Noto

We were really lucky to get a last minute table in this restaurant. We’ve tried a lot of restaurants in Edinburgh but this one exceeded our expectations. Starting with the cocktails: they were fantastic. The lunch set menu was also amazing, with lots of different tastes and high quality products. Thanks also to the lovely staff!

Overall, we were very pleased. The service and staff were excellent. Perhaps the food could have been explained a little more. However, what we tried was quite good. I definitely recommend the North Crab and Beef Tartare. Their drink list is also extensive, and they have their own delicious cocktails. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant. The prices are quite reasonable for the quality of the food. If you're looking to branch out from the classics and try something new, you should definitely come.

SO PLEASED that their famous crab butter comes with dairy free butter on request!! Get ready to order at least 2 servings because it’s just that good. Also, they only had bar seats left when we booked but the lovely team swapped us to a cuter, more comfortable and intimate corner table as it was a special occasion ❤️

Sometimes the stars align. I’ve been to multiple Michelin 3-star restaurants. I enjoyed the food here as much as any fine dining I’ve ever done. Hats off to the chefs for creating a special culinary experience. Highlights: -Day Boat Sashimi -Shrimp Toast -Tomato and Apricot salad -Sea Bream filet -Chocolate mousse Thanks to the team there!

The staff was kind, but overall, the service left a lot to be desired. It took at least 30 minutes just to get our drinks, and another 20 before the first dish arrived. As for the food—the pork was absolutely incredible: juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. Unfortunately, that was the only standout. The rest of the dishes were overpriced and surprisingly bland. Long, elaborate menu descriptions couldn’t make up for the lack of actual taste. It was honestly disappointing. Spending money on food that doesn’t deliver is one of the saddest experiences for me. If you already have a reservation, do yourself a favor and order the pork three times—the portions are small, and you’ll likely need two or three to feel satisfied. If you don’t have a reservation… maybe that’s actually for the best.

The food was lovely and the staff very friendly and welcoming. Definitely recommend the bread, the crab and the chocolate mousse. That mousse was to die for. The portions were rather small which would be okay if the price was a bit lower. It was rather expensive for what we got. Definitely because you had to add a 12,5% service cost. If you already had a high bill, that cost added a lot of money. Fantastic food and service, but we left a bit shocked about how much we had to pay for what we got.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Noto in Edinburgh is a restaurant you just can’t miss – make a booking today. Inspired by Chef and Owner Stuart Ralston’s time in NYC, Noto is a bar/restaurant built around sharing plates, and it never disappoints. The food is always super tasty, the service relaxed and friendly, and the team are happy to suggest dishes or drinks to suit your mood. Some of the highlights from our meal: • North Sea crab, warm butter, sourdough – an absolute must. A crab shell filled with a rich white sauce (think moules marinière but with crab) and warm sourdough to dunk. Simple, clever, and so moreish. • Beef tartare, black garlic, crumpet – the crumpets are cooked in beef fat, so don’t count calories, just enjoy. • Tomato & apricot salad, black bean chilli dressing – fresh, vibrant, and bloody tasty. • Fried shiitake doughnut, mushroom XO, tonkatsu – pure comfort food. Five pieces to a portion, so you’ll probably fight over the last one. • Sesame prawn toast, spring onions, katsuobushi – familiar but lifted to another level. • Potato udon, wild mushroom, XO – deeply savoury and a dish I’d happily order every time. There’s also a great cocktail list, wines by the glass, and plenty of choice to match the food. For me, Noto is my go-to restaurant in Edinburgh. The hardest part is deciding what not to order.

From start to finish you are treated with the most warm and welcoming care. The food is incredible. The crab and bread, kingfish and chocolate mousse I couldn’t recommend more - I wasn’t the biggest fan of the salad but probably just because I tend to prefer a less sweet palate. Tried the wine and ‘snake tree’ cocktail: both delicious. And the most important thing to note - great place to come for coeliacs and gluten intolerances as they have a whole separate menu and did not react to any cross contamination so know they take it seriously. If you’re visiting Edinburgh come visit and make sure you try the mousse!

