Just a stone’s throw from the west end of Princes Street, La P’tite Folie delivers a quintessentially French dining experience. Housed in the upper level of a lovely old Tudor building (an unusual sight in Edinburgh) the restaurant makes a good impression right from the start. Many diners breeze past Le Di-Vin wine bar downstairs, but it’s worth popping into this contemporary space to sample some quality wines.
A Traditional French Bistro in the Heart of Edinburgh
In design terms La P’tite Folie makes the most of the natural light that floods in through the oversized windows on sunny days and evenings – the best tables are located next to these. The sturdy wooden tables and wood panelling, meanwhile, are fitting for a traditional French bistro. The dining room is pleasingly atmospheric, thanks to the bustling of happy diners and tables that are candlelit by night.
On our visit French owner Virginie Brouard was on hand to chat about her passions: the restaurant, the chic Le Di-Vin wine bar and her work with the Daughters of Charity in Ethiopia.
Simple French Cuisine
Sipping our Kir Royals – quirkily served in glasses with stems but no base – we browsed a menu where dishes like Roast Pork Fillet Marinated in Lemon and Thyme got our tastebuds tingling. Our starters were plump and juicy mussels perfectly steamed in a creamy sauce and a full-bodied oak smoked salmon. The steak main that we ordered came properly rare, while the tender sea bass was another well cooked treat.
Our wonderfully calorific deserts also managed to live up to our now high expectations. The richness of the dark chocolate torte was balanced out by the sweetness of the vanilla ice-cream. The cheese board, meanwhile, offered a satisfying savoury selection of French cheese. A good value wine list featuring a broad range of French wines was on hand to complete the dining experience in what is one of Scotland’s most authentic French bistros. Although La P’tite Folie translates as The Little Madness, there is certainly nothing mad about this characterful eatery.
*This blog comes in association with La P’tite Folie, 9 Randolph Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7TE. Tel: +44 (0)131-2258678. www.laptitefolie.co.uk
InsiderScotland Rating [effortless-gm address=”9 Randolph Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7TE”]
For Families 6/10.
For a Romantic Meal 8/10.
For Food 8/10.
For Business People 7/10.
InsiderScotland Rating 8/10.