The White House Kitchen

I don’t often make it out to Craigmillar but I’d had the White House Kitchen on my radar for a visit for quite a while. On my way to the official opening of the Thistle Foundation’s new Centre of Wellbeing, I popped in to give it a try.

Exterior

In a signature white building, as you might expect from the name, it’s a sort of community hub with a cafe as the centrepiece.

The interior is smart and bright with elegantly stripey tables topped in a pattern I’d gladly wear as a shirt. I liked it a lot.

Soup

Ordering is at the counter then dishes are delivered to your table by the friendly and efficient staff.

Selecting from their chalkboard I started with the split pea and bacon soup then thought I’d give their macaroni cheese a whirl.

Interior

The soup arrived looking rather bonnier than I’d expected and accompanied by an excellent freshly baked brown roll. It proved one of the best soups of the year so far, with a lovely rustic texture that packed oodles of charm and smoky bacon flavour. It rightly takes its place as one of the Soupquest exceptionals.

The main course was very good, too. The macaroni cheese had a lovely bubbly cheese crust, then lots of cheesily saucy macaroni beneath. The accompanying nuggets of garlic toast were really good, too.

Macaroni cheese

So overall, I was glad to finally visit the White House Kitchen. It’s a crackin’ good place and a fabulous purveyor of smartly prepared food. The fact that it’s at the heart of one of our more deprived communities gives it an unusual context but one in which it is seems to be thriving. Make sure to visit soon; it’s worth a special trip.

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

I ate: split pea and bacon soup, macaroni cheese

I drank: water

I wore: grey suit

Total bill: £7.30

Address: 70 Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh EH16 4BG