The Gardener's Cottage

A nice small restaurant that was converted from a historical cottage. Food and environment are all down to the earth and natural. There are couple long tables for share booking , so you may be seated with someone you never known unless you have a group of 6 or more. A full course of dinner offers every night. The restaurant has the up-to-date menu online, they will give you an alternative if you are somehow allergic to some food items on the menu. Overall, the food is good but tends to be salty. Dessert has a limited choice. Service is great .

The food was perfectly alright. The service was good. We happened to be seated next to the kitchen (open plan) and the back room so there was a lot of noise which was distracting. There are also long tables rather than individuals tables, which made me a little uncomfortable in a fine dining experience. Overall I think it was a perfectly fine experience worth going once.

We were visiting from the states and had an opportunity to enjoy dinner on a Friday night. No expectations other than the listing in the Michelen guide. The menu was a 5 course offering that had the added wine pairings. There was a small faux pas with the first wine delivery, but other than that the meal was excellent. The bread was served with a tasty strawberry butter that was a great start. We also enjoyed a crab tart, cod over crab bisque and carrots, venison that was incredibly tender and flavorful, and a dessert tart that included a berry assortment. We were fortunate to be seated next to two couples that shared conversation to make the meal even more enjoyable. Highly recommended. The price was commensurate with a starred restaurant but worth the price. Many thanks to the staff for an nice dinner experience.

A really special place - beginning with its unique location proximate to the center of the city, but hard to spot even when you're in front of the cottage. Wonderful food, locally and sustainably based, with the dishes highly varied and consistently delicious. Two communal tables and prix fixe menu; don't come if you're exchanging state secrets or only like chicken nuggets. Multiple menus (standard, vegan and pescatarian). A bit pricey, but not for an evening's entertainment at this level. Highly recommend.

Spent a wonderful evening here with my beautiful boyfriend for a special dinner and we were not disappointed. Quite expensive for the 6 course tasting menu (with paired wines) but completely worth it. Amazing food, lovely wine and nice relaxed atmosphere. Just when I thought the evening couldn’t get any better they started playing ABBA on the record player. Best dinner ever

Lovely lunch. 3 course Set menu plus shared cheese plate beautifully cooked, simple but delicious, and served with well priced matched wines. Bench seating and the small room means it’s quite noisy and not very private, but if you’re ok with that it’s a lovely room. Maybe felt a little rushed this time?

Amazing new year dinner experience in this wee cute place close to the center and also in the middle of the wild forest of Calton hill. Food was delicious and service was very good and staff very friendly. They forgot the first dish of the set menu and they apologized and gave our wine as a gift for the mistake. The Italian waitress was very attentive with us and very talkative. Highly recommended this place and I will definitely come back.

This place was really great. Reasonably priced tasting menu in a cosy less than 20 covers converted bungalow. Excellent flavours in the dishes using something from the garden in each one. Really impressed and lovely wait staff too. Worth trying for a table or coming early or late. Very much recommended. Wine list uninspiring hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Wish places like this would spend more time curating their wine offerings.

Pretentious! Pretentious! Pretentious! Certainly don't go there if you are hungry. Portions are miniscule. The menus reflect a poorly conceived concept of elegant dining. The staff is lovely if young and inexperienced. The food is a young chef's idea of fine dining without the understanding that people come there to have a good time and a good meal. Of course, I'm 77 years old and may be totally out of this generation's orbit, but, don't be condescending to your customers. One scallop is not a "course". Food should not be precious. I'll tell you a story. I knew Maggy Lecoz and Gilbert from Le Bernardin in Paris. My wife and I were invited to their opening of their restaurant of the same name in New York City a year later. After dinner my wife and I drove to Chinatown for lobsters and fried rice because we were still hungry. I explained to Maggy that New Yorkers don't order 7 courses for dinner. I don't know if she took my advice or someone else smarter but Le Bernardin has kept its Michelin 3star rating ever since. I'll give these ambitious chefs the sane advice. Respect your customers. They may not appreciate your exquisite technique, but they know if they are getting their money's worth.

I went from dreaming about going back to this restaurant and feeling excited to bring my husband here to being so disappointed and disillusioned. I really wish we could get a refund. The price did not match the quality. My fish was dry, the "second course" was a cracker (advertised as a tart) with some fish and mayonnaise and chives, the main course was not well prepared, incredibly lacking in finesse for spending 85 pound and finally the dessert lacked any creativity or finesse as well. It was not worth what they asked for...to be honest, I wasn't sure about going there after they increased the price to 85 pound after I booked but I had to pay 20 pound per person to even book and that was not refundable otherwise I would have changed directions. The first time I came, I got 8 courses, they were unique and interesting and good portion sizes. I loved it. I'm sooooo sad this is what has become. I was hopeful it could be good but it's not. The saving Grace with the manager who was understanding and listened to our issues. I wish we had spent our evening somewhere else for MUCH less money.

