4.5/5 delicious all around! the salmon was incredibly fresh but could have used a bit more lemon or seasoning. the traditional haggis neeps and tatties were incredible and a great portion for two. i the banoffee pie was gorgeous. the layered crust, banana, toffee, and cream were perfection. the sticky toffee pudding was also warm and delicious, and great if you really like toffee and have a very sweet tooth. great service as well, the waitresses were really nice and attentive. i appreciated the restaurant's high ceilings and airy interior. conveniently located right by calton hill too. read more

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The location is close to Calton Hill. They also have a secondary location in Old Town. We made a reservation, but were delayed by almost half an hour. I called to inform them, but no one picked up. Thankfully, there was a table available for us when we arrived. The interior is nice and bright with the skylight. Service was so so. I didn't find the waiter to be too friendly, and he didn't go over the specials. Two courses for lunch was £19.95. I started with the Cullen skink (traditional Scottish soup) with smoked haddock, leek, potato and cream chowder. It was comforting. I didn't care for the rosemary focaccia it came with. The bread was salty on the top and oily on the bottom. I tried a bite of the haggis and it was flavorful. For my main, I had the pan seared Scottish salmon with sweet potato purée, cauliflower and quinoa herb salad, and salsify crisps. My plate was scraped clean. I wished I had room for the banoffee pie. Overall, it was a great first meal in Edinburgh! read more

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Atmosphere is lovely, food was fine. Hospitality and attitude of service staff unfriendly , rude and rushed. The minute we sat down , you felt you already were being rushed out the door. Service is automatically added to the bill, remember this is an optional charge so you don't have to pay it for poor service. read more

As an American visiting Edinburgh, I highly recommend eating at Howies before hiking Carlton hill. I loved the Cullen skink. It's a potato fish soup which sounds questionable.... But it was sooo delicious and comforting. I got parm fries with truffle mayo. Yum! read more

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They were very busy but did a great job working us in without a reservation. Nice ambiance and service. I had the vegan haggis. It was light but had plenty of flavor. read more

Fantastic! We came with a tour group and so had a limited menu. You never know if you're going to get a good service experience or the best of their food options. Boy were we happily surprised to have both! The server that waited on our group was amazing. She had a tough task with one of our members who had some very difficult food allergies. She did a great job of working with the member and the kitchen to figure out an accommodation. I'm the end, I heard the member say she was very happy with the meal. Further, the server served all 16 of us almost exclusively alone - with grace, a smile, and in an expeditious manner. The food was great too! Our group had a range from chicken, venison, and salmon for mains, as well as haggis, terrines, and pates for starters. Every single person was satisfied and the dishes were beautiful! Overall this restaurant exceeded my expectations. They handled our group with ease and provided food that was high end and beautiful. If I were staying longer, I'd definitely go back and try other items off the full menu. read more

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Packed. No reservation. Out of luck. Until... we asked if we could sit in the entryway. "Sure, why not?" We were in! Also halfway out, but you understand. A really solid meal--the menu is inventive without shying away from the classic staples you can't get the same anywhere outside of Scotland. The haggis hit the spot exactly as it should have. The seafood was fresh and inspired. Accommodating, friendly, and spot on with each dish--now that's the hospitality we all long for, no matter where our travels take us. read more

Great. Plan ahead, get a reservation. Fish of the day was our choice and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Had dinner at Howies... was recommended by our tour guide. It was a short walk from our hotel. Restaurant is beautifully decorated and makes you feel like you're at home. Our server Beth was super sweet and greeted us right away. Cocktails were really tasty. We ordered the rosemary focaccia with butter as a starter. We were expecting warm bread but it came cold. It was really good tho. My sister and I ordered a salad that was SO GOOD, fresh and dressed perfectly we shared a rib eye steak with chips, onion rings and carrots. Everything was good perfectly and everything tasted fresh and delicious. Howies was so good and I would highly recommend it. We wanted to save room for dessert but we ate everything on our plates and we were too full. Had a really nice dinner here. read more

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We stopped in from a suggestion from my aunt that had visited a few year prior. We made a reservation online same day a couple hours earlier, when we arrived it wasn't too busy, but did fill up shortly after. When walking in, the vestibule splits into a private dining area and the main dining room. The restaurant is currently observing COVID protocols, with clear dividers at close tables. We ordered a bottle of wine and the freshly baked rosemary focaccia bread and butter to start, the venison and the casserole of the day as our mains. The food was so delicious and would definitely get again. For dessert we split a sticky toffee pudding, which we should of had another one, it was so good! The staff was so friendly and would visit again. read more

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I am utterly disappointed in this "steak" house. This is a classic bring your 60 year old grandparents to dinner. We thought the older crowd around us was indicative of a classic steakhouse/hidden gem, but it ended up being a grey meat slaughterhouse where meat / the clientele goes to die. The Filet was more similar to a rump roast that was run-over by a car, and then overcooked. It is very rare (I wish the pun was intended) that I ever give reviews like this, but this was by far is THE WORST birthday dinner I have had in +10 years. Go a block down to Dishoom for Indian food to have a more enjoyable meal. Further, go to Rollo for a cheaper, but better tasting / quality steak even if it's 1/3 of the oz. read more

