Opening in the early part of the Noughties, First Coast helped raise the culinary stakes in West Edinburgh. Several years on, this cosy, neighbourhood bistro is still among the district’s leaders when it comes to Scottish ingredients cooked with pride and imagination. First Coast is casual rather than bling but very comfortable with it. Stripped stone walls, an open fire and dramatic seascapes make it an easy going place to relax. While still within easy walking distance of Edinburgh city centre, it’s just far enough out to escape the try hard glam, not to mention the heady prices, of some of its more central peers.
Although First Coast may sound like one of Edinburgh’s seafood restaurants, its menu has evolved over the years and fish now account for around a quarter of the dishes on offer. Smoked haddock with whole grain mustard potatoes, a creamy leek and pea sauce along with a soft poached egg is the sort of more-ish dish that First Coast excels at. Oriental flavours often crop up on the regularly changing menus. This might mean a Thai marinated chicken salad of peppers, cucumber and mango or a Vietnamese beef and rice noodle broth. More Mediterranean influences are just as likely though and they appear in choices like the starter of roasted aubergine, apricot chutney, feta and pine nut salad. Desserts range from the trad roly-poly with custard to more adventurous apple and cinnamon cakes served with an apple sorbet.