Restaurant review: Bon Vivant, Thistle Street

BON Vivant is somewhere frequently recommended to me for drinks but seemingly the extensive wine list has kept my friends from eating in the restaurant. More fool them.

With unusual tapas-style Bite options from the starter and after bites list and a menu which changes daily, Bon Vivant caters to any possible meal whim.

All of the starters/bites sounded delicious so we opted for a variety of dishes – the Bower’s black pudding with tomato chilli jam (£1.50), the trout and coley croquettes with lemon mayo (£1), and the brie fritter with sun-blushed tomato pesto (£1). Around two modest mouthfuls each they arrived on quaint vintage plates. The black pudding was well complemented by the jam, the croquette pleasingly consisted of more fish to potato, and the brie fritter is a classic version of an old favourite.

For our middles my friend had the pan-fried duck breast with sweet and sour carrots, peas and duck-fat potato (£13.50). The dish was beautifully presented and duck was delicately pink and tender. The roast pork with creamed bean and parsley root purée, baby leeks and purple sprouting broccoli (£13.50) was equally well presented and a really good dish.

Recently added, we had to try the cocktail and cookies (£8). The miniature rum and raisin cookie was delicious. The cocktail makes your head spin with just the smell. The “bite” of white chocolate mousse with poached rhubarb (£2) was about ten bites but the taste was so exquisite this could only be a good thing.

A great place for a drink, a nibble or a full-blown meal.

•The Bon Vivant, 55 Thistle Street, 0131-225 3275, www.bonvivantedinburgh.co.uk.