Harden's says
Closed in January 2020 after 95 years, Pompadour has now been given a new lease of life, at the hands of Dean Banks, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist and most recently chef at Haar.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Beautiful views”, including of Edinburgh Castle from some lucky tables, add further to the distinction of this famous chamber, named for the year of its construction and King Louis XV’s favourite mistress. Overseen nowadays by prominent chef, Dean Banks, our best reports this year relate to special events co-hosted by Dean and other famous chefs on the site. For the most part here, though, the fixed menu format has been dropped and the menu is now of individually priced dishes with luxurious ingredients (Smoked Lobster, Beef Fillet Rossini with Foie Gras and Truffle, Champagne-baked Market Fish). Feedback on this latest format has scaled peaks and troughs – from “not too pretentious but perfect for that special occasion” to “overpriced” and “poor all round”.
Summary
It’s one of the Scottish capital’s more famous dining rooms within one of its landmark hotels and run by star chef Dean Banks, yet feedback is perennially thin regarding this 1920s chamber, which has been through a number of incarnations in living memory. Named for King Louis XV of France‘s favourite mistress, its hand-painted walls and opulent decor are Grade A listed, although this somewhat grates with its current format, with bare tables and vividly coloured bucket chairs. The menu is that of a luxurious brasserie rather than something more haute and the tasting menu likewise at a relatively affordable £75 per person. Feedback is ‘all good’, but doesn’t give enough detail for a solid rating.
Summary
Were our reporters just unlucky this year at this famous dining room in one of the city’s most imposing hotels? Named for King Louis XV of France’s favourite mistress, its muralled ceiling and opulent decor are in contrast to the cutting-edge style of star chef Dean Banks’s eight-course tasting menu for £105 per person. But whereas there’s a host of enthusiastic reviews of the experience to be found online, our feedback this year was limited and downbeat: “was expecting great things from DB at the Pompadour but ended up really disappointed”.
Summary
“A superb location, where the chef's culinary skills are effectively displayed” – Dean Banks is succeeding where others have failed in this plush and “romantic” dining room, dating from 1925. Culinarily speaking, it’s in a similar ambitious vein to his St Andrews venture, Haar, and even a reporter who thought it is “maybe a bit pricey” concludes that “the quality of food and the high standards effectively make this a no-brainer to visit”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Dean Banks at The Pompadour?
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB
Restaurant details
Dean Banks at The Pompadour Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Don’t go! The service was slow. Allergy’s were not taken into account correctly. Serving staff were not able to explain the dishes. My half lobster was the smallest I have ever had. A total disappointment "
"beautiful views with amazing food"
"This was a special menu where Dean Banks was cohosting with another highly accomplished chef, and the restaurant was on top form. The stand out dishes in a 10 course meal were a beautifully balanced cod curry and a scallop dish which was accompanied by an excellent sauce."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £50.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 13.00% |
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 5 pm‑12 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑12 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑12 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑12 am |
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