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The Apartment Review
Read our Edinburgh restaurant reviews. Or post your own.
The Apartment
- Address: 7-13 Barclay Pl., near King's Theatre, Tollcross, Edinburgh
- Phone: 0131/228-6456
Fodor's Review:
A wacky, whirlwind affair, this popular restaurant has a varied, innovative menu that materializes into huge portions. Choose from one of four menu categories: CHL (Chunky Healthy Lines), Fish Things, Other Things, and Salad. Dishes include fabulous mussels in a creamy sauce, North African spicy marinated lamb patties, merguez (spicy sausage) and grilled basil-wrapped goat cheese, and huge salads like tiede piquant (spicy olives, potatoes, roasted peppers, and chorizo, topped with a poached egg).
- Credit Cards: MC, V
Member Reviews & Ratings:
Reasonabloe food, shocking service
Posted by robrob71 from Edinburgh, UK on 10/5/08
I'm surprised how much bad service can put you off your food. We recently had lunch here although it was mid afternoon. The female (who was French I think), greeted us with an enquiring stare. On asking for a table, she said that it had been a mad lunchtime, so "wait there - I will have to make up a table". She did this whilst simultaneously taking the opportunity to clear a few other tables. After several minutes of standing at the door in an otherwise empty restaurant, she finally commanding us thus - "Right - follow me now". Her service was direct and almost challenging. It was as though we were colleagues that she didn't get on with, rather than actual customers. It spoilt my food as her attitude made me want to leave, but my wife didn't want a scene. Anyway, we ate reasonable food and left as fast as possible. A shocking service experience, and to be honest, I'm embarrassed that tourists have to endure this in our capital city. I wouldn't shed a tear if the place closed tomorrow. I've been here many times and always felt the staff were a bit too cool for school. Now some of them have lost the plot completely. I'm not going back, and I've changed a planned family celebration there to elsewhere. Avoid unless you like being made to feel that you're being done a favour.
Eat at The Outsider Instead
Posted by pjc23 from Washington DC on 9/1/08
After a pleasant dinner two days earlier at The Outsider (The Apartment's sister restaurant), we expected a good experience here. What a disappointment. Although my wife said her (vegetarian) meal was alright, my main course, 'swordfish steak in a Thai broth,' was the worst restaurant meal I've had in years. First, the so-called steak was about 1/4 inch thick. That's not a steak; at best it's a cutlet. Second, it was poached. What a way to ruin swordfish. Third, there was nothing 'Thai' about the broth. I'd like to describe the taste, but that would require it to actually have some. Sure, it had a variety of ingredients, but the chef successfully removed the flavor from all of them. Fourth, although I ate very little of my meal, the server whisked the plate away without noticing or asking whether I was dissatisfied. Nor did the chef notice that the plate came back to the kitchen largely uneaten. If you must patronize this restaurant, observe the follow precautions: (1) book ahead and insist on a good table with adequate space, (2) ask for an experienced server, and (3) don't order any course for which you have not received an express recommendation from someone you trust (this does not include the server). Cost: about 30 Pounds pp for two main courses and a modestly priced bottle of wine.
Not a good experience
Posted by Caledonia74 from Edinburgh on 8/23/08
I went there for dinner with my boss and some colleagues a couple of months ago.
The food was actually nice. The main problem was the service. I was facing a big mirror and could see what was happening behind the bar and noticed that the staff were gulping glasses of wine behind the bar! When the bill came, the guy who brought the credit card machine was new and did not know how to use it! We never got a proper receipt and it took us weeks to get the receipt finally sent to us after numerous phone calls to very rude members of staff and a couple trips to the place.
We will never go back there, the service is not worth it.
Absolutely HORRID! pt 1
Posted by VinceJ from Edinburgh on 4/12/07
Where shall I start! Upon my first visit back in 2004 me and my friend decided to go to The Outsider for a change of scene. I remember being made to wait to be seated for a considerable time, it didn't appear to be very busy and there looked like there was a lot of seating available. We were abruptly told to hand over our coats without much explanation. Our coats were stuffed in some small compartment, I think they should show a bit of respect for other people's belongings!
The waiting staff appeared to be rude, I remember my friend asking for an ash tray and some moody girl just pointed to a stack of ash trays at the opposite end of the room from where we were sitting, implying my friend to get up and get one herself - I'm sorry I didn't realise she was too important to do her job, hardly going beyond the call of duty and it didn't look like she was rushed off her feet either. So I raised the issue with her and within 10 minutes I had another member of staff telling us to keep the noise down, I'll dispute that we were talking loudly, it's not like we don't know how to behave in public.
Did I mention this was BEFORE we had our bottle of wine, which I might add, we were kept waiting for. Waiter was patronising when handing out our menus too... explaining EVERYTHING in the most unnecessary tone. The whole time we were there we were made to feel unwelcome and as if we were one huge inconvenience.
Surprised at bad comments
Posted by EdinburghScotsman from Edinburgh on 12/14/06
having eaten at both Apartment and Outsider im really surprised by the comments posted here. Yeah the owner is a bit eccentric but you just need to go with the flow and accept its not your standard dining experience! last time i went to Outsider we arrived 20 mins late (our fault entirely) thinking we would have lost the table - but no - the hosts were welcoming and hadnt given our table away. Our server was great fun - ok I didnt get the garlic fries substituted with my steak as i requested but that wasnt a biggie. She was informative, didnt rush us and was nothing but pleasant. Ive always had very enjoyable nights in both restaurants. The atmosphere is quite lively fun and the food solidly good. Will be returning despite peoples bad experiences on here.
Terrible service just not worth it
Posted by SoniaP from Edinburgh on 12/2/06
The Outsider (and sister restaurant the Apartment) have been 2 of my favourite restaurants since I moved to Edinburgh 3 years ago. The food is great and good value for money, but on recent visits the service has left a sour taste. It has always been a bit offhand but when I last called to book I was spoken to very rudely, told to call back when it was less busy and they hung up. I also ordered a lemonade there which just tasted like carbonated water, so I sent it back. I then heard the waiting staff bitching about me behind the bar. After reading all the comments on here about the owner I am apalled and have decided not to visit his restaurants again as I do not want to support someone like thats income. I advise others to do the same
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