Loved this little find for a evening-after, post-wedding low key dinner with the newlyweds! It was perfectly private and exclusive feeling. The service was exceptional. And the plant based menu items (see photos) on the six course tasting menu (£60 and worth it) were delightfully composed. They weren't earth-shatteringly original for plant based dishes, but they were well-executed and an impeccable quality of ingredients. The venue is the stone structure that housed the royal gardener in the past and is light, minimalist and calming. It really let's the natural beauty of the garden shine. My friends all had the regular six course tasting menu, and were quite happy. Definitely a classy, unexpected farm-to-table Edinburgh dining experience. Keywords: vegetarian, vegan, plant, plant-based, sustainable, farm-to-table

Review is for the brunch only. The location and decor is rustic and adorable, but the food option for brunch is too-dry brioche with poached eggs and a choice of too-dry meatloaf, bacon, or mushroom. I did like the mushroom but otherwise thought the options were quite limited. The dishes were pretty much the same and not very good. I would not recommend for brunch but the regular food menu looks like it's worth trying.

A really unique offering and different in so many ways to the usual 'higher quality' restaurants. Stripped down and basic interior really works in this little 'Gardener's' building with tables where everyone sits next to each other and a record player(vinyl) serves the music. Food is really special and all prepared in the open kitchen as you watch. No menu to choose from - just what is offered that day. Really unusual but great. Had the drink match deal providing a different drink to complement each course. Top class food and intimate atmosphere. Highly recommended.

What a lovely tasting menu dining experience. I was looking for something very farm to table with emphasis on Scottish/British touches and the Gardner's Cottage sure did not disappoint. At 55 pounds for dinner, the food was plentiful, service was very polite and the atmosphere was nice and homey. Their menu changes but everything we experienced was splendid, great quality and filling. There was great variety in what they made including use of different vegetables that were in season at the time, different meats like mutton and pork belly, cheeses and displays of sweets like pear ice cream and salted chocolates. Overall, delicious!

A 19th century stone cottage with veg patches outside was not what I expected for our team xmas lunch this year - but it made for a magical surprise! 18 of us took over one of its two simple but elegant dining rooms, seated at long communal tables with a view into the kitchen. The menu was a surprise, as with a focus on seasonal produce they change the menu daily according to what they have in. So many places claim the same focus these days but I was really impressed with what these guys did with fresh, local ingredients. It really felt like each one had been very carefully chosen for slightly unusual but delicious flavour combinations. A warming starter of pumpkin soup was teamed with a crab and caerphilly tart that I could have eaten 5 of. The main of mutton loin joined warm beetroot, celerian puree and kale on the plate with a cep crumb. Dessert taught me what seabuckthorn was, and made for a cake close to lemon in flavour with hay ice cream and peanut nougatine. Each dish was well presented with arty flourishes that didn't go over the top. I enjoyed spying on the plating up going on in the kitchen as they endeavoured (and succeeded!) in turning out 18 consistent plates. Both our servers were v attentive with wine top-ups and great for answering food questions too (of which there were several!). The part that made our boss happiest was that it's great value for money for a special meal too - on a regular night the 5-course set dinner menu is £25 (though you'll probably end up spending more on wine as a result!). I can imagine some people won't be fans of the communal seating, but take the right people up the garden path(!) and give it a try for the delicious food. Highly recommend for a private dining event too - they handled our rather noisy group brilliantly!

So I really wanted to love this place but the three of us left feeling a bit underwhelmed. We visited Edinburgh a few weeks ago and after seeing the reviews decided to have dinner here on Saturday night. The restaurant is extremely charming and the shared dining table is a nice touch (depending on your seatmates of course!) The service was excellent and the dishes were beautifully presented. When the server explained each course they sounded amazing but there was a disconnect between the description and the actual taste. The flavours were just okay. I can't pinpoint what was missing but after the first couple dishes we lost the anticipation for the remaining courses. The one saving grace was the strawberry dessert. Somehow a mixture of cheese, strawberry ice cream and biscuits had us all licking our plates. Overall, it was a really cute place but I will try other places next time.

Dined here in late spring. Wanted to enjoy this place but it was simply average to underwhelming. The food was just not good. And to be honest, quite a rip-off at the price it is served. The best course was the cheese. Delicious bread as well. Otherwise the meal was quite bland and unappetizing. It has great potential to improve however! I did like the community style tables and the idea behind the restaurant of fresh homegrown vegetables farm to table. The restaurant has just not fully translated that idea into high quality food yet.

I wanted to LOVE this place. And, I had an okay meal. I love the atmosphere. Great service. Charming decor and music. But... food is nothing spectacular. Loved the bread that was served before the meal. BUT... the first course was tomatoes with cheese... and the tomatoes were... COMPLETELY UNRIPE! FIRM AND WHITE! I could not believe that a place that sells itself as a vegetable-forward, farm-to-table restaurant would dare serve seasonal vegetables like that. It's August! I can't believe they allowed it to leave the kitchen. For me, it was hard to trust them after that. What followed was fine food. Pigeon had great flavor. The fish was bland but inoffensive. Dessert was nice. Best thing was the cheese course! Overall, I would give them another chance. But. I'm disappointed!

