££££Prix : raisonnable • Italienne • Newington
Sambuca is not the classiest of drinks, to say the least, more associated with a night on the tartan tiles than an elegant Edinburgh eatery, but at Sambuca Restaurant in Newington, they manage to strike a balance between the two. They offer superb Italian cuisine served up in a boisterous, family-run environment down on Causewayside, and when you head on over, you’re guaranteed a friendly welcome. Start with their antipasti – fresh mussels, proscuitto and melon or some cold-cured meats – and then move onto a main. There are plenty of pastas and pizzas, of course, but we’d go straight for their house specials menu which here at Sambuca means seafood: trout with lemon, sole in butter, prawns in tamarind and more. Take a trip to Causewayside in Edinburgh’s Newington for a great Italian meal: just remember to book your table ahead of time.