Restaurant Review: The Royal McGregor, 154-160 High Street, Edinburgh

The Royal McGregor is undoubtedly geared towards visitors to the Capital and the tables around us were filled with Americans and Canadians, but with its cosy feel and inviting staff anyone can be made to feel at home. The bar is fully stocked with more than 50 malt whiskies as well as a few whisky cocktails, but the menu is somewhat limited and not quite at the gastro pub level. A predictable array of burgers and steaks, fish and chips, the token sprinkling of haggis to appeal to adventurous tourists, but on a lazy Sunday evening it was just what the doctor ordered.

While we were heavily tempted by the haggis fritters with sweet chilli and honey sauce (£5.05) we decided to skip straight to the mains, enticed by the gigantic burgers which adorned our neighbours’ plates. I opted for the sirloin steak with chips and garlic butter (£16.50). The meat was fresh, delicious and beautifully pink. The chips could perhaps have done with a little more browning. The Spaniard had elected for the Highlander burger, a homemade steak burger topped with haggis and whisky sauce (£8.95). Definitely not one for the light hearted, this was a feast of a burger with a round of haggis nearly as thick as the burger itself and surprisingly moist and filled with flavour.

With only three puddings to choose from, my selection was easy and I prepared myself for a huge plate of homemade apple crumble with lashings of custard (£4.95). It had crunchy crumble, lovely soft apples and bright yellow sweet custard.

The Royal McGregor, 154-160 High Street, www.royalmcgregor.co.uk, 0131-225 7064.