Forage & Chatter in Edinburgh

1A Alva St, Edinburgh EH2 4PH, United Kingdom

★★★★★
(593 reviews)
Categories: Scottish restaurant Restaurant

About

Casual restaurant for a menu making use of Scotland's natural bounty, much of which is foraged.

Website
forageandchatter.com
Address
1A Alva St, Edinburgh EH2 4PH, United Kingdom
Plus Code
XQ2R+75 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Time Zone
Europe/London

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
5–9 PM
Wednesday
5–9 PM
Thursday
5–9 PM
Friday
5–9 PM
Saturday
12–2 PM – 5–9 PM
Sunday
Closed

Services

Service options
Dine-in Delivery Takeaway
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Late-night food Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Gender-neutral toilets Toilets
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Reservations required Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs

Photos

Reviews

4.7
★★★★★
593 reviews

Most Mentioned

price (34) anniversary (11) beef tartare (10) cod (10) monkfish (6) appetizer (6) food and wine (5) pork belly (5) basement (3) patio (3)
5 stars
502
4 stars
58
3 stars
15
2 stars
6
1 stars
12
★★★★
November 30, 2024

Delicious food, slightly pricey, but service is slow. Underground (basement) restaurant but clever design makes it less obvious. Waited about 75 - 90 minutes for main courses, which is abit too long honestly. But all the dishes were really tasty and well executed. Pricing is slightly high. Portions reasonable. Cocktail choices so-so. It’s a basement restaurant but you might not notice - they have created an internal “street” with “windows” into other parts of the restaurant so it feels like you’re looking out onto a street actually.

★★★★★
November 2, 2024

A true gem in the heart of Edinburgh! From the moment we walked in, we were captivated by the warm atmosphere and welcoming staff. This restaurant has it all: incredible, mouth-watering food, exceptionally friendly and attentive service, and fantastic vibes. I would highly recommend this restaurant!

★★★★★
October 27, 2024

Second time here & we just think the food is Devine. Very nice experience with a changing menu for what is in season. The wine list is always on point. Staff lovely as well

★★★★★
October 26, 2024

Loved dining from the very start to finish. Enjoyed every bite of dishes, great service and the music was just so right volume, where you can enjoy the conversation as well. Like their short menu. Nutritious and delicious meals, lots of flavour. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
October 25, 2024

The starters were elite. Super high quality stuff done well. The restaurants itself is very cute The staff were very accommodating and the waiter we had was a lovely chap. Outstanding service from him and across the board. I’d recommend the steak tartare and the salmon to start. If they have it on when you visit.

★★★★★
October 12, 2024

Dining experience was fantastic. We had a new server by her own admission, but truly one of the kindest, most friendly servers I’ve ever had. The food was amazing and when it came time for whisky tastings, the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful on recommendations.

★★★★★
October 4, 2024

A real hidden gem! (Quite literally hidden haha, the restaurant is on the lower ground floor so make sure you look for the sign of the restaurant around the corner). Amazing food and attention to detail. Taste, presentation, and creativity are all top tier. Would recommend everything we had, including the lamb main (not pictured). Excellent service, staff were friendly and attentive, and the warm coat room is a very nice touch. We felt cozy and comfortable. Definitely the best meal I’ve had in Edinburgh!

★★★★★
March 16, 2024

A wonderful evening at Forage & Chatter. The food was truly delicious - melted in the mouth, full of flavour, and clearly cooked with love and care. The menu is small naturally, so there was only one vegetarian option for starter and main; nonetheless, that vegetarian option was delightful (pumpkin croquette, then broccoli pappardelle). The service was excellent, attentive and friendly staff, and made my birthday celebration very special. Would 100% go again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

What a hidden gem this is! This beautiful restaurant is located somewhere in the basement. The food is really fan-tas-tic and believe me, Ive seen a lot of restaurants! All the food is freshly made and you can taste it! The service also deserves praise! In short, if you are in Edinburgh and looking for a good restaurant, come here! Really great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Gracious hosts and wonderful meal

