Category Archives: Edinburgh

Review: David Bann, Edinburgh. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Edinburgh, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
So the guide books would have it, no trip for Vegetarians or Vegans to Edinburgh would be complete without a trip to Vegetarian restaurant David Bann. So on a recent visit to Edinburgh with Ruth and her Mum this sounded good enough reason to me. 

The restaurant has been open since the turn of the Millenium just off The Royal Mile, serving its diverse and interesting menu that prides itself on satisfying non meat eaters and omnivores alike. More fine than cafe dining, it has an atmosphere that’s contemporary and convivial. In fact out of the three of us I was the only Vegetarian dining. 

  
It’s a modern restaurant, serving a creative, eclectic menu in a warm room, which is understated and deep aubergine in colour with a silver and dark glint,  and feels airy, spacious with well spaced tables. It promises much. 

The menu is also vegan friendly with a number of vegan dishes to compliment the vegetarian ones. 

The menu has a globally inspired sweep from the Mediterranean to the Pacific with an eastern twist to finish and looks invitingly interesting with a modern innovative twist. 

   
 
We began with a glass of Cava whilst looking at the menu. 

   
 
We ordered some Homemade Hummus, olives with homemade bread and herb oil to share, which was a nice plate, and a good taster. 
I ordered a starter: Ravioli parcel with artichoke, chick pea and Basil. 

  

A home made ravioli filled with a blend of artichoke, shallot chickpea and Basil with a grilled artichoke heart, tomato pesto and toasted pine nuts. 

It was a lovely dish. A taste of the Mediterranean, the varied flavours simple, and complimentary. The Ravioli was well made, and with the tomato pasta felt healthy as well as substantial as a starter. 

A Very enjoyable veggie pasta. 

  
For my main course I ordered the mushroom Strudel and mash with Mediterranean vegetables. 

   

 
The dish, a loaf of mushroom baked in Heather Ale, Bonnet Goats Cheese from Aryshire, with rosemary and wrapped in filo pastry. Served with cream mash potato, and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. It was a fairly substantial dish, I love strudels so this was a nice choice. 

In fact it was as good a strudel as you could find. The layered pastry, thin, warming with the gentle flavour of the goats cheese and the tang of the veg providing a substantial main course. It was a well executed dish be after a day walking round Edinburgh was just the ticket. 

  
For desert Both Ruth and I chose the delicious sounding and highly recommended (in reviews) Dark Chocolate Soufflé with homemade vanilla ice cream. 

   

 
In fact the reviews were correct. It was a killer desert and worthy of a visit to David Banns alone. 

A bit of chocolate heaven, a well made soufflé, gooey, well presented and finished with a delicious vanilla ice cream. A highlight dish of the trip. 

We also drank a nice bottle of South African Chenin Blanc. 

David Bann deserves its loyal following and well regarded reputation. It’s one of the best Vegetarian restaurants in Edinburgh and probably the UK. It comes over as been peerless in its craft, reliability and inventiveness. It’s range of eclectic vegetarian and vegan dishes are as good as you will find in Edinburgh outside a Michelin starred restaurant. 

The menu is suitably interesting for meat eaters to enjoy also, which is surely a good thing. Fashion now dictates that vegetarian menus encompass good quality seasonal ingredients. In that David Bann achieves the brief without taking the innovation to new heights and treading away generally from the traditional path, that’s ok, though maybe there is a nod to modernism with some of the ingredients. I think there is room to be more innovative at Bann, though the food is thoughtful and well made and it is popular. So why change too much? 

I liked David Bann, it felt indulgent without been stuffy and for the reasonable pricing is a distinctive  choice for Vegetarians in Edinburgh. How it responds to the changing fashions and new veggie innovators will be interesting to see. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

  
Ruth’s Fries at David Bann. 

  
Delicious Chocolate Soufflé. 

http://www.davidbann.com/food.php

http://www.davidbann.com/

Disclosure: We paid for our own food and drink at David Bann, my opinions are honest as always. 

