Rhubarb

Our experience at Rhubarb was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we entered, we were captivated by the elegant ambiance and attention to detail. The sophisticated decor and soft lighting set the perfect mood for a memorable evening. The food was a true masterpiece. Each course was beautifully plated, with flavors that were both creative and perfectly balanced. The wine pairing was impeccable, elevating each dish to new heights. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and guided us through the selections with enthusiasm and expertise. The service was flawless – attentive without being intrusive, with every staff member exuding professionalism and warmth. They anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making us feel genuinely cared for throughout the evening. Rhubarb is the epitome of fine dining. It’s an experience, not just a meal. We left feeling thoroughly impressed and can’t wait to return for another unforgettable evening.”

The atmosphere makes this restaurant so special. The Prestonfield House and accompanying grounds are a beautiful backdrop to this dining experience. Special shout out to Joaquin, who knows SO much history about Prestonfield House and was a wealth of information! Joaquin made our night!

We had a special dinner here after our engagement (my fiancé is quite wonderful as a side note). The restaurant grounds are very pretty, with hairy coos and a peacock. The service was top notch and we got to have drinks in a private (and very fancy room) before dinner. The food was pretty great but the service level was especially top notch. Highly recommend for a romantic/special occasion.

Came here to celebrate after the university graduation. We literally booked half hour before hopping on a taxi and arriving at the hotel/restaurant door. We had other plans to go somewhere else but unfortunately it was close, so we had to think on our feet as it was beginning to rain. The staff was unaware of our booking being so last minute but accommodated anyway! We were very thankful for their hospitality and the flexibility. The kindness they showed to a family of five that afternoon was the most memorable thing that day (even more so than the unnecessary long graduation ceremony…). Anyway, we ordered the set menu and everything was delicious and well presented. I sort of wish I had ordered from the vegan menu instead because all of my friend’s dishes looked creative and original. Highly recommend visiting during the festive season! Their Christmas decorations were simply out of this world. It was magical and we were fortunate enough to experience it all.

The ambience was phenomenal. I was put in this cute room that was very intimate. The service was great. However, the food was horrific. The complimentary bread was hard. It came with bland, unsalted butter. The appetizer was extremely small. The fish was super bland with absolutely no flavor. It came on top of a small bed of mashed potatoes. There were no options for sides. I said on the reservations it was my birthday. They didn't do anything special for it. They added an automatic donation without asking. They do a 10% tip automatically. It was way overpriced for low par food. I was so disappointed with this spot.

Food and cocktail selection was amazing. While I had difficulty deciding, both servers were very patient with me and checked alternately if I was ready to order. I especially loved their starters and I was glad that I ordered two starters for a treat to myself (exercise after...lol). A hearty meal for winter. Very thoughtful to ask if I needed a break after the main before desert was to be served and when to serve the hot tea and petit fours. This question was probably the best indicator of the services for most restaurants. For interiors and atmosphere, it was done perfectly. I knew I had a soft spot for restaurants housed in heritage buildings and refurbished to give the historic fabric a new lease of life. Sofas were comfortable, almost too comfortable that I didn't want to end this wonderful meal so soon (after 2-3 hours anyway). Good value for money, too.

Rhubarb Restaurant at the Prestonfield Hotel is a culinary delight! The opulent decor sets a luxurious tone, and the food is absolutely exquisite. Each dish is beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The service is impeccable, making for a truly memorable dining experience. Five stars! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Amazing view and great experience - food is good and it is indeed a little pricey. But for the experience it is worth - suitable for families and couples. First date with an afternoon coffee is a good idea - parking and toilets available

The ambience was phenomenal. I was put in this cute room that was very intimate. The service was great. However, the food was horrific. The complimentary bread was hard. It came with bland, unsalted butter. The appetizer was extremely small. The fish was super bland with absolutely no flavor. It came on top of a small bed of mashed potatoes. There were no options for sides. I said on the reservations it was my birthday. They didn't do anything special for it. They added an automatic donation without asking. They do a 10% tip automatically. It was way overpriced for low par food. I was so disappointed with this spot.

