Number One

As soon as we were going downstairs and saw the old carpets and dated wood, we were apprehensive and confused. The restaurant was empty and did not have any atmosphere. The bar area was unmanned and soulless. Food was ok but the formality put us off. This place is stuck in time and hasn’t evolved neither is relevant anymore. Dining like 25 years ago! Very disappointing.

We had a wonderful evening at Number One last night. The food was excellent, and we really appreciated their use of locally sourced Scottish ingredients. The menu was thoughtfully designed and well balanced. We left feeling satisfied but not overly full. The service was very good, with a professional and attentive team who made us feel well looked after. The atmosphere was elegant yet relaxed. We’d definitely recommend this place and look forward to returning in the future!

One of the best meals I have ever had. It stretched me culinary wise with things I have never eaten. But I highly recommend service was fantastic, and the atmosphere amazing

Located downstairs at the beautiful Balmoral Hotel, this restaurant is truly special. Definitely one of our favorite dinners in Edinburgh. Every dish was fabulous, presentation was exquisite, and the service was awesome. The roasted veal sweetbread was insane. I highly recommend this place for a special dinner.

What an absolute treat! We came here for the last meal of our honeymoon in Edinburgh and it MADE the trip. We went with the 7 course tasting menu, but also got tempted by the extra cheese course and the extra treats they give you with a coffee makes it a 9!!!! We were treated what felt like royalty, they doted on us and was an incredible experience. Callum (Sommelier) was incredible and an absolute asset to the restaurant, he was so knowledgable and explained everything so well to us. He made the world of wine accessible and not snobby at all, made us feel part of the conversation and we truly enjoyed his time. Keith was our server along side a massive team who constantly checked in on us and delivered esquisite food to our table (unfortunately we don't know everyone's name). He was welcoming, professional and extremely courteous. The servers were so good that at one point my napkin slipped off my lap and before I had chance to pick it up a very kind server gave me a new one and quickly got it from under the table (I'm sure the whole thing was 3 seconds). I would talk about all the food individually but as it's an experience I feel I shouldn't talk about it to leave an air of mystery. What I will say is that the food was out of this world, I enjoyed every course and it was perfectly explained so you knew exactly what you were eating. THIS IS A MUST GO!! I hope to be coming here for many years to come on our anniversary trips to Edinburgh.

ate here last night and i ordered the vegan 7 course meal. a few dishes were bland despite beautiful plating (specifically the first starter), but some of them knocked my socks off (65% chocolate with sesame bark, red pepper chutney and artichoke, miso caramel)!! soo delicious. i liked the chocolate old fashioned but it could do with more of a chocolate aroma/flavour. kombuchas were amazing though. the service was wonderful and so were the wine pairings. i would definitely recommend this place for vegans!!

No doubt the tasting menu deserved a 5-star review. Simply covering a lot of culinary skills and phenomenal visual presentation in one meal. The only area I would suggest the restaurant improving was their tea storage conditions. I ordered a pot of tea at the end of the meal, but the tea leaves seemed not to have stored in air-tight container for a while and lost all their fragrance already. The restaurant did not charge for the tea as the server noticed I was not satisfied with it. Nonetheless, the meal by itself was meticulously executed. It only needed a bit more attention to other details to support the very talented kitchen team.

Discovering Edinburgh's 'number one' gourmet restaurant, which we found in the Michelin Guide, was an absolute highlight of our trip. The decision to dine here turned out to be one of the best we made, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey. From the moment we entered the restaurant, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation, promising an exceptional dining experience. The staff greeted us with the perfect blend of professionalism and warmth, making us feel both valued and welcomed. The menu, a masterful showcase of culinary innovation and excellence, offered a seven-course feast that took us through an array of flavours, textures and aromas, each dish more compelling than the last. While each course was exceptional, the dessert of Balmoral Honey was truly a standout. This unique ingredient, sourced directly from the bees on the roof of the famed Balmoral Hotel, was used to create a dessert that was not only delicious, but also deeply reflective of the local terroir. The complexity and richness of the honey elevated the dish to new heights, leaving a lasting impression that was both sweet and profound. In summary, dining at Edinburgh's finest gourmet restaurant was a five-star experience that exceeded all expectations. The combination of exquisite food, impeccable service and a commitment to sustainability made for an evening that was as memorable as it was delicious. For those seeking culinary excellence, this is a must-visit restaurant that truly lives up to its Michelin rating.

I'm tempted to not give Number One 5* because it was really pricey. To which you will say, "It says on the website that it is going to be expensive." And you would be correct. I was prepared for this. But even still, when I got the bill, I internally gasped a little. Ultimately, it is fine, because everything was so on point. The service couldn't have been better. It is probably the best service I've ever received at any restaurant ever. Incredibly welcoming & professional & knowledgeable. The somm was the best somm I've ever interacted with. The depth of knowledge was outstanding. The food? Unreal. We ordered from the 3-course tasting menu. Me: 1st course - Pittenweem Lobster - Outstanding & wonderfully deshelled; 2nd course - Warwick Farm sirloin - incredible cook on the meat; 3rd course - Sticky toffee souffle - really fun & playful! In addition, we were offered 3 amuse-bouches, and had the opportunity to purchase a mignardise + tea or coffee. Plenty of food. And everything was beautiful. Pictures attached. Dress code was smart casual. I saw another Yelper say to not wear jeans. Jeans are fine. I rocked the jeans + jacket & tie + chelsea boots. Fit right in. Worth a visit. I'd go back, but only after replenishing the coffers.

