Celestia Indian Edinburgh - A Stunning Bargain for Classic Indian Dishes
About a year ago, Celestia opened its doors as a fine‑dining Indian restaurant. And listen, Edinburgh loves a bit of fine dining; we’ll happily sit through a 12‑course tasting menu on a Tuesday but we just weren’t quite ready for Indian food in that format. Celestia clocked this quickly, pivoted with absolute grace, and answered the call for proper, traditional Indian dishes.
The result? A refreshed menu packed with the classics we all crave. There are still a few elevated plates dotted throughout, but for the most part you’ll find familiar curries, comforting sides, and the kind of flavours that make you want to settle in for the night.
The Celestial Lunch Menu: Incredible Value
And now they’ve launched the Celestial Lunch Menu, and I need to shout about it because it is, frankly, a steal. For the sake of a 10‑minute stroll down Dundas Street from Princes Street, or a quick hop on the 23 or 27, you’re looking at a lunchtime banger.
Vegetarian: £15.95
Non‑veg: £19.95
You start with Crisp Beginnings (poppadoms and chutney), then an appetiser, followed by your main and accompaniments. It’s generous, it’s delicious, and it’s priced like someone forgot to add VAT.
The interior of Celestia will have you gasping. The main bar glows with this incredible purple‑marble light effect; it’s the kind of thing you clock from across the room and immediately think, oh hello, that’s fancy. Blue velvet chairs, marble table tops, pristine white napkins… it absolutely holds onto its fine‑dining roots, even with the menu pivot.
Alongside the Celestial Lunch Menu, they’ve also introduced Celestial Lunch Plates, individual dishes priced separately and perfect if you want something quick but still properly satisfying. The line‑up is cracking:
• Mince Meat Seekh with Indian bread — £13.95
• Masala Fish ’n’ Chips — £12.95
• Jashila Chicken Tikka with Indian bread — £12.95
• Paneer Tikki with chips — £11.95
It’s the kind of lunchtime offering that makes you wonder why more places aren’t doing this, elevated plates, generous portions, and prices that feel almost suspiciously reasonable.
Starters: Crunch, Spice, and a Revelation
Now, I’ve eaten in more Indian restaurants than I can count, and a poppadom‑and‑chutney tray is non‑negotiable for me. I need that first crunchy poppadom to get my head in the game and decide what I’m ordering. But Celestia hit me with something I have never seen or tasted before: spiced confit garlic.
Oh. My. Sweet. Lord.
A whole confit garlic clove, soft as butter, smashed onto a thin, crisp poppadom, topped with a spoonful of chutney and sauce… it was an absolute flavour‑bomb of a bite. One of those moments where you stop mid‑chew, stare at the table, and think, why has no one done this before.
You can mix and match across the lunch menu, veggie, non‑veggie, whatever takes your fancy, which I love. We went for the Paneer Tikka and the Crispy Onion Fritters, and honestly, both were spot on.
The paneer was marinated in spiced yoghurt and roasted in the tandoor, giving it that gorgeous smoky edge. Served with mint chutney, it was one of those bites that makes you immediately think, yep, I’m ordering this again. A bit like halloumi but without the squeak - paneer just hugs flavour in a way that feels almost unfair. So good.
The onion fritters arrived golden, crunchy, and exactly what you want from a lunchtime snack: light enough not to ruin your appetite, but tasty enough to make you consider ordering a second portion.
Mains: Rich, Hearty, and Packed With Meat
For mains, we went for the Scottish Lamb Curry, gently simmered in a rich, spiced gravy of tomato, onion and roasted cumin, capturing all the warmth and depth of traditional North Indian cooking and the Murg Handi Masala, tender chicken cooked in a thick tomato‑and‑onion gravy with aromatic spices. On the side: saffron‑kissed Pulao rice and a big, bubbly naan.
I’ll be honest: when the pots first landed on the table, they looked a bit small. But don’t be fooled. Once you start tucking in, these curries are belly‑busting. What I absolutely love is that the small pots are jam‑packed with meat, proper chunks, instead of the usual three lonely pieces swimming in a sea of sauce. Here, the sauce is thick, rich, and full of flavour, and the meat tastes like it’s been properly marinated and cooked right in it.
The rice was fluffy, the naan was soft with those glorious blistered bubbles, and the whole thing was so filling for a lunch that I had to give myself a wee pep talk to stand up afterwards.
Desserts: Because There’s Always Room
Desserts are extra, but honestly, I think I have a separate stomach reserved purely for gulab jamun. Sweet, sticky, soft and utterly yummy! We also tried the chocolate fudge cake, which arrived warm, fudgy, and unapologetically rich. The kind of dessert that makes you forget you claimed to be “too full” five minutes earlier.
Celestia’s lunch offering is exactly what Edinburgh needed - generous, flavour‑packed, beautifully presented and priced so well you almost want to keep it a secret. Whether you’re mixing and matching veggie and non‑veg plates, diving into those rich curries, or discovering the joy of spiced confit garlic on a poppadom, this is a lunchtime experience worth shouting about.
If you haven’t been yet, go. Book a table, take a pal, take yourself - just get down to Dundas Street and try the Celestial Lunch Menu. Your stomach (and your wallet) will thank you.
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT CELESTIA
Vegetarian and vegan options available
Open for lunch and dinner
They are not dog friendly
They could accommodate disabled customers but there is one step up into the restaurant and w/c are on the same floor
Celestia, 18 Eyre Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5EP www.celestiarestaurant.co.uk
My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10
I was invited by Celestia to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.
TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.
Adele is a writer, reviewer and judge living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events), is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food, Scottish Bakers, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards. Should you wish to work with, invite or collaborate with TartanSpoon, please email tartanspoon@yahoo.co.uk