Tanifiki — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Tanifiki recently hosted their inaugural dinner and wine pairing event - Italian Wine Dinner, in collaboration with Great Grog, who are well-known independent wine, beer, and spirits merchant in Edinburgh. Although a superb coffee shop during the day, this is their first adventure into hosting events in the evening. The evening was a delightful journey through Italian cuisine, perfectly complemented by expertly selected wines from Great Grog. It brought together food enthusiasts, wine connoisseurs, and locals in a convivial and elegant setting. We started with Prosecco and a Charcuterie Cup brimming with an assortment of ingredients, it featured savoury salami and prosciutto, offering rich, cured flavours that paired perfectly with the crispy breadsticks and pretzels. Then onto Wild Gin & Beetroot Cured Salmon with pickled Fennel and horseradish cream. The first taste was a delicate balance of smoky and slightly sweet notes, with a hint of juniper from the gin curing process. This gave the salmon a unique, fragrant flavour that elevated its natural richness. The fish itself was silky and tender, practically melting in your mouth. Up next the Tortelli Cacio e Pepe with freshly made tortellini pasta from their neighbours, Aemilia, with a butter sauce and sage was a culinary delight that dances on the palate. The tortellini itself was tender yet al dente, encapsulating a rich, savoury ricotta, pecorino and cracked black pepper filling that burst with flavour when bitten into. Tomino Ovenbaked with honey, walnuts, fig and pomegranate- the warm cheese was the centrepiece, rich and creamy, its molten texture enveloped the palate with a satisfying warmth. Its mild, buttery flavour served as the perfect canvas for the symphony of complementary tastes. Meringue Two Ways with Pistachio Praline and Lemon Crewmeux. This dessert was outstanding and was made by Ouh Lala Cakes (another local business). We indulged in a dessert where lemon meringue was presented in two exquisite forms. The classic meringue formed a delicate casing that cradled a crumble biscuit base and luscious lemon curd. This classic meringue was light and airy, with a crisp exterior that gave way to a soft, marshmallow-like interior. The combination of the crunchy crumble base and the tart, silky lemon curd was insane. We were treated to five Italian wines on the night, chosen by Simon from Great Grog, starting with a prosecco and included white and red wines too. I thoroughly enjoyed this Italian Wine Dinner. The staff at Tanifiki were warm and welcoming, taking time to speak to guests and keep their wine glasses full. The food was exceptional and for a first time event, it was superb! I cant wait for them to host more...

UPDATE: March 2024

Visited here after two years, and felt it’s best to reassess my rating.

Don’t get me wrong the place still had a cosy feel and the current staffs seemed nice and friendly.

The downgrade to four stars is down to the coffee. I had a coconut latte again, but I unfortunately did not get any of the special tastes this time around. May have been the variety or the particular roast, but it had a not particularly pleasant bitter aftertaste.

I think the place is still worth visiting as it may have been one off.

Original review: April 2022 [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]

Such a gem of an independent coffee shop. I had a coconut latte and oh my, it was quite possibly the best coffee I’ve ever had.

Disclaimer: I’m not a coffee connoisseur, but I know what doesn’t work for me (sour tanginess and/or burnt bitterness). The coffee offered by Tanifiki is nothing but.

Its strong yet smooth with an almost chocolaty sweet scent. It has such a pleasant clean aftertaste. The flavour is complex but not overbearing, went perfectly with the milk used.

The lovely guy I spoke to explained that they do everything themselves, from sourcing the beans to roasting. I haven’t had much Rwandan coffee before, but need to look out for it if this is the standard.

Everything else was top notch, from the staff, decor to the music. The cakes and sandwiches looked lovely too.

Definitely pay a visit if you’re in Porty and enjoy coffee. I guarantee you, it’ll make your seaside visit that much...

Disappointing experience, entered the cafe for the first time. Walked over to look at the sandwhiches & cafes that sit on open shelves, the sandwhiches are kept behind a glass pane where as the cakes are on plates with no signs saying to not touch. My boyfriend picked up a muffin to take to the til to purchase. Our first encounter with a staff member was a man shouting across the cafe “its not self service pal”. We placed the muffin down and apologised, confused as no staff member had approached us or been present at the stall to tell us or signs that state this. We then go over to the till & ask for a menu to the same gentleman, and are told there is no menu. We walk back over to the shelves of sandwhichs & cakes to decide what we would like, I looked over to the til & can see the gentleman member of staff speaking to another female staff member whilst pointing at us complaining we were causing a hassle. Upon this we decided to go else where. Disappointing as the food looked delicious but not worth it for the lousy service & approach. We sadly...