Eleanore Edinburgh

Neighbourhood restaurants are rarely destinations, more places of convenience. Eleanore refuses to fit the mould. Taking over from sibling site Little Chart Room (which has moved down the road), the restaurant is petite but perfectly formed. All neutral colours, hand-thrown tableware, and shelves of ferments.

An entire dining room of high tables and bar stools doesn’t read as a recipe for relaxation, but somehow the vibe is warm and laidback. This is bolstered by the genial staff who find time to chat to everyone in amongst a booked-out Saturday lunch service.

The meal gets better with every course, not that things don’t start out well. A bright raw scallop dish is topped with a mild jalapeño granita and crisp kohlrabi acts as a foil to the soft shellfish. Next there’s a plate of mushrooms that have been given the all-star treatment. King Oysters have been grilled; others sautéed. There are layers and layers of flavours as well as a vegan shiitake bordelaise sauce so meaty it makes you wonder if there’s been a mix up. 

Then there are mains of sorts – we say sorts because everything is sharing style, whether big or small – of pasta and fish. The former a sweet and savoury clash of Irish soft cheese and soft leeks, garlic and toasted hazelnuts. The latter a beautifully plated piece of cod with little chou farci crab and cabbage parcels.

A special mention has to go to the dessert, a plate so perfect we did a little cheers over it. Let's talk tirami-choux. Layers of choux pastry, boozy mascarpone cream, coffee ice cream and chocolate sauce. It’s heaven and exactly what a dessert should be: pure undiluted indulgence.

Restaurants – at their best – allow us to escape everyday stresses and the unhurried experience at the restaurant does indeed remove you from the madness of life for a couple of hours while you enjoy a menu packed with exciting, contemporary cooking. We wish it was our local. 

Eleanore is a British inspired restaurant located in Albert Place, Edinburgh. Launched by the owners of The Little Chartroom - and housed within the space that used to be The Little Chartroom - Eleanore is a small independent family-run restaurant serving a refined and elegant menu of fine foods and wine. 

The menu is small and seasonal, with a selection of good quality dishes that change on a regular basis. Whilst the menu changes regularly, you'll find options such as warm beef carpaccio served with rainbow chard, pine nuts and anchovy, or falafels served with black garlic and yoghurt. Main courses may include a barbecued pork rib-eye served with smoked chicory and quince, and a cod dish served with haricot beans, cockles and samphire. Other tempting-looking dishes could include the likes of cured mackerel served with salted gooseberry and ponzu, and the tiramisu choux (aka 'tiramu-choux') for dessert. There are meat-free dishes such as pumpkin tortellini served with long pepper and wood sorrel, and a barbequed mushroom dish served with shitake Bordelaise and celeriac. 

The restaurant is ideally positioned if you’re looking to explore the area. There are plenty of shops, cafes and bars close to the restaurant, plus popular visitor attractions such as the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse. Leith is also close to the Scottish Design Exchange which houses many unique shops,  local sellers and designers selling artwork, ceramics and textiles. A little further away you can also reach the Coburg House Art Studios and Edinburgh Old Town. You are also within close proximity to the harbour, and the beautiful Portobello Beach.

Do note that due to the size of the restaurant, Eleanore is unable to cater for parties of more than eight guests and is better suited to more intimate parties and celebrations. Card, not cash, payments are accepted and there is only high-top dining with stools that don’t have a back to them.