First Coast

Despite the name, First Coast isn’t a seafood restaurant but an engaging, eclectic & informal bistro near Haymarket station. Inside, it feels fresh & carefully maintained, with pastel colours, well-trodden wood floors & perky staff on hand to do the necessary duties. The kitchen knows its stuff & borrows ideas from all corners of the globe without resorting to fusion excesses. At lunch you might start with a rich spinach dhal with a soft-boiled egg, before tackling a plate of minced beef & fenugreek curry with flatbread & raita; alternatively, go west for ham hock & Gruyère terrine, followed by linguine with skordalia & toasted almonds. The evening menu is similar, but with premium mains such as sirloin steak & chips added to the mix. Cheesecake, crumble & sorbet are typical desserts; the wine list is short & affordable.