For more than thirty years, the award-winning Shezan has been serving Indian food to happy Edinburgh residents and countless visitors to the city. A welcoming, family-run restaurant, it was given a bright and glam refurbishment in 2011. Popular with patrons of the Playhouse across the road, it has its own theatrical connection in the form of a large mural depicting Bollywood stars.
Shezan’s chefs prepare food from all of India’s different culinary regions but with an emphasis on Punjabi dishes such as garlic chicken masala as well as a range of biryanis – a favourite of the Mughals. The grill and tandoori section has all the lamb chops, seekh kebabs and chicken tikka options that you might expect while the vegetarian section of the menu is wide and varied. House specialities include the fruity Kashmiri korma; the spicy balti gosht which is cooked over charcoal and the chicken tikka achari, flavoured with pickle, spices, split chilli and lots of coriander.
The lunch and pre-theatre menus are popular and the restaurant also provides both a children’s menu and a European menu for those who have yet to discover their inner curry aficionado.
Shezan is on Union Place, opposite Edinburgh Playhouse and a ten minute walk from Waverley train station. There is limited on-street parking in the surrounding area as well as pay parking at the Omni Centre. Local attractions include Vue cinema at Omni, the St James Shopping Centre and the National Portrait Gallery.