Kalpna - Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant

Kalpna – Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant If you are looking for pure vegetarian food with authentic Indian flavours, this place is a real gem in the heart of Edinburgh. From the moment you walk in, the ambience gives very positive vibes – clean, calm, and tastefully decorated with Indian elements that make you feel comfortable and welcomed. The food quality is superb. Every dish is prepared with care and has a rich, balanced taste that truly represents Indian vegetarian cuisine. You can clearly feel the freshness of ingredients, and the flavours are consistent across dishes. For vegetarians and vegans, this restaurant offers great peace of mind as it is completely vegetarian, which is a big plus when travelling abroad. Service deserves special mention – the staff is polite, attentive, and genuinely helpful. Orders are served on time, and they are happy to guide you through the menu if you are visiting for the first time. The overall dining experience feels smooth and relaxed, without any rush. The location is excellent, very easy to reach, and perfect whether you are a tourist or a local. The atmosphere inside is warm and inviting, making it suitable for family dinners, friends, or even a calm solo meal. For Indians travelling to Edinburgh, this place feels like a comfort zone. Pure veg food, great taste, friendly service, and nice vibes – everything comes together perfectly here. Definitely one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the city and highly recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Came in at 17:45/5:45pm on a Tuesday. The place was quiet - almost no one else was dining while we were there - but that meant we got great service and quick dishes! We ordered Gobi Manchurian, Vada Sambhar, Masala Dosa, Dum Aloo Kashmiri, Baigan Bharti, Garlic Naan, and Coconut Rice. The Dum Aloo Kashmiri was my favorite, not even because of the potato, but because of the sauce - it was so sweet and I loved it paired with the rice. Next up was the Gobi Manchurian - the cauliflower dumplings were delicious. I also loved the Baigan Bharta. I would say my least favorite was Vada Sambhar. It wasn't bad, it just didn't stick out to me in comparison to the sweet savory of many of the other dishes. I would definitely return on another visit to Edinburgh!

Went for lunch which only offers buffet for 11.99. Drinks averaged 4. Food was barely warm, much of it lacked flavor. Trays were left empty and not replenished unless asked. Only dessert was rice pudding, which I normally love, but this was watery and cold. Overall disappointing experience. Best part was the spicy tea... The restaurant itself is lovely and inviting.

Nice cooking, fantastic service, cool place, kind people, good prices... What are you waiting for to try Kalpna? I ate there both for dinner and for brunch (nice, tasty, diverse buffet for only 12pounds), and I am very satisfied!

A pure vegetarian delight for the vegans and Jain people who don't want to eat any non vegetarian or dine in places where non vegetarian is being served or cooked in the same kitchen. The prices are as usual a bit on the higher side but that is understandable and equates to normal dining costs in Edinburgh. The menu is pretty elaborate and you get literally everything you would look for in vegetarian options, obviously this is a indian restaurant so expect the cuisine to be spicy so not well suited for people who don't like spicy food and a bit salty food. They do have a collection of wines and cider if you like to drink something. The place is suitable for all kinds of groups and sizes and children as well as older people. Hope you have a great time dining at Kalpana. Enjoy 😊

I visited Kalpna 4 times during my recent stay in Edinburgh. The food is sensational. I especially recommend the masala dosa and sambhar - absolutely delicious. I ate it 3 days running! The mango lassi is also delicious. The chef and staff are welcoming and friendly. I can’t wait to return when I’m back in Edinburgh. Highly recommended.

Is there anywhere better in India? After 30 years travelling there I don’t think so. The starters, specially the Harabara Kebab are always excellent. The main courses are a feast. The Gulab Jamun are the very best. The staff are lovely. The decoration is exceptional.

Me and my friends specifically visited this place to have a buffet lunch. A pure authentic Indian meal that we were missing in UK. A must visit place as it has very good ambiance and hospitality. Enjoyed the food and the service as well. Thank you

I ordered their signature dish that is made with honey and tomato but honestly the sauce tasted like sweet very bland tomato soup and the potato dumplings were nothing special either. My mom got a thali and I tasted everything on it. Nothing was horrible but nothing was really good either. Just not very flavorful. The garlic naan was amazing and the daily vegetable was also good.

