Le Café St Honoré - City of Edinburgh

A new team has settled into Le Café St Honoré, a long-running Gallic hangout hidden away down a funny little lane just off Edinburgh's Thistle Street. Soft jazz and candlelight enhance the atmosphere in the dining room, where huge mirrors, ornate lamps and tiled floors create just the right atmosphere. The kitchen looks to the French bistro tradition for stalwarts like navarin of lamb, boeuf bourguignon and sirloin steak with frites, although more contemporary ideas are starting to make an impression.

The daily-changing menu could feature, say, tuna with parsnip rösti, prawns and spring onions, smoked haddock risotto, or veal escalope with sweetbreads, asparagus and port, while desserts could range from warm chocolate and orange fondant with candied walnuts to bread-and-butter pudding with marmalade. Wines are fairly priced and eminently drinkable.