Sweet Melindas

11 Roseneath Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1JH

Telephone 0131 229 7953
Food served Tue–Sat noon–2pm, 6–10pm. Closed Sun/Mon.
Pre-theatre times Mon–Fri 6–7pm.
Average price £13.50 (lunch); £23 (evening meal)
Pre-theatre price £16.50
Email
Website www.sweetmelindas.co.uk

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.

Edinburgh still has its tucked-away places, the neighbourhood joints quietly making loyal locals’ tummies happy week after week. Sweet Melindas is one such place. It’s the front room of a tenement so it feels like you’re stepping into someone’s home. It’s a few doors down from Eddie’s hallowed Seafood Market, meaning the freshest fish is literally on their doorstep. This, plus the fact that practically everything is homemade, using some serious kitchen skills, means it punches well above its weight. Desserts are spectacularly homely – a gigantic wedge of Seville marmalade sponge (yes, with homemade marmalade) is something Granny would have been proud of, in turn sweet, bitter and comforting. Mains show skilful handling: fillets of bass and bream are beautifully cooked, served atop a tangle of spaghetti with crab and pecorino. Wee grilled sardines reward the patient picking of bones; fried squid is feather-light and the soy, ginger and lemongrass sauce on the hake is ‘everyone’s favourite’. Exactly the kind of place you want to live next door to. You should probably move.

High point: Lovingly crafted wine list
Low point: Popular dishes do sell out

Number of wines sold by the glass: 12
Provides: Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu, Free wi-fi
Music on stereo: Laid back jazz
Capacity: 35
Largest group: 40
Open since: 1997
House wine: £16.50 per bottle

Comments & ratings

3. Alan Stuart – 22 Mar 2012, 1:38pm Sweet Melindas Report: My last visit was a few months ago and it was as amazing as I remembered! The food was delicious, light and so fresh - next to Eddies Fishmonger you know you are getting the best fish possible. We started with the zesty Squid and Octopus salad done with a gorgeous thai dressing and my gluten free partner had the light and airy fishcakes, which I managed to sneak a bite of. For our main courses, I did something radical and had a amazingly tender Rump steak served with horseradish butter and "the best chips in Edinburgh" - as many lunch goers will know! My partner had Gurnard, Seawolf & Surf Clam Bouillabaisse - truly amazingly combination of flavours, with great depth. We shared the delicious chocolate torte with our espresso and a glass of Muscat - what a perfect ending to the best meal I have since I was last there! The service was relaxed, personal but not at all intrusive and very knowledgeable on wines and the menu. The owner is obviously a very keen fisherman as there is a quite magnificent what we thought was a Wild Salmon but is actually a beautiful Brown Trout hanging above the bar. Keep up the good work and high standards -I think Sweet Melindas is a pretty special place.

2. shoggoid – 31 Aug 2010, 6:48pm Report

Sweet Melindas has drastically changed from when it used to be reasonably good many years ago!

My last visit on 28/08/10 was a costly disappointment. The service was poor, amature at best. My wife's squid starter was cold and rubbery, my sardines were lukewarm and lacked flavour.

The mains were utterly hopeless, I was served an indescribable lump of fish on top of a couple of teaspoons of rice which was supposed to be halibut on risotto, again lacking any flavour, my wife's offering was a similar tasteless inanimate cod on salad disgrace.

The three young male waiters could care less, upon complaining twice about the poor offerings we were twice given a standard puzzled ... oh?... then silence, no apology no comment no nothing!

Please, save your hard earned cash and avoid being let down, go anywhere else but this shambles!

1. Saucy Sal – 16 Jun 2010, 8:31pm Sweet Melindas Report: Between 4 of us we covered a lot of the menu choices and we enjoyed our meal - but there were a few glitches that stop me giving it 4 stars. My starter of pigeon included a slice from the end of the breast that was dry and chewy. The consumer of the haddock and leek tart described it as bland. The thai fishcakes were a great success. My main included surf clams and these were barely warm on a cold plate. The pudding choices in lovely sunny June included a steamed pudding and panna cotta with stewed nectarines. I just long to see more fresh summer fruit on menus - a lovely chewy merigue with raspberries would get my vote or a strawberry shortcake. I felt 22.50 was a bit steep for 2 courses -the special web offer that gave us one meal free was what made this good value.

Average rating 4/5 from 2 reviews of Sweet Melindas.

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Sweet Melindas

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