Got takeaway from this nice Indian restaurant. Service was super fast and the waiter was really nice. We ordered two dosas, which are Indian crepes filled with different vegetables and spices. It reminded me of a burrito :) The two we ordered were Myore Masala and Paneer. I thought the Paneer and spinach combo was great but the Masala one was much better spiced. Both came with a lentil soup and yogurt sauce, which were delicious. We also got an order of the special kebabs, which were really tasty and unique. Made with kidney beans and chickpeas. The total was about 27 pounds, which I think is aptly priced for this area of Edinburgh and for the amount of food we got. Definitely recommend for all vegetarians and those who want to try good veggie food.

Food 5 // Ambiance 5 // Service 4 Lunch buffet is ON POINT! 8.5 pounds for an unlimited amount of food! And good, wholesome, vegetarian, flavorful, bold food on top of that!! Honestly -- even though the choices of food were a bit limited, there was enough diversity; I didn't fall victim to decision paralysis. Moving down the buffet table: dessert (gulab jamun, 1 pound), a salad station, a chutney station (tamarind, chutney, cucumber raita), puri (so soft!), roasted veggies (great spice profile),white basmati rice, chana (chickpeas) , yellow daal, spinach dish. I had a bit of everything and then split the gulab jamun with my friend. The gulab jamun was divine! One of teh best I have had. We also ordered masala tea for two (not on menu, but definitely as for it. Takes a bit to come out but got in right in time for desser) All in all -- I WILL be back! Everything tastes homemade and the lunchtime buffet is the perfect for either a quick or slow lunch; you get full autonomy! The traditional mosaic tile on the walls is so beautiful and different. Add this to your places to visit!

I have never been disappointed here. The vegetarian Indian food is always on par and full of flavor. The staff are always super friendly. For the quality and quantity you receive you'll go home with a full tummy and a happy wallet. I love their dal it's delicious and their plain rice is wonderfully garlic. Also good are the various paneer dishes. They even have the most beautiful mango lassi I have seen, and it's absolutely delicious. The downside was that their mango lassi was way over priced in my opinion. But this is a definite favorite in Edinburgh:)

Went here with my partner, his sister and her partner. Came here on a recommendation from a friend as we were looking for good vegetarian food. As a meat eater I wasn't super excited but I came away full and not disappointed from the lack of meat! Had baked stuffed potatoes and it was delicious, the naan and rice were fab too and my partners okra curry was delicious. Definitely returning and absolutely getting my own okra!! Service was good and attentive, had a lovely waitress who was very cheerful and helpful.

I hadn't been in a decade but wanted to show my partner the place I used to frequent when I lived here. It didn't disappoint at all! Still the same amazing lunch buffet for a decent price. There were three dishes, rice, pakora, naan, salad and sauces for you to enjoy. Dessert was £1 so we skipped it as we were already full anyway. The food was delicious. My partner didn't think much of it when I was describing it to her and how this was where we used to go for lunch meetings. But she was sold after her first bite. I'm not even a vegetarian and I love this place. They're so creative with the dishes too. If you're looking for standard dishes you know like spinach paneer or something, you'll be disappointed. But if you're open minded and want the chefs in the back to surprise you, come give it a try! Today's most unique thing was the lotus leaf dish. It was sweet and sour with a bit of heat to it. I thought it was weird but in a good way so I had a few pieces. The chai was also delicious. I loved how the sugar and cream/milk was on the side so you could make it to your liking. We might come back one more time before we leave town.

Kalpna was an excellent choice for vegetarian Gujarat/South Indian food. Vegetarians will be excited by the plethora of options. Several Thallis and dosa dishes to choose from. Just wish my stomach was larger. Clean and nice interior with brightly colored mosaics on the walls. The three of us shared the Bhindi masala (okra), dosa, nan, and another dish. We left delightfully stuffed and happy. Bottom line: Don't dine here without ordering the dosa. Crisp, flavorful, and memorably great.

