To celebrate St Andrew’s day (and a certain someone’s 40th birthday!) we thought the perfect place to mark the occasion was a favourite little local of mine, Roll Stockbridge.
For those ‘Darlings’ who are not familiar with the name, Rollo has been operating in Stockbridge since 2013. Founded by Ailsa Rollo, who brings great personality to the establishment, Rollo built a solid reputation for its delicious food, exceptional wine, great atmosphere and attentive service.
Thriving in Stockbridge, the Edinburgh favourite, then branched out with a bigger – but still as fun and fabulous – restaurant on the more edgy side of town on Broughton Street.
Arrival
A warm and friendly welcome always awaits. A cheery member of the team shows us to our table and takes our coats and brollies to make us more comfortable. Water is poured and the QR code menu and track and trace procedure explained.
Even when I called to make the reservation and enquire about whether cake and candles for birthday celebrations are permitted I couldn’t have been offered a more pleasant service.
The Food
Once we’d browsed the menu, a waiter asked if we’d eaten there before and had any questions about the dishes.
The menu takes inspiration from flavours from all over the world, with dishes presented as bites (ideal for sharing as a nibble or one each for a starter), bowls and plates which are slightly more substantial but still reflective of tapas style dining. Each dish is beautifully presented and extremely tasty. The portion sizes are quite deceiving, at first glance you think this will not even touch the sides never mind satisfy my appetite! However, the combination of flavours is meant to be savoured and in most cases, are quite rich and so the portion size is perfect.
Bites – Ross and I shared the sweet and spicy Baba Ganoush with paprika glaze toastie shards which are so moreish – the crunchiness of the shards and the contrasting creaminess of the Ganoush are simply a match made in heaven. I could quite quickly turn into a gluttonous little piggy when they are presented before me. Luckily Ross has laid claim to half to prevent this happening 😉
Bowls – Ross, the veggie one, opted for the Halloumi, pomegranate tabouli with cashews, pumpkin seeds, red onion and rocket. The colourful dish looked delectable which Ross whole-heartedly confirmed.
Plates – I chose the crispy crackling pork belly with roast apple round and celeriac slaw which I’d tried on my last visit, however guests at the table next to me were served the pan-fried Tuna Nicoise, with cherry tomato, green beans, olive salsa and anchovy slick and it looked unashamedly mouth-watering so, the ever indecisive me, quickly changed my order and went for this. I was not disappointed. The tuna melted in the mouth and the salty slick and tangy salsa were the perfect accompaniments.
Sides – For two hungry Horace’s such as myself and Ross we did back-up our bowls and plates with a side dish and we couldn’t resist the hand cut chips served with aioli…. A portion each I may add.
Puddings – Our savoury dishes had been absolutely scrumptious and if the head had had been in control we would have / should have passed on dessert. But seriously, who can really resist a sticky toffee pudding when posed with the option? Plus, (my excuse and I’m sticking to it – I need to order a dessert so Ross could have his birthday candle to blow out).
The pudding was a beautifully bouncy moist sponge with the sweetest and viscous toffee sauce you could imagine. We shared one but I really wish we’d had one each.
The Drinks
Sadly, as we’re still living under the restrictions of Covid, we were unable to enjoy a glass, or few, of the good stuff. So, Ross opted for a Virgin Mary, with extra hot sauce despite there being a creative collection of mocktails, I stuck with water.
I have dined here before and for such a cosy little place their wine collection is very impressive. The team well and truly know their stuff and are always on hand to offer reliable recommendations as to which drink best compliments which dish, mood and occasion.
The Vibe
Subdued lighting, candles, stylish décor, warming hues and a relatively small floor space makes this restaurant a perfect place for a romantic dinner, saying that it’s often frequented on a lunch time (I walk passed daily) by ladies gathering for a blether and smaller groups of friends too.
The service is excellent, relaxed yet clearly the team know their stuff and the Chef has his/ her art mastered to perfection. The safety screens that have been put in place to divide each table create an unobtrusive sense of individual space.
I love the adult only policy, it adds to the vibe of Rollo really being the place for grown-ups to be fun and fabulous.
Final Thoughts
Each time I’ve visited, with different company, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. It’s not cheap but the combination of atmosphere, service and top quality food make for a worthy experience and ’d recommend making a reservation here when celebrating a special occasion……such as a 40th – happy birthday Ross!
Contact Details
A: 108 Raeburn Place EH4 1HH | 14 Broughton Street Eh1 3RH
W: https://www.barrollo.com/welcome
I: @rollostockbridge | @rollobroughton |
