Recommended restaurant: Edinburgh Larder, Blackfriars Street

On Blackfriars Street, an unassuming cobbled road leading away from the madness, is Edinburgh Larder. Nabbing the last table there (there are fewer than ten), we settled down amongst young families, ladies who lunch and tourists.

The menu is full of deli and homemade-style goods ranging from soup of the day to pâté. Feeling rather spoilt for choice, we finally settled on a Smoked Chicken with Chilli Jam and Mayo Sandwich (£7) and the Fish Plate (£7.50).

Priced at a healthy amount more than other small sandwich shops along the Mile, our hopes were rather high. We were not disappointed. My friend, having claimed to be starving, was more than satisfied with her healthy multigrain sandwich. The chicken was of excellent quality, and the chilli jam pleasingly not like the popular, slightly radioactive version seen in take-outs. My fish plate was equally delicious with hot smoked salmon, fish pâté. and smoked salmon. One more oatcake would have been welcome, as would a slight variation from salmon, but the quality was excellent.

Managing to avoid the temptation of an organic lunchtime beer, we were nonetheless impressed with the representation of Scottish beer and cider. We settled instead for an Artisan Roast flat white (£2.75) and an Eteaket Tea (£2.50).

With friendly staff and good ingredients, I would worry that if word got out on the Royal Mile, managing to secure a table would be next to impossible.

• Edinburgh Larder, 15 Blackfriars Street, 0131-556 6922