Kopitiam

Posted on April 28, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

Value Over Replacement Player or VORP is a somewhat involved term from baseball that rates a player’s impact over a fictitious “replacement”. This replacement doesn’t really represent the “average” but usually somewhat below that, for reasons that are far too dull to explain.

Anyhoo, VORP sprang to mind today when I noticed that the truly awful Pasta Fresca had closed its doors, with a new branch of Kampung Ali called Kopitiam bringing a very handy little Malaysian cafe within touching distance of my office.

Roti cenai

Roti cenai

Having opened only very recently, the interior was still getting settled, but was smart enough. It was a one woman operation both on the cooking and service front, but this was very smartly handled by the friendly owner woman. She did a cracking job a keeping things ticking along, but she’ll need an extra pair of hands, in due course.

Their menu was quite focussed, with a little array of core dishes. Roti cenai, the traditional Malaysian flatbread, with curry sauce sounded like a good way to start. I followed with a rice dish, nasi lemak, accompanied with a portion of beef rendang, the traditional dry curry.

Interior detail

Interior detail

I’ve had the roti cenai a number of times from Kampung Ali and this was an identical rendition. It was quite tasty stuff.

The main course was a slightly odd confection with a lot of different elements to it. There was a good portion of coconut rice, then a little pile of pickled cabbage, some really lovely sweet onions, half a boiled egg, cucumber, peanuts, really good beef rendang and them some absolutely delicious crisp, dried anchovies.

Main course

Main course

It just about managed to come together as a coherent dish, but it could have used one or two fewer elements.

So overall, I enjoyed my trip to Kopitiam. It served me two good dishes that hit the spot, very nicely. It has some bedding in still to do, but should do quite well from its central location in the North Bridge Arcade. I look forward to visiting again.

Scores
Blythe scores Kopitiam
3.5/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
3/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 13/20

I ate: roti cenai with curry sauce; nasi lemak with beef rendang

I drank: water

I wore: grey skinny tie

Total bill: £10.50

Kopitiam on Urbanspoon

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Kilderkin

Posted on April 27, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

I’d heard stories about Kilderkin’s now legendary £1 pizza deal on Mondays, but I hadn’t found the occasion to try it. I seized the opportunity on Easter Monday, just before Scran Salon at nearby Hemma.

I’d actually popped in for a swift half the day before after a busy programme of egg rolling on Arthur’s Seat. It’s a traditional pub setting and smart enough in its own way.

Pizza

Pizza

Service is at the bar, with their beer selection pretty decent. Rum is very much their speciality with over 100 varieties on offer. I must come back for a little shot at some of them.

Their pizza selection was dominated by cheesy puns. I settled upon the Salami Davis Jr, for example. I took a seat at an accommodating table and sipped a nice pint of IPA while I waited for the pizza’s arrival.

It was soon with me looking rustic and rather enticing. Having sliced things up with the handy wheely thing, I tucked in. The base was crisp and light and the topping really very good. The salami was of surprisingly good quality. I was impressed.

So overall, Kilderkin offers one of the better weekly deals on offer in the city and is well worthy of a visit. If this is representative of the general quality of their menu, it more than merits a full-price visit, too. I’d be happy to recommend the place to you.

Scores
Blythe scores Kilderkin
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 14/20

I ate: Salami Davis Jr pizza

I drank: Pentland IPA

I wore: two tone brogues

Total bill: £4.60

Posted in Old Town, pizza, pub grub | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

St Giles Cathedral Cafe

Posted on April 26, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

After a busy morning programme of meetings, I was glad to be freed from the shackles of the office, even although it was a rather chilly and grey day. I toddled up the road towards the Royal Mile, choosing a stop at the St Giles Cathedral Cafe after briefly toying with the idea of visiting Garfunkel’s.

It must have been thirty years since the last time I’d been there, but I very clearly remember two or three visits when I was just a nipper. It was always rather popular with the advocates from the nearby Court of Session and so it proved today.

Menu board

Menu board

Although located within the church buildings, the cafe isn’t the smartest and radiates down-at-heel community cafe chic from every pore. It’s quite charming but a little refresh to show it to better advantage is probably overdue.

Their menu looked like the standard ecclesiastical cafe fare, but with a Royal Mile premium on the price. The savoury tart of the day, which came with two salads, looked reasonable value so I opted for that, ordering it at the counter from a friendly woman.

Today’s tart was mushroom, oregano and mozzarella, which sounded pretty promising to me. I opted for a potato and chickpea salad and one that majored on mushrooms and peppers. My plate was then passed to me looking fairly loaded with stuff.

The tart filling was tasty but the pastry wasn’t all it could have been and compared unfavourably with the lovely little quiche I sampled at Dicle. The salads were hearty, fresh and packed with flavour so were rather more successful.

Tart and salads

Tart and salads

So overall, I was pleased with the St Giles Cathedral Cafe, but it didn’t hit the heights of some of the other cafes of its type, like the Undercroft or The Well. Still, it served me a heartily healthy lunch that ably addressed my lunchtime needs. I’d be happy to visit again.

