An Italian in Edinburgh
Pasta is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Not only is it tasty and filling, but it can be served up in so many different culinary styles, plus the amount of varieties makes it an art form.
Whether you’re a fan of the farfalle bow tie effect, or a person of simple tastes who just likes a nice, slender spaghetti strand, Italian food is awesome, and that’s final. Of course, the deliciousness of the cuisine isn’t just limited to pasta dishes, they just happen to be my personal favourite. Edinburgh has a wealth of Italian eateries to sample, but here are a few of my current favourites, which I frequent when I get the urge to recreate that scene from Lady in the Tramp (in human form, clearly, and usually on my own).
La Bruschetta
Only a recent discovery to add to my list, but a well established venue of quality Italian food for the rest of Edinburgh. La Bruschetta sits quietly near Haymarket Station and away from the very centre of town, with nothing too boastful going on with the interior, however the classic, clean lines of the inside match the classic nature of the dishes on offer. If you want an authentic and traditional Italian experience, then La Bruschetta won’t disappoint.
All these modern, jazzed up variations of Italian food are all good, but sometimes you just want a familiar and flavourful helping of Minestrone or Antipasto, followed by some porcini mushroom themed ravioli, or the ever satisfying Lasagne Al Forno, and La Bruschetta provides it all in excellent form.
Centotre
A very popular George Street venue, Centotre is certainly one of the most attractive Italian venues in Edinburgh to dine in, with its impressive premises in a former bank, and high ceilings and polished look inside. The atmosphere is bustling and friendly, and portions are generous. The restaurant gets a very mixed crowd, from people streaming out of nearby offices, to families wanting their pasta fix, and youthful individuals looking for a glass of wine and something to nibble on. The restaurant is roomy, so has a section for diners looking for something more substantial, and a bar and seating area at the front for coffee, drinks and snacks. There is also outside seating, which is packed on sunny days.
The menu is always tasty, with a mix of contemporary and traditional, and different pizzas, pasta, meat and fish dishes and antipasti on offer.
Cucina
A new addition to the scene when Hotel Missoni opened in 2009, Cucina is fashionable Italian eating in brightly coloured surroundings, which is to be expected from anywhere Missoni related. The more colourful the better as far as I’m concerned, why bother with all this minimalist malarkey when you can have Missoni patterns that make you feel like you might be somewhere other than chilly Scotland? The menu is contemporary, but not over the top, and has just enough choice to please the majority. I recently had an amazing lunch here, with beetroot and pumpkin salad to start, roasted hake and braised lentils for my main, and a beautiful Tiramisu to finish. The best thing about having lunch or dinner in Cucina is that you can finish the experience off by going downstairs to the bar and taking advantage of the prosecco on tap. Fantastic.
61%
£25,10
Photography by Stop the gears, Flavorrelish, and Fotoos Van Robin
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