The Bon Vivant in Edinburgh

 

I know initially i said i would be only covering London restaurants, but in hindsight that's a bit silly especially given this weeks wee gem in Edinburgh. I love times when you head off for dinner with friends, with no expectations & happy with their company alone to then end up having a fantastic meal. I'm a big Edinburgh fan - not only because i'm Scottish & grew up near by, but because its an amazing city which is an easy match for London with the added bonus that people are mite more friendly & irn bru can be found within 20 meters at all times. There are some fantastic places to eat in Edinburgh from Michelin stared extravaganzas to pokey dining rooms tucked away serving local dishes. My lovely sister Mrs Robinson who currently resides in 'Auld Reekie' (a Victorian nickname given to Edinburgh due to it's slightly smokey & smelly appearance in by gone times) was in charge & she chose The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street. Mrs Robinson certainly knows her biscuits. Small, cosy & intimate with charming waiting staff & an interesting menu which is constantly on the change. It would be prefect for a little romantic tete a tete or equally for a group occasion.

The menu starts off with 'bites' for a £1 so you can choose a selection to start with or uprade the size to a full starter portion. I went with the following;

Bowers Black Pudding with Apple & Star Anise Chutney. The chutney was on the right side of sweet to accompany the earthy black pudding with crispy on the outside & moist in the middle. Next came the Salmon Mousse on Aran Oatcake. The mousse was a great consistency, but was a little bland for me, i prefer a bit more of a kick. The oatcake was great though. Lastly Salt & Pepper Whitebait with Garlic Mayo, this was the winning starter for me. Hot, salty & perfectly crisp & the garlic mayo was just on the right side of garlicky not obliterating the fresh taste of the whitebait. We also all shared a portion of the Chorizo in Cider with Bread,  with a full flavour & not too oily like many chorizo dishes it reminded me to cook with it more often. 

After such a nice start i didn't pause long before diving into a Fillet Steak with Braised Ox Tongue with Pancetta, handcut Chips & Balsamic Onions, Mr Robinson & PC Tom followed suit (very much steak men) I asked for my steak medium rare & arrived just so which was a good start. The tongue was...interesting but delicious. It had a great flavour but maybe could have done with being cooked slightly longer. Saying that, it was brilliant to see it on the menu & it complimented the beef very well. The chips were as chips should be - hot & fluffy inside. I didn't leave a thing on my plate. Mrs Robinson went for a lighter yet equally delicious choice; Salmon Fillet with Saffron Confit Potatoes, Chorizo & Quince Aioli. It was nicely presented & good way to jazz up a fish which many resturants insist on making the most boring choice.  

I was taking it easy on the vino as we had sunk more than a few cocktails at The Villiger (at our defense the weather was rotten so there was no choice...) so i went for a glass of Malbec, Festivio, Argentina 2006 which went perfectly with the beef. We were running off the Voodoo Rooms to watch a night of cabaret so didn't get a chance to sample the desserts, i managed to hold back the tears, but determined to have two on my return to make up for it.

Details:

The Bon Vivant, 55 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY. Telephone: 0131 225 3275

info@bonvivantedinburgh.co.uk

www.bonvivantedinburgh.co.uk
Rating: 8/10