Established in July 2011, Lunchquest aims to give readers an insight in to Edinburgh’s vibrant lunch and dining scene.
There isn’t a place that serves food that we won’t review. We cover as broad a range of places as we can, from the Michelin star finery of places like Castle Terrace to the humble burger van, and everything in between.
We try to eat out (or get takeaway) from as many different places as the bank manager will allow, take pictures of what we’re served, and offer a few words to describe things. We rate on four categories:
- Food – what does it taste like;
- Presentation – what does it look like;
- Setting – what does the place that serves the food look like; and
- Service – how do the people serving the food serve it.
We use this method to reflect our overall experience, as considerations beyond what food is on offer often need to be made when choosing a dining venue. Some places might serve knockout food, but are a little down-at-heel, so are perhaps not where you might wish to go for an intimate interlude. Equally, some very swish places serve very mediocre grub, so you might prefer to go there for a light snack, just drinks, or with people you don’t like.
Edinburgh has hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafés and eateries in the city centre alone, and places are always opening, closing (sometimes sadly, sometimes gladly), or changing hands and direction so we have our work cut out to keep track of all the goings-on.
We do the odd paid review or advertorial, but this is always clearly identified. We have categories for “PR company paid” and “restaurant paid” so you can see that it’s a tiny percentage of our overall content. In general, this blog is simply our opinion on whatever we happen to have bought ourselves to eat on any given day.
Oh, and this site uses Google Analytics. Analytics will use a cookie for the duration of your visit, which we hope will be lengthy. This cookie expires once you leave the site, if you manage to find a way to do so. You can set your browser not to receive the cookie if you wish. If you don’t do so you’re giving the thumbs up to receiving the cookie. Cookie.
About the Authors
MJ
Originally from Alabama, USA, I have been in the UK for quite a number of years. Having finished my PhD in poetry writing at the University of Edinburgh, and officially earned the designation Dr MJ, I’m now working on a second one, so one day I will be Dr Dr. When not studying, I’m to be found doing bookish things, sometimes at the Scottish Book Trust and sometimes at Scottish PEN. I’m the Managing Editor and founding partner of The Istanbul Review. I’m also an Auld Reekie Roller Girl.
In July 2011, I came up with the idea for Lunchquest, and enlisted the help of trusty squire and fellow lunch devotee, BKR, to develop the idea.
I am very attached to showing American Quarter Horses and find that somehow, most things come back to horses, Italy, and getting a book published.
BKR
An Edinburgh resident from the age of 4, I am Lunchquest’s major source on “what this restaurant/café/bar/shop used to be called,” given that Edinburgh’s lunch and dining scene is ever changing.
An English Literature graduate from the University of Edinburgh, I’ve spent more than a decade working in the public sector, ploughing my way gently through a succession of ludicrous job titles.
From the moment that MJ suggested the enterprise, as we contemplated the munching of another delicious pasta dish in Café Domenico’s, Lunchquest has been a complete joy. So far, we’ve been very fortunate in our lunching and dining choices, so long may that continue.
Hi guys,
I’m Jerome from Greggs’ PR team. How are you all?
I thought I’d drop you a note as I’ve been reading your blog and was impressed with its content, plus I think there are a few things we do which could be of interest to you.
Would you be around for a chat some time over the next few days?
I’m based in Manchester but have a license to travel (!) so if you’re up for meeting up I can come and see you – coffee and cakes on me!
Speak soon!
Jerome
07841 279 848
Thanks, Jerome. I’ve dropped you an email, so look forward to hearing from you, in due course
The first ever Scottish Food Bloggers Conference is taking place at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday 1st of September 2012!
Attracting Food Bloggers from across the UK, the inaugural Taste Ayrshire Food Bloggers Conference will herald the beginning of the Taste Ayrshire Food Festival.
Whether you’re a keen novice or a professional, there will be sessions on how to improve and promote your Blog as well as workshops from the experts on Social Media, Food Photography, Food Writing and Blog Promotion. This full day event will feature refreshments throughout the day, a spectacular local food lunch and a ‘nosebag’ of local goodies.
There will also be lots of opportunities to network with fellow Food Bloggers. Book now by visiting foodbloggersconference.eventbrite.co.uk to reserve your place or contact [email protected] for further information.
The one day conference will be followed on Sunday 2nd of September by the optional ‘Tasty Blog Tour’! This one day Mystery Food Tour of Ayrshire, showcasing local artisan producers, is organised and delivered by Tasting Scotland, and is open to everyone attending Saturday’s conference.
The cost for this tour is £79 per person and there are a maximum of 16 places available. If you’d like to attend this day as well, please contact Brenda Anderson from Tasting Scotland at [email protected].
