Recommended restaurant: 21212

Published on 21/07/2012 12:00

Since opening in 2009, 21212 has won acclamation from diners and reviewers across the globe, as well as a coveted Michelin star and it’s easy to see why.

Chef-patron Paul Kitching and his partner, Katie O’Brien, have firmly made their mark in Edinburgh, adding a very special flair to the city’s finest cuisine.

Located in Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace, the stunning 38-seater restaurant occupies the ground floor of the listed Georgian townhouse, where Paul, helped by his talented team of chefs, puts on a theatrical display in the open-plan kitchen.

Visible through a Perspex partition, diners can watch as they conjure up truly memorable cuisine.

The restaurant name 21212 comes from the five-course gourmet menu, consisting of a choice of two starters, two mains, two desserts, with palate cleaners and cheese dishes in between.

Prices are set, with a three-course lunch at £28 and a four-course lunch at £38, while the five-course dinner costs £68.

Dishes consist of an intriguing mixture of ingredients, with menus which change weekly. One popular main course is chicken, rice and chips, with curry sauce. A slow-baked tender breast of chicken, savoury rice, confit curried banana and apricots, celeriac, baby corn, chips, red chilli and cumin, mint yoghurt with coloured coconut shards. Every bite is incredible and no two mouthfuls the same.

Followed by a dessert of glazed 
lemon curd Turkish delight. Ingredients include glazed lemon curd, grape nuts and toasted sesame seeds, cottage cheese, milk chocolate and Turkish delight, with red grape juice. Absolutely divine.

21212, 3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh; 0845 22 21212, 
www.21212restaurant.co.uk