What an unexpected surprise. We had not organized any dinner reservations and managed to secure a 715 sitting for two. When we were escorted to our table we were blown away by the opulence of our surroundings. The service and menu lived up to our surroundings. I ordered pigeon to start followed by wild pheasant. For desert we shared a crème brûlée and coffees. The bill came to 299 pounds for two which included two aperitifs, two Appetizers, two main courses, deserts, coffee, tip, wine (70) and two great scotches. We will definitely return.

Rhubarb is a dream! Our 30th wedding anniversary dinner was nothing short of magical. The building itself is like a museum. We even received a tour of the facility and got to see the furniture items from the 16th century. The decor is absolutely breathtaking. The customer service was top notch- nothing beats Scottish hospitality. We had one of the most amazing meals of our lives- tomato appetizer, chilled split pea soup, sea bass and lamb dish for my husband. Every single bite was excellently executed and beautifully presented. We ended our meal with hot teas, hazelnut shortcake and peach pavlova. We were both blown away. I highly recommend this restaurant if you find yourself in Edinburgh.

Extremely over-rated. Stuffy. Pretentious. The place Prestonfield looks like they are living in the 18th Century....quite depressing decor. However, apparently the restaurant can't cook a GBP58 filet as ordered......rare came out medium with no apology except "that is the way the chef prepares it". Oh, and then they claimed I had booked the night before so charged me GBP100 for being a "no show", but they couldn't provide any evidence that I had booked the previous night (when I wasn't even yet in Edinburgh).

There are date night restaurants, and then there are date night restaurants. And you don't get poetry like that from anyone else. Rhubarb is just a gorgeous restaurant located on beautiful manicured grounds. I believe this was a resort of some kind, but I am not sure since we were just here for the restaurant. But the restaurant had dark paneled walls, great artwork, candlelight on the tables, big gorgeous chandeliers, and was very romantic. I am told the bar is amazing, though we didn't think of sitting in there before dinner and they were closing when we left. We were luckily sat by a window so we have a beautiful view of the grounds and the rest of the room. Everything about this meal was amazing - the food was awesome. I had a chicken soup with cauliflower that was delicious and Scottish Beef, which was beef in a pastry wrapping and a brown gravy that was one of the best meals we had in Scotland. Tried a couple of different scotches, and from what I recall, they were really good recommendations from the server. Service was pretty good, though not perfect - we did have some trouble getting our bill at the end, but this was Europe so what do you expect. Overall though it was very good. Could have been a bit more attentive but nothing worth taking a star away. I would absolutely come back here next time in Edinburgh.

Since we haven't been able to go anywhere in the last 4 months, we took the opportunity to celebrate what should have been our wedding day with a special meal out. With it being our first meal out since lockdown, we were nervous at the thought of being in a busy restaurant. However, these fears were soon put to rest as every member of staff was wearing either a face mask or visor, all tables in the restaurant were socially distanced, and what made us feel even more comfortable was that our temperature was checked via a thermal face scanner before entering the house. The food and wine throughout the entire evening was absolutely stunning and the service was 5 star. We would highly recommend the Guinea Fowl with crushed smoked peas, barbeque little gem, thyme crumb, and a Perigueux sauce - everything on the dish complemented the meat perfectly. We were pleasantly surprised at how well the team at Prestonfield House managed to balance guest safety and the high-quality dining experience, without losing the personal service that makes eating at a high-end restaurant so enjoyable. To read our full review, please visit www.sandlblog.com

