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The space is traditional, stylish, restrained, yet progressive.
So, tonight we dine at the fine establishment which was highly recommended by a good friend. That we booked via their website, with reply confirmation, yet no record of a booking on arrival was amateurish. But I dither.
A bottle of Perrier Jouet to start really establishes the mood - it makes everything just a little more sparkly.
The simple home made baguette and French butter was so good.
The entree of haggis in wontonesque filo parcels and plum sauce was delightful, whilst the duck breast with rich game jus was spectacular. Not to mention the 2013 Le Mercurey Burgundy and the Sauternes to finish.
Well played ninja.
Only disappointment, which was staggering, was the passionfruit Creme Brûlée. It arrived as lemon curd. Zero passionfruit. Gluggy. Horrid. Yuck. The dessert alone diminished the whole experience from a 4.5/5 to a 3.5/5. It also failed the back of the spoon toffee tap test, which tells me it was made yesterday.
Also the sheer pace of the courses was overwhelming. We hadn't finished the fancy champagne before the mains arrived. We hadn't finished the fancy burgundy before desserts arrived. CTFD. Overly exuberant kitchen detracted from the metre of the experience. The maitre 'd needs to control the flow better. Why so eager to be rid of us? Felt very rushed.
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I am sure you’re the same as me, when you work in a particular part of the city you tend to frequent places close by. It’s tough when you’ve little time to spare. But there are also days when you do have some time off, and walking just that few more minutes from where you’re shopping will open a realm of possibilities. What ever the case may be for you, think of popping in to Stac Polly’s new Gin and Wine Bar on Dublin Street. It’s a very short walk from St Andrew’s Square and Queen Street. You’ll be rewarded by a welcoming space, that’s witty and understated.
Atmosphere is important if you’re to relax and the team at Stac Polly have got it right. The new bar is above the well established restaurant and makes use of what was once rather dead space. It’s split into three areas, each light and airy. Why understated? Well at first you don’t notice the clever touches. There are lots and lots of lampshades adding light of course, but also hints of colour. The coat rack is made of horns (sorry vegetarians) and there’s a glorious large print of the Stac Pollaidh mountain.
We were there on preview night and tried the tasting plates. The servings are generous. We enjoyed the mix of cold meats on the meat platter and the tasty mix of cheeses and vegetables on the vegetable platter. Added touches of accompaniments such as home made pesto really made the platters special. We’re looking forward to trying the “house chutney” which will accompany the meat platter.
Gin is enjoying something of a renaissance and those who once exclaimed that “they didn’t like the taste” are discovering the clever use of botanicals by the new companies on the scene. It’s great to see many Scottish gins featuring on the extensive menu, including Edinburgh Gin (the raspberry is to die for) and the oh so pure Botanist Dry Gin from Bruichladdich. Which makes this new venue an ideal place for after works drinks too, of course.
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It was shortly after we visited the branch of Stac Polly on St Mary’s Street that their Dublin Street branch re-launched as a bistro and gin bar. I’d meant to visit shortly after that, but it ended up taking me rather longer than planned. On a dreich and sleety day I finally popped in for lunch.
A stylish New Town set of rooms, the place has a beautiful fireplace and elegant ceiling roses. It’s really rather smart.
Service was unfussy and prompt throughout, although when I was leaving there was the same mysterious disappearing act that I’d encountered on my visit to their other branch, which was a little strange.
Before leaving I availed myself of a couple of dishes from their menu, of course, starting with the cream of chestnut mushroom soup then following with some Macsween’s venison haggis, with the usual accompaniments.
The soup was delicious and judged alone would be worthy of exceptional consideration on the Soupquest scale. However, the mushrooms that topped the soup were extraordinarily chewy and while the accompanying toast brought good crunch the elements just didn’t quite come together, which was a shame.
Much the same can be said for the main course. The venison haggis, about which I’d heard rather a lot and was tasting for the first time, was absolutely outstanding. The tatties were lovely, too, but the neeps were curiously bereft of flavour and the lake of richly flavoured game jus did not look at all bonnie.
So overall, if I were to focus solely on the two central elements of the dishes I had, I’d be awarding Stac Polly 5/5 for their food. Sadly, a succession of annoying inaccuracies let things down making it a rather frustrating dining experience. I hope you have a more evenly impressive experience when you visit, which you should, than I did.
Scores
Blythe scores Stac Polly
3.5/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 14/20
I ate: chestnut mushroom soup; venison haggis, neeps and tatties in a whisky game jus
I drank: water
I wore: walking boots
Total bill: £17.54
Stac Polly is a true taste of Scotland! I love their traditional dishes. They have an exceptional wine list. Their Gin Garden is beautiful and fresh. They have friendly staff. Whenever my family visits from South Africa this is where I will take them to experience SCOTLAND!
What an amazing find with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Our host for the two nights ( we just had to go back for more) fulfilled our every request.
My recommendation, of there is a group of you, have the large cheeseboard , extra oatcakes and dirty gin martini's. Spectacular and will be back for more on our next visit.
Perfect food, cosy atmosphere & great service.
Amazing food and really accommodating. We booked a table quite late on a quiet Thursday night, and our friends ended up running half an hour late. The waiter was incredibly kind about it and showed no sign of irritation at us keeping him at work longer than expected. Food and wine were exceptional and we are already planning the next visit.
An absolute Gem ! Real taste of Scotland! Traditional and cozy. Very friendly staff and great service.
I was on tour six months ago and had dinner here. We were a large group that was well accommodated. Food was delicious, wine was good, service was great. Atmosphere was just right. We were placed in a room that was pleasant and quiet enough to allow members of the group to get to know each other better. My first trip to Scotland. Very pleasant, gladly met the kind and cheerful people of Edinburgh. Thank you!
A restaurant that continually surpasses expectations. A wonderful atmosphere, created by truly excellent staff and fantastic food. It's a great place for corporate fine dining, yet somehow is just as good at seeing the ambience for a romantic meal for two. Highly recommended!
Food was excellent. Service great. We had a fire at our table and someone used their glass wine to put it out and they would not replace his wine.
Great food in a good environment. However, not unique or special enough to quite justify the price in our mind. Nice modern take on Scottish fair with good service.
My favourite fine dining restaurant in Edinburgh for traditional Scottish food served with flair. Great atmosphere and wonderful food. Regularly take overseas guests there. Never disappointed.
Amazing food, nice little place, quite romantic. Good service - but wouldn't leave our bottle of wine with us, kept it round the corner and refilled when necessary :)
Marcos Andrés Castillo
+5
Very nice environment!! EXCELENT service and food fantastic! We booked at last minute and they found their way to accommodate us. I will come back anytime.
Delighted to find Stac Polly are doing take-out food in lockdown. We had a lovely 3-course meal (the highlight was the cullen skink!). Very easy to order, pay and collect. I'll be telling everyone about them!
Small, cozy feel to this place, very charming, good wine selection, locally sourced ingredients, main courses were amazing but dessert was average. Definitely worth a visit.
Thank you for delivering my mum a lovely meal for her 70th birthday. The service that I received when organising was second to none and my parents had a wonderful meal. Thank you so much 😊
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