Simple Pleasures, Superb Plates

Stockbridge’s Eating House serves lunch the way it should be – with warmth, flavour and just enough fuss to feel special.

There’s something quietly wonderful about a semi-spontaneous Saturday lunch – especially when it leads you to Edinburgh’s Stockbridge. If you’ve not wandered this way for a while, take this as your cue. The neighbourhood is in fine fettle: bustling, vibrant and mercifully untouched by the kind of retail decline that’s swept through elsewhere.

At its heart is St Stephen Street – a stretch lined with vintage gems, antiques and oddities, the elegant Jorum fragrance studio, sustainable fashion haven Treen, exquisite jewellery at Aetla, and Michelin-starred Avery. But on this particular afternoon, we’d booked into the less starry but no less intriguing Stockbridge Eating House – a laid-back dining room that quietly nails the art of good food, good vibes and good wine.

The décor is pleasingly understated: mismatched school chairs, a chalkboard menu, wine in carafes, and bare walls that manage to feel inviting rather than industrial. It’s all very “new Edinburgh” – gingham tablecloths, communal tables, a walk-in-friendly front area, and a no-nonsense reservation policy that keeps things flowing. The food, meanwhile, is heart-and-soul stuff, rooted in local produce and cooked with care.

To start, we shared slices of chewy, tangy Company Bakery sourdough – the kind of bread that lets you know you’re in good hands. It paired beautifully with my date’s bone marrow: roasted until just wobbling and served split lengthwise, ready to scoop. Glistening with its own silky richness and topped with chopped parsley, it came with anchovies, capers and shallots – a salty, sharp foil – and thick, charred toast for piling high.

The vegetarian starter was equally memorable: a golden tangle of soft, braised leeks dressed in mustardy vinaigrette, topped with snowy Parmesan and a generous scattering of toasted hazelnuts. Earthy, nutty and full of contrast, it was a dish that managed to be both comforting and quietly clever.

For mains, my date went bold with the roast saddle of hare – dark, gamey, and tender – served with a bubbling, golden square of potato gratin. Rich, creamy and crisp at the edges, it was the kind of indulgent side that could easily steal the spotlight.

I chose the turbot steak – bone-in, skin-on, and bathed in nutty brown butter. Served with blanched new potatoes and a mound of bitter, charred wild leeks, it was robust, satisfying and balanced. The flesh was firm and sweet, the skin perfectly crisp, and while I had to navigate the central bone (I’ll admit I’d have preferred it filleted), the flavour more than made up for the effort.

To finish, we shared the cheese – a simple, generous board served with homemade crackers and honeycomb. The kind of finale that doesn’t shout, but lingers.

Weekends might steal the spotlight, but Stockbridge Eating House is quietly reviving the joy of the midweek lunch too. Their weekday set menu is a steal – £14.95 for two courses, showcasing the team’s favourite dishes and ingredients from top-notch suppliers like Balcaskie Estate, David Lowrie Fishmonger and Bowers of Stockbridge.

Think sourdough and butter, saucisse sèche, braised hare leg with mustard sauce, bistro salad and chips, a rhubarb beignet and coffee. Add a carafe of house wine for £10.50 and suddenly Wednesday feels a lot more interesting.

This is food that’s confident, seasonal and quietly self-assured. No bells, no whistles – just thoughtful, flavourful cooking served with warmth and a dash of charm. It may not have the accolades (yet), but Stockbridge Eating House is doing something quietly interesting. Come for the lunch, stay for the feeling that you’ve just found your new favourite place.

Stockbridge Eating House

7 St Stephen St

Edinburgh

EH3 5AN

www.stockbridgeeatinghouse.co.uk