Royal Mile Tavern — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Beautiful restaurant, incredible potential, and fantastic location. Sadly, the positive ends there. The first impression was made my an outstandingly rude server/bartender Jack. He was very dismissive and basically an a**hole. It seemed he went out of his way to be a jerk to empower himself. We forgivingly dismissed his behavior as maybe it was a bad moment for him and carried on with our night. Unfortunately his bad attitude followed us to the bar where he made a comment that we ruined our liquor by adding a mixer. We thought he was joking, but he assured its he wasn't, the we were "just dumb tourist". The drink were very weak and not worth the price, and we waited nearly a hour for our food. It was however perfectly delicious, despite the wait we still enjoyed it. Entertaining though whilst waiting was Jack sending multiple groups of people away a full hour before the kitchen closed at 9pm because "they were not accepting new customers because the kitchen was too far behind". The blatant rudeness of how he treated them was astounding. Also of interest was that while he had no time to tend to the needs of paying guest, he seemed to have no shortage of time to enjoy smoking cigarettes by the front door and mocking the guest of the restaurant. The remainder of the staff were nice, but never motivated to offer the level of service we were lucky enough to experience at EVERY other pub or eatery in Edinburgh. In the end, our check was wrong. This place has the amazing capacity to be the best on the Royal Mile, it is instead a blemish. Avoid at...

If it’s good enough for Mary Queen of Scots... I treated the “wee wummin” to a refreshing gin and tonic on the way home and slaik’d my thirst with a perfectly poured pint of Caledonia Best... then it’s good enough for John Knox. Let’s just say they have an eclectic crowd. There were three lads fishing in one corner who appeared to be using chips and peas for bait... big portions, freshly cooked. Next time I’ll bring my appetite and my thirst. Adjacent was the prerequisite intellectual reading his book. No doubt the poems of Robert Ferguson. Mum, Dad and three well behaved kids were having a family affair at the table next, sans iPhones, I am pleased to report. A grey bearded local was perched next to us on a high stool doubtless longing for the day when he can belly up to the bar and listen to the live music once again. We’ll be right there with him. In the interim the bar staff are doing their utmost to serve their patrons in a friendly though somewhat muted atmosphere limited by govt. regs. Many bars are yet to open. Support the ones who are and look forward to the not too distant future when the Public House is once again the Free House we know and cherish. Two thumbs up for the ROYAL...

Walked in with my 25-year old sister and parents for a relaxed beer and live music. The bouncer let us in without any issues. On our way to the table the ginger barman came asking my sister for her ID in a very rude manner. He was showed a photocopy of her ID but he very rudely kicked us out just saying if he doesn't sees the ID she cannot stay there. We went back to the hotel and brought it. It was checked by the bouncer but the same rude barman came sprinting to say she cannot enter unless he sees the ID himself... We said to him not to be that rude only to mocked by him and his colleagues, treated as we were stupid and he was insisting "I am just doing my job". Well obviously doing that very badly!!!! Apart from that, when we tried the beer we had been served, the taste was horrible and definitely not the lager we ordered... AVOID...