Another restaurant from Stuart Ralston in Edinburgh, Aizle. Located at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
The restaurant is set in the courtyard with a casual atmosphere. The setting felt a bit impersonal; you are in the center of the hotel, and you can hear music from another room, possibly the bar.
You can choose from either a 5-course or 7-course menu. We opted for the 7-course menu. Our menu at the time was Spring Harvest. The menu on the table listed 20 ingredients, giving a clue about what was coming.
Brown Crab
Trout
Michelin style when it came to the plating, but there was no harmony in the flavors. The bread tasted too much of bicarbonate, and the unsalted butter did not help. The cold asparagus dish was served on a warm plate, making it unpleasant to eat. The lamb spiedini was way too salty and dry.
The service was slooow, unengaging, and laid-back.
Lamb
Hogget
Bread
Alión 2018 was the highlight this evening. (Our own choice.)
The food is nothing to write home about, and it took forever to come out of the kitchen. When we asked how many dishes were left, one member of the service staff said there was one dessert dish, while another mentioned two. Additionally, two spoons were left on the table, which led to mild confusion.
We decided to skip the final two desserts and end the meal. If you are a 35-year-old hipster with limited fine dining experience, you might be pleased and rave about the homemade kombucha served at the beginning. However, at this price point, it simply did not cut the grass.
First time
End of April 2024
Dinner
Airy
Not impressive
53 - 58 dB
No
No