The Dickins team enjoyed one of the most delicious lunches at The Kitchin last Friday. Awarded a Michelin Star in 2007 and recently receiving a five star review by AA Gill in The Sunday Times, The Kitchin is located at the Shore in Leith, Edinburgh.
The Restaurant opened in 2006 by husband and wife team Tom & Michaela Kitchin on Edinburgh’s stylish waterfront and is relaxed but welcoming with the food in clear focus.The passion of Tom and Michaela, Maitre d’ Philippe and their entire team shine through in what they deliver; quality and consistency.
We went for the 3 course set lunch menu for £24.50 which felt like great value considering the quality and taste of the food on offer. An appetiser of langoustine consomme was served followed by Louise having crab whilst Nicky and Gaby went for the lamb sweetbreads which were wrapped in pork belly and served with roasted garlic and a pea puree. Whilst Louise found the crab very light and delicate in taste, the sweetbreads which neither Nicky or Gaby had tried before were packed full of flavour and were simply delicious...!
For the main course, Nicky and Louise went for the whole partridge in a deliciously rich sauce served with locally sourced, seasonal vegetables and bread sauce on a bed of braised red cabbage. The partridge was a perfect example of Tom Kitchin's 'Nature to Plate' phenomenon where he is extremely passionate about 'seasonality' and using produce when it's naturally available. What was even nicer was being able to see Tom himself cooking in the Kitchen through the perspex glass which looks out into the restaurant. If there had been the option of second helpings, they definitely would have had more although room had to be saved for a dessert which everyone had caught a glimpse of as other diners received theirs. Gaby went for crispy red mullet fillets in served with a fine ratatouille of vegetables in a delicately chili flavoured sauce which were beautifully cooked and full of flavour.
Now for the piece de resistance which was the dessert. Although the apple tart looked appealing and the cheese board selection was vast, everyone went for the Pistachio souffle served with pistachio ice cream. Now, that was a dessert to be rivalled....! All three souffles looked almost too perfect to eat although within seconds, they were being demolished! Although pistachio souffle and pistachio ice cream may seem a little too much, the balance was perfect and the ice cream with little pieces of pistachio in it complimented the souffle beautifully...!
This fantastic lunch was accompanied by lovely staff who were attentive but not overly fussy. You could enjoy your meal and chat knowing that if you needed anything, someone would be there to see to you. The wine too was delicious and the restaurant Ssommelier was on hand to offer advice if required. If you really wanted to push the boat out on a Friday afternoon and wanted to start your weekend early, you could opt for the matched wine package at only £45, offering a glass of wine for each course including a welcoming glass of champagne before you even start...!
The Kitchin didn't disappoint, it was the perfect venue for a real treat at lunchtime and having looked at the evening menu which changes daily depending on what's locally available, going for a special dinner with family or friends would be just as good as lunch with maybe just a little extra glass of wine or two added in for good measure...! To top it all off, Tom was out on the restaurant floor towards the end of service chatting to what looked to be regular diners. The Kitchin is a restaurant for special occasions and rightfully deserves all awards received up until now...!
If you're from Edinburgh, are here on business or on holiday and staying in a Dickins self catering Edinburgh apartment , The Kitchin is only a short taxi or car journey from the City Centre. On a nice day, you can walk through Edinburgh's New Town into Stockbridge and then along the Water of Leith or perhaps make this journey on the way back to walk off your food...!
Whatever you do...don't miss a trip to The Kitchin, it's seriously a meal you'll not forget in a long time...!