We had an incredible seven course tasting menu experience at Number One tonight. Their decor was truly fantastic and the service was outstanding. This place came highly recommended by several food enthusiasts and we were really happy that we chose to dine here on our first night at Edinburgh. Every dish surprised us with an amazing flavor profile. We cannot say enough about how incredible the food and the entire experience was. Keep up the amazing work, Number One!

~*~*~ pre-covid review ~*~*~ There are not many Michelin-starred restaurants in Edinburgh, but we managed to get a reservation here. It is a proper fine dining establishment, so don't come over in your jeans or sweatpants (which us Californians tend to forget). Number One offers a tasting menu with Scottish elements. On the particular spring day we went, that meant smoked salmon, hogget (between a lamb and a mutton), asparagus and strawberries. The presentation of the dishes were stunning. For example, the smoked salmon came underneath a bell jar filled with smoke. They also sprinkled in delicious small bites in between the dishes. To be honest, everything was really good, but I was the most wow'd by the celeriac Waldorf salad -- crisp, creamy, sweet, sharp, and savory, all within a small little bites. The service was impeccable as well. I really enjoyed the olive oil they were serving along side the bread and they sent me home with a note with the brand written down at the end of the meal.

This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever visited. It is gorgeous beyond anything I expected. The people are so warm and gracious. The warmth is something that should be experienced. We were made to feel very welcome. We had the tasting menu and is is spectacular. A few of our favorites were the cheese crispy puff ( my name for it) and a salmon in tarragon that was so soft and sweet. I don't eat lamb so the brought me a halibut in a butter sauce that was crispy and tangy on top and soft and creamy at the same time. It was amazing. I had one sip of wine and it was delicious. The sommelier was charming in his descriptions and stories. Since being in Scotland, I imagine every dinner now has multiple desserts. The first dessert was a chestnut almost poached in a sweet syrup and enveloped in a maple pumpkin cream. A burnt sugar crisp and pumpkin seed crispy cookie are served with it. This dessert was over the top. We can't stop talking about it. We had to ask for the after dessert treats to be packed up. Everyone was so charming and the mood very festive in the beautiful dining room. Everyone was smiling and happy. This experience sets the bar. If you ever get a chance, try to visit. I will remember this dinner for the rest of my life.

American Tourist here. This restaurant is located inside/adjacent to The Balmoral hotel. The entrance is to the right and downstairs of the main hotel entrance. This is a fancy restaurant, with multi course meals, excellent service and a price tag to match. We ordered the tasting menu and 1 drink each and the total came out to around 230 pounds. The smoked salmon and Scottish hogget (lamb) were the two stand outs for me. I mean it was an enjoyable meal but to be honest as far as high end dining experiences go it was not particularly memorable ymmv. If you are in Edinburgh and can stomach the prices than it's a good option, if you can't, you ain't missing all that much Solid but not amazing, which to to be honest is a lot more than you can say for many other high end restaurants :P

This was our first dining experience in Edinburgh Scotland. I think after a 10 hour flight from San Francisco any place that I ate would have been the best food in the world. First on our list was to try Scotland famous dish, haggis. It was such a hype built around this that we couldn't wait to try it. It was surprisingly good and if you were blindfolded what it tasted like was a peppery stuffing at Thanksgiving. We also ordered the Sunday special which was called Gammon. That's ham in America. It was served with sweet cabbage and these balls that look like hush puppies and that is what Scotts call stuffing. It's always a little bit wobbly learning how the service works and how tipping works but we managed to get through it....with the help of a local dark Stout ale.

I would seriously fly across the ocean just to eat here again. The atmosphere was amazing, the service was excellent, and the food was beyond incredible. I don't care what your budget is, you need to find a way to get the Chef's Tasting Menu because it will bring you to tears. It's easily one of the top 3 restaurants I've eaten at in the world. I've been to probably 10 different Michelin starred restaurants in the past year or two and this one could quite possibly be "number 1" ;)

In my opinion, there are three key areas that work together to make a dining experience what it is: the setting, the service and the food. Normally scoring highly in any two of those three areas will give you a better than average dining experience, but every now and then you are lucky enough to experience all three at a their peak and that results in a truly remarkable experience, and this is exactly what happened when we had dinner at Number One. From the moment you step into the space you enter a tranquil ( not boring) space that is ideal for a romantic dinner, or any special occasion. The music is excellent and never intrusive, the perfect soundtrack to your evening. The service is attentive and exacting, and the staff are engaging, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable, which makes you feel right at ease. As for the food - whether you go for the a la carte menu or the tasting menu I don't think you can go wrong. We had the velouté and foie gras to start and the lamb and grouse for mains, and I won't bother to detail the dishes other than to say that they all were detailed, complex (in the sense that there were many components working together) and utterly delicious. Seriously well put together food. And I didn't even mention the complimentary amuse bouche or the deserts which were of the same standard and are a delight for the senses. All in all I can honestly say that our dinner at Number One was easily one of, if not the, best meals we have ever eaten. Now, you get what you pay for and it isn't cheap, but if you find yourself in this amazing city and want a truly exquisite dining experience, I cannot recommend this enough.

