FOOD : Patron Saint, an Instagrammers own Alice in Wonderland

The bright colours of the exterior join a joyful palette of muted and bright pops of colours throughout this neighbourhood bar and restaurant. The decor is fun and playful but stylish with a mixture of seating on beautiful Victorian couches to large teacups! There’s nooks and alcoves and an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a cocktail, a cuppa or a charcuterie board! Think Alice in Wonderland and you’ll have nailed it!

The bar is owned by Lucky Number Seven Holdings, the people behind 2 of my favourite bars in Edinburgh - The Raging Bull and Cocktail Mafia.

A REVIEW OF PATRON SAINT, BRUNTSFIELD, EDINBURGH

The bar has a very relaxed, easy going vibe and I love that there is very little “noise” coming from other diners - its not a hollow cavern allowing noise to bounce of the walls, instead the place is filled with colour, texture and objects absorbing the sounds. Clever!

The menu is quite focussed on brunch with dishes like

CHILLI JAM & CHEESE FOCACCIA SANDWICH (V) £9.00 - goats curd, lambs lettuce and blanched tomato

MAROCCAN BAKED EGGS & SAUSAGES (GF) £11.00 - lamb sausages, chorrizo, peppers, raisins and greek style yoghurt

They also specialise in Small Plates (3 plates for £27 served as sharing platters), Large Plates (like a single main course individually priced), Pinsa (flatbreads) and Sharing Platters (£30).

We came for lunch and chose the Small Plates.

HAM AND MELON SALAD (GF) - thinly sliced parma ham with melon and fried bocconcini.

When it comes to refreshing and palate-pleasing summer salads, few combinations can rival the delightful pairing of ham and melon. The succulent slices of cured ham bring a salty and savoury element to this dish, while the juicy, ripe melon adds a burst of sweetness and a subtle hint of tropical flair. The vibrant colours of the pink ham and the orange melon create a visually appealing plate that is as appealing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds.

PEACH, CHICORY AND GOATS CHEESE SALAD (V) (GF) with frisee, pomegranate and raspberry dressing

This is a delightful combination of flavours and textures that come together to create a refreshing and satisfying dish. The natural sweetness of the peaches perfectly complements the slightly bitter chicory leaves, which add a crisp and refreshing element. The creamy and tangy goat's cheese adds a beautiful richness that balances out the other ingredients, while also providing a lovely contrast in both taste and texture.

CHICKEN KEBAB (GF) with peppers, onions, dill and mint yoghurt and housemade chilli sauce

Tender pieces of marinated chicken are skewered and grilled to perfection here, resulting in juicy and perfectly charred bites.

I love sharing food so for me eating dishes from a small plate menu is great. I love the diversity a Small Plate menu provides, allowing you to explore a myriad of flavours in a single meal. Patron Saint does Small Plates well which to me translates into a whole menu that will be delicious no matter what you choose and if lunch was this good, I can only imagine what brunch will be like. And if only we had had space, we’d have done some damage to the Sweets Menu - the SOFT CHOUX CAKE £8.00 with berries and a delicate mascarpone chantilly cream looks incredible!

THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT PATRON SAINT

  • They have a number of dishes on the menu that are vegan and gluten free friendly

  • They are dog friendly

  • The are disabled accessible with access level to the street

Patron Saint, 1-3 Barclay Place, Edinburgh www.patronsaintedinburgh.co.uk



My Spoon Award - Silver 8/10



I was invited by Patron Saint to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.