FOOD : Review of Commons Club, Virgin Hotel, Edinburgh
I feel I should be writing this in February, the month of Valentines and love; because I have totally fallen in love with the new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh. I’m smitten, infatuated and utterly enchanted by absolutely everything in this hotel and if I had an option I’d move in tomorrow. Here’s hoping my lottery tickets a winner!
REVIEW OF THE COMMONS CLUB, VIRGIN HOTEL, EDINBURGH
The Virgin Hotel on Victoria Street opened in June this year and is the first Virgin Hotel outside the US, with Glasgow hot on the heels of the Edinburgh opening.
The Edinburgh Hotel has opened up in the old India Buildings and spans several floors from the top of Victoria Street (George IV Bridge level) down to the Cowgate where the main entrance to a new Eve bar and restaurant will be.
Currently there are only around 50 chambers (bedrooms) open for bookings with the other 172 chambers and suites due to be completed for full launch in Autumn. In the meantime the gorgeous Commons Club bar and restaurant and many lush seating areas are open to guests and members of the public.
The Commons Club bar and restaurants spans two floors and when I say every single detail is impeccable, you better believe it. From the site specific curated artwork, to beautifully bound menus and sexy well thought out decor; this bar and restaurant makes an instant impact.
Downstairs you will find the restaurant, split in two; one side is the darker intimate dining area and the other the brighter lighter space that can host larger groups but is also the location of the Chefs Table where you get to see your food being prepped and cooked by the brigade of talented chefs headed up by Executive Chef Steven Wilson.
I was delighted to find that the menu reflects the best of Scottish and that using local produce is a huge part of their ethos.
Sat at the Chef’s Table facing the kitchen pass, grill and sauce station it was great to watch how the brigade flow around the kitchen. I especially enjoy watching the plating up ; such precision and concentration.
APPETIZERS
Isle of Cumbrae Scottish oysters with a Virgin Mary dressing and oak-smoked salt (GF) £ 3.75 each.
Off to a great start with Scottish Seafood.
Pata Negra Hand-carved Pata Negra Iberian ham with extra virgin olive oil and warm sourdough. £ 17.00.
This is the real stuff, the melt in the mouth jamon! Sensational.
STARTERS
Commons Signature Caesar with Creel-caught Scottish langoustines, chicken skin wafer, lettuce emulsion and anchovies. £ 14.00.
A deconstructed Caesar Salad. Every component was beautiful on its own but even better no matter how you built your bite. This is how food should be!
STARTERS
Wagyu Tataki - Wagyu beef from John Gilmour Butchers, fried garlic, ponzu green onion purée, parsnip crisps. (GF) £ 28.00
Stunning dish. Beef sublime and super tender.
MAINS
Halibut - Pan-seared Gigha hailbut with confit seasonal vegetables in a light Shetland blue mussel & saffron velouté. (GF) £ 28.00
Perfectly cooked, a little under seasoned but the veloute made up for it.
MAINS
Beef - Sous vide dry-aged Scottish beef with fresh broad beans, bone marrow, charcoal mash, wilted chard and salsa verde. (GF) £ 32.00
I wasn’t sure about the black mash, but it was delicious. The beef was tremendous.
So full we had to skip desserts but we were eyeing up the Pineapple - Compressed & caramelised pineapple, mango & lime salsa, coconut sorbet. (VE) (GF) £ 9.00 and the Cheese - A selection of fine Scottish cheeses from I.J. Mellis. Fruit & nut bread, bramble gel, Isle of Mull seaweed chutney. £ 14.50.
Once the hotel is fully open, I believe the menu will move over to a Tasting Menu with Eve Bar and Restaurant adopting the A La Carte menu.
The Commons Club have a brilliant wine and cocktail menu and we couldn’t resist enjoying a cocktail with our appetizers.
We tried the Electric Love with Belvedere Original Vodka, Fino Sherry, Homemade Lychee Cordial, and Fevertree Soda. £ 14; and Hadrian’s Wall with Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky, Peach, Lemon, Ginger Syrup, Drygate ‘Gingeraffe’ Gingerbeer. £ 14
The bar is wonderful with access onto Victoria Street. It’s light and bright and exquisitely decorated. I just love everything! Viktor is the head barman who has a wealth of whisky knowledge but can just as easily recommend an array of drinks that will suit your tastes.
Throughout the hotel there is a number of lounge areas where you can socialise in, including the Shag Room (the red room), the very quirky library, the coffee lounge and the very elegant lounge on the first floor outside Richards Flat!
Edinburgh boasts many hotels, and we could say that it really didn’t need another one, but it did and it desperately needed this one. We lack 5 star Scottish luxury that is modern, trendy and contemporary and this Virgin Hotel, accommodation and dining fills that gap superbly well.
I cannot wait to visit when it’s fully opened and I definitely want a nosey around Richards Flat!
Many thanks to the chefs, our lovely server, Caesar, our host Callum and barman Viktor. You have all quite simply helped me fall in love with this place!
Things to note:
Commons Club cater for Gluten Free, Vegans and Vegetarians
The hotel is dog friendly but must be on a lead in all public spaces
It is disabled friendly with a left downstairs to the Commons Club. They also have accessible rooms.
Virgin Hotel, Commons Club, 1 India Buildings, Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2EX www.virginhotels.com/edinburgh
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10
I was invited by Virgin Hotel Edinburgh to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.