My partner and I are in mutual agreement. This is the best meal we've ever eaten in our lives. Let me take you through this epic culinary journey from start to finish. I booked a place three months in advance for my partners birthday just to secure our place. Upon arrival, we walked down a flight of stairs to get to Number One. We were greeted by one staff member who took our coats, then another who led us through the dining room than another who say us down. Oh and another serving water and another serving canapes. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive before going in because ultra fancy is usually not my style. I was worried whether I was dressed well enough and whether I'd know which cutlery to use and when. Well, I didn't need to worry about that at all! Despite its five star status everyone was welcoming and friendly. Not an air of doucheyness or pretentiousness in sight. So we were provided three canapes each upon sitting and offered aperitifs. When my partner asked for the selection of whiskey, well, they just bought the whole tray over! So after some general chit chat and a brief look at the menu (as if I didn't check beforehand!) we ordered the 7 courses with tasting wines. So our seven course dinner became a four hour event where we ate, laughed, and learnt about an array of amazing wines, each perfectly paired with our meals. The amuse bouche to start was a small amount of lobster, perfectly cooked and seasoned with grilled cucumber which blew my mind. Next came the balmoral smoked salmon with lemon curd, caviar and a quail egg. My partner has named this "the best dish I have ever eaten." Enough said, even of you don't go with a 7 course meal just coming for the salmon will change your life. Next up the heritage beetroot. Sweet, soft, salty and crunchy this was a curious dish topped with a dijon mustard icecream. So by now we were three glasses of wine in a safe to say, I'm feeling pretty giggly by this point. Then came the wild halibut atop boiled potatoes. Seriously the best fish I have ever eaten in my whole life. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned, really delicate and perfectly paired with the Ataraxia Chardonnay. Then the main: aged beef fillet with mushroom and a truffle jus. This meal was quite strong in comparison to the others had, but was cooked to perfection and was so tender. We were then offered the selection of cheeses which we gladly accepted. We were quite full by this point, but who am I to pass up cheese and fortified wine? We then had the pre-dessert, which was a mix of strawberry and watermelon to cleanse the palette. Dessert was a caramel souffle cooked to perfection with pecan and banana. Paired with an amazing port with undertones of toffee which paired well with the dish. This was truly an amazing experience I would do again in a heartbeat. The cost of this meal was not cheap, but if you can spare the ££ then this is a must try. The dining room was spacious with ample room, far enough from other diners so you can fully immerse yourself in all these culinary delights. The staff were do professional and friendly and at times it was like watching a dance- the timing and graceful way they moved around the dining room seemed effortless. Our sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and each wine complimented each dish perfectly. I cannot reccomend Number One highly enough, it was a truly unforgettable experience.

Likely the best meal I have ever had, and a deserving member of the Michelin star level of restaurant. Wine, exceptional. Service, hard to find less than perfect. If there is one night in Edinburgh, this is where you want to eat. Very, very well done. And well worth the money.

Excellent 4 course dinner this evening paired with wines selected by Ian Frazier. Smoked salmon followed by Scallops served over a delicious orzo and meal so pleated by an excellent steak. Thank you to Gary Montgomery and the rest of the staff for making our visit memorable.

What a wonderful discovery in a city where the restaurant scene is a bit, Meh. It's a prix fix menu with several nice choices in each category. I had the partridge as an entrée and it was excellent! The entire ambiance was really nice considering it is in the basement of the building, no windows. To all the staff that waited on us, well done!

Excellent service from the moment you walk in. Food-- we started with squab pigeon and the Dingwall scallops, dinner was Scottish beef fillet and east Lothian lobster, and we finished with a couple truffles off the sweets cart. Complimentary bites included an amuse-bouche and a small tray of savory pastries at the beginning our our meal. Wine selection was good. My favorite part of the meal was the squab pigeon appetizer. I wish there had been a main course option-- it was amazing! I love game birds, and that dark meat with sliced truffle was a dynamite combination. My Scottish beef fillet dish was decadent, served with a dark cream sauce, morel mushrooms and foie gras-- delicious! My husband's lobster was cooked perfectly. Everything was spot on, as expected of a Michelin restaurant. But as someone who has experienced some pretty good meals in her life, I'm not sure that the food fully justifies the price point. That is to say, I'm really glad we dined at the Number One, but nothing makes me pine to return, especially for that kind of money.

Really one of the best meals I have had. Everything was on point, I mean everything! As expected for a Michelin star, but not always the case. In Number One, the experience really lived up to the restaurant's name. Food was excellent and plentiful, might I add. Dishes were creative and had verity of ingredients. The bread service, which I do not normally partake in, was phenomenal. Probably best bread I have had in my life. It was hard not to overindulge in fact. I did not elect to have the wine tasting with my meal as the rest of my colleagues had. Half way through the dinner however, I was so intrigued by the sommelier and his wonderful stories, that I wanted to try some wines. He was glad to bring me a glass and offered a tasting at every step thereafter. The sommelier was one of the best I have had the pleasure to meet. He was not only knowledgeable, but kept our attention by telling us detailed narratives of each wine and reasons why he selected them to accompany the meal. At the end of our dining experience, he wrote down the wines for us to have. I wish I remembered his name to commemorate him here, but I did not. He really was fantastic and made the dinner that much more special. This was fantastic experience and meal!