Freshly refurbished, Kalpna is once again open for business after being closed for what seemed like an age. This place, which has always been a vegetarian restaurant used to be a great place to come to get food - whether it was a large group who were looking for something abit different, or just you and a friend looking for some quiet time, Kalpna could provide. Now however, it has taken on a new role - it still tries to be the place where you can go for good vegetarian Indian food, but some of its sparkle has gone, and really I'm not sure what it is. The whole place just doesnt seem welcoming, and its abit too modern for my liking. However, the food still remains great, and as ever the staff are friendly, so iots not like everything has gone down hill. I will be back here, although I might just have to put up with the new decor and general atmosphere.

Kalpna is pretty decent vegetarian restaurant which serves good food with pleasant service. One of my friends decided about a year ago that animals were getting more than they deserved off humans and so he went veggie. We went out for dinner with him to Kalpna and, on the whole, it was pretty good. I definitely like my meat, but vegetarian cooking is as good as any other and Indian varieties are no exception. I went for the vegetable Balti which didn't take too long to arrive and was delicious when it did. They'd included a great combination of peppers, onions and root vegetables in a tasty, spicy sauce. They must have had some problem with one of my mate's mains, however, as she was waiting for about ten minutes after we all received ours. I'd come here again, but I'd expect better service to go with their great food.

I'm sorry but I have to dissent from the majority of reviews about Kalpna, very flattering indeed; unfortunately my experience in this vegetarian Indian restaurant has not been completely satisfying. The food was ok, I must say: I went for a main course of mixed vegetables and nuts pineapple with tandoori roti bread. Quite good, but not enough to make up for the service. Being lactose intolerant, I asked the waitress (twice) if it was possible to have the food without cream; she said that she was going to ask the chef and she would let me know. She didn't, and the food was served with cream anyway. Luckily I did notice it, and my intolerance is not that severe either, but I reckon they should pay more attention to such things. The payment procedure has been very slow, and this as well because the waitress seemed very confused about payments by card and receipts, so that at the end she needed to ask another member of the staff that did it for her.

I come here most weeks with my husband it's a firm favourite. Usually he'll order the vegan thali while I have the royal. We have never found the food to be less than excellent. Only downside is we tend to wait ages for the bill and there's a service charge. Ok it's small but that just annoys me anywhere. We'd probably leave more of a tip if it wasn't cheekily added already tbh. It's still more than worth the amazing grub

I have been coming here for years, I lived across the road in my student days so the lunch time buffet was always a go to for vast amounts of healthy food. Sadly I am never in town these days at lunch, but I have been in for their evening service many times in the last few years so my review is more focused on that aspect. Birthday meal for the missus last night who had not been here before and is vegan, so a dedicated veg/vegan curry place was ideal. First impressions were I liked the new decor. Service was efficient and attentive. Now the food. I always opt for the Thali (All three courses served at once on a tray containing little dishes) in here on the a la carte, alas my favourite the southern Indian Thali hasn't been on the menu for a while. I opted for the Royal Thali and the missus the vegan thali with popadoms to start. The poppadoms turned up with pickles and a "with compliments" ... grand. Everything was great they even presented us with a new pickle we hadn't tried before, which was sag and chilli pickle. The mains arrived promptly and what a feast to be presented with lots of curry options, great nan and amazing parkoras. We were too full for the deserts but tried a little of the vegan desert and the rice pud, which were very nice. The food was excellent and filling, just what we needed. One of the best Dal's I have tried. The missus loved her offerings too. The food was 5 stars for me. The only downsides was when I paid up and left without checking the bill. It sounded roughly right but i was in a hurry. We were charged extra for the pickles that were presented "with compliments" that we didn't order, the service charge was on there and the beers were not terrible just not good. The taps really need run through a bit. All in well worth a visit for the food. I will be back for the buffet one lunch time, but the extra costs lost a point for what would have been a 5 star review.