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Just excellent. The service was attentive without being intrusive. The music was at the perfect level and the food was exquisite.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Dinner before BridgertonCandlelight: Best of Bridgerton Strings at St. Mary s Episcopal Cathedral, but no dinner reservations. We started out a little late, only allowing us about an hour for a sit down dinner and came across Forage & Chatter. First the atmosphere was eclectic and very welcoming. We did not have reservations, but they were able to accommodate us at a cozy table for two where it felt like we were on a back patio, but tucked warmly inside. We started off with some wine and were served bread with grapeseed oil and a mushroom butter. We had never had either of these with bread and typically dont even eat bread, but it was irresistible. The bread was soft and with the mushroom butters earthly taste, it all just melded together on the palate and melted in your mouth. For dinner we had Peterhead Cod with crab bisque, peppers and mash. The cod was simply exquisite. I have never tasted anything like it before and hope I will have the opportunity to again. It was better than any dessert I have ever had and if I had been able to extend our stay in Edinburgh, I would have gone back just for that alone. The service was impeccable, not intrusive, but on point. Everything was done with precision, from the kitchens preparation, the wait staff and the lady cleaning and resetting the tables. I cannot speak highly enough of our experience there. I know my husband will be able to return on business and will definitely be recommending Forage & Chatter to his colleagues and clients there. I will be at home with food envy! Dietary restrictions: Very accomodating for food allergies.

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Great place, the food is truly delicious!

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Was very lucky to dine here last Tuesday for our Wedding Anniversary. I dont think I can truly articulate how amazing our experience was! From the welcome, the service, the food and the list of places to go for a night out afterwards. My only negative is that I live way too far to come back tomorrow lol, but the next time were in Edinburgh we will definitely be dinning here !!! Thank you so much!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Really delicious food, cooked and presented beautifully. Confit duck starter outstanding. Bavette steak superb. Service exemplary from our waiter Ollie who could not have been more helpful or friendly, very welcoming and attentive throughout. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Dropped in without reservations and we were promptly seated. Everything was delicious from the heirloom tomato appetizer to my cod dish and my wife s steak. Service was excellent. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

A very special evening for our anniversary, they went above and beyond. Highly recommended

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

Very pleasant evening, with tasty and well presented food, great service and atmosphere. I highly recommend a visit!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Kid-friendliness: Very welcoming to families. No kids menu but the chef will whip something up that is kid friendly (eg pasta with butter and cheese). Food

★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

We ate here at the start of August for dinner. The staff were great, really lovely service. The atmosphere wasnt great, we were the last people in the restaurant by 8.30 on a Wednesday. Our whole table found the food was just OK, not bad, but definitely not great. I love the idea of a small concise menu, but it just didnt deliver, and in a city with so many good restaurants in this price range, it felt miles off.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

We had such a lovely meal here last night. They were a staff member down but went out of their way to make sure were looked after. The food was incredible! Will definitely be returning.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

If you want a nice romantic spot for dinner on the West End you cant do much better. The food is creative, local, and fantastic. Service was top notch. We felt welcomed from beginning to end

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Excellent cuisine, welcoming and very friendly staff, great discovery.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

We had a fantastic time at the Forage & Chatter. Leo and the team were overwhelmingly welcoming to us and, most importantly, our 3 yr old child. They engaged in conversation with our child, and even played her favourite songs. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. We d highly recommend this place! Thank you for a great experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Delicious food, friendly service and a very lovely space. Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Excellent food and service

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Awesome place! Extremely cozy and big thanks t Arthur for the amazing service. Inspiring guy!

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

What a wonderful restaurant! Can t rate the food, service and atmosphere highly enough! We were there with a 1 year old, which isn t easy to accommodate, and they took such good care of us. And everything we ate was incredible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Absolutely delightful and delicious dinner. Matthew was our server and did the most spectacular job helping us choose our wine, dishes and making sure we had an unforgettable experience. Couldn t recommend this restaurant more highly. They were also very accommodating of our party s gluten allergy and had GF bread/crackers to enjoy.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Had a great evening with fantastic food. Would definitely go again.

May 23, 2024

Id read reviews of the haughty attitudes held by the staff here, but we thought wed give it a go anyway since were primarily concerned with the food. Im not sure what chip was on the gentlemans shoulder tonight but it was enough to spoil any desire of returning.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

The store clerk is kind. The food is delicious. No complaints

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Family dinner for 3... impeccable and friendly service, interesting and well-cooked dishes. Very good address, not to be missed, but reservation essential.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Visited for my husbands 40th, both the food and the staff were faultless, made for a really special evening. Would highly recommend, definitely visit

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

Stunning food and service! The cod with gnocchi and celeriac purée was amazing

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

A dream of a lamb! Best lamb we ever had in a restaurant! The service and the wine service was excellent as well.

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

Whole staff is amazing, food is five stars. Can t recommend this restaurant more.

