Tower Restaurant and Terrace Reviews

Having previously visited both the Witchery and Rhubarb we had high hopes before our dinner at the Tower, completing the James Thomson set. Although I found the quality of food was high, my partner found the portions a little small. The service was quite slow although this is not a criticism of the staff. With people at every table there was just not enough staff to cope and they were doing the best they could. Although this restaurant is less expensive than the Witchery and Rhubarb, I would definitely recommend spending those extra few pounds and experiencing an excellent dining experience in stunning surroundings at either of these restaurants.

We had read some of the reviews on this site by others when booking and were very worried, so much so that we called The Tower. They set our mind at rest. We were so pleased we did not cancel, as they went above and beyond our expectations. What a stunning evening. We had superb food, and the service was outstanding. Fantastic wine too! Not cheap but when you book the best you expect to pay for it, worth every penny. Do not be put off, book your table now.

Well what a disappointment, I went with my fiancé whilst on a trip to Edinburgh for a lunch. Their lunch menu was limited, their light lunch menu even more limited. Eventually I opted for the Cock au Vin from the light lunch menu, what poor food that was, cooked sometime before and clearly reheated in a microwave, but even then still served cold and had to be sent back. The atmosphere is pretentious and the whole place is vastly overpriced. I can't warn people enough to stay away.

Quite simply, this restaurant is an utter disappointment. The bland and over-priced food was complemented by exceptionally poor service provided by patronising staff. A "celebrity chef" sitting not too far away had staff tripping over themselves to serve him to the detriment of other customers but despite this he still had to pour his own wine! Please note there is no Bar for pre-dinner drinks; so do not turn up early, as we did, or you will be turned away and be directed to the pub across the road to wait... a great start to the evening!

The fact that we could only get a table at 10 pm made us think it was good, as it was obviously popular. The view and atmosphere were outstanding. The price of the food however does not match the quality. All the courses were cold and also pretentious. The food on offer was also limited. I have had a better meal at Pizza Hut! For a fifth of the price.

Having eaten here on numerous occasions it is noticeable that the quality of the food and service at this particular restaurant is certainly slipping.

I believe that they are starting to take too much notice of their own branding thus not quite showing the thought and artistic flair that is required when you promote yourself as "Edinburgh’s finest restaurant". The menu is at best average. The quality of food and service below par. I hope that they start to understand that you’re only as good as the food you serve and not the promotional press releases you write.

Fairly good, but service and food not as good as the Witchery. Pastry in all courses was pretty bad actually - you needed an ice-pick to get through it. Littlewoods-style sugar in sachets with the coffee confirmed it wasn't in the top league.

My wife and I visited this lofty restaurant on the 12th September 2004, having married in Kendal the day before!

We were honeymooning in Edinburgh for two nights, staying at The Witchery, which is THE best hotel I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.

As is the norm in this fair city, everybody you meet that works in a customer facing environment excels at natural friendliness, helpfulness, knowledge of their trade and is equipped with a 'can-do attitude', a very pleasant surprise.

The Tower is no exception to this rule. From the very jolly, female security guard (on hand to direct you from the museum lobby into the lift which swishes up to the restaurant), to the constantly smiling maitre-d, very helpful sommelier and super waiters and waitresses - this is a slick outfit.

The staff at The Witchery had booked us into both The Tower and The Secret Garden on our two night stay and secure us top class tables on both nights, which was greatly appreciated.

At The Tower we sat by the huge window, which affords lovely views of the castle, best seen at night in all its illuminated glory and providing a romantic backdrop to our dining experience.

Both of our meals were very good indeed - cooked & displayed to perfection, and with ample portions.

No need to describe what we had in great detail as whatever you choose will be spot on I am sure - my lamb was awesome is all I will say!!

This is a totally different experience to the other Witchery restaurants - it is a modern and slick brother to its more traditional and formal sisters, yet it is equally as good.

Yes, it is no smoking, strange as the Secret Garden welcomes those who partake of the nasty weed (myself included), but there is an ample terrace which you are encouraged to use whenever the need arises AND they give you ample warning of your food’s imminent arrival!

They also wait until you are seated and ready to receive the aforementioned feast - a welcome change to the usual method

This is a great place for a blow out lunch. There is good wine, eclectic food (portions are just right, not too big to overwhelm), and views of the castle from one of the most impressive modern buildings in the city. There is also a roof garden to take some air after eating. The service can be a disappointment as it doesn’t always match the price (we found toenails under our table and our complaint met with an unsympathetic “that’s nothing, you should see some of the other things we’ve found” from the head waiter). Other than that, it’s well worth a visit.