Why I won't go back: Some dishes were better than others, but nothing was memorable enough for me to crave it Do NOT order: anything that isn't described as having a rich sauce or healthy seasoning to it Tony's Tip: the bar is cramped and uncomfortable, with no backs on the stools. Eat in the dining room, which is also classier. With it being our first time in Edinburgh this past August, we were eager to try a couple casual and trendy, but still foodie worthy spots on our visit. The group that owns Noto is well-regarded and this place worked for our schedule. On paper, Noto should have been right in our wheelhouse - a variety of shareable plates in a casual atmosphere that is food-forward. However, in reality, the whole thing fell short. Having booked only a few days out, we landed a reservation, but only at the bar. We did ask about sitting at a table when we arrived, but they were all spoken for. No problem - we are "bar people." But this bar felt like an afterthought. The seats were a bit low for the counter, even after spinning them a bit to raise them. They had no backs, which at least for me and the Mrs. made a 90-minute dinner pretty uncomfortable. And there wasn't good foot support to balance any of that out. Three strikes already...and we haven't even gotten any water yet! Service was fine. We were taken care of by the two bartenders. They were attentive enough, but not necessarily talkative. Drinks were decent...but again, I really can't remember any of them (no, not because I had ALL of them!). As for the food, of course we ordered the signature crab with warm butter in sourdough. Yes, it was unique, decadent, and indeed tasty. Mind-blowing? Not quite. Bread of the day was sort of a sticky bun. Interesting opening to the meal, and also a bit messy. The two dishes that deflated us were a beet salad that seemed devoid of any dressing and gnocchi in a bland broth with some arugula and shaved cheese on top. Again, just nothing there. A valiant attempt by the fried chicken to save the night didn't quite tip the scales. You can do better in Edinburgh, perhaps even at one of the sister restaurants. But for me, Noto is a no go.

Had a lovely time at Noto! Came here on a recommendation from a colleague, so glad I did :) Servers were very nice and did a fantastic job with bringing out the dishes evenly, allowing us to have plenty of room at the table. Liked the intimate vibes, and sat by a window which was nice. 5 plates was pretty solid, though we could've definitley gotten 6 and been not stuffed. - Crab Butter: sooooo yum. Wish there was a bit more crab in this, but omg wow so delicious. Order this first, so you can keep the butter throughout the rest of your meal. Pairs wonderfully with the sourdough. - Kale Salad: this was okay. Wish it came with more greens. Had a nice crunch to it. - Anster Croquettes: so rich and savory. Can be cut in half, but fun to take in one bite once they cool off. - Okonomiyaki - I personally do not like this dish (not just at Noto, but anywhere), so gave it all to my partner - Scallops with Shellfish Dumplings - small, but scallops had a nice flavor and texture to them. Slight crunch on the edges, but smooth inside. Dumplings were fab too. Would definitely come back!

Noto is such an institution here in Edinburgh and it is somewhere I always recommend people to go when they are in the city. If you are looking for fun, small plates to share then this is exactly what you need. This is a restaurant we have returned to multiple times, and we are still not bored of the food, or the atmosphere. Also, if you enjoy this restaurant make sure you check out Stuart's other restaurants in Edinburgh because you will not be disappointed. You must get the crab. No, you must get it.

The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. We missed our connecting train into Edinburgh and they were kind enough to let us move our reservation back to give us time to get there. Unfortunately it wasn't the best dining experience for me because I don't eat seafood, but my friends seemed to enjoy it. The chicken dish was the best, the strawberry meringue dessert was perfect, but otherwise every dish felt like it was missing something for me. Sadly, I had to grab some Mickey D's after dining here.

Wow! Just get a reservation and go. Get the crab butter with sour dough and the chocolate miso dessert and live happily ever after! Wonderful all around.

I don't remember how I stumbled across Noto when I spontaneously planned to go to Edinburgh. But I did write a note saying crab butter so I know why I saved it. I visited the place the night before and was able to get a table for lunch the next day (this was on a weekday by the way). At lunch, the person who served me is my new favorite person. She was so kind and knowledgeable and helped me to make decisions on what to get. Especially since the dishes are presented as tapas, she helped me decide what might be too big or small. Let me tell you this now. I hope that north sea crab, warm butter with sourdough is back when I return. Because that is a super dish. There was enough crab that I could get pieces in each bite, the butter was salted and warmed to the extent that the flavor lasts in your tongue especially with the herbs added. I debated just eating it with a spoon when I ran out of the sourdough. I also ordered the belly laugh farm kale, wakame seaweed, cashew salad to have an easy green to digest. I also had the burnside KFP', partridge, hot sauce because it is Christmas time and "patridge in a pear tree " was stuck in my head when I read the menu. The salad was light and crunchy due to the cashews. The partridge was gamey (as expected) and was adequately saucy. I also had a few drinks on the side, a glass of champagne and the clover club which was classically sweet with the raspberry and fluffy with the egg whites. There was an easy vibe when I ate. Not too pretentious but a great place to take yourself or someone special. I would beeline to this place next time I'm in Edinburgh and try for dinner and the other dishes (but will order the crab).