April 23, 2024

Previous ratings are absolutely incorrect. Do not waste your money! This restaurant is terrible. Horrible atmosphere, folk music & food. Misleading website.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

There was confusion/misunderstanding concerning our reservation. They were extremely accommodating to my family, extremely nice, helpful throughout oh, and the food was wonderful. Kid-friendliness: Yes. Very. Wheelchair accessibility: The restaurant is below ground level. I did not see a ramp or lift option.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Very nice welcoming restaurant. Warm atmosphere and delicious food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

A place for a gourmet dinner of the best local dishes in Scotland!!! Delicious starters, main courses and desserts!! Ill be back

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

This is one of my favourite restaurants. Excellent food, well prepared. Superb wine list. Friendly and relaxed staff. Great atmosphere and various different areas in the restaurant, so even at capacity, it never feels crowded. Love it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Absolutely superb place to eat. Beautiful food and fresh ingredients. Visited many times and will continue.

★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Interesting food with not entirely satisfactory ambience and service. And if the table does not have a tablecloth or placemats, make sure it is at least clean and not sticky.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Great atmosphere, fantastic food prepared with creativity and presented with passion. Excellent staff that contributed with personality to an already great dinner. They were always present and cared for us. They exchanged a few comments and stories, approaching us with friendliness without ever becoming too much. Quite impressed considering how young they all were. I wish them the best in the careers. The restaurant has a small menu of 4 starters & 4 mains + one large shared platter. Very inviting. I could have easily ordered every single item on the menu! I loved the initial taster of bread and Marmite butter (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it). The bread was one of the best I have had outside of Mediterranean countries, with a crunchy crust. The Marmite in the butter was a surprising addition that added that unexpected kick and made this opening snack super interesting. Food all tasted great, with a great balance of flavors. The warm and gently refined atmosphere of the place made it even more enjoyable. If I were to identify 1 improvement point: I didnt particularly enjoy the selection of desserts. As it often happens the chocolate option was not impressive (even if quite more interesting than the norm). The other 2 options available didnt capture my imagination but I was told at least one of them was very good. Vegetarian options: Not many options available but they all looked very interesting

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Cozy, casual venue with a nice atmosphere. The cuisine is interesting and creative. Moreover, especially compared to the UK standard, we found a fine balance in the dishes made possible by a very respectful use of quality the raw materials. The menu is short, 10 dishes with starters and mains. We tasted Smoked Haddock, Baked Beetroot, Tagliatelle and Beef Rump, all tasty, well cared and presented, especially the haddock and the beef rump.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Food, place, atmosphere, attention, location, all 100. Recommended without a doubt, the food is delicious, the combination of flavors of the dishes and desserts are incredible. The price is a bit high for the portions but it is worth it.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

We had a wonderful experience. Everyone was very attentive. Matthew went above and beyond to make everything outstanding.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Absolutely incredible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Completely outstanding. We almost went a 2nd night it was so good. Service top notch, knowledge and construction of the dishes was divine. Subtle flavors and incredible presentations. 10/10 cant wait to visit again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good food and excellent service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious food with outstanding service. Pleasant atmosphere! A must try!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent place with perfectly executed food and faultless service. We even received a complimentary dessert wine each and macoroon s for my husband s birthday!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very good cuisine with local products, fine, gourmet, in a very cozy, warm setting, and reasonable prices. A great place for a dinner in Edinburgh.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Lots of forage, little chatter. Ate here alone and I cried because I finally realised where I went wrong. I shouldn t have had that affair with Paul. He had a family, he had someone. I didn t. God. What s wrong with me. Anyway, clocks are 10 minutes fast. Which is good if you premature.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Everything was great: food very good, service very attentive and friendly, but please make bigger portions! I m still searching for the pork shoulder on my plate Great food for people who want to lose weight

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Quirky and cozy spot for delicious locally inspired dishes. Fun drinks. Some of the loveliest desserts, all made in house by a clearly talented chef.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Phenomenal. I had my first steak tartare, and it was sublime. Great service to go with the fantastic food. Not a big menu, but what they put out is simply a great plate of food. Food : 4/5

