A family-run café bistro, Café Grande is a firm favourite with the Bruntsfield neighbourhood as well as attracting visitors from other parts of the capital. Wine and beer tastings, curry nights and weekly knit and natter sessions all ensure that Café Grande is much appreciated by the local community. Having opened in 1984, the business thrives on serving good quality bistro food in a laidback and welcoming environment.
As well as a range of breakfast options, the day menu encompasses sharing boards, sandwiches, salads, burgers and the ever popular casserole of the week. In the evening, the kitchen kicks up a gear with starters like the smoked duck with pea shoot salad, orange syrup and candied walnuts or the Thai fishcake with chilli cucumber.
The menus change with the seasons but typical main courses might be the Scottish lamb rump with an anchovy dressing and mint pea purée or the whisky cured salmon served with braised leeks, crispy bacon, new potatoes and a cider dressing. Options like the linguine with a spiced red pepper sauce and goat’s cheese have their roots in the Med while others, such as the beer-battered haddock with rustic fries, find their inspiration closer to home.
Café Grande is on Bruntsfield Place, a five minute walk from The Meadows and a ten minute stroll from the King’s Theatre, Dominion cinema and Churchill Theatre. There is restricted on-street parking. Haymarket Station is a ten minute taxi. Several bus routes to and from the city centre go past Café Grande.