Basement Bar & Restaurant Review

It was pouring with rain on the night my friend and I chose to visit The Basement, so it was a complete relief to escape the dismal weather by descending the stairs into the warm, low-ceilinged space of this quirky bar and restaurant.

The Basement has a chilled vibe, a laidback crowd and its own distinctive personality (see the Hawaiian shirts worn by the staff), which makes it a good alternative to some of the ubiquitous style bars around town. The space is divided into two specific parts, and the cosy dining area off to the side of the bar is decked out with rustic wooden tables and large gothic candlesticks. The menu features all the hearty favourites you would expect, including fish pie, peppered rump steak and Grolsch-battered sea bass, as well as a selection of chef’s special that change on a daily basis.

For starters my dining partner chose the light option of hummus with pitta bread (£3.95), while I went for the slightly more adventurous crispy tiger prawns with a sweet chilli dipping sauce (£5.50). The generous portion of hummus came served with an olive on top, and contained chopped jalapenos which gave it a bit of a kick. My prawns were butterflied and served in a crisp, light batter that went well with the sticky sauce.

And then on to the mains. Despite the abundance of comfort-food on the menu we both ended up opting for salads. My companion chose the stuffed roast chicken salad with Parma ham, soft balsamic croutons and basil oil (£8.95), while I stuck to my seafood theme with the daily special of sardine, anchovy and potato salad with sorrel dressing (£8.95). Both salads were beautifully presented, and we were pleasantly surprised by how large they were. My friend enjoyed the strong, contrasting flavours of the chicken breast and the goat’s cheese stuffing (although she was slightly confused by the addition of peas), and my salad was also a success, with its warm flakes of sardine, piquant anchovies and crispy pieces of red pepper. Needless to say, neither of us could handle dessert afterwards.

The Basement is regarded as a bit of an Edinburgh institution, and after visiting it’s easy to see why. The tasty, great-value menu makes it well worth a visit – whatever type of weather you may have to brave to get there.