Ransacked Black Oven

Tasty, filling, fresh food inspired by Persian street fare.

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

Terrible name notwithstanding, Ransacked Black Oven is an excellent addition to the Edinburgh Uni quarter. Serving dishes inspired by Persian street food and breads freshly baked in the titular wood-fired oven, the food is packed with flavour and, crucial to its hungry student demographic, brilliant value. Sourdough pita is whisper-light and delightful dipped in grassy fresh olive oil then dredged in aromatic dukkah. Assemble a kebab selected from a choice of the daily changing salads, spreads, and fillings: of these, fried halloumi is a true star – dredged in cumin-seasoned flour and fried to a delightful crisp, it’s the stuff of Arabian dreams. The flatbread pizzas also change daily – the base is thin and crispy and liberally smothered in toppings, like smoky chorizo offset with a sweet onion marmalade and sharp olives. Those with a sweet tooth will thrill to the sweet kebabs; the salted chocolate and roast banana version requires you to abandon your dignity and accept mess everywhere, but boy it is worth it.