Celebrated my husband's 50th birthday with a trip to Edinburgh and I chose this restaurant as the place of the birthday dinner due to the Michelin star. I had made a reservation for 6 people but two family members showed up in Edinburgh as a surprise and the restaurant could accommodate us even though I changed to 8 people 3 hours before our dining. Excellent service from the time we entered the door. The summer tasting menu was fantastic and an extra plus for making mine dairy free (which I had informed of when reserving the table). The wine pairing and the sommelier's info of the wines was perfect. Without a doubt one of the best tasting menus and dining experiences we've had! An extra plus for the little birthday gift of chocolate pralines.

To quote Goldfrapp - you're my number one; I'm like a dog to get you Offering a VEGGIE TASTING MENU menu, how could I pass it up? Meaty for my parents so everyone could enjoy Pre-amuse busche - 4 delish little nibbles like pea mousse, beef tartare (for parents), tomato & radish, mozzarella phyllo Amuse Busche- Butternut Squash Veloute & Mushroom Soup. Both were rich, thick, savory & creamy. Couldn't decide which was better Starters - asparagus tempura w/ asparagus mousse & quail eggs, mushroom soup w/ summer truffle.....give me truffle on anything & it's a winner, no question! Mains - sea bass w/ veggies thinly sliced for parents - said it was the best fish they had in the country I enjoyed stuffed artichoke w/ cauliflower gratin, summer truffle & veggies tender & extremely flavorful - w/ walnut gnocchi was creamy & yummy & the gnocchi were the fluffiest little pillows of deliciousness. perfect tool for scooping up all that yummy walnutty creamy sauce! Pre-Dessert of praline cheesecake & chocolate sauce Desserts were raspberry soufflé w/ choc macaroon; choc granitta was the lightest, fluffiest soufflé I've ever had. After dinner treat was 5 desserts like lemon Turkish delight, passion fruit sorbet bite, & little choc bites like choc hazelnut, choc mint, mini choc bomb There was a travelling Scotch Cart, travelling Bread Cart ( which was phenomenal! ), everything travelled right to you.....and when you thought you should say no, it would be way too tempting & we'd find ourselves saying okay They also had a travelling cheese cart that looked awfully tasty but by this point, there was *no way* we were getting even 1 crumble more into our tummies.....next time my Number One! Number One was our #1 most expensive meal in Scotland - but totally worth it!

Number One is the Balmoral Hotel's Michelin starred restaurant, which in itself gives you an indication that the food here is going to be far greater than your average hotel restaurant fare. Michelin Star handouts in Edinburgh are few and far between, so if you get the chance to have a culinary experience in any such starred establishment, I would free up a space in the diary. Number One sits quietly in its prime Princes Street position, not doing anything too outlandish or showy, but making a classy impression, which mixes tradition with style. The consistently tasty dishes are classic in execution, but with a modern twist, so you're not in danger of those unimpressed looks some dining companions give to modern, tiny food, which is sometimes almost unidentifiable because it's been so artistically tampered with. The ambience here is smooth and relaxed, and there's very little chance you'll be disappointed.

This was by far the best meal I have eaten in recent memory. It was not just the well-crafted food that made for a lovely evening, but the delightful staff and atmosphere added tremendously to my experience. I am not going to go into great detail to describe this experience, others have amply documented the triumph of Number One. Instead, I am going to give you some advice: If you are in Edinburgh... GO TO NUMBER ONE WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND SHARE A FOUR HOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THEM! IT WILL BE SOMETHING YOU NEVER FORGET. Thanks, JA P.S There is an outstanding establishment just up the street from Number One with a wide selection of scotch and beer.

The name of the restaurant says it all!! We stayed at the Balmoral Hotel so it was a no-brainer to eat at their top Michelin restaurant. Service was impeccable and the restaurant staff was top-of-the-line with service, attention, and suggestions. The food was as expected - excellent!

A really lovely dinner for two from start to finish. We had the set tasting menu with wine pairings, all of which beautifully complemented each course they were served with. Waitstaff also shared a short bit of information on the background of each pairing beyond the usual types of flavors, acidity, etc... one could expect. When I ordered I asked if it was possible to replace one course with a John Dory (with langoustine and smoked bacon) I saw on the a la carte menu, because I hadn't had excellent John Dory in a while. Easily accommodated and as expected that course was outstanding as well. My personal favorite courses were foie gras (perfectly seared, silky and buttery), the aforementioned John Dory and beef, which was easily among the best I'd ever tasted in terms of quality and ideal level done-ness. If you enjoy cheese courses, Number One has top-notch cheese offerings, including many Scottish varieties. Try as many as you can! It was a lovely, memorable evening thanks to the excellent food and service and I hope to return soon.

