cosy, casual, shabby chic. followers of no trends, just a purpose to make you feel at home.
eat
no geographical boundaries or complication, thoughtful use of the best seasonal ingredients & trusted local suppliers lead to a tasty outcome.
small plates
meaty: cock-a-leekie terrine £5.50 | fennel & garlic salami £5 | lomo – pork tenderloin £5 | ‘nduja £5 | pigs cheeks £5
fishy: house smoked loch duart salmon [gf] £5 | pomegranate & cumin cured sea bream [gf]
veggie|vegan: buffalo beer pickled eggs [gf] £4 | lemon marinated goral olives [veg] £5 | baked ricotta & walnut ‘salami’ £4 | mahwash pâté [ve] £5 | smoked melon ‘ham’ [ve] £4.50
add ons: company bakery sourdough £3.70 | gooseberry & fennel chutney [ve]£3.50 | gherkins [veg] £3 | house pickles [ve] £3
medium plates
maple & miso cured loch etvie sea trout, yuzo koshuo whipped créme fraîche, almonds, mahleb & dill marinated golden delicious [gf] £9
quinoa bhel salad: quinoa, radish, cucumber, mint, coriander & pomegranate, nuts, puffed rice, chickpea noodles & tamarind chutney [veg] £9
scottish outdoor bred pork belly, grilled peach mustard £9.50
summer melon & heirloom tomato salad, crispy speck ham or smoked melon ‘ham’ [ve], pecans, wood sorrel & hot honey [gf] £9
mussels masala, coconut & curry leaves + soft roll med £8 | lrg £12
panko fried halloumi, ouzo, lime & chilli poached rhubarb, honey glazed walnuts & hot honey [v] £9
large plates
grilled quail, ham & chicken red eye gravy, dirty farro kale, sweet potato purée £17
white miso broth, asparagus, broad beans, chilli tofu, rice noodles [gf/ve]
£16
Scottish crab linguine, heirloom tomatoes, fennel, chilli, parsley £17.50
cauliflower cheese burger, dill pickles, iceberg, tomato, chipotle vegannaise, buffalo sauce, glazed potato bun, sweet potato fries [v] £15
bone marrow beef burger, bacon cheese sauce, iceberg, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard pickled cucumber, glazed potato bun, hand cut chips £16
desserts
plum upside down cake, plum & pink peppercorn fool [v] £7.50
wild rose petal jelly, dark chocolate granita, pistachios, orange syrup [veg/gf] £7
whipped yoghurt parfait, vodka & peach compote, cranberry granola [v] £7.50
rocky road cookie pie, vanilla ice cream £7.50
cheese plate: loch arthur cheddar [v] | gubbeen | alp blossom | blue murder [v] + selection of pickles, bread, butter, oat cakes
2 cheese £10.50 | 3 cheese £17.50 | extra cheese portion £3.50
sides
new potatoes, milk curds, crispy potato strings [v] £4.50
caramelised carrots [v] £4
dirty farro kale sautéed in ham & chicken liver £4.50
sweet potato fries [veg] £4
bombay roll: puff pastry roll with coriander chutney & cheese [v] £4
skinny fries [ve] £3.50
hand cut chips [ve] £4.50
info
please note: due to the size of our kitchen dishes may not all arrive to the table at once
please try to eat all of your food as we do not offer takeaway
[v – vegetarian / ve – vegan / n – contains nuts / s – contains sesame / gf – made with gluten free ingredients -but prepared in a kitchen that uses gluten]
menu subject to availability
drink
seasonal focus for wines & cocktails, a modest well formed list featuring interesting ingredients, supporting local or small producers best we can.
[sample menu]
carnival
rich, zingy
cachaça, charred cucumber syrup, lime, sugar, pear liqueur, manzanilla sherry £8
rave nation
fresh, boozy, floral
quiquiriqui, mezcal, escubac, violette, liqueur, lemon, maraschino liqueur £8
disco to pisco
tart, aromatic, sour
pisco, rhubarb liqueur, honey, orange bitters, fennel, lemon, sugar, egg white £8
70’s garnish
tropical, zingy, sour
white rum, parsley, grapefruit bitters, lime, sugar £8
strawberry fields
fruity, fragrant
amarosa rosehip liqueur, strawberry liqueur, ginger liqueur, cava £8
some like it hot
fruity, smooth, spicy
yellow pepper, arbikie chilli vodka, banana liqueur, lemon, sugar, orange bitters £8
mary stairs
spicy, medicinal, long
el dorado 3 rum or davna bison grass vodka,
basil, fermented chilli, cucumber, spices, tomato, £8
aperitivo time
bittersweet, crisp, refreshing
luxardo bitter bianco, berry bros gin, apple liqueur, cava £8
the rdj
punchy, aromatic, serious
wray & nephew overproof rum, yellow chartreuse, elderflower gin, citrus, sugar £8
classic
short, boozy, legendary
martin miller’s westbourne gin or ogilvy vodka, vermouth, lemon or olive –made your way £8.50
sage david
fruity, herbaceous
ocho reposado, greengage, sage, king’s ginger liqueur, lemon, sugar £8
40 thieves
fresh, light, aromatic
black pepper infused vodka, limoncello, saki, bay syrup, egg white, sesame, citrus £8
nod to rob
fruity, aromatic, easy
ocho tequila, lychee liqueur, absinth rinse £8
fyi
– we operate by table service only,
so sit down, relax & let us take care of you
– as we’re a bar/restaurant no persons under the age of 18 are permitted after 20:00
– if you are a group coming to visit & or more friends may be joining you, please tell us how many so we can seat you appropriately
– a discretionary 10% service charge will be added to tables of 6 or more
– we usually allocate 2hrs dining time per booking, please let us know if you would like longer
– last orders for food 21:45
– it is possible on occasion to hire Under the Stairs for private dining / meetings / special events
[contact us for details]
contact us
t. 0131 466 8550
e. info@underthestairs.org
Our Friends
find us
3a Merchant St.
Edinburgh
EH1 2QD
opening hours for jan:
[subject to change/gov guidelines]
mon: 16:00-00:00
tues/wed: closed
thurs: 15:00-01:00
fri/sat: 14:00-01:00
sun: 14:00-00:00
follow the map