I've got a friend who's a veggie, not for ethical reasons, but because he doesn't like the thought of eating something that shits. It's a more honourable reason than most, but even though the grub at Kapla is interesting enough to be worth a look, nothing will ever come close to spilling the blood of a wretched, twitching beast and gorging on the flesh and innards inside. Still, considering the dubious quality of the "meat" you often get in curry houses, perhaps it is one of the cooking styles most suited to carrot chompers. The curries here are good, but still can't beat the king of all veggie curries at the Mosque Kitchen.

I went to Kalpna for one of my flatmate's birthdays, as he was curious to see if there would be any difference between vegetarian dishes served by a specifically vegetarian restaurant to those served by regular restaurants. The food was certainly interesting, although personally I was left underwhelmed. We opted for the lunchtime buffet and at £7.95 per person, it seemed reasonably priced. However, upon getting to the buffet table, the choice was very limited. There were only three main dishes available, a chick pea based dish, and two generic vegetable dishes which were very similar. While the chick pea dish was delicious, the other two were rather bland and left much to be desired. However, the side dishes were interesting and included a deliciously greasy crispy naan. The drinks were a bit pricey too. My mango lassi (yoghurt drink) was around £3 and wasn't quite as large as I'd hoped. Yet the staff were very friendly and the interior simplistic and well presented. As has been mentioned in previous reviews though, you simply cannot beat the mosque kitchen for vegetable curry and I believe that had I not already been a regular there, I would be rating Kalpna more highly.

Kalpna offers vegetarian dinning to the street of Newington. Although it's location is a bit bizarre (and parking can be an issue) it's quality is still great and service very efficient. What really bugs me about this place is the decor. It's going for an Indian-Style but man is it busy! All the walls are covered top to bottom with little mirrors which in my point of view is a bit tacky and rather distracting. Other than this I am not big fan of the interior layout, the tables giving a feeling of limited space and too clustered together. However, it's a decent vegetarian Restaurant in the area.

This is one place I remember in my 2-day trip in Edinburgh. We pretty much found the place while walking down Bridge St. My friend, being vegetarian, called the shot. After some sickeningly sweet and over coconutty chicken tikka masala in London, this turned out to be one of the better surprises. We just went to the market and had picked up a couple bags of food and drinks for breakfast. The waiter jokingly asked if we bought our own food. I had paneer masala. It was rich and creamy if a little blend. I liked Vijay's Saam Savera better, nicely spiced and flavourful. After the trip, I talked to someone at work who has lived in Edinburgh for years and he agreed that Kalpna was one of the better Indian restaurants around town.

This is a nice place for a quiet drink and a curry! I am a huge fan of decent veggy curry (when it's done well) and Kalpna was just right. Edinburgh was beautiful (if freeezing) last week...and happy warming veggy food was just what I needed. My friend and I munched our way through the saam savera and the paneer butter masala with some naan bread. I would recommend it all!! It was delicious, if a teeny bit pricey. I think this place deserves 3.5 stars...but I am in happy mood, so I'm rounding it up to 4. :)

I've been here twice in the last month. Each time the food was great and very delicious. It is a bit on the pricey side, in my opinion, for the small portions they give. They have great vegetarian options though, so it was definitely worth it for that aspect. When we went this last time, we were still hungry after ordering and eating everything that we had to order another dish. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but I've never been to a restaurant where I had to order more food because I was still hungry, so that kind of turned me off a bit to it since the portions are so small. Otherwise the service was decent and, again, the food was very tasty!

I have been this place twice. Based on my first visit i would give it a 5 but this second time a 2-3 stars. The service of the staff is GREAT!!!! Decore is amazing. Little disappointed about the food. The quality was very bad compares to the first time we went. Orders Uttapa and the was half cooked. Dosa was as thick as a naan bread. We also got Mugal Kofta which was ok not great but not bad. Naan wasn't great either. Overall very average almost below average.

