very good quality, presented smartly, in friendly and welcoming surroundings. It’s definitely one of the better lunches of recent times, so I’d be happy to recommend it as a place to add to your list for a visit.

Scores
Blythe scores Epicures
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: Tim, Blythe

We ate: Cullen skink, asparagus risotto

We drank: water, coffees

We wore: bright jacket, dark suit

Total bill: £18.10