Redwood (0131 225 8342)

Redwood is a small Californian-style restaurant in St Stephen’s Street in Stockbridge. We went for a family meal to celebrate my daughter Jane’s birthday. It is a small and intimate resto with a very short menu (3 starters, 3 mains, 2 puds+cheese). I started with salmon sashimi and picked vegetables – the salmon was delicately flavoured and initially I thought under-seasoned. However, with the picked veg. it was just right. My main course of sea bass with lime and ginger, served on very soft brown rice with crunchy green veg. was the star of the meal – really top-notch. However, I was a little disappointed in the pud – coconut and lemongrass creme caramel sounded good but was rather bland with very little flavour of either coconut or lemon. However, both my daughters had double banana cream pie which was really good – a banofee pie without the cloying sweetness. Wine was Picpoul de Pinet – one of my favourite whites. About £140 for 4, including 2 bottles of wine and coffee, fixed price of £26.95 for dinner.

Generally excellent – we would be happy to go back

Visited March 2010.

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Rivage, Easter Road, Edinburgh (0131 661 6888)

Recommended by my daughter jane, we tried Rivage in Easter Road for a curry. Definitely a cut above the regular indian/bangladeshi restaurant.  Although a Scotsman, I have never had a deep fried mars bar and don’t really eat much fried food. However, I was tempted by the special here – a crepe filler with tandoori chicken then dipped in breadcrumbs and fried. It was light and delicious. Main course was a lamb curry (karhai ghosht) which was very good but I regretted not ordering the Goan fish curry, which was absolutely excellent. About £20 each, including some Cobra beers. Definitely worth revisiting.

Visited, 5th March 2010.

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The Muchall’s Bistro (01569 730393)

The Muchall’s Bistro is in a small village near Stonehaven and has a recent reputation for good food. We went there on a Saturday night and it was very busy. My starter was crab bisque with an anchovy crostini – very good indeed. The main course was not really up to the same standard – it was a trio of fish – salmon, monkfish and king prawn. It was ok, in a creamy garlic sauce but the pieces of fish were rather small and the crispy potato balls really weren’t the right accompaniment.

So food was good but not outstanding. Worth another try though.

Worked out about £35 each, including 2 bottles of wine and pre-dinner drinks.

Visited, 27th February 2010

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