La Garrigue

The rather bare uninviting space and uncomfortable seats did not get us off to the greatest of starts. The service was a little uninvolved for what was not a busy night and the bill took an age to arrive. The Wine list was however imaginative and a cut above the average with some interesting bottles appearing but generally a little over priced.

Menu was very short, which is often a good sign of a confident kitchen under control but here vegetarians would seriously struggle (but then they would in most of France). A good few of the southern classics appeared but overall the quality of the cooking did not seem exceptional which was a little disappointing after some of the rave reviews we had read.

My cassoulet was the solid warming dish that it should be but the quallity of the meat was a little disappointing and portion size was simply overwheming. I'm a big trencherman, fourteen stone and over six foot, but I could barely finish half of it. We did share a very nicely balanced pear desert to finish however and the coffee was excellent.

Overall a decent enough dining experience but simply not exceptional enough considering the alternatives that Edinburgh offer. The bill was pretty steep for what we had and that as much as anything is what has discouraged us for rushing back. Come if you simply long for a taste of the authentic home cooking of South-West France but for us that alone would not get us through the door more than once a year.
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Nick W
Friday, January 25, 2008

Wasn't very keen on this place. For the price I expected better (over £100 for 2 of us from what I remember) and there are better places in edinburgh where it'll cost you much less for better food.
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Fiona
Thursday, November 01, 2007