This place has all the elements for a good dinner

Good food, comfortable surroundings and great service are always the elements that are important for me if I'm to enjoy a dining experience.

Given that this Rose Street eatery is called Element, it’s perhaps no surprise that all three were in abundance.

However, it was the way all three came together to make this such a great find in the heart of the capital.

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If I’m honest, I might have passed this by dismissing it as just another pub/restaurant in a street where they are ten a penny.

But with a reservation for 1pm we found ourselves making our way inside – and I’m so glad we did. By the time we left almost three hours later, I was already planning what to order on my next visit ... as well as what cocktails to tipple.

Entering the bar area, you are met with stylish modern fixtures and fittings but set inside a building with old world charm.

My sharp-eyed glance saw a bar well stocked with a range of gins some of which even I hadn’t heard of!

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Stepping through to the dining area, we were met with an eclectic mix of furnishings in the style of relaxed manor house grandeur, even with comfy wingback chairs which are the perfect place to relax in post-dining. But first down to the serious business of choosing what to eat.

At weekends the brunch menu is on offer from 11am till 5pm and it tempted with a varied mix to suit all tastes and appetites.

There is everything on offer from a full Scottish breakfast to steak and chips, smoked salmon scrambled eggs to chicken club ciabatta.

The restaurant prides itself on sourcing in season ingredients from Scottish producers with the menu detailing this – whether it be Ramsay’s of Carluke smoked Ayrshire middle bacon or ice cream from Luvian’s in St Andrews.

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With one eye on the tempting desserts, we decided to focus on a main course, with my dining companion going for traditional sausage and mash. Except this was not an ordinary banger. It was a pork with black pudding and came with a mound of creamy potato and a tasty caramelised onion gravy.

Given the time it was demolished in, it’s fair to say it hit the spot.

I was drawn to several dishes but eventually decided on the intriguing Thai fish burger. Made with cod, hake and salmon, it seemed to have a lightly spiced coating and was beautifully moist. It was served in a toasted brioche bun with hand-cut chips and sricacha mayo which had a zingy kick.

After a suitable gap to allow our main course to digest it was time to concentrate on dessert. The cheese board which came with oatcakes, quince and grapes seemed popular for sharing.

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However, we had already decided to try the whisky and coke sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream as recommended by the very helpful waitress.

It certainly was a good choice and proved surprisingly light before we rounded off with a trio of fruity sorbet.

On the Saturday afternoon we visited, Element was a popular choice with tourists, families and people catching up with friends. Tables were never empty for long and its reputation appears to be far reaching.

Definitely somewhere to visit whether it is for a quick bite while on a shopping trip or a longer more relaxing meal – it certainly has all the elements required.

Element, 110-114 Rose Street, 0131 225 3297

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