Recommended restaurant: The Grain Store

Having heard so many positive remarks about this restaurant it was with great excitement that we walked up the darkened stairs to The Grain Store.

Upon entering the softly lit restaurant, the relaxed atmosphere put us at ease. We were given some lovely homemade bread and water while we perused the menu which was concise but bursting with a wide range of ingredients.

On the recommendation of our waitress, I chose seared hand dived Orkney scallops, shellfish veloute, avruga caviar (£13.50). The veloute was wonderfully smooth and the mixture of flavours worked perfectly. My partner chose the seared pigeon with plum tatin, raisins and Armagnac (£10). The meat was beautifully tender however the combination was rather too sugary.

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For our mains, my partner continued her gamey theme and chose the saddle of Perthshire venison, venison liver, roe deer parcel, curly kale (£24). The venison was beautifully cooked, however the under-cooked potatoes left a rather grim taste. I chose the Aberdeen Angus ribeye of beef, braised cheek and tongue, with baby onions, Paris browns and mash (£28) with the tongue on the side as I was a touch unsure. The ribeye and cheek were both slightly overdone but the tongue was well cooked – crispy on the outside and tender inside. The accompaniments were good but the overall dish was rather uninspiring.

We decided to share the cinnamon pannacotta, orange marmalade, pine kernel brittle (£6.75) from a limited choice. The combination simply did not flow.

Perhaps it was the richness of the food, the buzzing of the light right next to our table or the heavy wine but we both left feeling unsatisfied and lacking. I would go back if only to disprove my opinion and to be able to appreciate what so many others wax lyrical over.

• The Grain Store, 30 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, 0131-225 7635 www.grainstore-restaurant.co.uk