Scores
Blythe scores St Giles Cathedral Cafe
3.5/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
3/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 13/20

I ate: mushroom, mozzarella and oregano tart, chickpea salad, mushroom and pepper salad

I drank: water

I wore: holy vestments

Total bill: £7.95

Posted in Edinburgh Cafe, Old Town, Salad | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spitfire

Posted on April 25, 2015 by BKR

Interior

Interior

I was once again blessed with a moment or two to allow me a sit-in breakfast in the west, so took myself to one of Glasgow’s newer coffee stops, Spitfire, in the Merchant City.

The stylish interior has smart globe lighting and a contemporary feel to it, although is clearly a conversion of a much older property and retains some wonderful stonework details. I liked it.

Eggs

Eggs

The friendly counter man/owner was quickly enquiring about my general state of wellbeing before aksing what I might wish to sample. I was in an eggs on toast mood, so ordered scrambled on brown with a side of bacon.

First up was their espresso, a seasonal blend from Caravan, which was just as impressive as the same variety I’d sampled in Urban Angel, the previous week.

Espresso

Espresso

The eggs soon arrived looking neat and tidy. They proved good eating with the toast and butter particularly good. The bacon was nicely prepared too, but I’m not sure two rashers for £2 really represented good value, particularly given the egg dish was a healthy portion on its own.

So overall, I was impressed with Spitfire. The welcome is warm, the place stylish, the coffee excellent and the food really pretty good. I look forward to many future visits and would happily recommend it to you.

Scores
Blythe scores Spitfire
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 15.5/20

I ate: scrambled eggs on toast with bacon

I drank: espresso, water

I wore: new brown socks

Total bill: £8

Posted in Breakfast, Coffee shop, Glasgow | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Zuhus

Posted on April 24, 2015 by BKR

Exterior

Exterior

Blythe’s Verdict

Zuhus opened a couple of months back on South Bridge serving peri peri chicken, ploughing much the same furrow as the divisive Nando’s. I’d had my eye on a visit so was glad to take the opportunity to give it a try.

I was joined by Dan, who famously joined for the culinary adventure that was Hot Flame. We were both sad to see that remarkable place closed pending a change in direction. It’s on our list for a visit when it re-opens.

Chicken pitta and spiced rice

Chicken pitta and spiced rice

I’ve not visited Nando’s so don’t have a frame of reference, but Dan confirmed that this place was much in the same style, particularly in terms of the look and feel of the interior, but things were a good bit cheaper. Their lunchtime deal of a chicken (or veggie) dish plus one side order and limitless drinks refills sounded pretty impressive for £5.95.

Ordering was at the counter and was handled very efficiently by the friendly folks. Dan opted for the chicken pitta and spicy rice, while I chose the half chicken and chips. We had a little go at the limitless soft drinks, which were fine, but we were happy to stick to water.

Interior

Interior

Our dishes soon arrived with mine looking particularly eye-catching. It was a vast portion of chicken. What’s more it was really pretty tasty, with nicely roasted chicken, seasoned well and warmly spiced. The chips were somewhat more routine, but it still got a firm thumbs up from me. Dan was similarly pleased with his dishes.

So overall, Zuhus was a very pleasant surprise. The food was really good and the folks running the place were super friendly and excellently attentive. For a hunger-chasing lunchtime feed this is definitely right up there with the better value lunchtime deals in the city. I’d be happy to recommend a visit.

Dan’s Verdict

The last time I had been on a Lunchquest it was to the infamous Hot Flame World Buffet and part of me was still slightly scarred from the experience of seeing creamed brussel sprouts mixed up with pizza and sushi. So I was slightly nervous about a trip to Zuhus which is essentially a slightly cheaper version of the well known peri peri chicken chain (whose name begins with N).

Half chicken and chips

Half chicken and chips

I need not have worried as Zuhus is a cracking little restaurant and the food was great. Their menu is very similar to the more well known chain with all the main options of burger, pitta, wings and half chickens covered.

I ordered a chicken pitta with spicy rice, and with the lunchtime deal this came with a bottomless soft drink. I went for Hooting Hot on the marinade front. Zuhus has a spice-o-metre ranging from a puny Mellow Mild up to a “I’d better check my diary tomorrow morning to make sure I’m not going far” Dare Devil.

In the event Hooting Hot was spicy enough without sending me running for the soft drinks machine for an immediate refill. The chicken was pretty delicious and packed in the pitta together with some good fresh salad. The size of the portion of spicy rice was a bit on the measly side but was tasty enough.

Overall I’d recommend a trip to Zuhus for a very good value chicken lunch.

Scores
Blythe scores Zuhus
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 15/20

Today’s questers were: Dan, Blythe

We ate: half chicken and chips; chicken pitta and spicy rice

We drank: water, limitless Vimto, limitless orange drink

We wore: no overcoat, light jacket

Total bill: £11.90

Zuhus on Urbanspoon

Posted in Old Town, Portuguese | Tagged , | 3 Comments