Edinburgh’s delectable fine dining scene has been on the rise in the past couple of years, with five Michelin Star restaurants and plenty of noteworthy spots to uncover. Cardinal, a brand new modern Scottish restaurant has opened its doors in Edinburgh run by Chef Tomás Gormley who is also behind Skua in Stockbridge.
Cardinal by Tomás Gormley is Chef’s first proper solo venture after without former business partner Sam Yorke with whom he founded Michelin Star restaurant Heron, as well as Skua. Located on Eyre Place, the new spot offers casual fine dining, where guests can have a good time in a non-pretentious, intimate environment while still receiving five-star service and phenomenal food.
The interior at Cardinal favours darker shades and mood lighting, with black wooden furniture which seats 24 guests, a large Artemide dome lamp as an accent piece and pops of colour throughout to bring the intimate space together.
Every dish on the menu comes from local suppliers and producers, boasting seasonal flavours from our Bonnie Scotland.
Secret Edinburgh got the chance to try the tasting menu for ourselves, delving into 13 courses of culinary bliss. What is more, we also opted for the drinks pairing, which came with seven drinks to balance with the vast amount of food. Every single drink came with its own character and backstory, which the staff happily uncovered as we went through the culinary experience.
Each course was an explosion of flavours, surprising the palate with unparalleled diversity in every bite. The most noteworthy dishes were the Oyster Alexanders and Lake Garda olive oil, as well as the Waffle with crème fraîche, fried chicken and N25 caviar. Lobster fans will also rejoice in the Cherry-smoked Belhaven lobster with pink fir potato in hollandaise sauce and chives, presented in cherry wood bowls hand-carved by Daniel Wester.
After 10 courses, dessert is probably the last thing on one’s mind, so the menu has been cleverly designed to serve a refreshing bowl of granitas with a selection of flavours, followed by Neapolitan ice cream and a Rose and Hibiscus pastille and Sea buckthorn ‘Jammy Dodger’ to finish the evening off with a sweet twist.
Overall, Cardinal by Tomás Gormley has to be watched out for, deservingly claiming its spot in Edinburgh’s affluent fine dining scene for those looking for something a bit more personal.