Many thanks for the details, Lara
Hi,
Would love to drop you details about a new dining venue opening in Edinburgh soon, how best should i contact you?
K
Drop us a tweet @lunchquest, Kat
Hello…we are http://www.chowzter.com and are in search of the world’s tastiest food item and wanted to see if you might be interested in collaborating. It requires no real work and might be quite profitable. Please look at our web-site and drop me an e-mail and I can send you some information.
Cheers!
Jeffrey
Hi there,
We’d love to welcome you to Loopy Lorna’s Tea House to show you that we do delicious lunches as well as tea and cakes!
Welcome to pop by anytime or if you’d like to say ‘hello’ please contact me on 07931 095765 or [email protected]
Best Wishes,
Gaynor
Thanks, Gaynor – we’ll aim to pop in, soon
Hi
I have been looking through your blog and the delicious food you write about, and have started to get steadily more and more excited for dinner!
I was wondering if you would be interested in visiting a restaurant of your choice and reviewing it on your blog on behalf of match.com?
Let me know if you would be interested in this, and I can send over more details.
Kind regards,
Zara
Thanks, Zara – I’ve dropped you an email
Hi folks, I am organising a gourmet tasting event at Margiotta Dundas street between 12 and 2pm on Friday (19th,) including Mellis Cheese and Great Glen Game premium Charcuterie products. Would love you to come along and see what you think. It’s all part of the Truly Local range, which helps promote local and Scotland’s best food producers. Get back to me if you want more detail.
Many thanks, Adrian. We’re great fans of both Mellis’ cheese and Great Glen Game, so we hope this event goes really well. Sadly, we’re not available to attend, but the invitation is much appreciated
Hi,
Hope this email finds you well.
I am emailing from one of the leading digital agencies based in London.
I am getting in touch with you as I am looking for quality websites such as yours, lunchquest.co.uk, to place some adverts on your website and would like to know if this is something which would be of interest to you?
The placement of our adverts is contextually matched to the content on the page, therefore relevant.
Do let me know if you are interested to discuss any partnerships with us as we feel the positioning of your website will have strong benefits for both parties.
Please email me back with your thoughts or questions.
Kind regards,
Hi there,
I have a wonderful invitation to extend to you from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and The Dining Room on Queen Street, please drop me an email and I can send you the full invitation and some more details.
Thanks and best wishes,
Kirsty
Hello,
I enjoy your lunchquest website and would like to work with you!
I’m interested in the price for a blog post with links! Could you please give me the general rates?
I hope to hear from you soon! Thanks in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kira!
Thanks, Kira – I’ll drop you an email
Hey guys, any chance of a quick email, would live to touch base and pick your brains about the street food scene in Edinburgh.
Thanks, folks – will drop you a line, shortly
Hi, Updating my database here at PR agency can you please give me an email with your contact details? [email protected]
Thanks!
Thanks, Nadine – I’ve dropped you an email with our details
Hi,
We’re running free restaurant and spa days this month (this weekend and next) and wanted to invite you. Can you please email back and I’ll send you full details?
Thanks,
Gordon
Thanks, Gordon – duly emailed
Good afternoon Lunchquest
I would love to invite you down to Amicus Apple on Frederick to experience and enjoy an afternoon/evening enjoying some of the new sights, sounds and tastes we have just implemented. Send me an e-mail if your interested and we’ll arrange your complimentary Amicus experience
Ross
Ross Ovenstone
General Manager
Thanks, Ross – will drop you a line
Hi there – you reviewed a black pudding roll you had at Hanks a week or two ago – we’d love you to come back at lunchtime and try some of our amazing lunches/ salad boxes. Hope to see you again soon.
We reviewed the excellent lunchtime flatbreads that you supply to Cafe W, too – http://lunchquest.co.uk/2014/05/cafe-w/, Karen. We’re not often in your neck of the woods for lunch, but next time we are we’d be delighted to pop in and say hi
Hi MJ & BKR, Love your blog and knowledge of Edinburgh! Do you have an email address I can contact you on? Thanks
Thanks, Priscilla – I have messaged you with our details
Hi, hope you are well.
Given your love for all things fabulous in food we thought you might be interested in a brand new and innovative Afternoon Tea menu we’ve developed, specifically designed for the modern Gentleman, but of course available to everyone! We thought our new and exciting menu might be interesting to you and your readers.
The Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea is a new take on the traditional afternoon tea, but without a cucumber sandwich in sight. Instead we are giving it a manly twist, serving wild boar sausage rolls, miniature steak and ale pies, cave-aged mature cheddar and bacon scones, and these are just a few of the delicious savouries on offer.