The Gardener's Cottage is, as titled, a 19th century cottage on the grounds of Royal Terrace Gardens. The decor is rustic, but charming, and entering past the garden full of herbs was a lovely foreshadowing of the meal. We were seated at a long unfinished communal table, which we shared with other diners. The tasting menu was set, but the chef was very accommodating to the dietary restrictions of one of our party (though they said had we warned them earlier, they could have provided more interesting alternatives.) The food was all delightful, though since it changes frequently with the seasons and available fresh produce, I will not bore you with specific dishes. Safe to say that everything was delicious. The service was attentive, yet not intrusive. The old record player in the corner was offering up Beach Boys, which was a bit of an odd note, but somehow not inappropriate to this eclectic dining spot. I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a high dining experience in a casual atmosphere. Should the winds somehow blow me back to Edinburgh, I will find my way back to the Gardener's Cottage!

The place is gorgeous, the service discreet yet very friendly and the food delicious (they cater to many special wishes, which is always a sign for a good restaurant)! Highly recommended.

Had an AMAZING time at Gardeners Cottage. I was only in Edinburgh for the weekend and found this restaurant online before my trip. I made reservations ahead of time and I'm so glad I did. I did the 7 course tasting menu without any dietary restrictions and was NOT disappointed!!!

The gardeners cottage is a place I had heard a lot about but not actually been to for a meal. So when it was suggested as our next date night, I happily agreed. After two cocktails at a nearby bar we walked over to the tiny cottage in the middle of the gardens in London road. On arrival we weren't initially greeted or even acknowledged. After an awkward period of 5 minutes where we just stood by the door, someone came over to get the card machine and said another waiter would show us our seats shortly. We did wait another few minutes before being shown our seats. Now the whole idea of this place is communal dining with food from locally sourced ingredients. It's hard not to like that idea but I have to say our evening was rather downtrodden by the poor service of the staff. Sitting in between two other dinner parties was fine although the seats are a bit close. And the idea that you just get seven courses brought to you is great! But the wait between our first and second course was about an hour, if not more. And in that time no wait staff came to let us know that there had been a mistake and our courses would be delayed. In fact when I tried to try their attention I'm pretty sure they just ignored us. When the second course finally arrived there wasn't even an apology... Thankfully the rest of our meal seemed to go more quickly with courses being brought out in appropriate times. My favourite courses were the cheese plate and the last dessert which unfortunately I no longer remember what it is. This place isn't cheap and the fact I can't recall the meal particularly well makes me wonder if it's worth the cost. And then the service, two couples arrived 30 minutes after us and left 45 minutes before us; one couple only getting 6 courses instead of 7 due to a mistake in the kitchen. The whole experience fell a bit flat for me and the service left me not wanting to go back. However the company for the evening was 5 stars :)

It was very serendipitous that we ended up eating here. We had failed to make any proper birthday dinner reservations elsewhere and in our searching I remembered having heard this place was good, so I checked their website and was able to book a table on-line the same morning. Very handy! We arrived at 5:45, which is generally a bit early for us to eat dinner, but with 7 courses we figured it was a good time to start. We were also quite excited to try a meal we didn't have to choose. The location and cottage itself are idyllic, it does feel like you have wandered into a lovely English cottage and surrounding garden. The inside is so warm and cozy and it feels like you are dining in at a friends home. They have 3 tables, which seat 10 each and you sit next to the other diners, no separate tables. I quite enjoyed it as it just adds to the homelike feel of this place. I really love the surroundings and the record player spitting out some music from the 50s and you also get to watch the chefs cooking, which adds to the relaxing atmosphere. The staff was exceptional. We were greeted instantly and seated right away. The staff was very efficient, but casual and so friendly. We were asked if we wanted any explanation of the menu or if we just wanted to jump right in. We opted to just jump in and I received an excellent wine recommendation to suite what was to come. In order we started with the pig tongue dumpling, which was amazing. Small, but so many flavors and a delicious fresh slaw to go with it. Next we received sourdough bread with a beetroot dip, which was lovely and delicate. Following that we received a kale and bacon soup with blue cheese and toasted walnuts. It was very smooth and such a nice dish, the walnuts and bacon made it so hearty and complimented the line of courses well. Our main was roast lamb, with gnocchi, wild roasted garlic, crispy purple sprouting broccoli and aioli. The lamb was served pink and was excellent, the gnocchi was light and buttery (so amazing!) and the vegetables were stunning. I especially liked the garlic, which looked like it had just been pulled with the stalks from the garden. I was so full after that, but the food was too good to even think about stopping. After that course we received a light biscuit "ragstone" with a very mild goats cheese and carrot jam. It was such a nice treat, well-sized and very good to have after such a great main. Now the dessert, again so full, but luckily both desserts were so light and just wow! The first was a smoked pumpkin mousse, chocolate cream and hazelnut meringue. The pumpkin was surprisingly addicting and the hazelnuts have it a nice texture. The chocolate cream was rich, but not too sweet and it went so well with the pumpkin. The second dessert was toasted brioche, char-grilled apple, barley ice-cream and carrot and crowdie mousse. It was also to die for. The crowdie and carrot mouse was absolutely 'divine' as Paula Dean would say. It was so lovely. The entire experience, meal and service was beyond any expectations I had and I was thoroughly impressed. It definitely is a splash and not something I would do often, but it is so worth it for a special occasion or something different. I would recommend this to anyone who is loves food and doesn't mind being served a meal selected by people who know what they are doing with food. If you are picky or have any dietary things they do offer to try to accommodate those, but I personally would say don't bother trying it if you aren't a wee bit adventurous. This is an experience for diners who appreciate food and can respect that it is cooked and paired exactly how it should be for you to enjoy. Let go for a change and feel pampered by some pros!

