The Grand Scotsman
On my way out of Edinburgh I stopped for my final EB in the land of kilts, sporrans, and Harris Tweed. My suitcase was bulging with Scotch Whiskey miniatures, a framed picture of puffins, and a natty little hat that would absolutely suit the Canberra winter, but not the Scottish Summer.
I was catching the train from Edinburgh Station down to Guildford to see my Dad before flying home to Aussie. Being so close, six hours of trains, I couldn’t possibly pass up the chance to pop in. My train wasn’t until 11am, so PLENTY of time to feast first.
I had seen the menu in the window a few days before on one of my walks and decided it looked like the sort of place that would either do a really good EB or monumentally stuff it up by trying to be too innovative.
I was seated in a booth with a brass topped table, and green velvet seats which I sank into. Looking around, there was nary a hard chair in the joint. Even the wooden dining chairs had a plush cushion to rest the weary buttocks.
I ordered a latte, orange juice, and classic Eggs Benedict that included Ayrshire Smoked Bacon, Toasted Muffin, Poached Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce. The menu kept it simple, so I thought, it going to be plain and simple.
It wasn’t, of course it wasn’t. I was in the Grand Cafe. They had the date on either side of the name. 1905. The chandeliers sparkled. The stained glass was clean. The stairs marble.
It came on a hand-turned ceramic plate, with spotlessly clean, shiny, cutlery (flatware, for the Americans). Baby spinach and toasted onion flakes adorned as garnish. The sauce, while pale, WAS HOUSE MADE!
Hallelujah.
I’ll be honest. I devoured it. It looked appetising, smelled fabulous, and tasted tangy with lemon as the acid in the sauce. The eggs, which I forgot to photograph because I was too busy scoffing them, where cooked to perfection with golden yolks and no egg snot.
After I had eaten, I used a few drinks mats to write some tanka about my Edinburgh stay. A couple of days before I had bunked off the conference to go and see some wildlife in the wild.
puffins and gannets
fish cold North waters
near island homes -
I dine on eggs
at the Grand
Would I go back? Hell yeah, and Capitaine Haddock, if you haven’t been there yet, you’re local, make it happen.
Location: The Grand Cafe
Address: 20 North Bridge Edinburgh Scotland EH1 1TR
Website: grandcafeedinburgh.co.uk
EB Price: £11.95 (GBP)
