Museum Brasserie

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.

The National Museum of Scotland is a busy place. With free entry, acres of treasure-filled rooms to explore and proper consideration given to entertaining young people, the place is popular with school groups, tourists and children of all ages. The noise level is almost always turned up high, with joyful shrieks and laughter reverberating throughout the expansive atrium – and the brasserie, tucked away at the end of the ground-floor concourse but far from soundproofed, cannot escape this. Expectations duly managed, the brasserie makes a good option for a bite of lunch or restorative cuppa after exploring the museum’s many rooms. A concise menu of soup, burgers and club sandwiches includes a few options for the kids, and also features a well-considered board of Scottish cheeses. An attractive display of baked goods will prove temptation to many, but does not venture far from the safe options of scones, carrot cake and millionaire’s shortbread. Smarter than your average tourist attraction dining experience, this is proper food served at your table by waiters in white shirts and aprons – and not a hot plate or self-service tray in sight.

• High point: Kids welcomed with open arms
• Low point: Cakes not particularly exciting