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

We booked Forage & Chatter as we have wanted to visit for a while. It was my partners 30th birthday, so felt like the perfect opportunity! And it really was perfect. The staff went above and beyond to make my partners birthday visit special. The service was top notch, and the food was absolutely stunning, both presentation and taste. Would absolutely recommend this to anyone if they want a lovely relaxed meal with amazing food. The birthday tequila shot will definitely be remembered. Thank you so much. We cant wait to come back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A beautiful experience. Wonderful offerings with an aesthetic appeal that will surely impress, and Im not just talking about the ambience and interior decor of this old age vibe restaurant. Their foods are a spectacle to witness that will surely have your taste buds pleased. Simply put, it looks good and tastes even better than it looks. The staff and service were marvelous to my partner and I. Their whiskey expert onsite was both informative and humourous. Much welcomed recommendations on not just what to eat and pair what drinks with your meal, but suggestions on where to visit and why. Definitely worth returning, if not for the flare of good dining itll be for the great company and service offered at this fine place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very tasty, good wine, great service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very good starters and mains - had the butternut squash and pollock. Desserts were okay - had the chocolate mousse. Nice ambience, attentive staff.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Food was superior. Unique, interesting and delicious. Service was equally excellent. Leo did a fine job with recommendations and pleasant conversation. A wonderful experience.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Faultless dining experience. Got dinner with a close friend. We were shown to our table after our jackets were taken and given water and bread. The food was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and a real interesting mix of flavours. Camille and Daniel gave us excellent service, with Daniel sharing his drinks knowledge and some friendly banter. They both created a classy, attentive atmosphere for us. The location at the back was superb and warm and, because we were last to leave, we had the whole space to ourselves, a truly magical experience. All in all, a very hard experience to top for the price. Thanks for a wonderful evening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

An excellent dining experience. Upscale, but not too formal. Fantastic service, and the best food we have had in Edinburgh. There are very few tables and reservations are required. Be aware that there is a steep staircase going up and down to the restaurant if you have any mobility challenges. Great location as well right off Princes Street.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Lovely evening at the Forage & Chatter. Our server, Leo was delightful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Extremely slow employees. They are extra slow to form a queue. Doner is mediocre. Its not worth the wait.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Loved the food and amazing service! Was looking for a nice meal out while we were visiting Edinburgh, and this was a great find. We enjoyed the food, the marmite butter was really good (they should sell it in jars) The main and the dessert was also good, Im not very keen on duck dishes but ordered the duck appetiser and I can safely say, theirs was the only duck dish I finished without thinking twice!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My husband and our friends enjoyed our food here so much that our friend had the lamb dish 3 times! That is how amazing the dish is. Also the beef tartar was absolutely delicious, we had the dish twice:) definitely recommend if you are visiting, to try this place out. Great staff and delicious food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Spot on, highly recommend

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

It was our special anniversary and they were extremely welcoming!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Lovely service and atmosphere. The food was incredible! Had the pearl barley risotto with walnut pesto and it was to die for.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Beautiful underground setting with a great patio area too. The menu is simple, but the flavors are bountiful. The beef tartare, maybe the best I ve ever had. The duck starter was also terrific. Finally the lamb rub and pork belly were off the charts good. Service and drinks proper as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellence personified in cuisine. It was a magical experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Everything was absolutely delicious, the wine list is interesting too. The atmosphere of the restaurant divided into several spaces is very pleasant, quite cozy. The service is fast and friendly. Remember to book.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Very tasty food but rather small portions!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Absolutely brilliant experience - highly recommended

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This was a lovely restaurant with delicious food! it was, in my opinion, reasonably priced as well considering the quality of the food and drink. The portions were a perfect size too which allowed me to order an appetizer, entree and dessert. The server was quite patient with me in helping me choose a wine as well haha. Dietary restrictions: They asked on the menu that you mention if you have any dietary restrictions

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Was expecting a Michelin level experience, fell way short. Very limited menu. Food okay but more on the lines of pub fare (e.g., bavette steak). The tartar was excellent, though. But, despite several tries the champagnes were pretty much room temperature. Wouldnt go back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The concept of getting kicked out while you are in the middle of a good discussion is not ok. Food and service were good otherwise

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Nice food but not a lot of choices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Absolutely awesome! Excellent food fantastic service and very helpful and friendly staff........we loved the whole experience, the guys even bought out a little anniversary surprise for us ........ top marks thank you for a fantastic evening

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Fantastic service and even better food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Had the Whisky Cured Salmon along with Beef Bavette, Lamp Rump and ending with Chocolate Mousse. The food was extremely fresh and delicious. Service was great with Anna and Mathew, routinely asking if we had any requests or issues. The atmosphere perfect for an evening dinner. Worth coming back.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Delicious food in lovely (hard to find!) spot. (Clue: it s down the stairs !)