Spotty WiFi when I booked so I walked to Noto to confirm. Bar was nearly empty and was told they were booked for the evening. Bar manager was rude and aloof. Unfortunate since I was ready to eat my first proper meal while visiting Edinburgh. Word of advice: if someone is willing to spend money, knows how to dine and is very hungry, don't treat them like they are non existent. Pompous treatment and behavior is what to expect when arriving here.

Noto does a terrific job turning Asian Fusion into morphed artistry! The food I ate here tonight was so unusual, and I mean that in the best of ways. All eleven dishes we had, were takes on popular dishes we are all familiar with, but with a twist. It's that "twist" that makes his (Noto's) food so savory. I loved the cobblestone street this lovely Edinburgh restaurant is situated on. It's completely charming and a treat to for us U.S.A. folks. Once you enter this blessed room you are warmly greeted and led to their bar. After drinks are ordered you get seated at your table; then the fun begins. You are instructed that each dish be shared and how many dishes you order depended on the size of your party. Us three were told to order nine dishes. This number worked out perfect. After our bottle of white wine arrived, quickly afterwards the food starts to funnel out. We had: * Sesame prawn toast with tonkatsu - their version of this treat is basically a shrimp flavored hash brown taken to a very high level * Grilled pork belly with white kimchi, cashew - very, very flavorful / Loved it * Company bakery sourdough, Edinburgh butter - not your usual bread basket! This duo packed a wallop * Puffed pork scratching's - my personal favorite * North sea crab - delicate and really really good * Beef tartare - As good as Mistral's in L.A. (that's a huge compliment) * Purple sprouting broccoli tempura - very Japanese and lovely * Gnocchi with wild garlic, miso, shitake, watercress - a perfect pasta * Braised wagyu cheek with parsnips - I was getting full at this point, but forged ahead and enjoyed the complete meal * Chocolate, miso, hazelnut - Great * Fried apple pie, caramel ice cream - Great Noto takes Asian fusion to a pretty lofty level. But what stuck out the most to me is the flavor and ingredient palette was completely original. Every dish we had, was nothing like it I've ever had before. When I come back to Edinburgh, I will absolutely return to Noto and will expect another exclusively first hand dinner - and I'm sure I will not be disappointed.

Words cannot describe how good this food is. Small tasty plates that arrive as they are ready to be served.

The meal was very good, but it's hard to say it was truly memorable. Chicken yakitori were plump and fantastic, tuna tartare was quite good but the beef tartare was waaaay tastier, had an eggplant thing that could have been mistaken for chicken. About the only disappointment was the aged lamb, not as flavorful as the rest. Dessert was a chocolate mousse, creme, and caramel thing (dairy free!) that was like a decadent Snickers bar. Combine with service that was good, but like the rest of the meal, hard to say it was truly memorable. It pains me to think about the rating. 4* seems fair given most everything was delicious, but I also wonder bit generous for an experience that was ultimately forgettable.

Although Noto's big sister, Aizle, gets most of the (well-deserved) attention, both restaurants deserve your time. Noto is a great spot for a date night, dinner with a friend, or celebration. The service is intimate and friendly without being annoying, the food is understated yet delicious, and the atmosphere is unbelievably cozy. Oysters: A fresh start to our meal. The dressing on the oysters was good enough to entice a non-oyster-lover like me, but light enough to complement the oysters without masking them. Crab butter: Rich and delicious, and they didn't skimp on the butter or the crab. We finished our bread and still had enough butter left over to mop it up with our forks. Fried chicken & waffles with caviar: The star of the meal. I still dream about this dish. Order it. Eat it slowly. It comes with a tiny pot of maple syrup sauce made with chicken jus--one of the best things I have ever tasted. Pork bao: They split what used to be the fried chicken bao into two dishes, fried chicken & waffles and pork bao. While we were momentarily disappointed the fried chicken bao was no longer on the menu, the pork bao made up for it. Rich and tasty with a generous amount of sauce.

Phillip, our waiter was absolutely fantastic. Phillip was as good as they come and deserves serious recognition for his superb service. The food was amazing and could not of been better. But I would be lying if I said I was leaving this review for anything else besides the quality of the service. Fantastic and much worth a visit.

Noto is the sister restaurant to the very successful Aizle. We were very lucky to land a table the opening weekend, and had an amazing meal. So good we had to order seconds of the Chicken Bao, and would of ordered seconds of the chocolate desert if we could of fitted it in. Totally worth checking out!

Excellent date night dinner! We especially enjoyed the burrata, pear & squash salad, and wagyu beef!