Vinyasa

The best in old town nice food with friendly Service always just of Royal mail Went there many times never been disappointed see you soon..,,,,

Maybe I'm a little biased. This is our 'local'. So I enjoy being able to come in without a reservation, sit down, and have good Indian food. To me, this is definitely one of the more authentic tasting Indian places (and I'm from Asia). Want something less heavy? Try their salmon curry right at the back of the menu. Other of our favourites also includes their Shatkora Lamb.

Superlative Indian restaurant. A friend and I visited Edinburgh last weekend and were deciding on a place to dine out. I had rarely been to an Indian restaurant before and was sceptical at first but my friend persuaded me to go to this place very near to where we were staying. When the food arrived and we started eating I was totally converted! The Tandoori Murgh (a classic dish of roasted chicken marinated in yogurt and spices) was simply wonderful and beautifully prepared. The accompanying vegetable and rice dishes were superb and the drink we chose (Cobra lager) was perfect. The meal was a delight for the palate and all the senses. On top of that the service was first class - all the staff really care about their customers. Without hesitation I would heartily recommend this brilliant restaurant to anyone who wants to experience superlative Indian cuisine.

When the nights close in and the wind gets chilly, I start yearning for warm and filling dishes. It’s a perfect time to investigate Edinburgh’s Indian restaurants. Last week, I visited Vinyasa, a cosy restaurant on St. Mary’s Street, just off the Royal Mile, on the same block as David Bann’s and Stac Polly. I enjoyed a long walk through town before dinner, working up an appetite. I needed that walk (and the walk I took after dinner) because the food I had was scrumptious and rich.

Vinyasa is a long, relatively narrow restaurant with modern and colourful decor. Walls, tables and seats are elegantly neutral while the bar area is lit by bright blue, red and yellow glass panels. Large lit gold and yellow pictures warm the walls. When I arrived, my companion was comfortably seated next to one. We were in the body of the restaurant, where a number of tables were already taken by couples or people eating on their own. There are also booths, for larger groups.

One of the pleasures of dinner, to me, is conversation and the company of good friends or loved ones. Eating out is a great way to share an experience with friends, and some foods are particularly good for a long chat. I like Indian food, sushi and mussels are all particularly good. I eat very quickly so anything that slows me down is welcome. My companion at Vinyasa is one of my oldest friends and eating with her is always a pleasure. We plan dishes so we can share and say yes to every suggestion from the waiter. Do we want poppadoms? Oh, absolutely!

Getting started

After we’ve cleaned the plate of poppadoms and hoovered up the pickles, we move on to the starters.

We’ve ordered macchi kebab – fish kebabs – and king prawn pathia with puri. They were both good. The king prawns were plump and had that fresh, crunchy texture that shows they haven’t been over-cooked. The puri was deliciously flaky, soft and tempting. I could happily eat this dish as a main and it is great for sharing and chatting. Pull off a piece of puri and spoon in a mouthful of kingprawn pathia. Pop into mouth and enjoy.

The fish kebabs too were moreish. They were made with salmon, flavoursome enough to stand up to the marinade. The fish is tender and tasty. Both dishes came with sauces, but were great just as they were, so we dipped less than we could have.

Lamb and dahl

I was very excited when I saw lamb shatkora on the menu. I first encountered this dish last year but was an instant fan. Shatkora is a Bangladeshi citrus fruit that adds a wonderful bitter, citrusy flavour to dishes. It works beautifully with lamb, lifting the sometimes too rich meat. It’s a hottish dish and one I keep coming back to. It’s just so good, a medley of spicy, sour and almost smokey flavours. (If the heat builds up, a mouthful of dahl cools it down again.)

Then you find a piece of shatkora. I really enjoy the limey flavour of the cooked fruit, a flare of bright flavour against the mellow spiciness of the sauce.

We also had the butter bean gosht, the chef’s own recipe and one of the restaurant’s specials. The lamb butterbean gosht was lovely. The beans lend the dish a creamy consistency and the medium spicy sauce makes a harmonious whole. We were recommended tarka dahl and aloo sag as sides. Both go very well with lamb and both were, on their own, delicious. I have a weakness for a good dahl and this was just as creamy and soothing as I wanted it to be.

If we hadn’t had a plain naan and the rather lovely piazi rice - rice buttered and served with fried onions – we might have managed to eat everything. But we did. It breaks my heart not to be able to finish good food so it was with sadness that I admitted myself beaten. But not to worry: they kindly put the left-overs in a doggy bag and I was fortunate enough to have dahl, rice, naan, sag aloo and butter bean gosht two days in a row. What happy ending!

I had a great dining experience at Vinyasa Restaurant in Edinburgh. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The service was friendly, though a bit slow at times. The ambiance was lovely, creating a pleasant atmosphere. I would definitely return for another meal, with the hope that the service might be a bit quicker next time.

Great food and great service. Staff were very attentive and friendly

A three generation visit on our end; the staff couldn't have been lovelier. I brought two Indian Curry novices with me and our server had the great suggestion of getting poppadoms as a starter. The currys were so flavourful, Gaelic nan was so soft and crispy all at the same time, rice cooked to perfection, and the ice cream for dessert, so so delicious. Shall be coming again. Thank you Vinyasa

Vinyasa's restaurant at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival continues to captivate with its culinary prowess, leaving me astounded during both last year's visit and this year's return. The restaurant's serene ambiance blends seamlessly with the symphony of flavors presented on each plate. The exceptional food quality is a testament to the chef's artistry, crafting dishes that are both visually stunning and a delight to the palate.

Visiting from Newcastle and was looking for somewhere nice to eat. Walked past this place by chance and thought I'd give it a try. Did not regret it. Food arrived quickly and the service was great. The Lamb Chops are unreal! Wings were also delicious. Not overly spiced like most places. Balanced flavoured and balanced spices. Highly recommended.