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
arbroath smokie pakoras, irn-bru & tamarind syrup, tomato & cumin dip £6
korean fried cauliflower, chilli sauce, sesame, lime [veg/lf/s] £6
mini baked potatoes, venison chilli con carne, sour cream, green onion [gf] £6.80
soup, sourdough, butter [v] £5.50
socco pancake, buffalo chicken, celery, apple [gf] £6.70
beetroot & sunflower seed pesto, black onion seed crackers [gf/lf] £6
sweetcorn tempura, miso mayonnaise [veg/gf] £6
medium plates
watercress & sun-dried tomato tart, parmesan sabayon, burnt onion, pinenuts [v/n] £7.50
warm celeriac, seaweed, lemon & caper salad [veg/lf/s] £7.50
squid, walnut pesto, jerusalem artichoke crisp, confit grapefruit [gf/lf] £8.50
white bean, rabbit & chorizo cassoulet + sourdough [lf] £9
peppered & smoked bath chaps, strawberry umeboshi, almond milk, toasted almonds [gf/lf/n] £8
large plates
rigatoni a la vodka, spianata picante, leeks, kale, orange [veg/lf/s] £14
plaice fillets, black garlic roasted salsify, horseradish, spinach, pink peppercorn oil [gf] £15
rare roast beef sirloin, wasabi peas, bonito, pickled ginger, fermented back bean jus [gf] £17
grilled king oyster mushroom, seaweed rice + leek, ginger & soy broth [veg/s/lf] £14
meatless-ball sub, marinara sauce, basil, crispy onions, oat créme fraîche [veg/lf] £11
beef burger topped with: garlic butter, bacon, fried potato hash, american cheese, ranch dressing, iceberg, mustard, buttery bun £13
+ burger sides: sweet potato fries [veg/gf/lf] french fries [veg/gf/lf] £2.50
sharing platters
meat // venison con carne, white bean, rabbit & chorizo cassoulet, peppered bath chaps, serrano ham, fennel salami, spianata picante £25
fish // home smoked trout, spiced bisque & mussels, black squid, arbroath smoke pakora, salt cod croquette, beetroot cured salmon £25
veggie // korean fried cauliflower, tempura sweetcorn, celeriac salad, seaweed salad, watercress tart, beetroot pesto, pickles [v] £24
cheese // a fine selection of cheese & condiments £19.50
mixed // selection of sharing platters:
charcuterie, fish, veggie, cheese, pickles & sourdough £26
all boards come with: pickles, onion seed crackers, burnt onion butter, sourdough
sides
warm root vegetable crisps, parmesan, rosemary [gf] £4.50
roasted sprouts, bacon, black garlic, sourdough croutons £4.50
sourdough + salted butter or burnt onion butter £4
baby baked potatoes [veg/lf] £4
french fries [vg/gf/lf] £3
sweet potato fries [vg/gf/lf] £3.50
puddings
veganaires shortbread: vegan tart, salted coconut caramel, chocolate cremeux, banana chips [veg] £8.50
yellow carrot grenache, lemongrass & watermelon granita, charcoal rubbed goat’s cheese, pistachio [v/gf/lf] £8
popcorn & mandarin mille-feuille: popcorn mousse, popcorn powder, mandarin gel, mandarin granita, puff pastry £8
start anise poached pear, poire william’s chantilly, hazelnut praline, butterscotch sauce [v/n] £8
ginger nut cannoli, amaretto & pumpkin ricotta, mulled cider soaked raisins [v] £8
please note: due to the size of our kitchen dishes may not all arrive to the table at the same time.
Please try to eat all of your food as we do not offer takeaway.
[v – vegetarian / veg – vegan / lf – lactose free / n – contains nuts / s – contains sesame / gf – made with gluten free ingredients, but prepared in a kitchen that uses gluten]
drink
seasonal focus for wines & cocktails, a modest well formed list featuring interesting ingredients, supporting local or small producers best we can.
cocktails
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
blackflip
smoky, creamy, malty
smokehead whisky, espresso, ristretto liqueur, hop liquorice reduction, px sherry, egg £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 & 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 booking for a la carte 21:45 late night menu available from 23:00 [no booking required]
– 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:
mon-thurs: 15:00 – 01:00
fri-sun: 12:00 – 01:00
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