I booked this as a special surprise for my wife on our trip to Edinburgh. I regret it. Most noticeably, service was extremely slow. Our total visit was three hours to be served the prix fixe menu: An appetizer, entree, and dessert. We spent long stretches sitting at an empty table, mostly after the appetizer and before the entrees. Before even receiving dessert, we had already asked for the bill and paid so we could leave as soon as possible. On leaving the restaurant, we both felt that time had been stolen away from us. The server apologized for the delay, citing that a large party was occurring in the other room. If a restaurant like Rhubarb is going to offer private parties, it should make sure it can adequately serve its other guests as well. Some of the dishes were excellent, and others were just okay, like the mango dessert. I ordered the mushroom entree, and it was one of the most unique dishes I've eaten. Unfortunately, my wife's pork dish was too salty. The server had the dish replaced without asking whether or not she wanted it replaced or wanted a different dish. Service also wasn't particularly attentive and very slow as it seemed he was also serving guests in a far away room. I expected better service from such a pricey restaurant. The ambience was absolutely the best part of the restaurant and the reason why I booked the restaurant. The eye-popping dining room was tastefully decorated completely in black, red and gold. I felt like I was inside an elegant vampire's palace. You might think "tasteful" and these colors are an oxymoron until you see it done in practice. It was romantic, it was sexy, it was intimate; a very memorable location. I just wish that the food and service would have been up to the same level as the atmosphere.

Oh goodness. After our disappointing birthday meal at Ondine, the boy and I decided to give that celebration thing one more try and made a reservation at Rhubarb for afternoon tea. If the food was bad, at least we'd be at a 17th century manor with peacocks. Luckily, the food wasn't bad, not by a long shot. Delicate sandwiches, flaky scones with thick, decadent clotted cream and tangy raspberry jam, dainty strawberry tarts and double chocolate eclairs and a wide selection of black, green and herbal teas ensure that there's something here for everyone's tastes. The food was the least of the experience, though, and that should say soemthing. From our arrival we were greeted by a cheerful doorman in a swank black kilt, and whisked upstairs to the tapestry room, where we sank into an antique sofa and took in the gorgeous furnishings. Prestonfield is just as beautiful, decadent, and opulent as it appears in the photos, and the rich history here is palpable. Yes, there are peacocks, and pheasants, and Highland cows in a pasture by the drive. The house is gorgeous. The grounds are gorgeous. The food is incredible and the service is impeccable. We spent nearly four hours over our tea, and were never rushed, and rolled down the circular drive completely sated, physically, visually and sensationally. Rhubarb, you have my heart.

Prestonfield is one of those places determined to make an impression on you from the second you arrive at the premises. Being winter, we arrived after dark, and to see it emerge as we drove up the driveway was... stunning. When entering, we're greeted by several members of staff before being shown into a side room to wait for our table, accompanied by drinks and nibbly bits. Nibbly bits, I probably needed to come up with something more ostentatious as a description, but hey ho. Then we were shown into a dining room that was as pomp and circumstance as it gets. Lit by candlelight, I'll admit we were both dazzled and navigating closely set tables was a bit challenging. Nonetheless, despite the number of tables, the darkness made it still feel us feel separated and having our own experience, rather than shared with others. Dinners wise we had the option of the Christmas or A La Carte menu, which was wonderful, for my partner loves to have a non Christmas meal for his birthday. Vegetarian options were lovely, and my partner loved his pheasant boudin. We shared the tarte tatin for dessert, a lovely showpiece to (almost) finish the meal... but as a grande finale, the SR was presented with a slate celebtrating his birthday. Always cute, always appreciated. Would have loved to have rounded off the stay with a night there, but the budget sadly didn't stretch that far. Saying that, the meal itself was relatively reasonable, and worth every delicious penny. Highly recommended, if you hadn't worked that out already.

Great experience...we were visiting from NY and were recommended to visit this restaurant which turned out to be great advice. Set in beautiful grounds and with amazing food. Service was slow but tolerable. Would definitely recommend!

