Amber restaurant for lunch
This Sunday after experiencing the tour at The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile (write up to follow) we called off at the Scotch Whisky centres adjoining restaurant called Amber.
I was hesitatnt at first, incase Amber proved to be a tourist trap where good food made way for sheer profit. I was wrong. At lunch times the restauarnt operates a bistro with very fair prices and a selection of main such as chicken breast, haggis and salmon. While at night Amber changes the menu to include sea bass, rack of lamb and highland venison; obviously along with a price increase. Ambers decent website has online lunch and dinner menus, with prices.
The restaurant has a bar at one end and a cafe, for light refreshment at the other. You can get a window seat that looks down onto Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the seats and tables are of modern style. You enter the restaurant via walking down some stairs from the Scotch Whisky centres entrance. The whole interior is simple and at lunch had a rather “ikea” feel to it. It will be interesting to see how the restaurants ambience changes for evening dining. Service was quick and very pleasant.
Having just finished a Scotch Whisky tour I went straight for a main course of haggis, neeps and tatties (£6.25). This was traditonally served, although without any sauce. Perhaps they want to distance themselves from the building they occupy i.e. no whisky sauce! Everything was done well and at £6.25 I thought this was a fair price. My dining partner went for the cornfed chicken with honey and thyme served with a carrot and potato mash (£6.95). This was a generous serving and the chicken was lovely. There was lots of sauce and a decent serving of mash. This was a good dish and with the basket of bread (£1.50) we had already ordered, there was ample opportunity for us both to dip the bread into the tasty sauce. We both enjoyed our dishes and were pleasantly surpised at the excellent value for money Amber offered. With a soft drink each the bill came to under £20. This offered excellent value and comparable with any pub meal you will find on the Royal Mile.
I would like to try the dinner menu at Amber and see how it builds on the quality of their lunch dishes. Thieir prices seem reasonable for the dinner menu with a rack of lamb listed at £14.25 and whole sea bass at £13.75.
But if you’ve completed the Scotch Whisky tour and you’re in need of a good meal this is a good choice. I am pleased to report this is definately not a tourist trap. Likewise, if you’re on the Royal Mile or just finished a tour of Edinburgh Castle or a trip to the Camera Obscura Amber is a great priced restauarant to grab some Lunch. You can also sample some whisky at the bar ;-) And best of all it doesn’t cost more than the KFC meal a tourist and family were trying to find the location of, after finishing the Whisky tour!
Just back from lunch here today, it was great - thanks for the recommendation. We all had the spinach starter and a variety of main courses. Great service, plus they gave us space to chat. Good value for money as well.
Tried out the evening menu. Whisky based cocktails to begin, starters of smoked salmon, main course a rack of lamb. We skipped the deserts and finished off with a couple of whisky liquors.
All food superb, nicely presented with good service. Cost £62 for two. Would recommend.
Went for dinner 2 weeks ago and the steaks are much better than the neighbouring witchery which is a surprise! Ambiance could do with being improved it lacks atmospher but waiters very attentive and very spectacular food!