We popped in on the off chance that they might have some seats for brunch on Saturday. Luckily they'd just had a cancellation so we snagged a few seats in the corner. There were only a couple of choices for brunch but they both looked good. We opted for the bacon, poached eggs and greens with toasted sourdough. It also came with mushrooms and some Stornoway black pudding. Yum. Good sized portions too. We were sat on our own at one of tables so didn't get to partake of the communal dining experience. It was good to see the chef at work in the kitchen from our seats and from the taste it was clear that everything is made to order using fresh produce. Will definitely go back to try their dinner menu.

Have been meaning to go to this place and would recommend it for brunch or lunch to take advantage of the surrounding during the daylight. Had a pea soup with crab and a poached egg for a starter followed by hake with kale and scalloped potatoes with apple butter. Hubby had the big breakfast with poached egg, yummy bacon, back pudding, meat loaf and bioche with hollandaise. Quaint place with good presentation, fresh ingredients and different menus. Only down side would the seating as you're elbow to elbow with other diners! Would recommend for a special occasion, cool music by record player and nice decor.

I had been excited to try out The Gardener's Cottage for a while so I snagged us a table one Saturday evening. The evening menu is a 7 course tasting menu for £40. A very reasonable price for a fine dining restaurant. The place is actually adorable. A tiny cottage tucked into the gardens on London Road. Once inside you feel like you are going round to your grandmas for tea, not a bad thing! The tables are long benches tightly packed with chairs and even though it wasn't very busy when we arrived we were sat right next to another couple. I know the place is small but this made the experience quite awkward and uncomfortable especially if you are looking for an intimate dinner. Nevertheless we were excited to try the food. The kitchen is open plan and you can see the chefs busy working away. We chose a bottle of red from the wine list for £28, it was delicious. The staff are very friendly and attentive. They explain each course as it is served to you. Each of the courses were beautifully presented, although very dainty portions. The ingredients are local or foraged and the flavours were earthy and organic. As if straight from the garden. I hate to say it but nothing blew me away. The plates looked amazing with some very exciting and unusual ingredients but we left feeling disappointed. It just seemed to lack something. I expected the dishes to punch me in the face with flavour but everything was quite bland. The most memorable thing was the sea buckthorn sponge which was pretty delicious! I would loved to have come away and raved about our meal at The Gardener's Cottage so I feel very sad that I can't. At a meal that came in at over £100 we wanted more. I can't rate the staff highly enough but the overall dining experience and the food were OK.

A cozy experience in a charming setting with thoughtfully prepared and plated food. Each course had unexpected elements with fresh and lovely ingredients. The menus change daily and are rustically written on a chalkboard at the front of the restaurant/cottage. Service was kind and friendly. The place is small --- looks like it used to be a small one-bedroom home and we snuggly sat shoulder to shoulder next to other diners... Our first time dining communally and it was a rather fun experience. We lucked out and sat next to some very friendly diners. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. Truly a restaurant with a lot of heart.

The whole concept of this place is to bring fresh foods to the table straight from the garden. There's a seven course menu that changes every night, with every course thoughtfully prepared and served! My dinner here was absolutely delicious and the service was wonderful. Every course was accompanied by a detailed explanation, and there was no aspect of the food to complain about. I'd describe each course that I had, but their menu changes every night anyways... All I'll say is that no matter what is being served, you'll be sure to be in for a treat :)

Everything about this restaurant was perfect. We had the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings and from the first sip of sparkling wine to the gingerbread truffle and tawny port delighted every taste bud. Romantic setting, candlelight, white tablecloth, unobtrusive classic jazz on vinyl, and an array of unique serving bowls made it special.