The menu is specially prepared to match with the intense flavour of single malt whisky; working with Ivo Silva (The Athenaeum’s resident whisky sommelier) we have created the perfect pairing. During the afternoon tea our waiters are available to offer advice and tasting notes to keen whisky-drinking patrons.
For more information on The Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea:
http://www.athenaeumhotel.com/food/offers/gentleman’s-afternoon-tea/
If you would like to know any more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Many thanks,
Graham Anderson
Thanks, Graham. The food does sound very good, although talk of a ‘manly twist’ seems rather ill-judged marketing. What is there about savoury food that makes it ‘manly’ and sweet ‘not manly’, exactly? This is an out-dated paradigm, so worthy of a re-think, I reckon.
In any case, we’re very rarely in London to come and try this given that our focus is on Edinburgh.
Thanks for your interest.
Hi BKR,
I’m Gisele, from NeoMam Studios.
We are an infographic design agency based in Manchester, and we’re currently designing a piece featuring unusual sushi creations from around the world, in which we would like to feature your Haggis Sushi.
Could you drop me a line so that we can have a chat about it? Thanks!
Look forward to hearing back from you.
Best,
Gisele Navarro
NeoMam Studios
Thanks, Gisele – we have messaged you.
Hi Guys,
I have a free, exclusive street food festival I would like to invite you to. If you could send me your email address I’ll be able to send over the full details to see if you’re interested.
Many thanks,
Anna
Thanks, Anna – will message you
please email your email contact to [email protected]
Hello! We have recently taken over The Bellevue Bar at he bottom of Broughton st. I see you reviewed the bar/food/service before. It would be great to have you back to try our new menu which is completely different to that which you had before. My business partners are the team who previously ran The Shore Bar in Leith namely the Head Chef and General Manager.
We are keen to get our name out there on the foodies map and let people know the bar has changed.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Joanna
Thanks for getting in contact, Joanna. We’re a bit tied up with things over the next couple of weeks, but we’ll be sure to visit soon thereafter
Thanks for your reply. Do drop me an email when you wish to visit. We are running a fantastic Sunday roast which we are keen to promote!
Hi guys,
Hope you’re really well. I look after the PR for The George Hotel in Edinburgh. The hotel’s Tempus restaurant has recently launched a new autumnal menu with a real focus on local produce.
We would love to have you along to have a taste of the new drinks and dishes on offer.
Let me know how you’re fixed and if you’re keen for a visit.
Thanks,
Corrie
Hi there,
I’m looking for blogs to review Edinburgh Indian takeaways – drop me a line if you are in the mood for a curry!
All the best,
Sam.
Thanks, Sam – will do
Hello,
I’m currently working with a new boutique bar and pool hall that has recently opened in the west end. Would love to send over an invitation, can you drop me an email with your details and I’ll send it over to you?
Cheers,
Rosheen
Boutique Bar and Pool Hall? That’s quite a description of Diane’s! 😉 I jest. Will drop you an email about the re-opening of Marco’s, shortly.
Cheers
BKR
Hey! I’m doing the PR for a new restaurant just opened by Edinburgh’s Joseph Malik (previously of Safari Lounge and Lioness of Leith fame). Its called The Percy and is beside the Persevere pub on Easter Rd.
Both food and booze are seriously good value and the menu is best described as “Scottish soul food” with some dishes named after local leith legends such as Mary Moriarty. If you’d like to check it out get in touch or I am happy to send you more info. Cheers!
Thanks, Rachel – interesting news!
No worries
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1491668837754480
Hello MJ andBKR,
How r u guys.
I am Priyanka Sangwan and I worked in Mithas before if you guys remember me and now I working in my uncles restaurant that is Spice lounge Kitchen in 1 craigmount view. I would like to invite in the restaurant to check out the food and wines. And you could contact 01314769999 and mention my name or you could contact through my above email address.
Thanks
Priyanka Sangwan
Thanks, Priyanka – lovely to hear from you. So sorry about Mithas closing down in Leith. I’ll drop you an email about coming to visit you in your new place. Hope all’s well with you
Hi there, I’m trying to get in contact with you regarding a project. Can you please forward me your email address? Thanks, Fiona
Thanks, Fiona – will drop you a line
Hi
Long-time reader of the blog and thought you’d appreciate a tip-off. Don’t know if you’ve heard of Anfora – it opened recently where the Vitners Rooms in Leith used to be. I had dinner there last night, and it was pretty incredible – really fantastic venue, friendly staff, perfectly cooked delicious food and easily some of the best wine-pairings I’ve had ever. I really couldn’t fault it.
They don’t seem to have done any marketing whatsoever which may explain why it was so quiet last night. They said they were relying on word-of-mouth, in which case I’m happy to help out and recommend it thoroughly.
