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Nice restarting, food was excellent and good value
Kenny Mckinnon - dined in restaurant 24/09/2020
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The staff were lovely and very helpful, the food was lovely and arrived hot. I ordered a cocktail for myself along with my partner's dessert. The cocktail took longer than average to come but was worth the wait.
Stacey Baigan - dined in restaurant 25/01/2020
Inspired by famous Scottish architect, Sir Basil Spence, this unique neighbourhood bar and kitchen embraces the spirit of 1960s food and design. Diners can tuck into a cosmopolitan menu offering modern takes on classic retro dishes, from eggs benedict in the morning to gammon steak in the evening. The snazzy hand-painted mural offers a perfect backdrop to it all.
The menu at Basils could best be described as 60s dinner party meets classic French bistro meets contemporary cuisine.
So expect starters like potted duck & piccalilli with toasted polish rye; coronation chicken salad with toasted almonds, and cauliflower fritters with hot pepper sauce.
Sample mains include confit duck leg with dauphinoise potatoes and wilted greens; chicken cordon bleu with green beans, caper butter and potatoes, and vegan baked macaroni with squash sheeze and toasted garlic sourdough.
A highlight from the burger section is ‘The Brutalist’ (in honour of Sir Basil Spence’s style), crammed with black pudding, streaky bacon, stout sauce and cheese.
For dessert, the retro-tastic rhubarb trifle with flaked almonds or the chocolate tart with tablet crumb and caramel crème fraiche are both excellent bets.
Basils is based on Annfield near to the Port of Leith, around a 15 minute drive from the city centre. The Royal Yacht Britannia is nearby, as is Victoria Park and Leith Links golf course. There are plenty of bus connections in the area.