I would agree with many of the reviews below except for one distinct factor; any places that charges gratitude automatically, unless its a large group, automatically loses a star in my book. There is nothing that I find more irritating. Standard mediocre food, I have had amazing vegetarian Indian food (having lived with someone from India) and as harsh as this is to say, Kalpna simply isn't trying. There is so much potential, but all gone to not.

The second time went to Kalpna. A bit disappointed is the lunch is buffet which means we didn't have much choice. The dinner in Kalpna is really nice. The service is OK as there are always lot of people. The atmosphere is perfectly Indian.

Great saffron kulfi - tastes fresh and homemade. Dum aloo banarasi spicy was the bomb, only two pieces though!!! Mughlai Koftas were mild, I believe they would have tasted better with a little kick to them, given this was our first time we did not know what spice levels to order. It was good that both vegetables had different curry bases and flavors, spices were on point. Naan and laccha paratha were good, veg biryani was decent+. The only major disappointment was the veg samosa, came out hot but filling was not fresh and borderline stale - we did not complain about it but would not order again. When we decided to go there, were concerned about service issues reported in other reviews but did not notice any issues - food came out fast but we were also late in the day an hour before their closing time and that may have something to do with it. Big plus that they are an all vegetarian restaurant - would like to support them. Would love to go back to try other things. Price 4*, Food 4*, Service 3* - go give it a try when in Edinburgh - you won't be disappointed.

Although I do like a nice chicken curry, it is quite refreshing to go to an Indian restaurant that caters solely in vegetarian food. The decor may leave a bit to be desired but the food certainly does not. There is a lot of delicately spiced, tasty vegetarian fare at very reasonable prices as well. There is an especially good value buffet on at lunchtimes which is well worth a try - there isn't a huge range but you will not be disappointed with regards to value for money. Even if you are a carnivore, you are sure to be impressed with the standard of food.

Food very average. Toilets simply disgusting and should be enough to close this establishment - to me toilets so filthy also indicates the attitude in the kitchen - nearly threw up.

Even amongst non-vegetarians, Kalpna is regarded as one of the best Indian restaurants in Edinburgh, and not without good cause. I have come back to Kalpna again and again for its exquisite decor, the excellent service and for the best damn curry this city has to offer. Perhaps, as a vegetarian, my opinion is somewhat biased. For those not convinced, I urge you to go to their lunchtime buffet. Outstanding.

It seems like this restaurant doesn't even give a quarter the amount of importance to customer service as they do to decorations. Mediocre food and poorest service I've encountered in Edinburgh. We had called in advance to ask if we could pay with card, and the gentleman who answered assured us that we could. We were told that there would be a 20 minute wait for a party of 6, but when we arrived we were made to wait for an extra 20 minutes. When we were finally seated, it took them additional time to even get us a menu, and our tables weren't set. One waiter threw a handful of utensils on the table later on, which we were expected to distribute and set ourselves. We asked for water twice, but we finally only got it with our food, which again took a long time to arrive. Our Thalis had repeated curries, as if no one had even paid attention as to what was going on our plates. Finally, we were told that their machine wasn't accepting cards and that we'd have to pay with cash. As an Indian, I can confidently say that this restaurant is not a proper reflection of good Indian cuisine and customer service, and your money is better spent elsewhere.

We visited the restaurant on 30/6/17. We had ordered kofta curry and bhindi masala and I had confirmed with the waiter that bhindi had no nuts and made very clear my daughter has severe allergic to nuts. He confirmed and was very sure that there were no nuts and as soon as she ate it she had allergic reaction. We did not feel the quantity was as per money and the taste was very poor too. Would never recommend this restaurant to anyone.

This was our first visit here and we really enjoyed it. The portion of rice is massive, so I suggest that it is shared by two people. The mains were delicious. I had a spicy aubergine dish and my partner had a creamy spinach dish. I finished with the Indian carrot cake which was much more like a chuck of caramelised carrots than cake, but still nice.

