LOWDOWN — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

I’m not a coffee aficionado so can’t really comment on whether the coffee is good or not. Mine had a strong fishy aftertaste. I’ve no idea if that’s meant to be the case? I was meeting a colleague and she picked the venue, hence my presence there.

What I can tell you is that the experience itself was far from pleasant. Staff were unwelcoming and surly on arrival - bordering on rude - before I’d even ordered anything. When I asked for ‘sweetener’ I was presented with sugar - I’m diabetic so don’t take sugar, which left me scratching my head a little. I shouldn’t have to explain my medical history to be offered sugar alternatives.

My second drink was a tea, which didn’t taste pleasant at all. Odd given it’s hard to mess up a cup of tea.

At that point, I’d been there for a little while so was then told I’d have to give-up the table after an hour and 15 minutes. The place wasn’t busy at this point (it got busy later) so again, this was a rather head scratching message to receive - even more so given the bumptious and unpleasant way in which it was delivered. Apparently the time limit is on the menus but since I was not offered a menu during the entire time I was there, I’m not sure how I was supposed to know? Telepathy perhaps given Paul and his team clearly consider themselves a form of higher being?

Didn’t eat so can’t comment on the food. The place was busy much of the time I was there so it’s clearly popular but this may be a function of location rather than anything else.

Given the pretentious, passive aggressive and unfriendly feel it’s not somewhere I’d return to in a hurry nor recommend.

Update 08/06/25: Having seen the belligerent response from the proprietor, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ll let those reading this review make up their minds as to whether this is the right place for them. If you’re going to have lots of ‘rules’ then perhaps best to make those clear (a note on a menu that isn’t given to people, isn’t clear) rather than making them feel unwelcome. Reading other reviews, it seems my experience is consistent with others. Hospitality seems like an odd choice for a bunch of misanthropes to be making...

Very disappointed with their service when I came yesterday for brunch. I got here yesterday at around noon to try their mozzarella toast and have a capuccino. The place was packed. I had no rush, came in and asked for a table. The girl at the counter told me it would be around 15 minutes. I told her that I had no problem, that I could wait for a table. Then, 6 people who were in 3 tables together finished and left. I therefore asked whether I could have one of the tables once they had cleaned. They did not answer and said that "they didn't know". I was like, hey I have been here for 10 minutes and I do not mind waiting, but do tell me if you have bookings or if there's any more people waiting for the tables because as far as I can tell I am not blind and I do not see anybody else. Well there was one French couple, but they were seating in another table who was already cleaned. Then when I went to seat in one of the 3 empty tables, the overweight older man looked at me as if I was doing something wrong and couldn't sit there. He bluntly told me to sit in the table in the corner. I had not said anything and later realised that it was because they wanted to join the tables and put 4 people in there. Was it that hard to let me know? I do understand the cafe was busy and that's why I said I did not mind waiting for 15'; I was simply listening to a podcast and had a book with me. Why can you just not let me know that you are going to sit some other people on the side? I have no problem sitting in one place or the other; but I hate when they treat you as though they are doing yourself a favour. Because you were not. In fact, I stood up and left.

Found this place called The Cobbled Roastery where I got a Mocha and a Pain au Chocolat. The barista there was...

Been back a few times in the last few years, drawn by some great coffee and some tasty food options. They weighed in enough that it was easy to ignore the minimal seating (with half of it outside) and the hit and miss customer service.

I went back today and the 11 food items had been reduced to 3; avo toast, burrata toast, and a banana choc bread. So off I popped to somewhere else without getting anything. Honestly I don't know if i'll bother coming back. If I do, it will be for a takeaway coffee, which I hope is as good as it once was.

Ammended out of respect for the reply i'll give the benefit of the doubt on the toilets and remove it. This part i've based on overhearing customers leaving alongside me stating they overheard another customer being told there wasn't one, and may not be reliable. I have not sat inside, and cannot say I have seen the toilet (or lack of one) personally.

The rest I respectfully stand by. Whilst I appreciate there are reasons for the food options being reduced, I came for food and left because nothing on the menu was desirable. This last visit you were busy, yes. But you often are, and the customer service has been variable throughout my experiences. You have done well with the space, but it is small. And whilst I'm thrilled you are roasting and using high quality suppliers, it does not reduce...