The New Bell

For my husband’s fortieth birthday, we decided to host a dinner in town for approx 20 friends. We looked on-line & there was a review about the New Bell Restaurant, Causewayside.

We spoke to the manager, Laura Crooks and booked our table. She clearly had experience arranging birthday parties and had some great ideas - a personalised menu, homemade birthday cake replacing dessert and even the seating arrangements.

The pub downstairs was an ideal place to meet before the dinner (our table was booked for 8:45pm), and we weren’t disappointed when we went upstairs.

The waiting staff were attentive but not intrusive. The food was great (I had the seared sea bass starter and lamb main course). The birthday cake - chocolate nut torte with crème fraiche - was delicious! The atmosphere was really friendly and relaxed.

We would recommend the New Bell and will be travelling in from East Lothian to eat there again - and so will our friends!
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Fiona Menzies
Friday, April 18, 2008

Quite simply one of the best kept secrets of Edinburgh dining.

Neighbourhood restaurants should know that have to try harder to complete with the lure of the City Centre and The New Bell does - but make no bones about it this is a place that is worth the trip from any part of the city!

Friendly staff, prompt service that also knows when to leave a table alone when a conversation is going and a inventive and not over-lengthy menu delivers a quality eating experience. The menu is clearly French influenced but lighter in style and making excellent use of good local Scottish ingredients.

The wine list is excellent and fairly priced; the clarets are clearly chosen by somebody that knows their stuff. The room decor is interesting but certainly not glamorous - more in the style of a Gentlemen's Club with the wooden panelling and historic prints - but the crisp white table cloths and napkins add a touch of class. The only negative is that I would advise you to book a table in the main room as the tables nearer the door can be rather draughty as diners come and go.

Overall however, a super little restaurant that deserves it's success.
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NCW - View all reviews by this user
Friday, January 25, 2008

Saturday 12th January - this was my first visit to the New Bell and it will definately not be the last.

My partner and I wanted to try something different and had read a number of reviews about the restaurant and also liked the look of the menu. We enjoyed a drink in the Old Bell pub which had a lovely atmostphere and then headed upstairs to the restaurant. The restaurant itself was busy and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

We were not disappointed in the least with the choice on the menu and our starters of smoked haddock fishcakes with mull cheddar and chili jam and smoked salmon/mackerel terrine were amazing and only made us look forward to our mains even more. The main meals of fillet steak with spring onion mash and wild mushrooms and duck breast with braised cabbage and parsnip puree were out of this world (the steak was cooked to perfection).

We decided against desserts but the selection looked lovely.

All in all we paid £75 for two courses, a bottle of wine and coffee, which we both felt was value for money.

The service was informal and friendly and the staff were more than willing to top up our water glasses and ensure we had enough wine.

My only negative comment was our table - we had a round table in the corner and were sitting side by side as opposed to opposite each other. This gave us a wonderful view of the restaurant and it also made us feel as though we were staring at everyone. Also when the door was opened a cold draught of air blasted round our legs.

This is the only negative I feel I want to include on what was a wonderful and enjoyable birthday night out.

We will definately go back and have raved about it to anyone who will listen.
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Lee Scotland
Monday, January 14, 2008