Britannia Spice Restaurant in Leith, Edinburgh

Reviews

1. Alice Smith ★★☆☆☆

   I stay near to Britannia spice and have ordered takeaway from there before which I found to be prompt, tasty and decent portion sizes if a little expensive so couldn’t understand why the restaurant is always empty. Out of curiosity my and I partner ate here yesterday and now it makes much more sense, as eating in is a totally different experience. The restaurant smells faintly of stale cigarette smoke, there are ants on the window sill as someone else mentioned and the bathrooms are not clean at all. The host was pleased to see us (we were the only walk ins at the time) and insisted we sit in a particular area of the restaurant. The sit in menu is expensive (£1.45 per poppadom, £7 for a pint, £15 for a main, £6,95 for 2 store bought samosas, £4.50 for a small pilau) which stung a bit more as the portion sizes were tiny, much less than what you get in a takeaway box. I got lamb and my partner got chicken. Of the wee mains we received it was 90% sauce and 10% meat. Only two samosas are included in the starter for £6.95. The food was average at best, not much depth , flavour or complexity. Eventually a couple more groups drifted in but even though the entire restaurant was empty, the host insisted on seating us all directly next to each other which is awkward for conversations and ruins the atmosphere even more as you end up whispering or not talking so you’re not accidentally eaves dropping on other tables convo. It’s like a library. Food did come out quickly at least so we didn’t have to stay long. A table of tourists next to us wanted to order several starters each instead of a main (not much size difference tbh) but a rule of the restaurant is you HAVE to order a main which the host kept insisting. The food and a drink each ended up £35 per head for a wee shared rice and useless peshwari naan between us, 2 tiny mains, 2 even smaller sides and 2 drinks. Restaurant is charging pretty high for stingy, below average food, I guess it’s to compensate for lack of guests. I’d recommend they revisit their menu prices which I think they’re catering to passing tourist trade and ignoring locals who would be happy to have a decently priced, good food Indian so close as lees kitchen and albys are always busy - there are people getting carry out and going out to eat! Service wise, he tries to be hospitable and friendly, but there is a serious undercurrent of him just being a control freak and pedant. Now I’ve visited once, I don’t have to go again and I get why the place is empty. It may have been popular in 2008 when they were winning awards but this place isn’t doing itself any favours now. Hope the owner is reading these reviews to help improve the restaurant when he’s sitting on his phone by himself most evenings.

   almost 9 months ago
2. Tania ★☆☆☆☆

   We travelled 30 miles to visit Britannia Spice restaurant in Leith. Arriving there at 4 pm which is the time it opens according to the notice on the door. It was closed so we phoned there number but no one answered. We then went on their website and booked a meal for 4.15 pm. The booking was accepted. We waited until 4.45 pm still no one turned up and no one answered the phone. After returning home we phoned them to ask why they did not answer the phone and they said they would phone us back in 2 minutes. Which they never did. Awful service.

   almost 10 months ago
3. Graham Gilmour ★☆☆☆☆

   Probably one of the worst meals I have had in Edinburgh. Sent back the starters as they were burnt but also the portion was tiny. Really dusty and also found there to be ants wandering around the table's half way through the meal.

   1 year ago

1. Garry Whitmore (Dagdabear) ★★★★★

   Great food, great staff, but very quiet on a wet Sunday night.

   almost 2 years ago
2. Andrew Hamilton ★★★★☆

   Very nice dishes to choose from well cooked and presented. Juice was out an opened bottle and was flat. It would be better to offer caned juice rather than cheep out the bottle savers virrioty.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Paul Jr ★★★★★

   Vry regular solo visitor for 2 years....food and service always excellent. Have eaten Indian food in the far East, London, Manchester curry mile (once lived there) and very many places as Indian is my favourite food. Now I live in Edinburgh this is my preferred go to Indian restaurant and where I bring friends and family visiting. Don't often leave reviews but the recent bull (people taking liberties) needs a little honest compensation as this is a lovely restaurant

   almost 3 years ago

1. Arpy Karagullian ★☆☆☆☆

   We ordered through deliveroo 2 rice and 1 aloo chicken and this came. Apart from all, the potatoes in the aloo chicken were raw and not even eatable so i can imagine how the chicken was. Didn't even risk to try it!!! I would not recommend it. When we phoned them all the guy on the phone tried to do is speak over us and not let us explain. Terrible currently sitting with mcdonalds!!! Better choice!!!!

   almost 3 years ago
2. Niharika Baruah ★☆☆☆☆

   Please avoid at all costs. Firstly, I am giving this review purely on the basis of hospitality. The moment we entered the restaurant and looked around for someone, the person at the reception (probably the manager/owner) called out to my husband in a very bad tone (I wish I could have infused sound into this writing to let everyone know how that person behaved). He did not have the minimum decency to talk to a customer. That was very rude and that was the moment we should have exited the place. However, we ignored it as it was quite late at night and we were hungry. We were made to sit down at a table by that same person. And when we tried to order a dish, which we felt was enough for 2 of us, the manager said we will have to mandatorily order 2 main dishes, as it is their policy. Never in my life have I seen such a rubbish policy, as it was not a thali-kind-of restaurant, where I can expect such things. He bluntly refused to take our order. That was all of it, but if you want to end your day well, avoid this restaurant at all costs. We have visited so many restaurants in quite a few countries, but this was the first time that we encountered such a rude behaviour. Utterly disappointing!!!

   almost 3 years ago
3. The General ★☆☆☆☆

   This was really quite disappointing. Decor is quite dated and almost empty at 8 on a Saturday night which tells its own story. Took ages to be served even though the place was nigh empty.The food was not good. I had lentil pancake for starter . Decent sized pair of pancakes but with a thimble full of lentil inside. When asked my opinion the waiter/barman/ receptionist he just laughed and said it would not cook inside if there was too much!! Wife had butterfly prawn which was the size of the side plate. We literally could not find anything resembling a prawn in amongst the stodgy batter.everything served with an 80,s style side salad of lettuce and tomato top class . The mains were bland and indescribable and pretty taste numbing. £20 bottle of red that I could use as anti freeze and guy half poured my beer into the glass from a height leaving me with a glass of froth . Felt all a bit smug which I think shows in the number of diners . I would avoid unless u want to time travel back to the eighties…. I’m sure if u asked from chicken in a basket they would rustle one up

   almost 3 years ago

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