Came for lunch on a Saturday which meant choosing from a small A La Carte menu. Their brunch options were also still available. The venue is not without it's charms - your unlikely to find another restaurant like it. Set off London road you walk through the garden patch and the seasons vegetables to enter an intimate venue, much more like a living room than a restaurant. Chairs are packed into a couple of large tables. This isn't like Wagamama's where there is space between you and the people beside you; you are practically touching elbows. I enjoyed the quaintness of it all and embraced it, but if this sounds like something you would find awkward it probably will be. The food was good. A watercress soup and poached egg tasted fresh and was satisfying. The Hake was also perfectly cooked with nice accompaniments. A starter and a main course was probably a little bit too much food for a light lunch; the portion sizes were pretty generous. Starters were around £6-8 and mains £16-18 which seemed in line with other place if a little expensive. I probably wouldn't come here all the time but if you like the idea of fresh local seasonal produce and want a dining experience that is a little bit different then give it a go.

I really did want to love the Gardener's Cottage with its great location and garden to table concept but there were some flaws. After reviewing the menu we all went for the four course Chef's Menu for lunch and we couldn't resist adding on the beech smoke anchovies. The meal started off well with three slices of amazing sourdough bread from their bakery and beetroot hummus. The flavor and consistency of the hummus paired with the bread was perfect. Next came the plate of anchovies which were smoky, salty and really tasty. They would have been perfect with some bread but we consumed our one piece of bread included with the lunch and did not feel like shelling out another 3£ for 3 more slices. When enjoying a 28£ lunch this seemed a bit petty. Next was the pea soup which was fresh and tasty but the uncooked peas floating in it were hard and a bit jarring in contrast to the smooth soup. Next up was a really nice bit of cod with celeriac and chive oil, very tasty. Finally we ended with an honey cake, strawberries and a small scoop of ice cream. This place definitely has potential.

Special place, a rustic setting in heart of old town. A warm and friendly wait staff. 7 courses of wow! Come hungry.

On the BBC they often show country houses with fantastic meals served up by old women in wellies who have 10 dogs and can perform culinary magic with just some thyme and a potato. Well, welcome to The Gardeners Cottage. We headed here for a bit of a special brunch and were so pleased with the amazing food, the excellent service and the school room feel to the interior. Arriving a bit down London Road, a small blackboard greets you an invites you up a small garden path with fresh veg growing either side. When you enter you're greeted by the smiling staff and shown to your shared table (advance booking is essential). The menu shifts constantly based on what's seasonally available. I personally went for the dish with the catchy title: black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, apples, walnuts, greens, sourdough bread. It was delicious. I had a pot of tea with it and was sufficiently full for a good few hours after! It's a fantastic little gem, I hope to get back for the set evening menu soon!

Had dinner here on Tuesday and was well impressed. Although the portion sizes were kinda inconsistent amongst our group of 4, then the couple sitting next to us had their dishes served slightly differently to ours and seemingly with more stuff.. Aside from that, the food was fabulous and you could taste the freshness of the ingredients as they base their meals around things which are locally sourced. The wine & drinks list is fantastic as well. The ricotta & pumpkin cheesecake was a great end to the meal. The communal tables were pretty fun. £25 for 5 courses is pretty good value for money. Will definitely be back again!

What a lovely place!! The food was beautifully cooked and the atmosphere was great. Personally I quite like the coseyness of the shared tables, but you are very tightly packed next to your neighbors which might not be to everyone's taste. Despite having 5 courses I didn't feel overly full at the end of the meal- some would say just right, but I could have done with a little more (hence four, not 5 stars.) The food was really lovely though, very tasty, and cooked sympathetically to the seasonal ingredients.

I loved everything about my experience at Gardener's Cottage. I love the fact that the old cottage I used to bus by on my way to work is now in use. I love walking through a tiny productive garden to get to the front door, I LOVE that they use slates to define the raised beds (stealing that idea), I love that the food is in season, I love that it's creative and tasty and I can't be picky or safe and I just have to eat what's in front of me (as a formerly way picky eater, this is a big deal). I know that the concept of GC can sound pretty pretentious or, as one friend put it, a hipster's wet dream. But I found the actual execution to be laid back, friendly, and delicious, with no pretension at all. I think maybe that the big sharing tables force you to leave your BS at the door and just enjoy the experience. I also think that the INCREDIBLE (not listed) starter of warm home made sourdough with bbq'd purple sprouting broccoli and some kind of hollandaise-ish sauce helped that whole thing too. Of course next time I go it will be something completely different, and that's cool too. Be prepared to be wowed, ok'd, and meh'd during the course of your meal. It's highly likely you won't like everything they're serving because you pretty much have no choice in the matter (unless you really hate something that's on the menu, or have an allergy or moral issue with it). But, that's ok because most of the experience will be great and will leave you appreciating what Scotland had to offer even more. Basically, loving it all the way and desperate to go back.