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Absolutely amazing food and service. Every dish is made perfectly from the appetizers to the desserts. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Forge and Chatter is an exceptional restaurant! The menu is truly amazing, and the food quality is top-notch. I cant say enough about the fantastic vibe that adds to the overall dining experience. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a memorable meal its a must-visit!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Wonderful food and fantastic service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious food, very attentive waiter without being overly so. Would def recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Cosy restaurant with beautifully presented and tasty dishes with a hint of Scotland.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We arrived 15 minutes earlier than our reservation. Had to wait about 5 or so minutes for anyone to notice us. But when they did, they promptly checked if our table was ready and led us to it. I personally do not like dimly lit restaurants, so when I was led up to the patio kinda area with very low lighting, it put a bit of a damper on my mood. Then we were told that since the 7.15 table was running late, they could take our order (even though we were early). This felt like unnecessary information, to me. The food is great. It is clearly put together with a lot of love and care, with fresh, local ingredients. The menu is limited, but I think it is due to the time and dedication each dish demands. You wont be disappointed. Its definitely worth a visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent food & atmosphere. Definitely book a table before.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Strongly recommend this place! Wife and I were visiting from Boston and were impressed. Food is delicious and creative. Beers were very nice. Atmosphere was very nice. Staff went out of their way to acknowledge our booking details (anniversary) and navigate the OpenTable system quirks.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Brilliant food, top notch service and absolutely banging music. Loved it

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food standard was high but the quantities are small given the price. My wife got the pork loin which came with a tiny portion of potato, if the accompaniments could just be increased a bit then it would be much better value and warrant a 5 star. We asked for more bread to fill in the corners and thankfully didnt get charged for it! Or else wed have left still hungry!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

From start to finish, it was an exceptional experience. The staff are so friendly and welcoming, from the moment we stepped through the door. As it was my partners birthday, they surprised us with glasses of bubbly, which was a lovely surprise. Every single bite of food was delicious. Its wonderful to see a seasonal menu implemented so well. The squid on the monkfish main was perfection. The plum dessert was out of this world! Just fantastic food. As we left, they had even warmed our coats for us. Safe to say, we will definitely return whenever we next visit Edinburgh - and well advise everyone we know to visit, as well! Thank you, Forage & Chatter team

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great place! Service was excellent, thank you Matt for dinner recommendations! Cocktails were lovely & dinner was fabulous. Favourite app: beef tartar Favourite Entre: mushroom tagliatelle (and I m not a vegetarian)

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food, great venue.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Food and service was absolutely fantastic. Being tourist, this is a great authentic Scottish experience. Must try when you come to Edinburgh!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Incredible restaurant with flavors that stand out from starter to dessert! In a cozy place with a very warm welcome. Worth the detour. Thanks to the establishment!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent food. Attentive staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great duck salad and monkfish!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and amazing service! Went for a 21st bday meal and staff were so lovely. Forgot to ask for her name but our waitress was young with short brown hair. She was great - quick and friendly service and even brought out a free little dessert! Made our evening perfect. Thank you very much! Food was some of the best we ve had too!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

What a beautiful experience! Forage and Chatter is a rare gem in Edinburgh. From start to finish we got excellent and friendly help throughout the dinner, which levelled up our stay at the restaurant. Extremely well-thought-out and tasty dishes. The beef rump was simply perfect: a great mix of flavours given by the intelligent use of sauces. Similarly, the mushroom tagliatelle was a mix of the delicate and subtle taste of tartufo and the stronger presence of cheese. On the same note, the dessert (namalaka chocolate, orange, chocolate ice cream). Thanks again, you made my birthday a very special day!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

After months of having this place on my radar I finally got to try it, and it was transcendent. The menu is rather limited. About 4-5 starters and mains but everything is delicious and lovingly made. Service is kind, thoughtful and attentive without being stuffy or overbearing. It will be my pleasure and privilege to return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Lovely atmosphere, great food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great food, terrific service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Forage and Chatter is an understated gem in the heart of the city. Love this place for its simple elegance; fantastic food and seasonal menu.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Fantastic grub, relaxed service and cosy interior. Will be returning!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Lovely place... They went the extra mile to make our dinner special.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Beautiful little place with amazing food and a magnificent wine selection. Would also recommend the cocktails!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

2022: It was lovely to come back and have dinner, the staff were lovely as was the food - Forage and Chatter will always be a must do when I visit Edinburgh. I look forward to the next menu and creative butter. Thank you Matt and the ladies (Im truly bad with too many names) for a tasty and great evening. 2019: First night of a long weekend visit to Scotland, staff were friendly and attentive. Which means a lot when youre dining alone on your birthday (hoping my tip reflected this). The decor is simple but elegant.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Cosy venue, great service and delicious food at Forage & Chatter.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Came for dinner the night after getting married. Lovely intimate restaurant, food was stellar. Our waiter Matt was 10/10 good recommendeds for where to go next

