Valvona & Crolla — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

The restaurant was recommended by a friend who is very senior in the hospitality sector in Scotland, I was looking forward to this. Overall, disappointed, although the food was of a high standard. The main deli is a wonderful shop full of rich smells and atmosphere, amazing wine selection, cheese, and all manner of items from Italy.

The eating area is soul-less and lacking atmosphere. The service was among the worst I have experienced recently in a proper restaurant. The member of staff who served us seemed completely uninterested: when one of our party discussed vegetarian options they offered to remove the sausage from a particular sauce – clearly totally unacceptable for a vegetarian.

When it came to the desert, the restaurant had run out of tiramisu and the server forgot to bring our drinks and had to be reminded. We were visiting with friends from London and I was embarrassed about the whole experience. Thankfully another member of staff realised the extent of the problems we experienced and provided us with complementary coffees, which was something at least.

For the first time ever in a restaurant, I refused to pay the service charge and asked for it to be removed from the bill. Wouldn’t eat there again but the deli is...

It’s a question that’s quite frequently asked; if you had to choose a last meal, what would it be? Ok, so, this isn’t a meal as such, and I am being a little greedy, but I would pick a trip to Valvona and Crolla on Elm Row for a last splurge on all the delicious meats and cheeses that grace its glass cabinets.

Growing up in an Italian family, visits to Valvona and Crolla happened every Saturday. I watched mesmerised as slices of prosciutto were laid perfectly on the counter, and wedges of Taleggio were prepared for us to take home. This is where it started, my love affair with this shop and everything it has to offer.

The quality of the produce at Valvona and Crolla is second to none. Yes, you do have to pay for that, but it is worth every penny. Plus you are likely to come across something you hadn’t seen (or tasted) before. Whether a pasta shape, or a new salami, the choice is vast and incredibly tasty.

If you wander further up the back of the shop, you will find yourself at a small café. Using produce from the shop, the menu is varied, having everything from soups and salads, to antipasti and pizza.

So, it’s a favourite of mine, and I’m pretty sure after one visit, it will become a...

The cafe/restaurant here is a hidden gem. Lovely menu, very friendly and attentive service, no rush, and overall a very relaxing place to spend a morning. It is also spotlessly clean!

Unfortunately Valvona and Crolla was let down by the staff member serving in the delicatessen. When I arrived I said hello, and was ignored, I did receive a confused, frosty stare. They then proceeded to storm about like a bull in a China shop. There were only two customers, myself included. I observed the staff member interacting with the other customer and she was dismissive and rude to the older lady. When paying for my goods, the staff member dealt with me at the till like she REALLY couldn’t be bothered and was doing me a favour. Dismissive, abrupt and rude. For an establishment that clearly prides itself on quality and good customer service, it was quite shocking service and in total contrast to the service in the cafe. I would hope it was a “bad morning” for this particular member of staff, but it was certainly enough to give me pause on...