It’s almost embarrassing, the fact that it’s taken me almosta week to write up this review of Peter’s Yard. Do I have excuses? Sure, mainlythey consist of me now knowing what it was I and my guest, Edinburgh Foody,ate. I left the light and airy restaurant, happy to have met her and stuffed ongood food, and completely forgot to write down the names of the open-facedsandwiches we actually had.
It was just what I needed today, when I am stuck in my officeediting and formatting my PhD dissertation when the sun is out and calling meto come and play. The salad was crisp and fresh with a nice flavour from thenigella that I am not all that familiar with. And, it was a steal at £3.50.
Their to-go shop is a pared down version of the main café,with more items for sale, such asteas and crispbreads, and icecream. They divide food into ‘ranges’ whichdictate price depending on contents. To be honest, if you don’t need to sit inthe café, going here gives you more bang for your buck. The open facedsandwiches (in this case the Herb and tofu one) that is £4.95 at the main café,is a mere £3.50—with 2 slices of bread. So get it to go!
How can I forget the buns. The sweet items from Peter’s Yardare amazing. They have a range of freshly prepared cakes, breads, gooeychocolate things, Swedish specialties and the cardamom buns, which I sampled onFriday. I admit, I’m not a huge fan of cardamom, but these buns were tasty andfresh and I can see why people get addicted to them.
Overall, I love this place. I’ll continue to go back, andnow that I know I can save almost £2.00 by going around the corner, I’llseriously have to try to keep myself away.
Today’s Lunch Questers were: MJ (multiple times), Edinburgh Foody
We wore: Sweaters, jackets, hoodies, stripy trousers andboat
We ate: Herb tofu ‘cottage cheese’ sandwich, Chickpea salad;Herring sandwich; cardamom buns
We drank: filter coffee, apple and raspberry juice, hotchocolate
Total Bill: Trip 1: c. £17 (With all drinks)
0131-228 5876
www.petersyard.com
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Located near the University, I’ve been popping into Peter’sYard for a few years now. It’s been a bit crowded at times, but always very,very good. Friday I met Edinburgh Foody and we looked over the open-facedsandwiches on display-a variety of interesting combinations on freshly bakedbread (made on site by the young master baker). There is a rotating range of soups(beetroot and wasabi, honeyed parsnip, etc…) and pizza slices (today’s had afig on it). Along with the normal list of well-made teas and coffees.
We bought our sandwiches and found a seat at the end of thelong, communal table. I had the Herb tofu ‘cottage cheese’ with sunblush tomatopesto and crunchy green beans on olive bread (with rocket and some tinysprouts). It was delicious, so much so that I went back once more to write downthe name, and ended up eating the same sandwich and still not writing down whatI had eaten. I think subconsciously I just wanted to eat it again. It was thatgood. Salty, tomatoey pesto contrasted with the fresh crunch of the beans andthe silken textures of the tofu on the olive bread all blended perfectly.
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| Herby tofu 'cottage cheese' on olive bread |
This is where things get sloppy. Edinburgh Foody had an openfaced sandwich with herring, potato slices, and a creamy, (yogurt based)dressing with dill. Now, I could be butchering that, but it was very good. Yousee, not only did I return Wednesday to get the names, I also went back today(Thursday) with the intention of trying something new and getting the names… Ialmost succeeded.
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| Herring, potato-ey thing |
I hit the lunch-crowd and bypassed their main shop to go totheir to-go shop around the corner (which has a few seats outside for days liketoday). There I ordered the day’s salad range: A Chickpea, turmeric, nigella,coriander, pepper, and lemon salad; served in a neat little plastic bowl with 2slices of their homemade bread
It was just what I needed today, when I am stuck in my officeediting and formatting my PhD dissertation when the sun is out and calling meto come and play. The salad was crisp and fresh with a nice flavour from thenigella that I am not all that familiar with. And, it was a steal at £3.50.
Their to-go shop is a pared down version of the main café,with more items for sale, such asteas and crispbreads, and icecream. They divide food into ‘ranges’ whichdictate price depending on contents. To be honest, if you don’t need to sit inthe café, going here gives you more bang for your buck. The open facedsandwiches (in this case the Herb and tofu one) that is £4.95 at the main café,is a mere £3.50—with 2 slices of bread. So get it to go!
How can I forget the buns. The sweet items from Peter’s Yardare amazing. They have a range of freshly prepared cakes, breads, gooeychocolate things, Swedish specialties and the cardamom buns, which I sampled onFriday. I admit, I’m not a huge fan of cardamom, but these buns were tasty andfresh and I can see why people get addicted to them.
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| Cardamom Bun |
And, if that wasn’t enough. You can also pick up bread booksin the café as well as fresh loaves of breads and scones (Levin, sourdoughs,baguettes, scones-sweet and savory, etc…) to take home with you.
Overall, I love this place. I’ll continue to go back, andnow that I know I can save almost £2.00 by going around the corner, I’llseriously have to try to keep myself away.
Scores on the Doors
Out of 20 MJ gives Peter’s Yard:
5/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
5/5 for service
4/5 for setting
giving an overall 18/20
Today’s Lunch Questers were: MJ (multiple times), Edinburgh Foody
We wore: Sweaters, jackets, hoodies, stripy trousers andboat
We ate: Herb tofu ‘cottage cheese’ sandwich, Chickpea salad;Herring sandwich; cardamom buns
We drank: filter coffee, apple and raspberry juice, hotchocolate
Total Bill: Trip 1: c. £17 (With all drinks)
Trip 2: £4.90
Trip 3: £ 3.50
Peter’s YardCoffee House and Bakery
Quartermile, 27 Simpson Loan
Edinburgh EH3 9GG
Quartermile, 27 Simpson Loan
Edinburgh EH3 9GG
0131-228 5876
www.petersyard.com
