Went for Sunday brunch. Good concept but not great execution. Prosecco always topped up which was a big plus, but starters unexciting and main (We had the roast beef) was cold and chewy. Dessert excellent thou and decor nice
I booked a table as a treat for my partner and I having eaten at Cucina several years ago while it was part of the Missoni Hotel (I had my wedding there, so Cucina did the food which was absolutely AMAZING) I have no idea WHAT has happened in between times but for the current proprietors to still be trading off the previous reputation of this as an award winning italian restaurant is nothing short of shameful. Firstly we walked in on a busy, sunny summers night in Edinburgh city centre and the place was dead, at 7:30pm. Only two other couples dining, and dining in near darkness - the lighting was just bizarrely low, nothing moody or ambient about it, it was just dark. The waiter came round with the bread basket and tongs, where I explained that I'm gluten intolerant and was delighted when he said immediately "that's no problem!" and whisked off to the kitchen. He came back with two slices of the driest, saddest looking white bread STILL IN A CELLOPHANE PACKET and presented this to me on a plate. In the packet. I was just gobsmacked, and from this point on the rest of the meal was just hilariously bad. Firstly the menu - does "Ham Hock Croquette", "duck & potato pie" or "sticky toffee pudding" scream quality Italian restaurant to you?! I went for the pea pannacotta for starters as it was the only thing remotely italian (or frankly edible sounding as the soup was beetroot and feta, served cold...?) and while it looked very attractive there was about three times more pea pannacotta than anyone could reasonably eat (it's a very particular, rich, strong flavour) and very, very little of anything else (think *literally* 3 broad beans cut in half and half a radish so thinly sliced it's almost invisible) So I managed to eat a third of that, and moved on to the Confit Duck & Potato Pie (again for me the only edible thing as the other options were fish cake (mmm italian...) or mushroom risotto, not for me) - the single least flavoursome pie I have ever been presented with, it tasted like air, and the pak choi was only tasty at the very ends, the rest just really crunchy and tasteless. I am not remotely a fussy eater, and I never make a scene in restaurants, I just felt so cheated and disappointed, and I honestly couldn't put a mouthful more of that godawful pie in my mouth. The poor waiter was very upset by this and really did do his level best to redeem the evening (with an extra glass of prosecco) but given that the place remained dead, the music went off halfway through our meal leaving us in semi-lit silence in a near-empty restaurant, there was little he could do. This used to be one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh, and certainly (in my opinion) the best Italian, but I honestly wouldn't send my worst enemy there, it's just ghastly (with the exception of our very friendly, embarrassed waiter) Couldn't wait to leave.
I booked a table as a treat for my partner and I having eaten at Cucina several years ago while it was part of the Missoni Hotel (I had my wedding there, so Cucina did the food which was absolutely AMAZING) I have no idea WHAT has happened in between times but for the current proprietors to still be trading off the previous reputation of this as an award winning italian restaurant is nothing short of shameful. Firstly we walked in on a busy, sunny summers night in Edinburgh city centre and the place was dead, at 7:30pm. Only two other couples dining, and dining in near darkness - the lighting was just bizarrely low, nothing moody or ambient about it, it was just dark. The waiter came round with the bread basket and tongs, where I explained that I'm gluten intolerant and was delighted when he said immediately "that's no problem!" and whisked off to the kitchen. He came back with two slices of the driest, saddest looking white bread STILL IN A CELLOPHANE PACKET and presented this to me on a plate. In the packet. I was just gobsmacked, and from this point on the rest of the meal was just hilariously bad. Firstly the menu - does "Ham Hock Croquette", "duck & potato pie" or "sticky toffee pudding" scream quality Italian restaurant to you?! I went for the pea pannacotta for starters as it was the only thing remotely italian (or frankly edible sounding as the soup was beetroot and feta, served cold...?) and while it looked very attractive there was about three times more pea pannacotta than anyone could reasonably eat (it's a very particular, rich, strong flavour) and very, very little of anything else (think *literally* 3 broad beans cut in half and half a radish so thinly sliced it's almost invisible) So I managed to eat a third of that, and moved on to the Confit Duck & Potato Pie (again for me the only edible thing as the other options were fish cake (mmm italian...) or mushroom risotto, not for me) - the single least flavoursome pie I have ever been presented with, it tasted like air, and the pak choi was only tasty at the very ends, the rest just really crunchy and tasteless. I am not remotely a fussy eater, and I never make a scene in restaurants, I just felt so cheated and disappointed, and I honestly couldn't put a mouthful more of that godawful pie in my mouth. The poor waiter was very upset by this and really did do his level best to redeem the evening (with an extra glass of prosecco) but given that the place remained dead, the music went off halfway through our meal leaving us in semi-lit silence in a near-empty restaurant, there was little he could do. This used to be one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh, and certainly (in my opinion) the best Italian, but I honestly wouldn't send my worst enemy there, it's just ghastly (with the exception of our very friendly, embarrassed waiter) Couldn't wait to leave.
Just got back from a fantastic brunch at Cucina! Delicious starter buffet table, with a lovely selection of food. Main was very tasty, I had roast chicken, my husband had roast beef with all the trimmings. The staff were really friendly and helpful. We've booked to come back already !!!
Ate here with 3 friends and my wife. We arrived to an empty restaurant (although it was a Monday night). Cool welcome and it didn't get much warmer. Main waitress was very perfunctoy. Little explanation of food and as we were the only diners for some time it wasn't because they were busy! Food was fine but not what I would expect in a restaurant with such a good reputation. All in all not very good
Two couples shared an excellent dinner with fine food and fine service. The scallop appetizer was particularly delicious. We had a late dinner but had no sense at all of being rushed. The seating was comfortable and the ambient noise better than average (that is, less).
Cucina is located at 1 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1AD, UK
You can contact Cucina at +44 131 240 1666
You can find directions to Cucina by following this map link