Restaurant review: Browns, Edinburgh

MY friend and I met up in Browns early evening on a Saturday, and the restaurant was already busy with diners and groups enjoying a few cocktails before a big night out.
Browns, Edinburgh. Picture: TSPLBrowns, Edinburgh. Picture: TSPL
Browns, Edinburgh. Picture: TSPL

We were seated beside the piano, the relaxed and comfortable backdrop providing the perfect setting for our catch up.

The wine list included our favourite wine – a New Zealand sauvignon blanc (£25) so we had no trouble deciding what to go for.

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The starters were a little more difficult to choose between because they all sounded delicious – but in the end the lure of the crab and avocado stack (£8) reeled me in.

A tried and tested combination, crab and avocado go together as well as fish and chips, but the mustard in this dish added that little kick, as did the chilli salsa.

My friend chose the pan-seared scallops (£9.50), which looked perfectly cooked and she was particularly impressed by the cauliflower puree.

The menu was bursting with appealing main courses, with everything from a chicken Caesar salad to lobster tagliolini.

I chose the slow-cooked pork belly (£15.25) served with smoked Bramley apple purée, buttered mash, braised cabbage, apple brandy and Pink Lady jus. The pork was fall-off-the-fork tender, with a perfectly crisp coating, and the meat had an almost Oriental taste to it.

My friend ordered the Gressingham duck leg (£17.25) served with smoked duck croquette, rhubarb and grenadine purée. Tender and juicy, it almost fell away from the bone, and she highly praised the croquette.

With no room left we (over) indulged in a few cocktails, with the British Royal going down far too well.

• Browns Edinburgh, 131-133 George Street, 0131-225 4442