I was lucky enough to eat here as part of a Youth Food Week run by Michelin starred restaurants in Edinburgh. Two of our university lecturers took 9 of us here for dinner (they didn't pay) and it was a very memorable experience. The menu was a set three course menu at £27.50 a head with wine pairings for each course. I doubt there will be many times I will eat at a Michelin star restaurant for such a low price with as much wine as we wanted included in the price! The duck starter was heavenly and for the main course I had the most amazing steak I have ever eaten. Of course it wasn't just a big lump of sirloin, it was all fancied up in ways I didn't understand, but it was out of this world. The only downfall was the dessert which was a chocolate pudding thing which was far too sweet for me. I normally munch down a dessert in record timing, but I couldn't eat it all because it was too much for me. I felt jealous of my neighbours interesting cheese board! Despite the fact we were eating on the cheap in such a fancy restaurant, the staff couldn't have done enough for us and treated us like we were normal paying customers. The Chef even came out for a chat. The restaurant is beautiful and comfortable. I really would love to eat here again and again and again.

Great service, an exquisite meal and a really nice atmosphere. A wonderful venue for a "special occasion" dinner. This swanky restaurant is located on the B1 level of the Balmoral Hotel. Pre-appetizer "tastes", appetizers, mains & desserts were all perfectly executed and deliciously tasty. The petit fours topped off the meal... A dining extravaganza! Highly recommended. Beware, top notch dining comes at a top notch price but OK to splurge for that special occasion. Just be sure to check that you have a sufficient credit line on your card before attempting to pay :) Dinner for 2 with gratuity came to £ 240.

A great restaurant? NO! Made reservations 1 month in advance while planning our trip only to be told they did not have any record of such..(hmmm,received two reminders about date/time from the restaurant). Still, after several gaulding comments from the maitre d', we were seated. Having dined around the world I can say without reserve,the food has a whole lot of circus and not a lot of taste. The asking cost was shocking for what was essentially non-edible food. Very disappointed, would not recommend to anyone,wealthy or not!

Hands down the best meal we've had in a long time! The courses were amazing and the wine pairings excellent! We opted for the seven course meal and premium pairings and the descriptions with each were great! Highly recommended especially if you are staying at The Balmoral.

Easily the best meal I've had in a long time. Scottish beef with fois gras for the main course and thé cheese plate was unbelievable. Service was excellent. We made reservations a few months in advance (recommended).

Number One is just the kind of place we want when we're celebrating a special occasion: delightful Michelin-stared dining in an elegant but not overly-snooty atmosphere. We've had the tasting menu twice and both times it hit the mark. They are happy to tailor the menu to special dietary requirements, and the adapted dishes are no less glorious than the originals (at least in my experience with the vegetarian options). The only thing I don't like at Number One is the art on the walls, but it's easy enough to ignore that and instead focus on the art on the plates.

Visited in June 2014. The service and ambience were excellent. However, the tasting menu was nothing exciting and overrated. I expected more from Number One and thought I was going to give it five stars. That said, my friends have given Number One a second chance and reported improvements in the tasting menu. I'd probably give it another try.

The restaurant lives up to the name. We walk in to the restaurant and it is warm and inviting after the chill of the street. It is romantic and private. Each table is far enough away that you are not a part of someone else's conversation. The menu is challenging but not so far out of most people's comfort zones. The ingredients are absolutely fresh and combined in such a way that the flavor of each stands out in every dish. The staff is courteous and professional and the Sommelier is exemplary. He is knowledgeable and flexible in adjusting selections to your individual tastes. The food is delicious and well portioned. I would expect no less at an establishment of this quality. We had the seven course tasting menu with premier wine pairing and it was lovely. The wine pairings were not a nice addition to meal, the pairings elevated the meal from great to memorable. Will definitely re-visit

FOOD - bread Very good. Cheese and onion excellent. - ingredients First class, fresh. - presentation Staff know the food. - creativity A bit, but equally straightforward. - taste Fresh, full yet delicate flavors. - smell Striking, but not overwhelming. - execution Perfect. Canapés...eh. Nothing special, but well-presented on a wooden board. Amuse bouche of salted cod very nice, fresh and light. Garlic velouté excellent with just enough butter. Very delicate. Classic with a hint of modern. Seems to be Chef's style. Scottish crab with tomatoes outstanding, Oh My Yummy God. Excellent. Huge dish......

Just great food, as expected from a 1-star michelin restaurant. The second one I tasted in Edinburgh in only 2 days. Quite mad actually! What I really enjoyed was the old school type restaurant decor with a modern twist thanks to great modern paintings/pictures on the wall. It gave it a really funky touch despite the grandor of the place. The staff was really friendly and helpful. Not overwhelming but happy to have a little chat & laugh on the side. We had the tasting men, which was fantastic. 7 course I believe, which meant I couldn't finish the petit-fours in the end :D My favorite was the celeri panacotta with its garden vegetables. Delicious! The suggested wine was really nice too. Very pricey though.