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

My boyfriend took me here as a surprise and the food was delicious. The atmosphere was very nice and we had a lovely time. I would say that the food was a bit on the expensive side but the quality of it was extremely good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Spectacular food and service, would highly recommend

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing food, great service and a very nice atmosphere. Well definitely come again.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing service. We felt so welcome from every staff member we came into contact with. The food was absolutely fantastic, brilliant value for money - 3 courses went down a treat along with a bottle of wine which was recommended to us. With it being my mums 50th birthday celebration, they gave us a complimentary dessert wine & a little personalised treat on the side. Couldnt recommend this restaurant enough!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Absolutely friendly staff as soon as you enter. They have some small touches of comfort and class. The heat was perfect in the back room. The food was absolutely perfect. The beetroot salad was one of the top 3 salads I have ever had. The yogurt went extremely well with the beets. It was so tasty and delicious. I loved the chicken breast with caramelized cauliflower. Again, very tasty and the flavors were a perfect marriage. Absolutely worth your time!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Incredibly well priced, quality of food and standard of service was excellent. This is an absolute must for anyone living in or visiting Edinburgh. Great experience, well worth my time spent there. I got the chance to speak to the owner and you can tell this is an establishment centered around the customer and giving them the best experience possible!

Local Guide
December 23, 2022

RUDE Owner - doesnt realise customers pay a bill and if you have a dress code you should make it known. Venue looks dingy and underground and aint worth the hassle if owner doesnt realise customer service is key! Avoid!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing place. Not only did the food is great, the service is exceptional! It s a must go when visiting (or living in) Edinburgh.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Forage & Chatter is tucked away in the basement of a line of row houses in Edinburgh s New Town. Superb dinner using the best of Scotland s ingredients. Magical presentation. Excellent wine list. Helpful and knowledgeable staff. We started with the Cured Salmon and the Venison Tartare appetizers. Each were dazzlingly presented a great way to begin. The four of us chose the cod for the main. The fish was perfectly cooked, browned delicately on the edges flaky and tender inside. The accompaniments were perfectly prepared. The wine list contained some exceptional bottles, including an extravagant 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet from the Pillot winery. It paired perfectly with both the appetizers and the Cod. We shared the three available desserts and the cheese platter to finish. All splendid, but my favorite was the chocolate mousse. A glass of the Chilean Luis Felipe Viognier Sauvignon paired nicely. This is definitely the kind of place for a special evening, the kind of place that does not disappoint.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Good excellent. Servings on small size for the price. We asked if the chef could prepare some kind of salad-any kind-for someone who didn t like the limited appetizer options and they said no which was disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Wonderful service with great professionalism and excellent food I thank McNell for his kindness

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

What a gem. All restaurants should be like that. Fresh ingredients and outstanding presentation complemented by a fantastic drink selection 10 out of 10. Must visit type of place.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

We had a lovely dinner here. The waiters were friendly and accomodating. The food is outstanding!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

We found this place just off one of the busier streets, as we came in we were greeted by friendly staff who showed us to our table in the conservatory at the back of the restaurant. We realised there were actually quite a few cozy little pockets nestled in various corners of the warren like building, great for date night! As we were seated we were given the wine and drinks menus and water was brought over. The wine list was well curated and they had a nice selection of bespoke cocktails, they also explained that requests for cocktails off menu were welcome. The food menu was compact but varied (which we prefer) and all tastes were catered for. There was definitely a strong theme of seasonal produce throughout the dishes which we really appreciated. We both had the carrot risotto with walnut pesto which is honestly the nicest Ive had in any restaurant. The dish was complex but so perfectly balanced, with a light cheesy tang tying everything together. For the mains my partner had the cod, which was a gorgeous chunky fillet cooked perfectly so it just flaked apart. This rested on a bed of deliciously seasoned lentils and was adorned by the freshest muscles and cockles. I had a pork fillet dish which came with purple potato gnocchi (something Ive never had before and were deliciously soft and fluffy) all tied together with a luscious sauce. All of the savoury dishes were perfectly seasoned and proportioned. Desert was a financier with rhubarb which was light and not too sweet, my partner had the pear panna cotta which was also really light with a zingy lime sorbet. We also had wines with the starters and mains which were very well recommend for each of our dishes by the very knowledgeable staff, and to finish the desert cocktails were just the perfect ending to a beautiful meal. Staff were exceptional throughout and you could tell that they genuinely wanted you to have the best experience, which we did! The price was also very reasonable for the quality

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The best cod I have ever had

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Lovely atmosphere, beautiful platting and very professional staff! The food was terrific, I would highly recommend the lamb! Only thing is that the portions are on the small side but one starter and one main for dinner are just perfect portions!

