Argile — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

My husband and I dined at Argile for the first time in mid-July as part of our honeymoon and we enjoyed a first class evening. This restaurant is an exceptional addition to the Edinburgh gastronomic scene. We loved the intimate setting--restaurant seats a maximum of 8 diners--with an up close and personal viewing of the chef's preparations and stories. Jack, Chef and Owner, prepares the dishes in front of you along with support from his aid, Thomas, and explains his preparation methodology as well as explaining the produce itself, with a huge emphasis sourcing locally. Everything was sourced from the UK, primarily from Scotland. The food, every single course, was sheer perfection. No exaggeration. Exceptional. Everything was fresh, cooked to perfection, and tasted delicious. The only thing I regret was not having our wedding day dinner here (no one's fault, restaurant isn't open on Wednesday evenings). Jack made the evening so special, we even had the opportunity to connect with him for a bit after the meal. He is an artist, extremely down to earth and clearly trying to make a genuine impact. He was so refreshing as he was extremely authentic and felt open to discussing with us the challenges and triumphs he has faced. We truly felt honored to have had the opportunity to have experienced something so intimate and unique. It was honestly just a beautiful experience. Not only a highlight of the trip but of a lifetime. We are incredibly grateful to Jack and his team, thank you for everything. We cannot...

I would like to think I have had some good food in my life. I have eaten food made by very creative, dedicated, and talented chefs, in some of the finest and fanciest dining rooms there are to be found. However, they all pale in comparison to what Chef Jack is doing at Argile. In his setting, Chef Jack is making a bold move, opening a small 8-seater restaurant tucked away inconspicuously in the Marchmont area, creating an intimate and gripping dining experience that would be very challenging to maintain for the entirety of a meal, even without the added difficulty of simultaneously doing meal prep work right in front of the guests. However, Chef Jack pulls this off with ease and confidence that can only be considered impressive. On the topic of the food itself, neither words nor pictures can even begin to do justice to the food that this chef is pushing out. He does not rely on flashy techniques, or rare unusual ingredients to awe his guests, instead taking common, generally domestically sourced, ingredients and, through a combination of expert skill and ingenious combinations, creates something truly awe-inspiring. Truly, the only way to properly appreciate the true mastery on display at this restaurant is to go and try it for yourself, to do otherwise is to deprive yourself of a truly once in a lifetime experience. Kudos to Argile, and Kudos...

My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Argile this week. Even two days later, we are still thinking about this dinner. With its limited space for just eight guests, Argile creates a very intimate setting. As we arrived, we were seated at the bar alongside the other guests, and, unsure what to expect, we embarked on a journey. Jack and Thomas served us throughout the night, and it was fascinating to watch them as they meticulously prepared each course while sharing the backstory. We felt like we were in a live episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table. The evening went on as we meandered through courses, each more delicious than the last. They were beautifully crafted, delicately balanced, and captivatingly simple. Humble ingredients like fennel, mussels, egg, and onion broth were skilfully transformed into a perfect blend of complex flavours and textures. The thoughtful wine selection was creatively paired and very reasonably priced. Argile is not simply a fantastic restaurant; it's a dining experience that, if you are willing to trust and surrender to the chef's vision, will surely not disappoint. One of the best meals we've ever had. We will definitely...