Smoke Stack

Smoke Stack

53–55 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3RJ

Telephone 0131 556 6032
Bar open Licensed till 1 am on Fri and Sat
Food served Mon–Thu noon–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat 10am–11pm; Sun 10am–10pm.
Pre-theatre times Mon–Fri 4–6.30pm; Sat 4–5.30pm
Average price £10 (set lunch); £20 (evening meal)
Pre-theatre price £11
Email
Website www.smokestack.org.uk

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Smoke Stack

Eating & Drinking Guide

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

Smokestack underwent an extensive makeover in spring 2012. Gone are the blood-red walls and restaurant-style dining, replaced with stripped-back pale grey decor, bright lights and all-day food service. The bright and breezy tone extends to the menu and drinks list which convey both the choices available and the restaurant’s ethos in an engaging and accessible way. Smokestack styles itself as a steakhouse, specialising in Scottish Borders beef (dry aged for 21 days) cooked exactly to order and served with your choice of sauces or butters. If steaks and burgers don’t float your boat there are also salads, fish and sandwiches to choose from. All desserts are home-made, with the Baileys cheesecake proving to be a stunning slab of light, silky-smooth cake. Members of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, they pride themselves on reducing their carbon footprint wherever possible. Smokestack offers comfort food with a conscience but without an overdose of worthiness or pretension.

High point: Range of home-made desserts shows both competence and ambition
Low point: Starter options a little tired

Number of wines sold by the glass: 10 (includes one champagne)
Private dining: Up to 26 covers
Provides: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu, Outdoor tables, Free wi-fi
Music on stereo: Classic indie
Capacity: 75
Largest group: 26
Open since: 1996
House wine: £13.95 per bottle

Comments & ratings

5. C S – 4 Sep 2012, 9:36am Smoke Stack Report

Newly Refurbished as a New York warehouse style eatery Smoke Stack ticks all the boxes. A group of 4 (including a veggie) all tucked into a burger off the menu and all were great. The double burgers are bigger without being un-finishable which for me is a plus.

Desserts all round were wolfed down in next to no time including the signature banoffee pie. Service was fantastic and always attentive, look forward to going again.

4. Auld Reeker – 8 Aug 2012, 7:57pm Smoke Stack Report

I was taken out for my dinner prior to a Frankie Boyle performance at the Playhouse.
Steak dinner and Banoffee Pie were the order of the day - both absolutely divine and exactly as ordered.

Decor within this restaurant is of a stripped down nature/ shabby chic - it works in some ways, but being poked away in the back corner wasn't what we were expecting.

Still, excellent food, drinks and service. What more can I ask for!?

3. sara 26 – 10 Sep 2010, 3:06pm Report: Sunday breakfast awful. Disinterested staff small portion not good

2. Nina – 25 Aug 2009, 1:28pm Smoke Stack Report: I had a steak with Pepper Sauce. It was nice, well cooked but the mash that came with it wasn't great at all. A bit disappointing as I didn't think it was a hard thing for a chef to make properly... The desserts were great, especially the warm sticky toffee pudding. Delicious!

1. M – 21 Aug 2008, 5:01pm Smoke Stack Report

The Smoke Stack really is a tale of two halves. I've tended to walk on by over the past few years as it does give the impression of being every so slightly run down or dated from the outside.

We were warmly welcomed and show to our table which was a taste of things to come; service was genuine and friendly.

Starters were an absolute delight with the home made leek and potato soup beign the highlight. A hot and rustic home made soup served with fresh crusty bread was a welcome start.

Unfortunatley the main courses didn't live up to the high expectations set by the starters. In particular the prawns served on a bed of salad with sweet chilli sauce just didn't work I'm afraid. The sauce was jsut too heavy for the salad and the addition of olives didn't add anything to the overall taste and put simply didn't work.

On the upside, the portion was very generous with a large number of good sized and well cooked prawns, but the overall combination didn't work. It was a shame, because a change from salad to noodles and pak choi with a lighter sauce would have elevated this dish to where it should be.

Overall the general service was excellent and they did enough to merit a return visit.

Average rating 4/5 from 4 reviews of Smoke Stack.

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