The Cove — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

My partner and I went to The Cove 2 days ago (Thursday 02/07/21), it was the worst experience we have ever had at any Indian restaurant. We arrived at approximately 9.30pm the restaurant was empty, as soon as we got in the waiter greeted us and said they were closing in half an hour and asked if that was enough time for us to eat, we told him that was fine. He seated us and we ordered our food, he was pleasant. Then soon after a bald waiter, who had gone outside for a cigarette, came back in and started having a go at the waiter inside telling him he shouldn't have let us in and they were closing at 10pm. The other waiter informed him that we had ordered our food and we would probably be done in 20 mins or so. The bald waiter carried on complaining to his colleague all the time we were there, he was very unprofessional and aggressive. We could hear him from our table which was right by the window and they were at the bar.

Our food arrived at 9.50pm. We gobbled our starters down within minutes, it was really uncomfortable and the first waiter took our plates away. Then our mains came out, we took 2 spoonfuls and with all the commotion that was going on at the bar with the bald waiter complaining that he wanted to eat and needed the customers to go, we decided we couldn't stay and eat there anymore, so when he (the bald waiter) came over we asked to pack our food and take it away. He was so happy we were leaving and had the nerve to say we were lucky they had let us in!!! We just kept to the pleasantries, we had to request hot-towels for our hands, they weren't brought over, he just wanted to rush us out the door! It was an awful experience, we paid £50 for our meal (which was tiny in portion size and extortionately priced - but we were happy to pay that for a good experience - but it was the most awful experience we have had at any restaurant, even the cheapest restaurants will rate higher than this supposedly top restaurant). It was appalling service, there are no other words to describe it.

When we got back to our hotel (we are on holiday and traveled all the way from Bedford to try out The Cove) we couldn't eat the food, the evening was ruined, our moods were spoilt and all the rushing and gulping down of food at the restaurant actually made my partner ill. We threw away the food.

It was a complete anticlimax of building up to go there, the service was rubbish, it was a waste of money, and I wouldnt recommend the place. If they didn't want us in at 9.30pm all they had to say was 'sorry we are only doing takeaways' we would have been fine with it, but to seat us, take our orders, and keep complaining is completely wrong.

The next day we had a takeaway from Bangla Kitchen, the food was of brilliant quality and the service they gave was wonderful, really respectful...

WARNING!. Outdated menu prices, Overpriced and underwhelming!. Expect to pay £35 pp for a small amount of food excluding alcoholic!. Beware of fake reviews!

Ive been here twice for a takeaway and it was pretty good, albeit with above average prices and decent enough food.

However I dined in and apart from the atmosphere, I was disappointed with everything else.

First of all,the menu on their website is not up to date so add at least 2 to 3 pounds on top of the prices on there.

So therefore expect to pay close to £17 for a tiny main course that is half the size of a takeaway sized portion,which consists of like 6 pieces of meat!.

You still need to get rice,that will cost you £5 and starters are at typically around £8.avoid the samosas at all cost as they they are tiny and the frozen ones are probably just as good. nan bread is close to a fiver,poppadoms will cost you £2-£3 each.

The rice is a tiny portion,less than a ready meal,so you may need to order 2 portions of it.the chilli garlic lamb i had, was half the portion size of a standard sized takeaway tray.the chicken pakora was ok but nothing to write home about about as it had salad as a side.

All in all,thats like £35 to £40 per head for a very average meal.i wouldn't bother dining in again for sure as that's very poor value for money,in fact it's safe to call this an expensive waste of money.

id rather buy an Indian ready meal of virtually the same quality,for less than a tenner than to dine here again.

This place must be making huge profits by serving tiny portions at ridiculous prices or paying their staff next to nothing.

Only come here if you want to waste money and feel ripped off!.

A Complete waste of time and money, places like these should...

I used to run restaurants & bars for 20 years now what you have here is a very well appointed & stylish restaurant with very tasty and we'll presented food & very well presented team but one thing that will ruin this restaurant is one of the front of house team I can not remember his name but as a completely shaven head he his extremely arrogant rude complaints to the rest of the team about the people in the restaurant the time he's been at work very rude to the rest of the staff especially a young girl that was on shift on my visit he was constantly complaining to him self how tiered he was but load enough so any one in the restaurant could her trying to make you leave I had a main course which was very good the place is open till 11 o'clock I was the last person in the restaurant so just after 10pm I asked him what time the restaurant close he said 11 o'clock he was complaining to the chef's in the kitchen there is one person left how the young girl is still working there after he had spoken with her and really put her down in front of everyone I think that he thought that no one could her but I managed to keep him there till 11 o'clock by having a couple more drinks then just at 11 pm opened the front door and once again I am tired so I left so apart from a good looking restaurant great food a great kitchen team a young girl team member this guy upset he thinks he knows it all I would give the girl his job I bet she would be better I won't be back again what ashame for the owners...