The Dining Room at The Society

Both good and bad.

This is a members club but non members can book the restaurant. The restaurant is a spectacular room. We loved Home House, another private members club in Edinburgh which non members could book online. After it closed, I hoped the Scotch Whisky Society would give a similar experience. No.

We couldn’t book for 8 as requested, and had a table at 7. We arrived at 10 to 7, planning to have a pre-dinner drink at the bar. “Are you members?” - the bar is members only. With our bubble of a “special” night out well punctured, we felt like second class citizens. I was all for going to a bar nearby, but husband wanted to accept their offer of a drink at the table. Drinks and menus came, “have a look but we won’t take orders till 7”. Dining Room staff obviously came on duty at 7, and were clustered around the receptionist chatting as we walked in, giving a poor first impression.

There was a lovely smoked salmon amuse bouche, served with a dram. The wine list had a choice of good affordable wines, as well as the silly priced ones.

Then the starters, oh dear. I still find it hard to believe that my scallop starter consisted of a single, small scallop. Incredible. Husband’s carpaccio of beef was c. 5 of the thinnest sliced discs, it was a real technical feat to cut meat so thin. However all 5 slices put together barely added up to the thickness of paper. These plates were both visually stunning, but we had gone out to a restaurant, not an art gallery.

My halibut main course was surprising as there was actually quite a lot of fish on the plate. Unfortunately it was dry and insufficiently seasoned. Husband’s lamb was apparently lovely, or at least he thinks it was as again there was so little of it that it was hard to be certain before it was all gone.

We shared a cheeseboard. Lovely cheeses, spectacular chutney and lots of oatcakes – far more than the limited amount of cheese could ever cover. Delicious coffee and a dram to finish. The waft of cigarette smoke that permeated the dining room from outdoors wasn’t a pleasant addition.

We were not rushed, and stayed at our table till nearly 10, which made me wonder why we couldn’t have booked for 8 in the first place? And maybe I’m just an old fogey, but as well as being efficient and friendly, I like waiting staff to be neat and tidy. Pulling a comb through their hair before coming on duty would have been a good idea.

On the whole it was a worthwhile experience, but at £120 for 2 including a tip, we won’t return. There are other pretty places in Edinburgh serving food just as good, and decent amounts of it, at a more realistic cost.
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Wednesday, September 03, 2008