Mother India’s Café - Edinburgh

Indian·
££££
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Bronze Award
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SquareMeal Review of Mother India’s Café - Edinburgh

Bronze Award

Mother India’s story started in Glasgow, but this Edinburgh offshoot close to the University’s Old College has been a roaring success since the brand came to the city back in 2008. As the name suggests, it’s a casual, simply laid-out space specialising in tapas-sized dishes, with prices rarely breaking the £5 barrier. Nibble your way through mince-filled samosas, patina lamb with mint, chicken saag, vegetable pakoras, chilli king prawns, chilli fishcakes and dosas stuffed with potatoes and spinach, or try one of the day’s specials (haddock with spiced greens on Thursday, for example). There are around 30 different items to choose from, all backed by rice, breads, sundries and desserts. The food is fresh and hot, and the atmosphere builds to fever pitch on busy evenings – simple but brilliant.

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Good to know

Average Price
££££ - Under £30
Cuisines
Indian
Eat at Home
Uber Eats
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Traditional
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Special Features
Vegan options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Dates, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Mother India’s Cafe is located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, nearby to all the major landmarks that people flock to the city for - the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle, for example. The menu is designed for sharing and tasting, with a great variety of freshly prepared dishes that merge classic Indian flavours with more modern twists.

As Indian restaurants go, the menu here might initially seem quite concise. But the Mother India group isn’t like every other Indian restaurant and takeaway. This restaurant is a labour of love, an homage to high-quality, authentic Indian home cooking at affordable prices to be enjoyed in a relaxed and welcoming setting. The original restaurant, Mother India in Glasgow, has been serving the local population since 1990, and even received a visit from renowned author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

The Mother India’s Cafe menu is constantly under maintenance, receiving regular updates to maintain the high standards which the restaurant is now known for. First on the menu are the vegetable and vegan dishes, including aloo gobi with green peas, okra and potatoes, sweetcorn and paneer masala and pindi chana.

Then there’s a relatively long section dedicated to samosas, pakoras and dosas, which includes aubergine fritters, aloo saag dosa, tawa lamb chops, vegetable pakora and spicy keema dosa. Blessed with easy access to a wealth of Scottish seafood, Mother India’s Cafe features a fantastic choice of fresh fish and seafood dishes. Think prawn malabari curry, machi masala, chilli fish cakes and a prawn biryani.

Traditional Indian dishes are on the menu, including some fan favourites: butter chicken, chicken saag and chicken on the bone, lamb handi biryani and keema mutter, to name just a few. Mango chutney, pilau rice, butter naans and chapatis can all be ordered as extras, so make sure you save room for the delicious sides.

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FAQs

Are there vegan options?

Yes, vegan options are available.

Helpful? 0

Does the restaurant serve alcohol?

Yes, there is a selection of wines, beers and spirits.

Helpful? 0

How many dishes feed two people?

As the plates are designed for sharing, it is advised to share 3-4 plates between two people to start off with.

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Location

3-5 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT

0131 524 9801 0131 524 9801

Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon 12:00-21:30
Tue 12:00-21:30
Wed 12:00-21:30
Thu 12:00-21:30
Fri 12:00-22:00
Sat 12:00-22:00
Sun 12:00-21:30

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Claire V

03 September 2012  
Food & Drink 5
Service 3.5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 4
Went for lunch on 1st September 2012 with a friend, absolutely loved it! A great menu choice, each dish was delicious and nice sized tapas portions too. Friendly waiter too which was nice. Highly recommend if you have time to sit and lunch and catch up with friends.

James W

16 July 2009  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 5
To me this place is something special. It's a modest cafe layout with charming Polish waitresses under Indian control. The food is great. We had Butter Chicken, Saag Lamb, Chilli Prawns and a veg dish and each dish had its own character rather unlike my experience of similarly priced Indians where everything tastes much the same. It arrived almost instantly and we were looked after well throughout the meal. It was around £30 for 2 all in for a meal which was as satisfying and interesting as a meal at the Cinnamon Club. Lucky Edinburghers – or Glaswegians if the Glasgow places are up to the same standard.
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0131 524 9801 0131 524 9801

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