Eusebi Deli — Restaurant in Scotland

Based on a dinner experience for two:

Food is just OK, while prices are rather steep. Significantly overpriced for the overall experience, including the venue. I've had much better Italian food in much more affordable places before.

Some portions are very small. It might be OK for a quick coffee break, but after paying an average of £30 per head we were very disappointed (a shared starter, a main course, one bottled beer and a shared dessert). On the other hand, some of the dishes are rather demanding in skill, which offer a lot of potential at first. However, I am not sure the cooking standards at Eusebi’s Deli match this level of ambition. A simple dish, like the £12 ‘Pinsa’ Parmigiana (1), lacked flavour and had barely any Parmesan cheese on it. It felt like I was just eating bread with tomato sauce.

Service was OK, nothing special. Just a slightly forgetful waiter whose service was a bit improper at times, e.g. placing a remaining focaccia piece on the bare table top without a plate after removing the bread board. Again, not completely in line with what the menu – or restaurant as whole – claims to be. Tables are very small and too close to each other. The presence of both of our neighbouring tables was very noticeable and we could hear into their conversations. It almost felt like being at a bad work due dinner, everyone sat in a row at the back of the restaurant. Instead it was meant to be a more private Friday evening dinner with my partner.

With respect to the venue and atmosphere, it is that of a small corner café (excluding the private dining and function room). It wouldn’t qualify as a bistro. So much as this can be charming, it also does not do justice to the expectations created by the menu. Also, the joints in the tiled table tops have not been filled, or rather they have been filled with everyone else’s accumulated dirt, bread crumbs and other food debris. This is not very hygienic or a pleasant thought.

The slightly overwhelming ‘Italian’ themed wallpaper is a poor and tasteless graphic design collage of cliché Italian culture. Again, not in line with the boastful display of Italianesque deli counters or the pricing. The general image of the place is nothing like the local and traditional image of their supposed heritage. It seems like they might be trying to make the jump to be the next profit-driven, posh, high street ‘family’ company.

In conclusion, this place is full of visual and verbal rhetoric, while failing to deliver a proper Italian gastronomical experience which is adequately priced.

(1) Pinsa is a rather pretentious word for pizza. “In Ancient Roman Times this product was called PINSA, from the Latin “Pinsere” meaning to squash /pinch” (Quoted...

The first time we went to Eusebi Deli I must say it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten and the best pasta I have ever eaten, it was absolutely amazing. We decided to go back for a Valentines Day meal yesterday which we were very much looking forward to. We ordered some drinks and then we ordered our food. The starters arrived before our drinks and we had to chase up staff for our drinks. The starters (pork cheek and scallops nicoise) were nice however my scallops were slightly overcooked and nowhere near as nice as the scallops we had previously a few weeks back. The main courses were rather disappointing. 90% of the lobster was chewy and overcooked, despite paying an extra £20 on top of the set menu price to have this dish. The chips which came with the lobster were also badly cooked and not crispy. There was also some kind of herb salad which was inedible. I was extremely underwhelmed and expected better. The pasta main was also underwhelming, and did not have much flavour. Our desserts were okay, again not to the standard I was expecting for this meal. We also got a cocktail, a beer, and a bottle of wine to share which were good. This whole meal came to £188 which we begrudgingly paid because I did not want to be rude to the waitress by complaining. I must note at this point they didn't ask how our meal was anyway. We were aware there may be a supplement for the lobster course but I was not expecting it to be an extra £20 (which they did not state on the set menu) for the quality of the cooking. The service from the waiters and waitresses was very good so I am glad of that and thank you to them, but I am very disappointed in the food and it has unfortunately put me off coming back here...

This was a disappointment for my 25th birthday last night. 2 of our party ordered a bottle of wine, which, after asking for numerous times and being told, 'it's just coming' we were eventually told it was sitting at the bar (??) This is not a great standard. Wine should be kept on the table. Anyone could have taken that for themselves or thrown it away if they assumed it was left over. Foccacia bread, granted was ordered late as we forgot, but never appeared despite again asking and being told the same answer as the wine. We ended up just saying to take this off as it hadn't arrived after the main had finished. The food was good quality. However, the portions inconsistent.. when you compare it with competitors who offer a lot bigger portions at the same price point it's not great. When we asked for the bill, we realised that my dad, who was driving, was given an alcoholic beer when he said for a non-alcoholic version. The staff did kindly take this off our bill for us and gave us some cake as an apology, which was again nice of them, but perhaps something for the restaurant to be careful of in future. The staff themselves were friendly it's just the experience overall wasn't what I had hoped given the way people hype this place up.

I hope the restaurant is able to take this feedback on board to improve the...