We spent our anniversary here tonight and were so pleased with the food and service! First, I had to modify my reservation time more than once due to the tour activities we had scheduled and they were very responsive and helpful. When we arrived, we got to watch the bartender mix drinks and he was very conversational which made our wait time enjoyable. We both ordered steaks and they were cooked to perfection! We also had the bread appetizer with the olive tapenade and the banoffee dessert - both delicious. The host even brought us a special anniversary dessert of strawberries and ice cream. The host was very friendly and checked in with us to make sure we were enjoying everything. He even called a cab for us to take back to our hotel. read more

Howies - Special dessert provided by host - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Lamb was fantastic. Whisky flight was enjoyable. We were seated in the smaller, quieter room. Great service. One of my favorite travel meals of all time. read more

Howies - Whisky flight. - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Yelp 100 Challenge 2019 - # 95/100 Had their 3-course lunch for £14.95. I chose Mussels of the day for starters, Baked Shetland salmon for my main and sticky toffee pudding cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. I loved everything. We had sides of bread with olive oil and butter so I was dipping the bread in the mussels jus. By far this was the best tasting sticky toffee pudding cake I have ever tasted. Service was nice and friendly. Restroom was super clean. We walked from our hotel so I am not sure about the parking situation. read more

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We saw Howies on a walk around the city and decided to make a reservation later for dinner. The food and service were wonderful. We had steak and chicken everything was cooked perfectly. For dessert get the banoffee especially if you like bananas and cream so yummy! The building was beautiful inside and was filled with many groups and families. Tip for new travelers you have to ask for the bill it is considered rude for them to just bring it to you. We didn't know this and waited until we Googled it. read more

Howies offers great value for Scottish fare. They have a set menu special for lunch, and for early bird dinner if you can make the timings. The Shetland mussels and salmon were our favorite. We were slightly disappointed with the steak as it was overcooked and we had better steak in Edinburgh. But overall, great customer service and great fare. There's something to please everyone in the family. read more

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We had a wonderful meal here with excellent service. Our waiter was attentive and funny. We had the lobster that was excellent. Place was very crowded and right in the heart of the city. read more

We had Taylor for a server and she was amazing! Food and service were both excellent. Sea bass was very good and don't miss the hot fudge Sunday! read more

Found this place via YELP and made a reservation about 90 mins ahead of time (glad we did as they were turning away walk ins when we arrived). Ambiance is nice, old house right up the street from the train station and Balmoral Hotel. The three of us all had different items and they were wonderful. The food was well prepared and had a great presentation. I had the "Casserole of the Day" which was a beef and celery root almost a stew that was tender and flavorful and just the right size, as a starter i had the parsnip soup which turned out to be very very good. Service could have been a bit better but it was clear that they were not up to full staffing and the every table was filled. Overall, great place and i high recommend. read more

Best meal in Edinburgh! If you're in Edinburgh, you NEED to stop in at Howies! The ambiance is beautiful. It looks like a rustic Scottish building and really adds to the meal. It is clean and beautifully decorated. The service was great! We were seated immediately, even though we were a half hour early to our reservation. We had multiple servers check in on us, and never had to want for anything. We also had questions about the menu, which were answered quickly. The food was AMAZING. We ordered bread and olive oil, a GREAT start to the meal. It's not just normal bread. You can tell everything is cooked fresh. We also got the Scottish catch of the day, salmon, and of course, sticky toffee pudding for dessert! It was all fantastic. I recommend any of these meals. read more

Howies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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First timer. I was part of a 3-hour Food Tasting Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland (secretfoodtours.com). I ordered the Pork and Smoked Ham Hough Terrine. I love pork but for me this does not do any justice to the pork. The dish has a type of gelatinous texture which I think is what threw me off the most :( read more

Howies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Didn't make reservations, just walked in. Got a table within 10 minutes during dinner. Service is really good. They took care of us. Had the fish (salmon or trout of some sort) and a whole lobster. The lobster was delicious. The fish was a bit over cooked though. Also had the cullin skink soup. It was surprisingly delicious! I think I prefer that over clam chowder! Love it when I discover new dishes that are a twist from what I'm used to having. The ambience is quite nice too. The place was packed. These guys source all their ingredients locally so I'm happy to support these spots. Would definitely return if I were a local. read more

Really great Super nice staff Really good spot Beautiful surroundings Great up the hill walk to burn off the dinner. Great food Good prices Eat it! read more

The food was amazing and the service was top notch. We had the haggis, which was delicious, fish, sticky toffee pudding and a flight of whiskey. It's a cozy place and perfect for one of your dinners while in Edinburgh. read more

