When we search for the perfect restaurant, a few things come to mind: great food, a contagiously cheerful ambience, caring service and prime quality produce. While Edinburgh boasts a vibrant food and drinks scene with a choice of cuisines from all over the world, the options may seem endless. However, we have found the perfect spot for all your meaty, dessert and cocktail needs, and it’s Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen & Bar.
Located at St Andrew Square, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar is a place of effortless splendour, where classic British cuisine meets modern signature touches. The restaurant is the only Scottish venue and celebrated its first birthday on November 9, 2022. And recently, Chef Gordon Ramsay opened a welcome addition to the pizza scene, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, where guests can indulge in bottomless pizza.
Chef Gordon Ramsay’s background
Michelin Star Chef Gordon Ramsay is an esteemed Scottish chef and restauranteur with two Michelin-starred restaurants under his name, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, London, and Petrus by Gordon Ramsay in the heart of London’s Belgravia. Having worked with Master Chefs Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon, Chef Ramsay built a name for himself in the late 90s and has seen monumental success ever since.
While Chef is known for his choleric temperament after Hell’s Kitchen and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, it is clear that Ramsay’s love for food and quality has gotten him far. When you go to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, you know you’re going to get exceptional food and attentive service, and Secret Edinburgh experienced just that and more at Bread Street Kitchen & Bar.
The food
For those who are feeling adventurous, start the experience with the infamous Padron peppers. Because usually one of the Padron peppers is extremely spicy, it becomes a charged game pretty soon on who’s going to discover it first. Grilled to perfection with sweetness and a hint of bitterness at times, the peppers are a playful (or deadly) start to the evening – it could go both ways!
For the main, it’s best to come having skipped lunch. If you’re there for the signature beef wellington experience or to indulge in the large cuts, the portions are generous and are created to be shared. Guests can choose their preferred rare breed cut that has been dry-aged for 35 days and is charged per 100g, and is at least 900g of juicy goodness. We went for the Porterhouse cut and let’s just say it was everything we could ever dream of: the soft tenderness and the mature taste of the meat is something every beef eater should try at least once.
However, while the meat was upliftingly impressive, the dessert took the top spot. It is so good that even the staff recalled stories of the very first time they tried it, telling us tales of this mysterious yet amazing Chocolate Fondant with salted caramel ice cream. And, of course, we just had to find out what the said delicacy is all about. Just like the staff, we will now also be singing praises of the must-try Chocolate Fondant.
The drinks
The restaurant’s wine and cocktail lists are also noteworthy, with creative cocktails and fine wine options. Our personal favourite was the Princess Peach with Beefeater gin, elderflower, Tio Pepe dry sherry, Rinquinquin Peach Aperitif and orange bitters, with a sweet and notable orange kick. As for the wine, the Barolo La Morra (2018), Piedmont, Italy is the ideal and pairing with the beef.
Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen & Bar is not only a place for drool-worthy meat, but also for the best Chocolate Fondant you’ve ever had, topped with impressive cocktail making skills.