Harden's survey result
Summary
This “busy and atmospheric” restaurant with “reliably excellent pasta dishes” (plus, unusually, ‘full Scottish breakfasts’) was opened almost 20 years ago in a former banking hall by Victor Contini, whose family has brought their Italian heritage to bear on the Scottish food scene for more than a century. The venue’s success has led to further openings, at the Scottish National Gallery and in Cannonball House, next door to Edinburgh Castle.
Summary
“Contini manages to get brunch, lunch and dinner exactly right (although the Scottish breakfast is not for a weak appetite)” say fans of this converted banking hall. Their small-plates menu is “genuinely innovative while keeping in touch with what people want to eat” and there's “discrete” service on offer (often from “Victor Contini himself, usually to be seen in a smart suit at front of house)”.
Summary
A converted banking hall provides the “amazing setting” for Victor and Carina Contini’s relanched venture, which now puts small plates centre stage. Reporters praise the “good Italian food with very fresh ingredients” but “friendly and professional staff” also play a big part in “making this place a pleasure”.
For 33 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 Contini George Street?
103 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £25.00 | £30.00 |  |
|
|
| Pretheatre | £25.00 | £30.00 | |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £10.00 | £26.50 | £8.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £26.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.50 |
| Service | 10.00% |
103 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES
Opening hours
| Monday | 10 am‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 10 am‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am‑5 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am‑5 pm, 5 pm‑8 pm |
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