5GBP Sunday Roast @ Leith Lynx Restaurant – Edinburgh
After convincing my ‘huge pub meal’ loving boyfriend that we can take an afternoon off to lap up some luxury we headed to Leith Lynx. To cut back on costs, and in an effort to get in some much needed exercise we decided to walk from our hostel in the West End to Leith. It was a nice hour walk around the outskirts of the city.
The restaurant is tucked away on a back road, which adds to the serenity inside. The interior is modern yet cozy and although it may intimidate a ‘2-minute noodle eating backpacker’, the prices are fairly reasonable. Various paintings line the wall, all with a symmetrical theme to them.
The particular Sunday that we went was rather quiet which was nice. Everyone was seated in different parts of the restaurant, so no one would be bothered. The worst thing is when waiters like to clutter all the patrons into one area.
The wine menu has a good selection and 250ml glass prices start from around £4, which is not too bad for Edinburgh. They don’t have beer on draught but they do have a selection of bottled beers all for a reasonable price of around £3. What I also enjoyed was that when the dessert menu came out, it included a dessert wine and port that would match the menu.
Being a bit of an onion ring addict, I had to try Leith Lynx’s beer battered onion rings for a starter. The batter on these mouthwatering onion rings is amazing. It reminded me of the batter on fish’n’chips from back home. If you have had fish’n’chips in NZ then you will know what I mean. Scrumptious!
The main course was a Sunday roast. We were able to choose from 3 types: duck, chicken or beef. I opted for the later. Of course this also came with roast potato, carrot and parsnip, all smothered in gravy. No Sunday roast is complete without a Yorkshire pudding to mop up all that gravy with.
You may look at the meal, as my boyfriend did, and think that its rabbit food. But the well-presented plate is 110% satisfying. It is one of those meals that even the quickest eaters will take their time savoring. The beef was literally falling apart when gently touched with my knife and fork. Even though I have just eaten right now, my mouth is salivating at the memory. Plus at £5’s a pop, you will feel like you have won the lottery.
By the time we had finished our roasts our taste buds were away in their own little world. The meal was like a drug that had taken over our bodies. As a backpacker you rarely eat out and if you do, it means ordering the cheapest on the menu. You definitely never take a look at the dessert menu. This day was different as both my boyfriend and I were swooning over our happy bellies.
We ended up opting to share a piece of white chocolate cheesecake with fresh strawberries. We accompanied the dessert with a glass of port as well as a chilled glass of D’Arenberg Stump Jump Chardonnay dessert wine (we shared by the way, we both didn’t have one of each!). It was honestly delectable, the fresh strawberries and the super creamy cheesecake were a match made in heaven and the red fruits in the port and high-alcohol really made a lasting impression when teamed with the cheesecake.
Our total bill for two people was around about £30 and I must say it was worth every penny. I left the restaurant feeling like I had just been at the spa for the past couple of hours. Leith Lynx Restaurant is pure foodie bliss and I wouldn’t think twice before visiting there again when I am next in Edinburgh.