StarterI disengaged from popular culture in about 2005. Prior to that, I knew about soap operas, vaguely popular music, films and what was on the television. Now all I’m left with is karaoke, Youtube clips of cats, and repeats of The Big Bang Theory that could just as well be episodes of Friends but for …

ExteriorEarly Saturday morning starts tend to be a real struggle for me, but with the prospect of a day out in Dundee infused with the bookish fun that the Dundee Literary Festival always promises, my stride was springy and light. Having alighted from the train, I wandered around for a little while before stumbling upon …

Blythe’s VerdictMac n cheese The arrival of one of Glasgow’s leading exponents of the American-style diner has caused quite a little stir in Bruntsfield. On an otherwise sleepy Wednesday out of the full thrust of the late August frenzy we gave it an early inspection. I was joined this evening by regular reader but first …

ExteriorThere are certain places I never seem to be in the right part of town to catch. Diner 7, on Commercial Street, was in this camp until I happened to be passing on a Sunday and caught it open for brunch and lunch service. I popped in to give it a try. With four booths …

Blythe’s verdict I was interested to see that the Hard Rock Cafe was named as one of Edinburgh’s favourite restaurants in a recent STV poll of local diners. There were actually quite a number of places on the list that I hadn’t visited so I was glad to begin addressing that, today.Exterior I was joined …