Delicious food and in such a lovely setting. The cottage was absolutely beautiful. Our waitress was very attentive and made sure to explain everything we had on our plates. Highly recommend for dinner!

Ok, so being a typical grumpy northerner, I was more than a little sceptical about the idea of going to a restaurant where I'd have to sit next to total strangers. Let's face it, what if one of them's a slurper. No-one needs that... Thankfully I'm always up for trying anything - and this place didn't disappoint. As everyone's as wary of the seating as eachother, it's actually a very relaxed and non-intrusive atmosphere when you get in. The staff are very laid back, yet attentive, happy to discuss all the dishes and where the food comes from. If you're lucky, the chefs will also pop over (from their station in the middle, where you get to watch them cook your food) and do the same. As a hospitality pro, I've never worked with any chef happy to actually speak to their diners, so I loved this!! Their menu is also a little different to the norm - for dinner, it's just a set 7 course tasting menu. Thankfully, the food is amazing!! The menu changes every day, and you get to walk past a lot of the produce on the way in, as they grow it in their own garden. Everything was incredibly tasty, fresh, and full of dishes I'd never even consider if just taking in a regular a la carte elsewhere. Great for curious eaters like me. AND IT'S ONLY £35?! I can only say, get in there before the prices go up - it'd be worth it at double the price. I have to recommend places to eat quite a lot as part of my job, and the Gardeners Cottage is always my number one tip. P.S - in spite of the set menu, they cater for virtually all dietary requirements too. The lady next to me came in and listed hers, worried she'd either get no food, or some woeful substitute. They rustled up a menu on the spot for her, and she proceeded to spend the rest of the evening making noises I've not heard in a dining establishment since When Harry Met Sally...

This wee run-down cottage in Royal Terrace Gardens has been transformed into a rustic cosy little restaurant. They do a set menu of five courses for £25 and you can see the chefs at work in the centre of the dining area. If you like elegant private dining you probably won't like this place as the tables are long slabs of reclaimed timber and you sit next to the other diners. It does make for a really good sociable atmosphere. A somewhat different and relaxing dining experience. There's none of the bother of choosing what to eat, the five courses just get served up to you and there's no rush, plenty of time for conversation. You can ask ahead if you have any dietary requirements. The set menu is constantly changing, the night I went there was tender pieces of pork, a delicious bitter vegetable soup, fish, dessert, cheese... all the courses were excellent and thankfully none were too large so there was always room for the next one. Very much worth the money, though to make sure you get the best value check what is on the menu as it changes very fast and then pick a selection that really suits you.

I had no reservation and yet they squeezed us in nicely. I can't speak for the wine pairing, as we preferred to stick with the dry cabs and end with a port, but the food was amazing. Everything was timed perfectly. I was a bit apprehensive with a seven course, but the portions were perfect. Flavor wise, everything was unique and distinct, nothing was too overpowering. It was really the perfect way to end our stay in Edinburgh. I highly recommend!

I came upon this place largely by accident and without a reservation. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate me, but I gather that was only because I got there pretty early for dinner and was very very lucky. Make a reservation. They offer a changing menu of 7 courses that is prix fixe; however, they appeared to accommodate a number of dietary restrictions of diners around me. (I got a pretty close up view, because you are sitting right next to them at the communal tables). The staff were very efficient without feeling like you were being rushed. I had plenty of time to contemplate between courses while never sitting with an empty glass or finished course sitting in front of me. Should I find myself back in Edinburgh, and I hope I do, I will definitely come back here.

When I think about this place I want to swear. It's such as asset to Edinburgh that it evoques profanity. Interior is great, service staff are super helpful as well as the food being innovative and playful. If we had more places like this it would be truly amazing. They foster great food all around by raising the bar for other restaurants. They care so much about what they are doing that it just shines through like a beacon. It's a small open kitchen so there can be small errors here and there but nothing that would detract from the overall experience. Go - but book ahead!

This place is really original with a simple idea and theme. We were travelling back to see friends in Edinburgh and read about this place in The Week magazine. Having just returned from Cape Town where we had some impressive food, we thought this place sounded as if it would offer good value for lunch, with the food cooked from whatever is fresh that day...and thus the place would have some originality. Like most folks who have commented on this place we were charmed! Sure the service can be a little muddled as all the staff, chefs included work at a pace, and a glass of extra wine did need to be asked for twice....but if anyone sits and waits for 45 minutes for a bottle...then simply get up and ask politely and I'm sure that you will get your wine...simple really! The staff all seemed to have passion and smile, and spending my life running an inn, sadly I know that often this not is the case! They came across as human. What I also loved is that you can see the 3 chefs working in a small kitchen. Onto the food...a great rabbit terrine, which they were making more of as we ate lunch...the smell was fantastic! I then had a black pudding..another starter as I was VERY hungry and then a fish dish from memory. All got 10/10. Sure the choices are limited (this makes it easier in my opinion) and you sit on long benches abutting long communal tables and elbow room is sparse....but hey for 25 quid it's a great meal and experience, and you may even speak with a local. The wine choices are enough to excite and also reasonably priced. The traditional record player was quirky and refreshing in this I-Pod obsessed century. Yup LP's do stick and jump still! Would I go back...sure! And then you pop round the corner for another snack at the wonderful Valvolla & Crolla!

