'I tried Edinburgh's trendiest sandwich shop and couldn't believe the portions'

Daily Record

26-04-2025

Edinburgh is known for many things, one of which is its thriving culinary scene. Across the city, there are countless restaurants, cafés, and bistros that are popular amongst visitors and critics alike.
One of the city's hottest food spots is Mootz General Store in the buzzy Stockbridge district. The eatery, which opened last year, serves up homemade schiacciata bread with a wide range of deli meats and other fillings.
Since opening, Mootz General Store has earned rave reviews from professional critics. It has also earned legions of fans, with people across Edinburgh and beyond flocking to try out one of its sandwiches.
Over the weekend, Scotland Now's Alexander Smail took a trip to Mootz General Store. Here are his thoughts.
'Absolutely incredible sandwiches'
On Saturday, I was out and about in Stockbridge with my partner. After browsing the trendy neighbourhood's various clothes shops and bookstores for an hour or so, we decided that it was time for lunch.
There were a few different eateries that we were considering. We couldn't decide between the popular Civerinos pizzeria or the cosy-looking Cafe Romina coffee shop.
However, just then, Mootz General Store caught my eye. I had heard it was one of the city's most popular sandwich shops, so I figured there was no time like the present to try it out.
The weather was pleasant enough, if a bit cold, so we grabbed a table outside the shop. Looking inside, all of the tables inside were totally rammed with people, so we were lucky to get a seat at all.
On the table, there were two menus detailing all of the sandwiches available. There was also a tub full of more hand wipes than I'd ever seen, so I figured things were about to get messy.
There was a wide selection of sandwiches to choose from on the menu and I spent a good five minutes just deciding what I wanted. Most of Mootz's offerings are unsurprisingly meat-heavy, though there are also a couple of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from.
One thing I did notice was that the food seemed rather expensive, with most full size sandwiches priced at £12.50 and 'slightly smaller' sizes costing a few pounds less. However, as I would soon learn, these prices were very reasonable for what I ended up getting.
The eatery's classic sandwich, named the 'mootz', includes mortadella meat, stracciatella soft cheese, pistachio pesto, and crushed pistachios. Another sandwich that caught my eye was the 'prosciutto', featuring prosciutto cotto meat, mozzarella, olives, tomato,
Other sandwiches featured on the menu included the 'huckleberry' and the 'courgette'. The former is made with mortadella, glazed ham, porchetta, provolone cheese, pickles, American mustard, and peppers, while the latter is a vegetarian option including chargrilled courgette, lemon and chili dressing, roast hazelnuts, and more.
Eventually, I decided to go with the mootz as I figured it had to be a classic for a reason. My partner, meanwhile, opted for a turkey club sandwich.
As we waited for our sandwiches to be prepared, I sipped my coke and soaked in Stockbridge's bustling atmosphere. In the short time that it took for our food to be ready, I heard at least three different people walk by praising Mootz—which only heightened my expectations.
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When my mootz was finally set down in front of me, there was one thing that immediately jumped out. I couldn't believe the size of the sandwich—easily the biggest I'd ever been served.
After gazing down in awe at the gigantic slab of a sandwich in front of me for a few seconds, I tucked in. It was stuffed to the absolute brim with fillings, and I could soon see why so many hand wipes were available on the table.
Taking one bite, I could immediately tell why Mootz is so popular. The bread was absolutely incredible and perfectly doughy—definitely among the tastiest I've ever had.
The fillings meanwhile complemented each other perfectly, with the mortadella and stracciatella offering a perfect balance of flavours. Meanwhile, the optional hot honey that I chose added just enough sweetness without going overboard.
I will say, as tasty as the sandwich was, I did struggle to finish. Once I did, I was ready to go home and sleep it off.
Would I visit Mootz General Store again? Absolutely, though I would maybe opt for the 'slightly smaller' size of sandwich next time.