JL
Thanks, James – sounds very good, so we will add it to the list for a visit. They did a launch event, a few weeks ago, but it clashed with the VDeep press night, so that got all the coverage. I’ll let you know how we get on
Hello!
I would like to contact you regarding a Food Festival in Edinburgh. I would really appreciate it if you could drop me a line.#
Thank you,
Liina
Sure thing, Liina
Hello
I’m emailing from Bosch’s PR agency. We have an event happening in June and would love to invite you both to it.
Do you have an email I could send over more info to?
Sure – will drop you a line
Hello,
I hope you are well. I would like to personally invite you to join The Blogger Programme. A social platform connecting brands and bloggers/influencers, we currently have over 11,000 bloggers and over 500 brands actively using the platform across a wide range of industries. Among our brands, we have recently welcomed the likes of The Foodies Festival, Food Discovery Box, City Pantry, Body Chef, and Brown Bear coffee to The Blogger Programme, and brands such as Tesco, Office Pantry, The Body Shop and Not On The High Street, along with many other brands are also part of the community. All these and others are actively interacting with bloggers and seeking more bloggers to join worldwide!
You can connect with brands to start collaborations as well as seeing what opportunities they have for available for bloggers/influencers.
It is completely free to join and open worldwide, and you can sign up here:
http://www.thebloggerprogramme.com/
It would be great to have you as part of the community.
Thanks very much for your time and hope to see you on board.
Bruce Rawlings
http://www.thebloggerprogramme.com/
The Blogger Programme
+441603 358147
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/blogprogramme
Thanks, Bruce
Hello
Firstly an introduction, my name is Michelle and I am lucky enough to work for La Belle Assiette. I have the wonderful job of organising private chef dining experiences.
La Belle Assiette is an exciting start-up that allows its customers to rediscover the pleasure of entertaining at home. Through the website one is able to browse and book available chefs and their menus. Launching in the UK only four months ago we have a network of 160 chefs across the country – we are growing rapidly!
We have created a new food concept; the chef will bring all the ingredients, prepare the meal in the hosts kitchen, serve each dish and ensure the kitchen is left sparkling before leaving. Entertaining has never been so easy. The host is able to simply enjoy the company of their guests without any of the usual stresses of hosting a dinner party.
In order to ensure the quality of our chefs, I organise test dinners where the chef will cook a delicious 4 course meal for a panel of 8 foodie judges (usually costing upwards of £60 per head, you would dine for free). The chef is rated on their culinary flair, personality, creativity and performance. It is a wonderful way to enjoy food; eating delicious food, meeting the creator of the dishes and in the comfort of a home! I would like to invite you to attend a dinner in Edinburgh on the 30th May.
I look forward to hearing form you soon!
Kind regards,
Thanks, Michelle. Unfortunately we’re not able to attend on this day. Cheers, BKR
Hi there,
I’m contacting you from Parlez Media regarding a special bloggers events at the Ideal Home Show Scotland. Could you please give me your e-mail address so I can provide you with more information?
Many thanks,
Megan Graham
Parlez Media
Thanks, Megan – will drop you a line
Hi there,
Would love to discuss some exciting things.
Please could you drop me an email so I can tell you more?
Thanks so much,
Helena
Hi there,
Please could you drop me an email as I have some exciting things I would love to run past you.
Thanks,
Helena
Hey Guys,
Loving the great work you’re putting in to inform boring sandwich meal deal lovers (like me), that there ARE other options out there!
I’m the marketing coordinator at the Indian Cavalry Club on Coates Crescent. It would be great if you got in touch about your upcoming availability:
[email protected]
Look forward to hearing from your soon. In the meantime, happy questing!
Cheers,
Alistair
0131 220 0138
Thanks, Alistair – will drop you a line
Hi guys,
Updating my database here at PR agency. We have few upcoming blogger events in Edinburgh and would love to invite you both!
Could you drop me an email with your contact details and I’ll send over more information?
Thanks
Hello guys we are looking for local bloggers to help promote http://www.eatingoutedinburgh.com a new eating out website with great search and information for the local community and tourism industry. Im a Edinburgh local but stay in North Berwick now.
We are looking for the best places to eat in Edinburgh and our DEMO site is online to showcase what we do. Our sister website http://eatingouteastlothian.com launched start of September and is doing relly well in that region. You are able to contact me at [email protected]
Any help would be appreciated.
Kind regards
Fraser
Thanks, Fraser – hope the project goes well.
As with all other sites, we’ll promote your content if it’s good, so look forward to seeing the site when it goes live.
Cheers
BKR
Hi guys,
Would love to invite you along the launch of The Printing Press on George Street later this month. Please drop me an email and I will be able to share full details :).
Best wishes,
Corrie