Cardinal — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

TLDR: Fantastic evening of perfectly paced courses. Relaxed, refined and fun.

My partner and I were lucky enough to see Hamilton when it was in Edinburgh recently and even though he is a reluctant consumer of musical theatre, he appreciated it. On a different evening, he was much more enthusiastic about the prospect of dining at this newly-opened restaurant as we had previously loved our visit to its sister restaurant. We were not disappointed with this command performance.

While I admit I was initially daunted by sixteen courses, so many are beautiful, complex little mouthfuls with layers of flavour. The courses are wisely paced across the evening and left us feeling perfectly sated.

We treated ourselves to wine pairings and I can honestly say that each wine was elevated by the accompanying dishes. Additionally (but not exclusively), there seems to be a focus on wines produced by women from across Europe.

Much like our evening at the theatre, at Cardinal we experienced a perfect showcase of talent that delivered scene after scene. Spending time in this relaxing space, with food crafted with such care, and served by an enthusiatic team who hit the sweet spot of unfussy attention to detail made for a very special evening which lingers long...

Cardinal offers a bold and theatrical fine-dining experience, led by chef Tomás Gormley, known for his flair and precision. The dark, candle-lit interior creates an intimate atmosphere, while the tasting menu—ranging from 13 to 16 courses—takes diners on an adventurous and playful culinary journey. Signature dishes like the fried chicken and caviar waffle, cherry-smoked lobster with hollandaise, and taramasalata-filled doughnut showcase a blend of rich Scottish produce and imaginative technique. Service is warm, confident, and refreshingly unpretentious, with staff who guide guests through both the courses and the thoughtfully chosen biodynamic wine pairings. Though a few courses—like the lamb or lobster—can occasionally lack seasoning or texture, the overall pacing and composition are compelling. Desserts lean light and palate-cleansing, rounding out a menu that’s refined without being overly formal. Ideal for a special occasion, Cardinal stands out for its creativity, attention to detail, and immersive dining format that’s as much performance as it is cuisine. I personally like the monkfish cheek, it's texture is good and flavour is perfect. Lamb is fresh and without gamy taste, very...

For a new place, it doesn't half pack a punch. From the moment you walk in, the service is exceptional, from its dark woodwork to its large paintings its warm and inviting, and as its not a large place, its very intamate. Although it only does a taster menu, you won't want anything else, each course being expertly presented and it has a natural flow of food so you never think why was something in there. We liked everything about it, from the smokey lobster through to the jammie dodger, my partner being a sucker for anything with sea buckthorne in it. Each dish was expertly explained, often by the chef who made it, and you could certainly taste everything they said was in there. For all the love and attention put into each dish, we thought the price was good. The other half thought sister restaurant Heron won onthe desert side but I thought it was to close to call so the verdict was Cardinal wins. The candle trick certainly was a surprise but if you want to know what it was, then you'll just have to visit. Next on the list has to be Skua for...