Aizle

20 Best Restaurants in Edinburgh | Condé Nast Traveler

"Entering Aizle—Scots for "ember"—is like walking into a warm, calm, countryside kitchen. Above worn wooden floorboards, a chalkboard displays a list of seasonal offerings, from beetroot and redcurrant to sea buckthorn and XO sauce. The scene is perfect for a good meal, one where curious and seasonal ingredients stand in for a conventional menu: hand-churned butter, homemade aquavit, and herbs grown by the chef. You never know what you'll get here—the set six-course tasting menu changes all the time—but you're in for some variant of local game, fish, and meat. The kitchen loves incorporating Asian flavors, too—perhaps yuzu or bonito flakes. Everything is made with the utmost care before it's beautifully plated and presented. This restaurant is all about romance, from the gently flickering candlelight to cozy tartan benches to the welcoming, even poetic, atmosphere." - Caroline Eden