Witchery by the Castle Reviews

We went there for my girlfriend's 30th birthday treat. Romantic atmosphere, great service - you can relax and enjoy your time there rather than have an over attentive waiter who rushes you through your evening. The food was amazing. This place is not inexpensive, but the good places never are. The eel starter was fantastic, as was the venison main and the rabbit. The Witchery pudding selection was the icing on the cake! Fantastic. The wine menu is large, but there's something for every taste and budget. Highly recommended!

We ate there while on our honeymoon and were very pleasantly surprised. Having read some reviews we were apprehensive but we found the service and food to be impeccable. The members of staff were polite, well informed and couldn't have been more helpful. The atmosphere was very relaxed and candles flickering all around made it a magical experience! This place is a must for anyone visiting the city of Edinburgh.

The atmosphere is excellent, as much in The Witchery as in the garden, with a little preference for The Witchery. The service is almost perfect. Whatever you choose from the menu, the food is likely to be refined, but do not expect too many classic dishes. There are a few of them, such as the chateaubrillant de boeuf with haricot vert.

I loved the atmosphere and decor there - very luxuriant and rich. Dark wooden panelling and tapestries on the walls, crisp white tablecloths and candles galore. We chose the pre theatre menu, and at £12.95 each, it seemed a steal. The food as good, well cooked and simple - very small portions, and we ended up ordering desserts off the menu. To be honest for the pre-theatre menu you are paying for the ambience and experience rather than the food, but the former were worth every penny.

The service was efficient, friendly and attentive, and they were able to alter the meals to our requirements. The wine list is very extensive, and we opted for the house red - lovely, full-bodied and strong. The pre theatre menu runs from 5.30-6.30, but we were able to keep the table until 8.00. A lovely dining experience, and I am looking for any excuse to go again!

The decor and atmosphere of The Witchery was excellent. However, we were disappointed by the food. My pigeon starter was well cooked but was bland and under seasoned - not very warm, as was the pistachio crusted wild sea bass. The side order of brocolli butter, and my wife’s haricot blanc soup starter were bland. Her organic poached salmon was also perfectly cooked, but I felt it lacked flavour.

Although the food was okay, it was such a disappointment. Expectations and other website reviews by far over-state the actual experience. The atmosphere was wonderful, and I could not ask for any better. However, a quick lunch at £150 deserves not to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. They have poor choice on the menu, cold and bland food and slow and inattentive service. It was a shame.

It was one of the most memorable meals in my life, awesome food. You cannot visit Edinburgh without eating there.

I am amazed by the negative reviews having had what was possibly one of the top 10 meals of my life at the Witchery. I was born and brought up in Penicuik about 10 miles south of Edinburgh and good restaurants in Edinburgh were few and far between in those days.

After 20 years living in England I went to the Witchery (Secret Garden) for my sister's birthday. We were a large party of twelve and the table wasn't available immediately but we had to wait less than 5 minutes.

The hand rail on the stairs down from reception to the restaurant had a prominent sign saying "wet paint" - not clever given that one of the party was aged 86 and needed the hand rail. Why not do the painting at a time when it can dry, out of opening hours?

Once in the Secret Garden the atmosphere was superb. Subtle candle lighting, quiet but good background music, space between tables and an intriguing view from the window. I have been to Edinburgh Castle many times but the view from The Secret Garden is one you don't otherwise get to see.

Oysters and steak tartare were a dangerous combination for starters and main course. I love both, but have been disappointed with one or both elsewhere. Both were very good here, and I was amused by the dire warnings to avoid any alcohol if having oysters. I enjoyed some great Sauvignon Blanc with my oysters and am still alive.

The steak tartare also suffered from the health and safety brigade - raw egg wasn't allowed and instead it was cooked quail's egg. Forget that, the best steak tartare ever.

Pudding was a trifle. Perfection and totally different to what "trifle" often means.

The service was exemplary - it seemed like one waiter for every three diners but they didn't push. I will be going back - maybe I was lucky but it was very good the night we went there.

We went to Witchery having received a big build-up from friends who had visited previously. It was, to say the least, rather disappointing. It isn't so much that it isn't any good, because that's not the case. It was, however, much ado about very, very little. Appetizers, entrees and desserts were ordinary at best, service was amateurish, and the decor looked like something from a bad movie. It's not on our list for our next trip to Edinburgh. Too bad.

Appallingly pretentious; overpriced and overrated; chilly in December. Couldn't produce a palatable risotto as an alternative. Caramelised pineapple came in a latte glass and appeared to be pineapple mousse layered with congealed yoghurt - they knocked two coffees off the bill when we sent them back!