Rhubarb is without a doubt my favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. Classy, without too much pomp, easily a place one could take a romantic date, or a close group of friends for a nice dinner. Rhubarb is set in the historic Prestonfield House, which transports you back in time. Traditional scottish dishes with some modern twist, ensure a high level of quality that I have found unparalleled. Price is appropriate if a little cheap considering the quality and degree in which it is prepared. They usually do a 3 course for 33 quid, an amazing deal. The only downside is that it is located in Prestonfield, thus needs a taxi/car. Though in a way this acts as a good thing as it ensures a relaxed dining experience without too many tourists.

Decadent, decadent decadent. 2 peacocks, more decadence, champagne, even more decadence. It really is the place to go if you want to feel like the king and queen of Scotland. Amazing, period interior, gorgeous grounds and views on the outside, impeccable service and food. It can't be faulted. Even if you go for the light lunch at a very reasonable £16.95 or fork out for a bottle of the £2000 wine (which although tempted, I managed to resist), you will still emotionally be charmed and satisfied by the absolute fabulousness of the environment. You just can't help being seduced the minute you set eyes on the grand entrance, then throughout the culinary dream of your lunch or dinner all the way through to being chaperoned to your taxi, already awaiting your royal exit. I will no doubt be back soon to experience the wine list once again flick past the over-indulgent two grand wine and settle for a more modest Pinot or Chardonnay.

Over the top fancy decor and service. Like stepping into another place and time. Great for a special occasion. Lovely quiet grounds just minutes from the City.

Catching up on my reviews today, so this one is from a little while back. I went again to Rhubarb about a month ago and it is still the same, so I think it will be valid. Oppulant is the word I'd describe here. From the moment you arrive at the grand entrance after curnching along the gravel drive, the doormen welcoming you with their very stylish black kilts, you know you are in for a treat. This place has stature, yet for all its airs and graces, it has a relaxed and enjoyable feel about it. There are a number of small drwing rooms you can take a pre-dinner G&T or glass of fizz. Then you get escorted through to one of the two dining rooms either side of the house. Two visits stand out. The first was for my birthday, a special occasion dinner. We arrived about 7pm as the sun was shining on the nearby Arthurs Seat, sat in the garden having a glass of bubbles then went inside to eat. The foor was artistic and delicious, I had some game bird with vegetables which was perfectly cooked and washed down with a very tasty rioja. Desert was a take on a rhubarb crumble if my memory serves me right and was as good as it gets. The second visit was for afternoon tea. Again, lvoely sunny day, sat our on the lawn. You get an option of two menu's, one with bubbly and one without. We went with. You get the traditional tea which you tuck into as peacocks parade around you. The staff are always there, but never there, just far away to not be noticed, which means you get to enjoy your food. There is a lot of emphasis put on service and it shows. Other times I've been there have been a number of well to do visitors eating in the place, all of which add to the feel of Rhubarb. It is a fine dining experience, well worth the money. Better than most, if not all, of the fine dining places in town in my opinion. You can also get some great deals through palces like top table for reduced price meals. If you want to dress up and enjoy a meal in oppulant surroundings, this is perfect.

Love, love, love this restaurant. It's incredibly beautiful with outstanding food. It's a short journey outside the city centre but well worth the trip. Service is first class. Romance is very much alive in this restaurant as it sets your heart on fire. Thank you so much for several memorable experiences. Breathtaking!!!

Lunch here was a real treat. You head just out of Edinburgh and through a housing estate before pulling into a long, tree lined drive leading up to the main house. We were greeted by black kilted chaps on the door - nice touch. Prestonfield house is stunning, has Arthur's seat and the Craggs as a back drop and is surrounded by park land. Inside the house is very opulent, rich reds and golds. My sister was a bit freaked by the Stag room though - the seats are made of antlers! We saw Alan Rickman checking out on the day we were there and get the idea they do get a few celebs there. Lunch at Rhubarb was really good. Set menu meant it was not too expensive and worth every penny. We ended up on a table next to the owner but we felt that the service was genuinely good - not just cos the boss was there. Our waitress was lovely - very friendly and helpful. Would love to try for dinner but think we will need to save up a bit more first as looks rather pricey for evening.