Kalpna made a big impression on me before I had even eaten there, with its sign proclaiming, "You do not need to eat meat to be strong and wise." That little mantra was painted over during the renovation a few years ago, but still rings strong inside. The lunchtime buffet is reasonably priced and delicious - while not as cheap as the nearby Mosque Kitchen, you get more of a variety of food and the luxury of sitting inside an actual building. I would especially recommend Kalpna to vegetarians dining with non-vegetarians, and carnivores looking for a place to take a vegetarian. The cuisine is very hearty, and I have never had any carnivorous friends complain about (and in one case, even notice) the lack of meat. Staff are friendly, only downside is the elbow-rubbing you may do with other tables as the inside can feel a bit cramped (in my eyes, a small price to pay for the quality and quantity of the cuisine). Location is perfect for a mid-day break from George Square campus.

Our restaurant experience was very good. To keep it simple, the service was great and the wait staff was able to accommodate us on New Year's Eve. It took us a bit to find, but when we got there the place was decorated well and had a good ambiance. Food was decent, especially since they were accommodating an onion /garlic allergy. Lassis and desserts were delicious. I would definitely recommend checking this place out during your trip to Edinburgh. It is also highly rated amongst the vegetarian reviewers. Have a nice cup of tea to end the night!

If you're vegetarian this place is well worth the visit. Carnivores like myself will find limited options, but they are still very tasty. The garlic naan was excellent. Service was a bit slow, but not terrible.

I am afraid I am not a vegetarian but visited this restaurant because my daughter and husband are! However, apart from missing fish, I absolutely recommend this restaurant as having fine Indian cuisine. The dosas are a treat and sauces delicious. The service is friendly and each meal excellently delivered. I would definitely go again and look forward to that visit in the future. If I was a vegetarian I would give this restaurant five stars!!

Super delicious Indian! I've had it all over the world, but this was the best. Definitely get the Mateer paneer, the peas were fresh! The coconut rice was insanely delicious. The main thing we noticed was that we weren't overwhelmed by the spices, the vegetables themselves were the stars. We even has desserts, and they were all perfect, not overly sweet. Even if you're not vegetarian, don't miss this food!

My family and I went to this restaurant based on the many positive reviews. The place has a pleasant vibe to it. However, when we walked in, the hostess/waitress greeted us with a surprised look and asked if we had reservations. We did not. After looking around for an empty table (there was only one other couple having dinner), she seated us. We noticed that she gave other people who walked in after us the same "welcoming" treatment. We ordered our food but they forgot to bring us the appetizer. I mentioned to the waiter that we had ordered an appetizer after he brought us the main course and he looked very confused. We were later informed by the hostess that they were out of that particular appetizer. The food was mediocre. It did not have the flavor of good Indian food. Despite everything I mentioned above, I would've given it three stars until I went to the bathroom. There was a distinctive smell of urine around the entire lower level, which is where the bathrooms are located. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.

As a life-long vegetarian I have come to know the best (and worst) providers of veggie fare in Edinburgh. Often some of the best food is actually in restaurants that are not exclusively veggie. However, the Kalpna has to be one of the most superior all-vegetarian Indian restaurants on offer. Their lunchtime special 'all you can eat' has been known to encourage embarrassing displays of gluttony. I could (and do!) happily eat platefuls of their delicately spiced, lightly fried potato fritters. Then I move onto their perfect lentil dahl and spinach saag. AND still I have room for a delicious authentic pudding - kulfi ice-cream laced with honey, pistachios and condensed milk. Feeling hungry yet?!

I've been eating at the Kalpna since it opened 1981 I think. It's always been good, but the quality does vary depending on who the head cook is! You're sure of a good meal delicious, authentic South Indian food, excellent breads. Well worth going for the lunchtime buffet, great value for money.

I really enjoyed the vegan Thaali. The service was nice and efficient, although it was quite crowded. They could work on the interior design, though. Still, food-wise one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to, so far.

