
06 Dec 2024
Tucked away in the popular neighbourhood of Stockbridge sits The Scran & Scallie — a modern gastropub showcasing great Scottish food (‘scran’), quality drinks, and exceptional service. It likes to be known as the “neighbourhood pub with good food at its heart”, and encourages guests to “sit doon” and relax in the cosy environment of its dining room and bar.
So on that note, sit back, relax and keep reading to find out more about Edinburgh’s finest pub!
The Scran & Scallie has several awards to its name: this year saw the restaurant lift the prestigious Bib Gourmand Michelin Guide award for the fifth year running, and in 2019 and 2015, it won Pub of the Year in Scotland.
The Scran & Scallie also has a protracted history with supporting the local community in Edinburgh. It’s a long-standing sponsor of the Spartans Community Football Academy, supporting the charity’s ambitions to deliver positive social impact and change through the power of sport. Not only this, since it’s inception, the team at The Scran & Scrallie has worked hard to support the Academy by delivering food parcels and helping to launch a local breakfast club.
It was husband and wife team (Tom and Michaela Kitchin) who opened The Scran & Scallie back in 2013. Their goal? To create an authentic neighbourhood pub (a welcoming destination for family and friends, including four-legged ones) to enjoy modest yet expertly prepared seasonal food and drinks. As Scotland’s youngest winner of a Michelin star, it’s no surprise that Kitchin’s pub has turned out to be such a roaring success. Together with restaurant manager Matthew Donaldson and head chef Jamie Knox, the Kitchin’s have created a venue that is loved by locals and visitors alike, and have built a reputation for creating dishes that manage to be both creative and comforting. Less formal than Tom’s Michelin-starred Leith restaurant The Kitchin, but no less exquisite, The Scran & Scallie bridges the gap between fine dining and tasty pub grub superbly.
You’ll instantly feel at home at this charming, rustic waterhole. The dining room and adjacent bar area showcase many of the original features of the building, refreshed with modern Scottish accents (like the gorgeous tartan and tweed covered chairs) and a hint of Scandinavian flare – a nod to co-founder Michaela’s Swedish heritage.The wooden beams, sheepskin throws, and original brickwork afford the pub a warm and welcoming feel. This is helped too, by the amazing team of waiters and bar staff who are always on hand to offer their expert advice and fulfil any requests you may have. This place is always ablaze with laughter, chatter, and general merriment; no wonder there’s often a queue of people waiting outside to get a slice of the fun and food!
The menu at the Scran & Scallie continues to evolve with the seasons. Everything on offer is unpretentious and has a real home-cooked feel to it. That’s not to say that the plates are unrefined, however. ‘Yer Starters’ include the likes of home cured salmon on rye bread, watercress velouté with root vegetables and crème fraîche, and a stunning roast bone marrow dish that comes served with ox tongue, mushroom, and a fried hen’s egg.
The ‘nature to plate’ philosophy certainly shines through in the main courses. There’s The Scran & Scallie fish pie, rich and unctuous, and prepared using locally caught fish from Scottish waters; a decadent vegan curry, made with seasonal veg, pilau rice, and homemade poppadom; and of course, the famous Highland wagu beef burger and chips – a total indulgence.
There’s only one roast dinner option available on a Sunday, but don’t dismay, we’ll bet it’s one of the best you’ll ever try. For £24.50 you’ll be treated to sirloin of Highland beef, a giant homemade Yorkshire pudding, golden roast potatoes, buttery vegetables, a pleasantly punchy horseradish sauce, all topped off with a glossy gravy that’s brimming with flavour.
The Scran & Scallie is child-friendly, with a special menu set out for the under 12s. Here, you can expect kiddie crowd-pleasers like macaroni cheese, sausage and chips, and chicken goujons, all coming in at under a tenner. Our biggest tip is to leave room for dessert. From very grown up options like the dark chocolate tart with milk ice cream, to comforting classics (hello sticky toffee pudding!), and fun numbers like the coconut rice pudding with pineapple and salted caramel sauce.
You won’t be surprised to hear that the drink selection is as fine as The Scran & Scallie’s food offerings. With an expert sommelier on hand to guide you through the various offers available – cocktails, wines, craft beers, whiskey, non-alcoholic options – you can be assured that whatever you choose will go down a treat. We recommend starting your meal with an aperitif, like the blueberry and lavender mojito, or rhubarb bellini. Order a round of sourdough bread and homemade butter, and you’ll have yourself an excellent beginning to a knock out dining experience.
No one leaves the Scran & Scallie without a smile on their face, and it’s not difficult to see why. Impeccable service, quality food, tasty drinks, and a friendly atmosphere? We know where we’re heading for our next roast.