I was treated to a meal at number 1 for my birthday and what a treat it was. Totally opposite experience to James O, so maybe they've stepped up their game since that review was posted. We had three courses, and each one was interluded with a tasting style menu of canapés. The bread and cheese trolley was out of this world, easily found in any artisan bakery. The food was one of the best meals I've had in Edinburgh, every course was delicate and full of flavour. The loss of one star is due to the atmosphere. It's a little pretentious. It has a dining room feel to it, however your fellow diners are banker types in suits, and the odd couple on a romantic date. We didn't feel as relaxed and made a move as soon as the bill was paid.

Time to get my snobbery on. Again yelp you have hit the hammer on the head of the nail with the "Meh. I've experienced better". Number One is the place you go if you have lots of money, and want people to see you. Nice decor that is open despite being underground. My lovely date (Jeanne) and I, are on a quest to try all the creme a la creme places of Edinburgh, and Number One was next on the list. And perhaps I should start off by stating that my rating is terribly harsh, and the only reason really, is because they are not delivering what should be in the price. We arrived, (reservations are suggested) while we were there, we represented 22% of the people. Bread trolly was surprisingly uncreative, with much of the standard rolls one could find at a good bakery; butter was nice and fresh, and our starters were fine. My goats cheese was overly mild and wasn't distinct, but was very soft and fresh. Jeanne and I both ordered the hay beef with marrow and rib with a truffle glaze. Her, rare, me medium rare. Now come the mistakes, and I really don't mean to get too snobby, but when one pays the prices one pays, you don't make mistakes. Our total bill came to more than half my months rent (Marchmont rent) for a dinner for two, 3 courses and 1 glass of wine each. 1.) Waitress served me wrong wine. She later notified me of her mistake, however charges were still on bill of the more expensive wine. 2.) Jeanne and I's meat were both served the same, i.e. both rare. Also the truffle glaze was impossible to taste, and left us wondering if it had been forgotten. 3.) Jeanne, being from France (and from a respectable background), is use to having her silverware placed in a specific way with the fork facing down, not up as is customary in this country. After the waiter had place her cutlery down, she and I both flipped it in her "french style". When the waiter came to refill our glasses he changed it back. Jeanne and I both changed it again, with again the waiter returning it to the british way. While Jeanne and I both found this "silent" battle to be very amusing, it violates a crucial rule that Number One seems to believe they are above. The Customer is always right.

The mission of my moment is michelin dining! I'd been dying to visit Number One Restaurant for ages and they are not normally open for lunch, but they do open for a few dates in December for festive dining at a very reasonable price of £35pp for 3 courses with coffee and petit fours. I'd noticed this last year so had a mental note to book ourselves in this year for a pre-christmas treat and well, treat is an understatement! It was fabulous, so much so, I want to move in! Going downstairs, you enter a bit of the unknown as you can't see from the outside what its like, but you find yourselves welcomed into a very cosy bar area where coats are taken from you and you are seated in the lounge bar. Nice touch to have a pre-lunch drink whilst you peruse the menus. We had a glass of champagne and shortly after our lunch and wine orders were taken. We were then left to relax with drinks until our table was ready and escorted through just before the starters arrived. Lovely table for 2. One thing I like in this restaurant is there is plenty space, so you have your own little oasis. Lovely big comfy chairs, you can be seated a while, so give into the experience and enjoy it :o) Starters - for me it had to be the Crab, Red Pepper Espuma, Avocado, Tomato, Crispy Squid whilst my boy had the Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Surf Clams, Broccoli, Chorizo, Apple Salad. I have to say, this menu had me really torn! I wanted to try it all, really tough choices. My starter of crab was delicate, light and refreshing and loved the crispy squid, perfect. The pork belly was apparently delightful and the boy could have eaten more, not that the starter was inadequate in size, just he loved it so much. We normally give each other a wee taste of what the other has, but not this time, it was finders keepers!! Main courses - we both opted for Roast Pheasant Breast, Slow Cooked Leg, Leek Puree, Herb Jus OMG, fabulous! First time I've had pheasant and I'm in love with a bird!! Lots of oohs and ahhs whilst eating this. At the end of this course, we both looked at each other, there was some telepathy going on, can we lick the plates!? The jus on the pleasant was delicious, and if I'd been at home, my bread would have been mopping it up, but this not the sort of place to be doing bread mopping. Dessert - another tough choice - I love cheese and I love pudding, I really wanted both, but as the boy decided to have the cheese, I thought I'll have a dessert and sneak some cheese off his plate! So there we have it, Sea Buckthorn & Chocolate Trifle, Pear Williams Sorbet. The coolness of the pear sorbet against the chocolate was refreshing and light and as trifle goes, this was good, not sickly at all and loved the biscuit crunch in it, compared to the usual sponge. Yummy. The boy's cheese plate, oh yes, I had a taste and it had one of the best goats cheeses I've ever tasted. All served with lots of delicious oatcakes and biscuits. Last but not least, your choice of tea or coffee and petit fours. Throughout our meal, warm baked bread, water and wine was re-filled as many times and the service was welcoming, friendly, excellent from start to finish! I wish wish wish I had could have taken photographs of our food. Aside the taste, the presentation is fabulously pretty, but phones are a definite no no in this restaurant and quite right so. I'm afraid, you're just going to have to go and dine here, to get the full experience and I hope that you have as good a time as we had. Same time next year, we've already ear marked a date for December 2012 to go again, if not before, to try out the dinner menu when we are feeling a bit more flush!