Excellent food, lovingly prepared. Portions are small but service is excellent and the dishes are unusual in presentation and flavour. Recommend. Try the Saam Savera and Paneer Butter Masala. My kids loved the coconut rice. Whatever you do, do not miss the desserts.

I was visiting Edinburgh for a few days and went looking for Indian vegetarian food on a Sunday afternoon. Walked into Kalpna and was glad I did. The lunch buffet was very good - I would have been happy with mediocre quality (for no particular reason) but was very impressed with what I had for lunch. The decor is also quite nice. Don't hesitate to try it out.

Kalpna is not a big restaurant but has managed through the years to establish a big name. It is one of the best Indian and veg restaurants in the city. Expect nice food, excellent service and a bit pricey meals but it is all worth the experience. The place is warm and with a homelike air. I strongly recommend it.

We ate here on Friday 24 September, and were not very happy with the service or food. my wife and I are vegetarians and thought that this place would be a good place to eat, we do not eat onions or garlic and thought this would not be a problem as their website talks about fresh food. When ordering we were told that pretty much every dish apart from the rice or nann was pre made and could not be made without onions and garlic, which was a big let down as all we could eat was the one panner dish. We did ask if a fresh dish could be made but he said no as everything is pre prepared even the bhindi and paneer dishes and no other fresh items were available, but then our waiter did attempt to have made a jeera aloo dish with mixed veg which wasn't on the menu, so thanks to him for that. Finally, after paying a bill of £33 for 1 starter, two main dishes and two drinks we had to request the after dinner mints. In terms of service, this place is not great, but the decor of the restaurtant is nice if that helps.

I went to Kalpna with two friends, and we had a lovely meal. The place was quirky and nice, the food was decent and well presented, and up until it was time to pay the bill, it was a great experience. For that alone, they get one star, instead of zero. When it came time to pay, it was a different story. We wanted to split the bill three ways so that we each paid 15 pounds. The owner came over to us and gave us a sob story about how he has to pay for each card run and how it's too expensive for him to run three cards. I commiserated, even though there was a service tip charge added to our 3 person group (of 4 pounds!) but explained that we didn't have cash on us so we had to pay with cards. He said he wanted us to put it all on one card and then settle it between us. That would have been inconvenient for us, and I wasn't budging, so then he says he has a 20 pound minimum, which isn't true, as I've used a card to pay for less than 20 on other occasions at this same establishment. Finally, I said that I would be sad not to come again, but that this experience was becoming unpleasant, and he responded by chastising me (loudly) for "threatening" him. I wasn't threatening him, but we'd been discussing this (him in a VERY loud voice) for well over five minutes, and we just wanted to leave at that point. Ultimately he ran the three cards, and was incredibly rude about the whole thing. He turned what was a fun, relaxed evening into a terrible, unpleasant experience. I will definitely not be going back there, and I definitely will be warning people against this place. There are better restaurants with a LOT less drama required when all you want to do it pay your (4 pound inflated) bill.

Having just finished exams, I visited Kalpna for the third time last night with my boyfriend, to celebrate. Whilst I can understand the criticisms of others regarding the compulsory service charge of 10%, if you mentally calculate it while ordering your meal, it doesn't actually make this an expensive meal. Sure-it would be better if they let you decide how much of a tip you want to give regardless... Aside from this, I cannot praise the food anymore than I already have. I went for a memorable masala dosa again, and it didn't disappoint. It was crispy, the filling was spicy and full of flavour, and the sauces absolutely delicious. I was offered a refill of the sambar when I eagerly ate it before touching the dosa. The peanut and chilli dip was really quite special, the coconut cooling and creamy as it should be. There were so many exciting flavours going on! Robbie's thali was equally exciting: he got a few fried starters like pakoras with two dips, 2 fresh-from-the-oven naan, two mini portions of curry: one aubergine, the other okra, a lentil dhal, steamed basmati rice and a cardamom and pistachio rice pudding. It was beautifully served on a traditional silver thali plate, garnished with salad. It looked doable, but he soon found himself struggling with a huge quantity of food. Fortunately, it was so good that he did find that extra room in his stomach for everything. For pudding I opted for a saffron kulfi. It was creamy, extremely delicious and dense, unlike European ice cream with it softer and airier. The taste of saffron was very present. The dosa cost £8.75, the thali £12.50 and the kulfi £3.50. Having tried just about every South Indian in town, I must emphasise that this is the most authentic. Dosas are naturally vegetarian, and the addition of chicken and other meat is a Western variation. On a par with woodlands in London.

