SLUG & LETTUCE, OMNI CENTRE, EDINBURGH

1 LOCATION

The Omni Centre is next to the Edinburgh Playhouse, so it’s perfect for grabbing a bite to eat or a drink before we head to a show. We try to book somewhere a few days in advance but have left it too late for anywhere we really fancy. The Slug & Lettuce can fit us in, so we choose there. It’ll be fine – won’t it?

2 first Impressions

Busy and bright. So bright. It’s almost like being under a spotlight to be interrogated.

3 service

Not good. It’s busy, but our waiter appears to think we’re disturbing his precious peace by committing the outrageous crime of asking for some drinks. And then when they do turn up, two of them are wrong. So slow, snails would be faster.

4 menu

It feels fairly typical of a chain restaurant. There’s a Small Plates section for smaller appetites, Sharing Boards, wraps and burgers and a good selection of main courses.

5 TASTE

Three of us order steaks. A steak is always a treat, right? Wrong. They are overcooked and tough. The chips are greasy. One of our party orders fish and chips. Only the chips turn up!

6 price

About standard for a chain in a city centre. Our bill came to almost £85 for main courses for four, drinks and mini puddings.

7 AMBIANCE

It should be lively and fun but we are seething at the chaos of our order and total indifference of our waiter. The only bright spot is when a waitress takes pity on us and sorts our order. She doesn’t say anything to us but when she flounces through the doors to the kitchen and has a stern word with our waiter, we’re cheering her! They won’t be heading for after-work drinks together.

8 something SPECIAL

The whole experience makes it hard to single out anything special. But the Sweet & Petite puds – three for £7 – were not bad. Upstairs. We felt they could do with a clean.

10 verdict

We won’t be back. Next time we’re in the area, we’ll book somewhere well in advance. 6/20