December 23, 2022

The lovely Balmoral Hotel which we are loyal guests every time we stay in Edinburgh made & confirmed our 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner reservation at this restaurant when we showed up tonight said they did not have a reservation in our name BE WARNED EVEN IF YOU MAKE A RESERVATION HERE YOU CAN SHOW UP AND THEY WILL SAY THEY DON T HAVE IT!!!! Shotty restaurant management!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

This was our best meal in Edinburgh. My wife and I had dinner here to celebrate our anniversary. Daniel, our waiter, was so nice and helped us choose some delicious options for dinner. The location and the atmosphere was wonderful. I would highly recommend it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Lovely restaurant with great food and friendly service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Definitely worth travelling here from Oz to enjoy this Culinary sensation - what food, what staff (so entertaining), what ingredients and what flavours! Awesome dining in a quirky setting below street level

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Went for an anniversary treat. And it was. The menu is limited but everything was beautifully cooked and presented.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Had an incredible meal here this evening. Cozy atmosphere and lovely staff. The food is beautiful and care is taken with asking if you may have any dietary restrictions or allergies. I would highly recommend the beef tartare, sirloin steak and chocolate mousse.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Best restaurant in Edinburgh! Staff is kind and food is delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Immediately becomes my Edinburgh regular spot. High praise from me is when a restaurant makes the list of I ll be back . Forage and Chatter is wonderful. Great team, great food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food was perfect and scrumptious - service was above and beyond. So nice to us on our special day

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

We had a great evening at Forage & Chatter. The drinks were delicious, the food was delectable, and the service was first rate. It was a memorable evening. We are grateful for the experience. This place should be at the top of your list when visiting Edinburgh!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

This a cute cellar restaurant in new town Edinburgh. I admired the simple menu and the welcoming staff. The food did not disappoint, I had the beet salad followed by the sirloin, hubs had the steak tartare and the the fish, it was all great! Service was timed perfectly and was not encroaching. When we did choose a dessert the complementary wine to accompany it was a lovely touch. To top it all off they all had a sense of humour, so if I could give 6 stars I would.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

thoroughly enjoyed this meal. small venue so reservations are must. seasonal menu for freshest ingredients

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food was inventive, and the cocktails were very good. Only let down slightly by the service, but could have been our remote location in the restaurant. As we ate at other restaurants at a similar price point across the city we were comparing against high standards.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Extremely good food and cocktails, deserves to be better known

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Celebrated my engagement here. Food and service was outstanding

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

It was delicious. We came for our 10 years anniversary and it was just perfect. I recommend this place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food was really good and staff were so helpful.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Resturant was clean and staff was super friendly. The food portion was too small for prices on menu. Food took forever to serve. I would not recomend Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

We had a lovely meal here at the weekend. We are not locals so booked here after reading other reviews and it did not disappoint. The dishes were tasty, fresh and thoughtful. The service was fantastic from every member of the team. We will be back!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Great place for food and drinks. Majec was very friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

I had the beef tartare for starters and it was exquisite. Some people may like egg yolk but if you don t this is perfect for you. The staff are incredible. So warm and helpful. The ambiance was lovely, genuinely a great night. Would definitely recommend

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

The most clean taste I ever eat. You are the best. You have to order the panacota dessert.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Intimate and thoughtful dinner with impeccable service. Every dish was divine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

First class service. Quality of the food was excellent. Roasted beets to start followed by sirloin cooked to perfection (wife) and delicious pork belly (me). A most enjoyable and satisfying dining experience. Will certainly be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Outstanding, I would award six stars if I could. The food was delicious and the staff were great (very attentive always ready). Small menu but our group of 4 tried approx half of the dishes available and everyone was very pleased with their dish. Sorry no pictures this time, but I am sure that I will return so I will take photos on my next trip. I strongly recommend Forage & Chatter

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Excellent food and brilliant service with a very chill atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Great food

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Amazing food, amazing wine, 5* service and a great atmosphere. Everything you could ask for from a restaurant.Will definitely be a 1st choice when visiting Edinburgh in the future

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Really excellent local restaurant but it appears in the Good Food Guide and the Michelin guide for a reason

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Amazing food and super friendly and helpful staff! Food was presented beautifully and very well done!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Unexpectedly amazing !!!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Excellent meal here, 16th July. Food pretty much faultless, great wine and the feeling of being expertly entertained. Highly recommended!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