I went to Kalpna with a friend to try vegetarian Indian food as a break from our normal red meat nights out and was pleasantly surprised, firstly at the fact that it was a Saturday night and we managed to get a table from walking in off the street, they were very accomodating, it wasn't as busy as expected for a Saturday night,there was a pleasant atmosphere, but a little too dimly lit for me, although the candle on the table made for a romantic ambience, I struggled to read the menu, even with my glasses on. Nonethess it was a very pleasant evening, they have a limited choice of wines from £7.99- £22, but carefully chosen to compliment the food on offer. We opted for the platter, at £16.99 which we thought was for sharing, but we ended up with one each, they looked a bit overwhelming at first, mainly because they took up every inch of space on the little table,however, the meal was delightful if not a bit confusing, as the starter, main course and dessert were all on the same platter, interesting indeed dipping a nan bread into a rice pudding, mmmm. The staff were welcoming and very pleasant. I would reccommend it for something different.

Probably my favourite Indian restaurant in Edinburgh and I'm not a vegetarian. The dishes at the Kalpna are so delicious and carefully cooked that I forget about the absence of meat. The portions could be a bit bigger for my appetite but then you just get to order more and have more tastes of different dishes! The flavours are all amazing and they do a particularly good spinach dish (Saam Savera I think). The prices are good, it's not expensive and it's always a treat to eat here.

This is without doubt my favourite vegetarian Indian restaurant in the UK. We have been visiting this place for about 15 years and the food has been consistently excellent. We have seen several changes of decor over the years, going from simple basic through to the special Indian plasterwork that was done in 2008. The menu has changed a lot over the years but everything we have tried has been delicious - perfectly cooked, perfectly spiced, perfectly presented. We are always spoilt for choice, everything on the menu sounds so good. We can't recommend it highly enough!

I've been eating buffet lunches at Kalpna for around 20 years, and throughout that time, the quality has been consistently good, and the staff unfailingly friendly. I would eat there more often, except that it is so hard not to take a refill and end up overfull. Timing can sometimes be an issue when it is busy. If you arrive at the tail-end of the 12.30 rush, some of the dishes run low, and you may have to wait for a new batch from the kitchen.

When traveling, travelers want to eat something familiar, and they usually turn to their native cuisine... or fast food. While in Edinburgh, I opted for the former. Being of Indian origin, I was looking for an Indian restaurant, hearing rave reviews about Kalpna from the hotel reception staff, I decided, it was worth a try. The restaurant is nice, with a casual ambience that very much reminds diners of the cuisine thats cooked within with thoughtful Indian decoration. The waitstaff were polite and helpful but not overbearing. The star of the show however was the food, the first day, we tried the Archana Thali and Thali Raj Bhog, which didn't disappoint. Being delighted with the experience, we visited once again, this time however we sampled the Tandoori Mix starter, which consisted of several vegetables and Panner being roasted in the Tandoor. We then ate, Dal Tadka, Bhindi Bhaji and Dum Aloo, along with Tandoori Roti, Garlic Naan and Chapati. All dishes were very tasty and enjoyable. However, the Dum Aloo, while tasty was unlike the Dum Aloo I have ever eaten before. My only gripe with the place are the restrooms, while sufficiently neat, they are located underground, beneath the dining room and are not lit very well, this has sort of an eerie effect and makes it seem a shady place, quite unlike the rest of the restaurant. To conclude, if you want a good, authentic Indian experience, go to Kalpna, you can't go wrong.