The Honours

Martin Wishart puts a sophisticated spin on brasserie dining at his stylish New Town eatery.

The 2018/19 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £7.95 (+p&p).

Seldom will you meet a food-loving Edinburger who won’t wax lyrical about Martin Wishart's take on the brasserie, and with good reason. The sophisticated high-ceilinged space – a stylish blend of warmly lit black and white marble with accenting gold disks and polished full-length mirrors – is worthy of recognition. So too is the well-executed fusion of French and Scottish cuisine, sourcing from the same quality producers as Wishart's Michelin-starred Leith flagship. Starters include light crab cappuccino, velvety rich buttered squid ink risotto and indulgent bone marrow slathered onto toasted sourdough. Intensely flavoured French staples follow; traditional bouillabaisse or tender ox cheeks coated in a rich bordelaise sauce, while the Josper grill fires up salt-aged beef and the duck fat chips are unmissable too. It’s not cheap but the express lunch menu is competitively priced and the wine list boasts both the affordable and the upmarket. Like a perfectly risen soufflé de jour, the front of house team is immaculately presented and well-drilled, creating a memorable experience for every table.