The drive up to the grand entrance of Prestonfield house has you already feeling like royalty or that you're about to star in an episode of Downton! Beautifully maintained gardens surrounding an impressive county mansion on the back drop of Arthur's seat and Holyrood park is simple stunning. Our party of 5 were warmly greeted by a very helpful and smart kilted gentleman who helped my mum out of the taxi, umbrella in hand to shelter her from the rain. A very impressive start. We opted to have a wee cocktail first in the upstairs lounge - the red room. Gold and red paints, dark, lavish and luxurious furnishings and old portraits make this room feel warm and special. There are two grand high backed seats resembling thrones which were perfect for picture posing! Downstairs the dining room is breathtaking, it's so grand and so very decadent darling! The food is Scottish produce at its best filled with fresh seafood dishes, game and beef. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted delicious, service was smooth and professional and nothing a bother at all:) They even put a candle in the petit fours for my mums birthday which was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. An excellent and very extensive wine list complimented the courses and made us compliment each other by the end of the night!! This place is stunning but expensive.....definitely worth it though for a special occasion.

Food was great. The house is beautiful and a cool place. The service by the waitstaff was terrible. Me and my wife ordered wine by the glass, because we wanted different wine. We ran out of wine and water while we were eating dinner. We kept trying to flag someone down to request more wine and a refill on water, but could not for about 15 minutes. The waiter finally asked if we wanted more wine and we advised we had wanted it while we still had food. He did not apologize and just looked confused. It was very disappointed, because the place had so much going for it and could have been a great experience. We will not go back.

This was a huge disappointment. Rhubarb has a large reputation. The atmosphere was one of the nicest I've ever experienced. The servings were ultra small. They were small for the purpose of being elitist. The fish was overcooked. We returned it and the next one also came out overcooked. This restaurant definitely places form over substance. Too bad, it could easily have been a 5 star restaurant. All they needed to do was stop trying to act so special and actually make the food taste great. Big disappointment.

Ambience is excellent. Decor is beautiful. Service was very good. Went here for dinner and for afternoon tea. The tea was good, served in nice silver teapots. The sandwiches and cakes were dry and average. As far as dinner is concerned, the food was good but average and nothing to be too excited about. I would return here for the ambience, not particularly for the food.

After reading a bunch of bad reviews on various sites, all complaining about a catastrophic service in terms of timing and attitude, my expectations were set on a level where I was expecting to be overwhelmed by cockiness. Instead, the service was exceptional, both in terms of timing and attitude. In fact, the politeness of the staff was at such an aristocratic level that combined with the decoration of the restaurant, you can't help but feel as a commoner in middle ages. Anyways, the food is above decent but not exceptional. The chef is obviously fusion influenced, but not in a relaxed way, i.e. he/she is trying "too hard" to mix salty/sweet/sour. Still, the atmosphere, especially dim lighting somehow boosts the quality perception of the food. Bear in mind that I went around 18:00 so the service was just starting so my experience might be unrepresentative.

Love it! Been a few times and has to be my favourite restaurant to date in Edinburgh.

Unbelievable. Excellent food, beyond excellent service. Worth every single penny (and there were a lot of those!). If you get the opportunity to experience this restuarant please do so, you wont be dissapointed.

Prestonfield is one of my favorite places - had some wonderful evenings there. The staff are first class and the food and atmosphere's amazing. I love the way you get to lounge in a sitting room after dinner. The only annoying thing is that i bought the £30 set menu and drinks for 7 of us on my 30th birthday and none of the puddings were gluten-free so they charged me an extra £7 just to have icecream when i gad already paid the set menu price that included a fancy desert and icecream. I know the whole thing came to about £300, but that extra £7 still irritated me! oh well - still an amazing place and will def go back lots