Whiski Rooms — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Update - Upon reflection 3 stars was generous, I've amended to reflect a more fair review of 1 star. This will forever remain in my darkest memories for all eternity and every time I drink a Talisker the enjoyment is sucked from my soul

Nice drinks and nice atmosphere. Unfortunately quite a rude service. Slight snobbish attitude. Whilst being rushed to order last drinks at 21.30 I asked for a whisky recommendation, “something nice and smokey like Talisker”. The response was “Well Talisker isn’t nice and smokey”. So I said “okay what would you recommend then...” The gentleman recommended an older and more expensive Talisker, and I obliged. As I finished my drink I simply noted to the gentlemen that this older Talisker was very similar to the standard Talisker to which he replied “that’s probably because you ruined it with a big cube of ice in it”. Many people drink whisky in different ways, and I happen to like some ice in mine, it chills the whisky which I prefer, and gradually dilutes it in the same manner that adding water would do. In fact, houses used to be much colder and whisky used to be drank at naturally colder temperatures, so having some ice in a whisky is not far from how it used to be enjoyed by our ancestors. I don’t claim to know lots about whisky, but I’m Scottish and I know what I like, and I also know that Talisker is a relatively smokey whisky, which I love. I also know that whilst the older Talisker was slightly sweeter, it wasn’t that different, and it certainly wasn’t more smokey. I don’t appreciate being lectured on what my taste should be and then essentially having to pay double for a similar drink. There is no room for snobbery in a middle of the road place like this, especially in these uncertain times, and it ruined what was otherwise a nice evening with the other lovely staff. In the future I’ll stick to drinking whisky in places where I’m not judged by a snobbish waiter who doesn’t even seem to know what smokey even tastes like. Right, I’m off to enjoy a nice and smokey Talisker with...

Have you ever been to a real tourist trap? If you would like to experience it please come in...

The location is great and has nice views. The whiskys they've a good selection eventhough they're probably a bit on the pricier side as expected.

Now let's come to the food .... Have you ever tasted a salmon which tasted & smelled too fishy (a sign that its off)? If you would like to make the experience please order the salmon .... it tasted like it had almost gone off, was frozen and then served to yours truly. It appeared that the waiters knew it was very bad, none of them asked us how the food was but they did ask every other table. Even when clearing our table they didn't bother to enquire. My little brother ordered the fish and chips and as per his words it was "okay". We then decided as I was still hungry to order the cheese platter, again one things how could a cheese platter go wrong? I never thought I would type these words but they managed to do it .... they served us frozen grapes (my little brother joked that they must have been in the freezer next to the salmon and I wouldn't be surprised)! As in the entire grapes were frozen solid, I cut one open just to confirm it was entirely frozen... I don't know what they're thinking but it appears they're not.

Needless to say 1 star for the location and drinks. Just please do not eat here.... I...

Second visit - very different from my first visit in January. This time I got terrible service, the food was poor and the visit had a sting in the tail.

Undercooked, soggy haggis in spring role with nothing to contrast the taste was a bad start. Salmon was bulked out with tasteless mash and a few scraps of veg, The fish was overcooked, Tarte Tatin was burnt, the pastry was rock solid. There was no rush to clear our plates, no refill for our water bottle or any offer of more wine or spirits. The room was unpleasantly packed solid and staff stressed to the point of being rude...but it got worse. Out of the blue as I was trying to order coffee they said there was a 2 hour occupancy limit and they needed the table back. I don't book at restaurants with such ludicrous rules. I was furious at being told about it at the end of the meal. It's a silly, avaricious practice. One waitress said I should have been told when I sat down - I wasn't (I would have walked out). The man who took my money (over £100 for 2 with wine) was particularly smug and censorious - he said it was in the email confirmation - it wasn't - I checked (I had booked through...