Lunch at Restaurant Mark Greenaway

On Friday we went for lunch to Restaurant Mark Greenaway which is situated 69 North Castle Street in Edinburgh. The restaurant has recently moved from No.12 Picardy Place. 

Front of house is run by Nicola, Mark's fiancé.  The restaurant has a nice buzzy atmosphere (we arrived first before any other diners so that's why I was able to take this pic!). The waiting staff are all very knowledgeable and friendly.  The tables are beautifully set with crisp white linen and little candles on every table.

We ate from the Market Menu which is incredible value for money - £20 for 3 courses.  We drank a wine flight (£18.50) - three matching wines which complemented the food perfectly.

My starter was fried duck egg with a runny yolk which was served with a duck croquette which was packed full of flavoursome meat.  It was accompanied with crunchy fried brioche and duck ham which was kind of like parma ham and topped with baby leaves - delicious! Served in a mini copper pan.

Hubby chose smoked ham and pork ballotine which was packed with flavour.  A slice was topped with jelly cubes, apple meringues, a sweet scallop, garlic mayo and herbs. The apple meringues and jelly cut through the rich ballotine and mayonnaise deliciously, with the scallop adding a luxury note to a lovely dish.

11 hour slow roasted Clash Farm Belly Pork - simply delicious. Served with pomme puree, savoy cabbage and toffee apply jus. With crispy crackling and melt in the mouth pork.

Pan Seared Cod which was served with a delicious fennel & dill puree, clam chowder with vanilla foam.  Gorgeous flavour combinations made this a fresh and light dish. One of the best dishes we had.

My pudding was yummy - Broken Chocolate Tart - it comprised of custard jelly, frozen cookies, creme fraiche parfait, salted caramel, kumquat puree and space dust.  All the flavours work well together.  I loved the intense chocolate flavour and the surprise element of the space dust!  It looks so pretty too.

Peanut Caramel Cheesecake - with shortbread, toffee sauce, iced parfait and roasted peanuts. It's sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy.  The puddings are always fabulous here.  We have found in similar restaurants the dessert course is a total let-down but that's never the case here as they are one of the highlights.

Loic, the Sommelier in the wine vault 

We also met the man himself!

The wine vault, which is an old bank vault is used to invite diners to try wine before ordering.  Sommelier Loic Deruyver is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

I highly recommend lunch.  Hoping to come back soon for the eight course tasting menu (£65.50) Paired with wines (£95.50) - maybe for our Anniversary in April.  There is also a la carte menu as well as lunch and pre-theatre.

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday - Saturday 

Follow Mark on Twitter @markgreenaway 
Follow Nicola on Twitter @NicolaJackMG 
Follow Loic on Twitter @loicderuyver 

On Facebook here.

Website here.

Mark is appearing on Great British Menu so tune in tomorrow night at 7.30pm on BBC2.  The challenge this year is to create a banquet to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day.  Good luck Mark!