An incredible gastronomic experience that are beyond any expletives, as the previous review said, that can be used to express the awesomeness of this place. A rustic quaint little cottage hidden in a small park that takes you literally as if you were out in the countryside. Our table was within arms reach and in full view of the two young chefs who were intensely prepping the meals. The servers were very friendly. The food was perfectly matched with the wine for each course. The meals were well-balanced. All the ingredients were procured from local sources and couldn't have been any fresher. Had a great time sharing the dinner with a friend here. There was some difficulty making our way out through the tiny door way which we didn't have any problems getting through earlier before the meals. ;-) When in Edinburgh, a definite must!

As a vegetarian, my brunch here was to best meal I had in Edinburgh. (We also dined at Mark Greenaway and Paul Kitching 21212). The difference was a whole menu dedicated to vegetarians and deliciously fresh vegetables. The potatoes I had were the best I've taste. I had a virgin beetroot Bloody Mary which was also the best I've had!! My partner had a non vegetarian meal that he was impressed with as well. This is a must try place for everyone! The atmosphere was cozy too. They only have communal tables, so done come to expect your own table :) however, the atmosphere is super cute and romantic regardless.

Sunday brunch/ lunch today courtesy of my wife. Outstanding cooking of beautifully fresh produce. Where to start ? The rhubarb Bellini. Yes that's where we started. We opted for some sharing and a main each. Tagliatelle with walnuts and black pudding - crunchy and spicy - it disappeared a bit sharpish! I had the hake with celeriac and amazing crispy kale - I guess it was dehydrated in the oven. Simply superb.my wife had the leg of mutton equally well presented. Finale was fought over with spoons. Sherry ice-cream, chocolate and some more rhubarb from the front garden. Keep it up guys. We've been fans since day 2! We'll be back.

Previous Review by Micah C spot on! Underwhelming, disappointing and unsatisfactory. I get the whole 'unexpected elements with fresh ingredients' thing but it just didn't work for me. I didn't like the 'squeezed in' with other diners in the shared dining table experience and the food (or lack of it), although well cooked, was, at worst, pretentious guff and, at best, just plain weird. Lacking in atmosphere and, as Micah C says, just difficult to explain why it does not work? Hard to put your finger on. Not value for money whatsoever (we went for the £50 per head Friday evening menu). I'd rather spend more and go to Tom Kitchen or far less and go to Wee Buddha.

I made a reservation last minute on Friday for Saturday dinner (traveling up for the weekend with my cousin) - thought there was a la carte menu but pleasantly surprised to find it was a seven course tasting menu for only 50 pounds (!!) every course was delicious and a revelation to look at and taste - didn't take pictures as charging the phone but you start off with homemade sourdough bread with the most incredible yogurt dip, get an aubergine tortellini (amazing), a fish dish, a lamb dish, palate cleanser (with herbs picked from their own garden), a cheese course and a dessert course (raspberry and pie crust) - everything was delicious, setting is intimate and you get to talk to your table mates a bit (in our case a local couple and visiting Brits) - service was also great. Everyone needs to eat here if you will be in Edinburgh :)

We highly recommend dining at The Gardener's Cottage if you are in Edinburgh. Their tasting menu consists of a sequence of light and refreshing small to medium sized plates. Each dish tends to highlight local ingredients that are in season. For example, some of our favorites included heirloom tomatoes with fresh burrata, and Shetland mussels in a delicious white-wine based broth. The wine pairings worked very well with each dish. And, as many others have mentioned here already, both the atmosphere and service are phenomenal. The outcome is an enjoyable and memorable dinner.

Had a lovely and atmospheric dinner here during the festival. This place offers an eminently affordable prix-fixe 5 or 7 course for 40 or 60 pounds. The service is lovely. The restaurant is in a park and has its own garden. Service is considerate and attentive. The food is delicious - very simple preparations of outstanding local ingredients for the appetizers and more complicated sophisticated techniques for the mains. When I say simple I don't mean unimpressive - I mean delicious, fresh, and imaginative without torturing the ingredients into unrecognizability. I mean a stunning summer salad of tomatoes, herbs, and home made ricotta - unctuously creamy and fresh with the right amount of slightly peppery bite and tang. I mean a whole grain bread dipped in superb olive oil and a terrific mix of spices (black and white sesame, cumin, fennel, coriander) with fine quality salami. The pasta was a carbonara reimagined with local Scottish ingredients and flavors - it was a revelation. This is a stunning price for such high quality food.

