Two Scottish restaurants named best in UK for ‘authentic' French cuisine by national guide
The Guide, which publishes regular reviews and features 'best of Britain' articles, showcased 24 French restaurants, with the Scottish two the only ones outside of England.
The two Scottish French restaurants that made the cut are both in Edinburgh - Cafe St Honore and L'escargot Bleu.
Of Cafe St Honore, the Good Food Guide said: 'Among the network of lanes in Edinburgh's New Town, north of Princes Street, this 'wonderful oasis of calm' looks like a piece of heritage Parisian 'restauration' airlifted from Montmartre.
Cafe St Honore
'Bentwood chairs on the robust side of rickety, a black-and-white tiled floor, properly clothed tables, dark wood walls and mirrors all form the backdrop to the kind of classic French bistro cooking that visitors love to stumble upon.
'Start the ball rolling with, say, ham 'hough' terrine or St Bride's smoked duck breast with a salad of orange, pickled fennel and raddichio.
'Main course veer towards the sturdy end of things: roast lamb rump is accompanied by ratatouille, buttery mash and tapenade, while a serving of East Coast cod comes with a rich shellfish bisque, heritage potatoes, samphire and aïoli.
'It's all gloriously satiating, right up to desserts such as raspberry frangipane tart with crème normande or Perthshire cherry clafoutis with woodruff ice cream.
'The fixed-price 'café classics' menu is a bargain for lunch or dinner, with mains such as Borders venison cottage pie or smoked haddock fillet with wilted spinach and green sauce. Glasses in two sizes lead off a serviceable French-based wine list. 'We arrive to smiles and leave with a warm glow,' mused one regular.'
While they said L'escargot Bleu 'buzzes', writing: 'Frederic ('Fred') Berkmiller's classic French bistro has spread a blanket of joy across Edinburgh since it opened in 2009. It's fair to say that the place buzzes and the atmosphere is 'unbeatable'.
'And it's no wonder that fans are quickly seduced by the unmistakable Gallic vibe: 'You could easily be sat in a wee French restaurant in Paris,' noted one reporter who felt fully transported to another world.
'The conviviality extends to the assured combination of French cooking with Scottish raw materials, including hand-dived Orkney scallops and venison as well as home-grown vegetables and herbs from Berkmiller's four-acre plot at Monkton Gardens. The menu itself is built around established standards, which brings people back because they know the quality won't waver from one visit to the next. 'I had the côte de boeuf again – one of my favourite dishes anywhere.
'Beautifully served medium-rare with dauphinoise, salad, roasted onion, garlic and peppercorn sauce.' Fish soup with rouille, steak tartare, escargots in garlic butter and beef bourguignon are all present and correct, too.
'For dessert there could be a not-to-be-missed crème brûlée as well as griottines in kirsch and îles flottantes. Expect 'great service from knowledgeable staff', a wine bar in the basement for post-prandial relaxation, and a thoroughly commendable list of French wines with an excellent choice by the glass.'
To see the full list, visit the Good Food Guide.
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