David Bann, 56-58 St Mary’s Street, (off Royal Mile) Edinburgh, EH1 1SX. 


Henderson’s of Edinburgh. A Vegetarian pioneer. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Edinburgh, Food, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

 
With its ancient crags and maze of medieval streets Edinburgh is a city that is no stranger to immortalised exposure. Its foodie scene is now renowned, with its garlanded Michelin stared restaurants and cosmopolitan buzz. All a far cry from when this veggie institution opened. 

When in 1962 Henderson’s Vegetarian opened (yes 53 years ago) it couldn’t have realised that its lustre and ethos would still be as much of Edinburgh life as it is today. In 1962 it provided an outlet for the produce of Janet and Mac Henderson’s East Lothian farm and quickly became a restaurant and thus the story of evolvement into a bistro, a bakery, a deli and a gallery. A cultural hub. 

The philosophy is the same. Eat better to live better and to serve delicious, wholesome food, using the best and freshest ingredients, and at affordable prices. 

I’d been with Ruth to Edinburgh a few times over the years, but had never shamefully visited Henderson’s. So to redeem this uncalled for neglect lunch was required, on this our most recent visit a few weeks ago. 

  
We visited their Hanover Street restaurant. The restaurant opens at 8am for breakfast and serves lunch, cake, afternoon tea or just drinks and snacks throughout the day. Its a popular stop off for Edinburgh shoppers in the New Town area, as well as those deserving workers who crave a vegetarian breather from their desks. 

It’s buzzing basement space is set out like a canteen with the menu on a board behind the counter and huge salad table. You can also order hot food, and baked goods, wine and local craft beer. 

Henderson’s provides over a dozen salads, freshly made, so this temptation was hard to resist. I’d heard they were to be had, and with a choice of salads which were varied and colourful. 

You can choose up to four salads. So both of us chose four for little over £8. 

   
   
My salads included a beetroot based one, a pasta one, a Chinese stir fry noodles one and a Waldorf salad. The range of flavours of the four salads were zingy and they all complimented each other superbly. They proved quite filling, but in particular the pasta and stir fry were exceptional and healthy. Very impressive. 

I also washed it down with a local  Innis and Gunn craft beer, which perfectly refreshed me, in preparation for Ruth’s shopping spree to follow. 

  

With its walls showcasing local artists and cool comforting atmosphere, Henderson’s is a smart choice for lunch. It’s a local institution, based on providing good healthy vegetarian food for a quick bite or respite from City life. In fact it reflects Edinburgh city life, it caters for veggies, vegans, and is popular with non veggies too, and creates a warm happy refresh in ones day. That’s how I saw it, a snapshot of a city, a hub in the New Town. 

Don’t expect anything ground breaking, but just great healthy food, competitively priced, with a good range of dishes to cater for all requirements. Henderson’s reflects cosmopolitan Edinburgh, and if there is one place that I visited in Edinburgh for food over my 5 days that I would like to bring to Birmingham City centre it would be Henderson’s. It has that vibe, that community, that quick bite veggie food that is missing.

No trip to Edinburgh for vegetarians and vegans would be complete without a visit to this stalwart. It demonstrates that trends change in veggie food, but there’s always room for a Henderson’s. 

  

 
Above the restaurant on Hanover Street is the Henderson’s Deli, serving takeaways and deli goods. 

Henderson’s also do gluten free options. 

http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/restaurant.php

http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/restaurant-sample-menu.php

   
 Above 2 Photos courtesy of Henderson’s. 

Follow Henderson’s 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hendersonsofedinburgh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HendersonsofEdi

94 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DR. 

0131-325-6694.

Local Sex Sites

We paid for our own food and drink in Henderson’s. My review and opinions are my own as always and honest. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

  
The Thistle Street premises is due to reopen on July 27th. As a purely vegan restaurant.