Review of Le Petit Mort - Hidden Edinburgh

It’s not often I venture over to the Tollcross part of town which is a shame really given there are some great places over there such as La Petit Mort which was unknown to me recently. Located on a small side street just around the corner from the Kings Theatre you really do have to be in the know to find it and I’m so glad we did.

The restaurant is relatively small (seats less than 100 – at a guess) and when we first walked in I thought it was so quiet that you’d easily overhear the conversation at the neighbouring table but when we sat down we quickly realised that this was not the case at all. The atmosphere is entirely comfortable, cosy and relaxed.

We started our La Petit Mort experience with one of their highly unique offerings; a Porthole Cocktail Infusers, which as the name suggests the cocktail of choice, is served in a glass porthole. The cocktail is designed for two people and is poured from the porthole into two small glasses. Guests are requested to order a Porthole Cocktail Infuser at least 24 hours in advance so that the herbs, fruits and alcohol can all infuse; the result is really tasty, quirky and extremely potent!

The Food

The menu presented a few different meat, fish and a veggie option and I struggled to make a choice as they all appealed to my pallet.

Starters: Honey glazed slow cooked belly of pork, black pudding and pancetta disk (we both opted for this – I just couldn’t risk food envy here)

Main: Pan seared flat iron steak, roast chestnut dauphinoise potatoes, basil and mushroom pesto, truffle cauliflower puree And Parma ham and chorizo crusted cod fillet, Cullen skink arancini, brussel sprout and nutmeg puree, Parma ham crisp, sautéed chorizo and cabbage.

Dessert: Sticky toffee pudding, gingerbread pudding, vanilla ice cream, toffee sauce (again to avoid food envy)

Observations

All of which were beautifully presented, the aroma of the different flavours was so strong and every mouthful was sumptuously delicious. There is a recommended wine of the month list along with a good selection of both old and new world wines. A choice of craft beers also features on the drinks list. The staff were all extremely helpful, pleasant and knowledgeable too – especially about their wines. Another observation I made during our visit was at least two ‘locals’ popped in to make what appeared to be a regular mid-week reservation, which is a good indication of consistent quality.

I’d highly recommend for an intimate dinner or a catch up with a couple of friends. I also think it would also be a great place to take clients for a business lunch or dinner.