This was one of the worst restaurant meals of my life. My fiance and I came here on a recommendation from our hotel, and after hearing how many Michelin stars this place had been awarded, we figured we were in for a fantastic meal. Firstly, let me say that this restaurant has absolutely no atmosphere. It's incredibly stuffy and just generally very old-world, whilst simultaneously trying not to be. That being said, I wouldn't have really minded had the meal been enjoyable. The meal started with several canapes that didn't seem to go together, much less taste good on their own. I had a feeling after tasting the foie gras macaroon that the meal was only going to be down hill from there. Nevertheless, I tried to maintain an open mind. However, each dish that they brought us proved to be one let down after the next. By the end of the meal, I was so looking forward to dessert - but even the soufflé was horrendous. We have eaten at restaurants all over the world, and never have we had a recommendation that proved to be such a massive let down. We had a far more enjoyable meal the following night at Ondine. This restaurant needs to make up it's mind (and replace the carpet). Will be shocked if they get a Michelin star for 2013.

Delicious. 4 course menu left us stuffed. Loved everything we ate. Nice quiet restaurant good for special occasions. Deserts were fantastic. Highly recommended

On our first night in Edinburgh, we ate at the lovely Number One restaurant in The Balmoral hotel. The decor is a bit odd. There is a lot of artwork on the wall (and two that we were sitting next to that were half below our table), and they seemed quite eclectic in style. Some we really enjoyed, others seemed quite bizarre. That being said, we were seated at our table and given the menus to look at. We were on a package deal which included the tasting menu, so we had that of course with the wine pairings. The first fun thing was the bread trolley that they wheeled up to your table. There were three types of bread: a spelt baguette, cheese bread, and a rosemary bread. The breads were sliced for you at the table, and the bread slicer gave you the option of the end of the loaf (if that's your thing... it certainly is mine so I took him up on the offer). We were also served a few delicious bites at the beginning. To be honest, it was hard not to compare some of the courses to some we had at Andrew Fairlie a few days earlier, since both of the meals contained foie gras and scallops. The seared foie gras was amazing (better than the foie gras at Andrew Fairlie). It was decadent and having a bit of truffle with it was just the icing on the cake. The scallops course was also slightly tastier. It wasn't as refined, but the flavors were out of this world. For the rest of the courses, I wasn't overly excited about the cheese mouse that came between the foie gras and the scallops. Nothing wrong with it, but a tad boring (for me). The beef was cooked well, and it came with tongue and sweetbreads! I'm definitely an offal sort of guy, so this was very nice. The dessert was good. A bit chocolately and a good way to end things. We opted for the additional cheese course, and I'm glad we did. There was a huge selection of cheeses available, and while the cheese man was willing to give us a plate to share, we got our own (mostly because I love goat cheese, and well, the other half hates it). We were both quite happy with the selections we had with the cheese. The meal was really tasty. Maybe not quite as refined or interesting as some of the other places I've been, but everything was well cooked and enjoyable.

Spectacular meal, start to finish First a great sommelier who helped pick a wine for which his description was flawless Second, decor understated but with wonderful slightly funky eccentric music Third, food was flawless from start to finish The best food we have had in Scotland and on par with the best internationally

Ok, first the good stuff. The service was impeccable. The presentation of the food was perfect. The ambiance was relaxing, comfortable, and subdued. Sorry, maybe i'm too down to basics, but the foods we ordered were so fancy and constructed that they were unidentifiable. Even now we do not know what some of the items on our plates were. By the end of dessert we were hoping not to have any more "foams". Too much chemistry here. Elegant does not have to be exotic. A simple creme brulee for dessert would have been nice.

After realizing I was being too frugal on my UK holiday, I decided to spoil myself at this gem. It was quite intimidating, since I was eating alone at such a nice place, but the service staff was welcoming and attentive. Although the menu items were listed as five course meals, they allowed me to order and pay for a few individually. I was just looking for a cheese board and a nice glass of wine, but ended up trying the foie gras (why not? I thought. never tried it before...). It was pretty pricey, but I was paying with my monopoly money (foreign cash). I loved the bread, and the little tasty treats they served before and after the meal (the official name escapes me). Delicious.

Starred city centre restaurant. Lovely food, but highlight is service. Although silver service, very friendly and not too formal. The somelier was very good, she was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

My wife and I and our two children are visiting from San Francisco, and had a wonderful meal last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Expensive, yes, but also exceptionally good food and service. Manager Gary Quinn was terrific and ensured it was a night to remember.

We stayed at the Balmoral hotel - which was okay, probably not worth the price. Their reservations staff are not great - when we made the room reservation, we also booked the restaurant - with quite a few e-mails back and forth. When we got there, they had made our reservation in their sort of dinky bistro restaurant, not the nice one. So we tried to change it and were told that there were absolutely no tables available. When we went down for dinner, my husband said "let's just look in on the nice restaurant and see if they have a table" I am so glad we did as the place was about half empty ,AND STAYED THAT WAY, which is too bad if others missed out on a wonderful meal. The chef uses local, Scottish ingredients, so the menu changes. Everything was deliciously prepared, elegantly served, and interesting without being odd or overwhelming. We had a wonderful meal and found the service attentive and pleasant. Like the hotel it is in, it is not cheap, but unlike the hotel, it is worth the price.

