Capital earns a place at top table of UK dining

Published on Tuesday 8 September 2009 09:49

IT'S official – Edinburgh is the best place to eat in Scotland.

A record number of Capital restaurants have been included in the latest edition of the prestigious Good Food Guide.

As well as two of the city's restaurants making it into the top 50 for the UK, there are a further 18 in Edinburgh listed in the guide – compared with only eight in Glasgow.

Restaurant Martin Wishart, which is both Edinburgh's and Scotland's highest entry in the top 50 at number 14, has also been awarded one of the highest cookery scores in the UK. Judges awarded the Leith establishment a score of eight out of ten, which means "a kitchen cooking close to or at the top of its game, showing faultless technique and impressive artistry".

Only one restaurant in the UK – celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck – scored a ten for "a restaurant producing perfect dishes on a consistent basis".

It was top of the guide's list, with the only score of nine out of ten going to the second place restaurant, Gordon Ramsay's establishment on Royal Hospital Road, London.

Michelin star chef Mr Wishart today said he was delighted with the score, and the fact that so many local restaurants were being recognised by the guide.

"I'm obviously delighted, and particularly proud of the fact that this is the fourth year running we have been given a score of eight out of ten, which shows the consistency and is a great boost to the kitchen," he said.

"It is fantastic to see so many local restaurants in the guide. This is my city and I think this kind of recognition shows that it is one of the best places in the world to go for a meal."

Edinburgh's other entry to the list of the very best – expanded from a top 40 last year – is Tom Kitchin's The Kitchin, which comes in at 44th.

Among the other restaurants in the guide are Abstract, The Balmoral, The Bonham, Cafe St Honor, David Bann, Forth Floor, Haldanes at The Albany, Kalpna, Rhubarb at Prestonfield and the Witchery by the Castle.

And Edinburgh restaurant The Dogs, a new entry to the guide, having opened on Hanover Street just over a year ago, was given the Best Value For Money award.

The restaurant was awarded a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand earlier this year, and founder David Ramsden admitted he was very proud of the success.

"We heard about the Good Food Guide entry a few weeks ago and it is a huge reward for all the hard work the staff have put in," he said.

"When I opened the restaurant I just wanted it to be about giving people a decent meal at an affordable price – an antidote to a lot of the very expensive restaurants in the city – and we were never looking for awards so I am very proud of this."

Elizabeth Carter, editor of the Good Food Guide, said: "Edinburgh has a wealth of top restaurants, but particular acknowledgment went to The Dogs for being named the Best Value For Money Restaurant this year.

"It proves that an affordable menu doesn't have to compromise on taste.

"There are so many great British restaurants hitting their stride at the moment that we just had to expand to a top 50."

She added: "Despite the credit crunch, the British restaurant scene has never been so vibrant."