Tempting Tattie, the beloved baked potato cafe, has reopened in Edinburgh under new ownership

Sam Ibrahim, new owner of much-loved Edinburgh cafe Tempting Tattie, reopened the site on 15th October

Beloved by Fringe regular, comedian Richard Herring, one of Edinburgh’s favourite baked potato cafes and fast food outlets has opened up its doors once more after closing for several months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tempting Tattie has been serving up baked potatoes with a range of toppings since 1974, proving a hit with locals all year round – attracting revellers during Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival particularly with its affordable, wholesome portions.

New owner Sam has had his eye on the spot for some time, having been taken to the cafe by his mum as a child on day trips to Edinburgh from his native Dundee. His job as a taxi driver in Edinburgh would see him regularly drive past Tempting Tattie.

He said: “every time I used to drive past this place, I always really wanted it.”

So when the opportunity arose to buy Tempting Tattie, after its previous owner put it up for sale in lockdown, Sam seized the chance to bring his dream to life. Despite the challenges posed by hot potato of hospitality struggles facing Edinburgh and the central belt, with circuit breaker restrictions recently extended for licensed bars, pubs and restaurants, Sam has resurrected Tempting Tattie to great success.

“I’ve had customers travel from all over, such as from Dunfermline, because they’ve heard that we’re open again” he said. To meet demand for the cafe’s much-loved baked potatoes, Sam has branched out into delivery – with fans able to order from Tempting Tattie on Uber Eats as well as Sam’s own website for the cafe. By offering delivery, Sam hopes that the Tempting Tattie’s legacy will continue to thrive in Edinburgh despite the inevitable lull in footfall in Edinburgh’s once bustling city centre.

Tempting Tattie reopened on October 15, with Sam presenting classic toppings of beans and cheese or prawn marie rose alongside new options such as Piri Piri Chicken Mayo, Honey Chilli Chicken and Falafel, Chickpea and Mint for vegetarians.

Sam has sought to pay tribute to his family’s Pakistani heritage by bringing curries and samosas to Tempting Tattie, offering madras, channa masala and bhuna curries as exciting new baked potato toppings. "We’ve tried to make as much homemade food as possible” he added.

Alongside baked potatoes, the cafe also presents a range of salads, garlic bread and cheesecakes.

Tempting Tattie located at 18 Jeffrey Street, EH1 1DT, Edinburgh, is open everyday from 11.30am to 8pm and currently offers 20% off your first order when placed online via their website at https://www.temptingtattie.co.uk/.

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