Emma Where to eat a fine dining lunch in Edinburgh without the high price
If you’re searching for an impressive, high-quality lunch in the centre of Edinburgh, then the set lunch menu at Wedgwood Edinburgh should be firmly on your list. Located on Canongate, just off the Royal Mile, it’s roughly midway between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. This refined yet relaxed restaurant delivers seasonal Scottish cooking, elegant presentation, and excellent value for money. For those who love fine dining but don’t always want the price tag, Wedgwood’s set lunch is a standout choice in Edinburgh’s Old Town. The restaurant has been around since 2007, which makes it the same age as Foodie Explorers! We previously dined here back in 2013, and at the time it was the best meal we’d eaten in Edinburgh, so we looked forward to our long-awaited return. We visited on a weekday when they offer one course for £17.50; two courses for £27.50; and three for £32.50. Should you want a longer experience, there is also a 5-course tasting menu for £50 per person that can also be paired with five wines for an extra £30. Coffee and petit fours is £7.
Menu at Wedgwood Edinburgh
Lunch tasting menu, children’s menu and set lunch menu
The food and drink at Wedgwood
To begin, we ordered a glass of wine each. Firstly, a Riesling from Cave De Ribeauville, Alsace (2019), lemon-tinted with mild petrol aromas. It was dry, acidic and peachy with a good body. We also had a Pinot Gris that was a pale golden colour with a floral peach aroma. It was also dry and acidic with good body.
Bread with a satisfying chew was delivered to our table, along with a garlic, rosemary and thyme dipping oil. We could taste that it was quality olive oil and not something run-of-the-mill. Staff offered and provided another two slices after we finished this, which we were more than happy to munch.
Douglas fir cured salmon, fennel, pickled cauliflower and orange. Three slices of healthy-looking, bright orange salmon with an earthy flavour and a mild vinegar tang, A fairly simple dish with varied flavours.
Pickled mussels, purple potato, charred sweetcorn and wild leek pistou. Pistou is a cold sauce or paste from the Provence region of France that is made with fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. Mussels with potato is an unusual combination, especially when the potatoes are deep purple in colour! Pleasantly pickled with a herby and alliaceous taste.
Another unusual combo, hence why we ordered it. Tempura broccoli, raita korma chickpeas, thyme honey and wild leek. Tenderstem broccoli with more allium flavour. The tempura was crisp and moreish, and the chickpeas plentiful. They are always underutilised in British cuisine.
Chicken leg, mushroom and barley, Brussels sprouts and jus. A big savoury leg of juicy chicken with hearty barley and the inclusion of sprouts after Christmas – this was an ideal course for anyone who loves umami dishes.
Gingerbread toffee pudding, sea buckthorn and vanilla ice cream. Very sticky and sweet looking, like a classic sticky toffee pudding but with a warming, treacley touch. Sea buckthorn can be quite tart but this was very sweet.
Clootie brownie, brown sugar custard sauce, rosehip raspberry sorbet. Basically a fruited brownie so chewy, fudgey, and chocolatey but with raisins, custard, a tart fruity sorbet and fresh raspberries.
Verdict
We had a fabulous time at Wedgwood. The food showcases Scottish produce perfectly with accompaniments that enhance rather than overpower the ingredients. Fine-dining lunch menus are often stripped back with limited choices but there was a good selection here with some unexpected flavour combinations to pique our interest. In a city packed with dining options, Wedgwood’s set lunch menu stands out for value, with high-quality Scottish ingredients and relaxed ambience. The waiting staff were great, and the toilets were clean and in perfect working order.
The lunch menu changes every other day thus ensuring variety and another reason to return, while the à la carte menu has three big seasonal changes per year. We received a complimentary meal but would happily pay to eat here again.
What to see nearby Wedgwood The Restaurant
Located in the Canongate at the base of the Royal Mile, in the vicinity of The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, it is ideally placed for Festival time and with easy access to the Old Town.
Where is Wedgwood The Restaurant
Wedgwood the Restaurant, 267 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH8 8BQ
Book a table at Wedgwood The Restaurant
Click here to book a table direct with Wedgwood The Restaurant