Edinburgh's most accomplished restaurant. Food and wine pairings are excellent and the service sublime. The dining room is beautifully appointed and extremely intimate. For the most special of occasions in Edinburgh, this is definitely the place.

The Restaurant of Balmoral has 1 Michelin star but there is no truth behind it. There are more better restaurant that have real quality food. A lamm dish that was served mid-warm at costs of 65 english pounds! When I passed my complaint to the cookmanager, he was not apologizing & just took a short note. Ich war mit meinem Ehemann im Hotel Balmoral im Restaurant Number one. Das Restaurant hat angeblich einen Michelinstern. Ich bin sehr erstaunt, wie dieses Restaurant mit so einer miserablen Küche einen Michelinstern bekommen hat. Das Lamm war kalt und kostete 65 Pfund pro Person. Die Kellnerin haben den Teller bevor man mit Essen fertig war schon abgeräumt. Wir haben für 2 Personen für dieses lächerliche Lamm und eine kleine Flasche Wein 150 Pfund bezahlt. Als wir dies dem Küchenchef reklamierten hat er alles auf einen Notizblock geschrieben, wie ich ihm ein Diktat vortrage. Er hat sich nicht entschuldigt und es war für ihn alles normal. Wir werden nie wieder in dieses Restaurant essen gehen. In Edinbourgh sind viele Restaurants, die eine viel bessere Küche haben und viel preiswerter sind, als dieses lächerliche Number one im Hotel Balmoral.

This is a great restaurant for special occasions or just if you want a fancy dinner in Edinburgh while visiting. We loved the tasting menu with the wine pairing. The staff and sommelier were very friendly, professional and not snotty. The food was gorgeous and delicious and this is some of the best bread I have had in the last five years. For those of you who don't eat bread, this is worth the exception. We both loved it and weren't sure we would after reading reviews. If you like to go to a nice dinner with friends and have this be your evening entertainment, this is your place. My husband didn't have to wear a suit and tie and I didn't see anyone more dressed up than we were. Terrific experience and we both highly recommend it!

This restaurant really was the number one. I have been to several michelin restaurants all over Europe and the United States, and this one absolutely took the cake. I have no complaints whatsoever about the service, ambiance or food. Firstly, the setting of the restaurants is wonderfully intimate, not too loud or too quiet (either one can ruin a dining experience for me), and it is simply beautiful. The restaurant is located in the Balmoral hotel, and feels luxurious and grand. What I really enjoyed is that we were seated in a sort of booth type table, which was very comfortable and felt relaxed (not to mention, everytime we needed to go to the bathroom, the staff would personally pull the table away so we could get out!). Speaking of the staff, they were delightful (especially the sommelier who was extremely knowledgeable about every wine and brought to the table a few fun wine facts), and the wine we ended up getting was a red wine which was just perfection. I don't normally enjoy a red, but this one had very little tannins and went wonderfully with every single course. If you tell the sommelier exactly what kind of wine you are looking for, he will deliver. We ended up doing a la carte, which was a good decision, as in addition to the 3 courses which we ordered, the total ended up being about 8, because of all the "snacks" which were brought (no complaints here!). I have gone on and on now about the staff and the ambiance, but what really stood out to me this evening was the food. The food was the perfect balance between simple and fancy, it had a rustic vibe to it but remained sophisticated and creative. For my starter I had the foie gras pâté with a fig and caramelized onion jam of some sort, with blood orange and a piece of gingerbread, and I don't even have words to describe how magical that dish was. I do not mean this as an exaggeration, but it was the single best dish I have ever eaten. The flavors went together so beautifully and were unreal on my palate. For the second course, I ordered the scottish fillet with more foie gras, and it was also delicious. I love a good steak and this one was perfect. The plating once on every dish was just as beautiful as the flavors (which is not always the case in every michelin). For the dessert, I was with my parents so we each got one of the desserts so we could try everything. Surprise surprise, they were delicious. Plated creatively and a perfect balance of flavors. My favorite part of the meal however, was the après dessert cart. I can only describe this dessert cart as something that would come out of willy wonkas chocolate land- 10 different little candy desserts, and she propped up a little plate and asked us what we would like. One of each please! It was awesome, and again, I wasn't feeling over stuffed because the portion sizes were on point. Overall, this experience is definitely something I'll always remember, and I will come back to this place as many times as I can. HIGHLY reccommend.

Number One is in our Top Three - we were impressed by everything. The decor is so fun! Very chic plus "old school" but also very comfortable. The food was beyond - perfection. We couldn't believe how complex and absolutely delicious every single thing was. (We did the tasting menu + wine pairing.) Lastly, and maybe most importantly these days...the service. Absolutely impeccable. Our wine was always perfectly timed with our food. The level of finessed collaboration was impressive. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable about what we were eating - not just a couple of people. We loved that there were only a few different types of bread to choose from (vs 8, for example!) We felt like Number One is just the way a very fine restaurant should be. Particularly a Michelin starred restaurant. It was divine. A wonderful, special treat that exceeded our expectations. Thank you for such a special and delicious evening.