The best food Ive ever eaten, I dont think I can ever eat lamb again because I know it will never compare to the lamb I had here. Outstanding service, reasonable prices and delicious food. Will definitely come again!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

We had a great meal here. Staff really friendly and knowledgeable. Food excellent with good flavour combinations. Good social distancing policy.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Exceptional food and great service - highly recommend

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

The service was excellent! Such friendly staff. Delicious food and wine, everything very well thought out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Lovely look and feel, great food and really friendly staff. All the dishes were excellent. Thoroughly recommended.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

The pork belly starter was absolutely incredible - flavours and textures were great. Lamb main was perfectly cooked in all aspects, but lacked a bit of oomph in the seasoning department. The dessert was beautifully presented, sadly not to my liking - not to anyones fault but my own. The service stood out the most, exceptional - could have given me a potato on a plate and the service alone would keep this at a 3 star review.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Ive been twice to Forage and Chatter, once with my husband and once with a group of friends and both times were incredible. The food is fantastic, gourmet style without needing to take out a second mortgage. Service is unbelievable, staff really make you feel like you are the only table in the place. Highly recommend for special occasions or fancy date nights.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Excellent cooking, very helpful and personable service, and we thought it was excellent value for the standard of food.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Every course was increidble. The Pork Bellly start was brilliant with a great mixture of flavours and the mains (we had the Lamb and Halibut between us) felt like 2 or 3 different dishes in one that all went together. Rounded off with a great desert (tarragon ice cream with the cheesecake was lovely but would also recommend the mousse). Make sure you come with someone who will let you try food off their plate. The staff and owners were super friendly too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Don t hesitate when choosing this restaurant. It s an underground wonder and Cameron really knows which wine to pair with each course.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Lovely meal with my friends will definitely be back.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Went back in 2018 and this was one of the best experiences Ive had in a sit down restaraunt!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Excellent food and service. Worth a visit

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Unbelievable little gem. Absolutely faultless. An absolute must whilst in Edinburgh.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Staff were so friendly & professional. Food was amazing .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

I cant believe its taken me so long to try this place. Contemporary cooking (which is not always a compliment) but top quality ingredients on show here, and full of flavour. Excellent vfm lunch.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Had a lovely meal here for my mums birthday, service was friendly yet professional and the food was absolutely gorgeous - definitely one for a special occasion

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Always excellent food that is just that little bit special, naturally cooked to order. A relaxed, cosy restaurant with attentive but unhurried service. One of our favourite places - if we can get a table!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Have you ever had a meal with friends where no one spoke because the food was THAT good? This is the place if you really enjoy good..no, make that great food, then this is your place we were there three years ago and are still talking about it. The service was grand, and our waiter went above and beyond to accommodate us Chef is super talented and his knowledge of food preparation is unmatched cannot wait for a return visit to this quaint establishment .and Thank you Chef for the creative meal we had with you!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Really nice meal and the owner and waiting staff were very friendly and helpful.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Food was fantastic, oysters especially was great and the monkfish was absolutely delicious. However the real let down was the fact that we were asked to leave 3 times in 15mins towards the end of our meal. When we complained the managed told us because we arrived early they sold another table, and therefore our booking was down to 1.45hrs only. This was not made clear during booking or upon arrival. This really ruined the experience for us @£75 per head.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Went here for my birthday. One of the best hidden gems in Edinburgh. The service was amazing!

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

I went in with high expectations given the descriptions of the dishes and the photographs you can easily find in other reviews. We had the winter salad and trout as staters which were both gorgeous and plated excellently. Unfortunately they were not impressively seasoned or flavored in any fashion that I would associate with this quality of service or presentation. Both lacked general seasoning (salt, pepper, any spices). The trout seemed like great quality but the puree it was served with was merely fatty and lacked real flavor. The winter salad was very basic and looked gorgeous at least. We had the lamb and the pork for our mains. The lamb was cooked to the correct temperature and the veg + other items were technically prepared correctly but lacked flavor similar to the previous courses. Pancetta was rendered too heavily as it became hard to eat. The pork belly was fine, the meat portion of the belly was very nice and moist but the top of the belly included too much nonrendered fat so you need to remove the excess fat. In addition the top of the pork belly was caramelized too much as each piece became stuck in your teeth immediately. The entrees once again looked gorgeous but tasted average. We had the cheesecake as a dessert and it was significantly better than every other dish prior. Whoever made the cheesecake did a great job and it was perfectly seasoned. The service was very good and the staff was very attentive.