A mixed experience...rude greeting from the staff, (we were there 5 minutes before they opened and were made to feel badly about it). Service continued to be so so with a very long wait between starters and mains. We had a very nice sourdough bread with different spreads for a starter (Arbroath smokie, potted duck, and ricotta and tomato). My main was rabbit pappardelle and was almost too salty to be edible. The others in my party faired better with a lovely quiche, haddock with tomatoes, and roasted duck breast. The communal table was fun. Not a slam dunk but overall a pleasant meal.

The Gardener's Cottage is a small restaurant set in the Royal Terrace Gardens. Illuminated on a cool November evening, the restaurant immediately had a good feeling as we walked up the short path towards the front door. A cosy venue, there were tables on both sides of the entrance, but as we were a party of 11, we had one of the sides to ourselves. The long thin table was perfect for the occasion of two families meeting prior to a wedding the following day. The chairs that had backs in them to presumably house a hymn book, and the lanterns around the edges of the room added to the ambiance. We were there for the seven course evening tasting menu. As we arrived we were shown a menu that suggested wines to compliment each course, a nice idea but it would have really enhanced the price, so I opted for a Barney's Volcano IPA, a very tasty, quaffable ale, that suited most of the night's courses. An eclectic mix of music gently played in the background from a record player on the other side of the restaurant, a perfect accompaniment for a sociable meal. The staff were friendly, highly knowledgeable about each dish and nothing was too much trouble for them. To be honest, with so many courses, I am struggling to remember which order they came in and all the subtle flavours they came with; however, the first course was definitely a carpaccio of beef, with raw onion. A flavoursome start; my wife is not a big fan of raw onion, so with no fuss at all, they prepared an alternative dish for her containing beetroot instead, impressive. The next few courses, were widgeon, cooked pink, which was salty and delicious, one of my favourites on the night; and vegetarian course, which was a wholesome mix of seasonal vegetables, cauliflower stalks are surprisingly tough though. Other courses included a milk pudding with barley, not totally sure of that one, and a selection of cheeses, with crispbreads, savoury biscuits and the most lovely Goat's Cheese I have ever tasted! I freely admit, I am not the greatest fan of Goat's Cheese, but this was mellow and creamy, lovely. The stand out course for me personally though, was the hot pumpkin sponge cake with Sea Buckthorn ice cream, absolutely packed with flavour, the wholesomeness of the pumpkin, complemented perfectly with the sharpness of the ice cream. The final course was some Petit fours, which were Apple Crumble in a bite, and interesting mix of beetroot and chocolate. A delicious end to the meal; I'm sure I've forgotten a course, and most of the subtle flavours, but it was a most enjoyable evening of great food and wonderful company. Some of the courses didn't work me personally, but as a package the Gardener's Cottage offers unique tastes in homely surroundings. The strong Abernook Whisky to finish the meal, was a great Winter warmer too, before the short walk back to the hotel.

A cute cottage with excellent food that is both delish and fresh! The menu changes frequently so it never gets boring. The ambience is good, there's an open kitchen so you can see the chefs preparing the food. However, the setting isn't for everyone. They have long tables where you sit next to other people you don't know. It's a good setting however it is slightly crowded and personally, I think there isn't enough space on the tables and they should sit less customers on each.

My favourite place to go for dinner in Edinburgh. The seating is very continental in that you'll be sharing the table with strangers but that's always good for a laugh. Of all the times I've been, only once when there was new staff and it was really busy was the experience not amazing. Every other time the service has been fantastic, the food fantastic and the overall concept fantastic. The only downside is that the portions can be small (I am a big eater) otherwise a must-do in Edinburgh!

One of the most fun dining experiences I have had in Edinburgh. The food was perfectly prepared, fresh, modern, relaxed. I couldn't wait for each of the seven courses to come. Overall it was a perfect amount of food. My favourite course was a crab meat ravioli with bisque. It's a bit like having a taster menu. It was great to try so many lovely things in one dinner, however it was a wee bit disappointing that my favourite dish was over so quickly. Everyone sits at the same table, yes, but I wasn't even aware of what people were talking about next to me. You can see the staff working away in the kitchen. The music is played on a record player in the room - a lovely thing to see. I really loved everything about The Gardners Cottage. Even my loose leaf peppermint tea was amazing. It was really good value too.

Cosy and gorgeous location, £35 for seven exquisite wee courses (plus two surprise handmade sweeties at the end), friendly staff: essentially perfect. They're very flexible to diners' tastes (I dislike black pepper, for example: no problem), and the food is seasonal and local. Tricky combo to pull off but they do it. Take a date for a relaxed and congenial atmosphere. No objections to ecigarettes either.

What a different place to eat! Although the menu is a set one, once you let them know of your food preferences, a steady stream of interesting dishes come from the kitchen; each one with an interesting twist. At the start sitting along side strangers seems a little weird but the food soon focuses your mind. Great place to eat.