This place is right around the corner from our hotel so we decided on an early dinner. Their starters are the perfect size for us so we ordered the focaccia bread, heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella salad and a salmon salad plate. We also got lemonade coolers and hubs ordered a sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. I know it's a chain but everything was still delicious, the vegetables were fresh and portions were just the perfect size for us. Service was outstanding. It wasn't too busy at 6pm but difficult to get a prime table due to reservations. We were seated closer to the front entrance but still had a nice time and we enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We plan to return. read more

We lucked out to get a table here for supper on a Sunday, and service was excellent all through our meal. This place prides itself on utilizing Scottish ingredients and I could taste that difference in quality and freshness. The portions are not large--not like American standards--but the amounts were completely satisfactory. We started with an appetizer of ciabatta, just a £, that gave us 4 pieces of luscious bread. My entree was Shetland salmon on potatoes and peas, cooked to perfection, and in a sauce that complemented everything. My husband had the Scottish ribeye, which came with fries and a small frisée salad. For this, our last day in Scotland, we sprung for a quintessential dessert as well: sticky toffee pudding, complete with a scoop of Scottish ice cream. The sauce was so good I was tempted to lick the bowl clean. read more

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A truly lovely place for a meal. I had baked Shetland salmon. Partner had risotto with squash. Both great. My salmon was crispy out and tender inside. Perfect! ... with a few mussels, potatoes and kale, butter sauce. I love salmon cooked so. Very tasty! I had it with Thistley across cider. Service was perfect and friendly. I'm stuffed. All my own choice. This is an excellent value! read more

Had a wonderful experience at this restaurant last year. I was traveling and it didn't feel weird to be dining alone by myself. The fish I had was cooked perfectly, the skin crispy and white meat juicy. The haggis, oh the haggis, I fell in love. If you're adamant about offals, I encourage you to have a taste of their dish here and wait it change your perspective. The banoffee pie is something I can eat every snack, dessert, breakfast? I'll be sure to come back here when I go visit again. read more

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This was hands down the best meal I've eaten in Edinburgh. My server Lisa was amazing, as were the Cullen skink and the haggie! read more

Howies - Haggie - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Stumbled upon as I went for an evening walk on Carlton Hill. Great room. Food is wonderful, service very meh. I had mussels and a garden salad. Best house salad I've had in two weeks of being in Edinburgh. Ordered the Scottish lobster special. Waitress came back that they were out of it. ( was 8 pm). Besides mussels and salad, ordered the home made focaccia and hummus. Waitress brought me the olive tapenade, not hummus. Pointed out to her, she said it was hummus. I thought maybe I was wrong. Tasted it, was olive tapenade. Called her over, she took away returning with hummus. Didn't apologized, oh well Will go back for the food, not the service. Great prices too. read more

Howies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Everything was light and fresh fare. When you first walk in, you get the feeling it's a fancy restaurant, but the food is moderately priced, and if you order before 6:30pm, Sunday thru Thursday they have some 'early dinner' specials that will save you some money (good value). It is low light there and that made it a little bit challenging to read the menu. The venison, beef stew (they call it casserole), creamy mashed potatoes, and fresh focaccia bread were all out standing. The deserts were also really good, especially Sticky Toffee Pudding (our favorite). The only knock I'd give them is the servers weren't overly helpful explaining things on the menu when we asked questions and what was what. I do think there were some language barriers. Also there seemed to be a bit of abruptness and attitude from some of the non-Scottish workers. I would recommend this place, and especially before 6:30pm Sunday thru Thursday for their early dinner specials. read more

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Fantastic experience. We had the special for the evening. Hake with gnocchi and greens. Fabulous. The focaccia bread with olive oil and olive tapenade was divine. Our waitress- Sue was delightful. When in this part of Edinburgh I highly recommend. We watched the sunset at Carlton Hill and it was a quick skip to the restaurant. Wine selection includes a nice Malbec and we had a dessert to share 'bannoffe' pie. Yum read more

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The best meal we have had in Scotland thus far! Everything was perfect, the ambiance, the service and most importantly, the food! They had a good selection of options whether red meat, chicken, seafood or other. I also have a gluten allergy and they were able to easily accommodate as many entrees were naturally gluten free. I had the filet and my spouse had the venison entree. After a long day of exploring and getting used to the different time change (US to UK), our dinner was delicious and hit the spot! read more

Really nice restaurants with great staff and delicious food. I stopped in to Howies for some lunch with my fiancé and we left very satisfied. The haggis, beef burger/fries and sticky toffee pudding were the best we had in Edinburgh. We will definitely be back on our next visit! read more

We found Howie while visiting Carlton Hill at Edinburg. This is the best place with the best value at Edinburg. Highly recommend, we love the mussels and Salmon. read more

Howies - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Other reviews on Yelp, and my hotel being 100 meters away, made Howies a natural choice. I followed other reviewers suggestions and started with haggis, neeps & tatties and glad I did. I followed with the baked Shetland salmon and it was done perfectly. Limited wine list but serviceable. Deserts sounded good but I didn't try one. I was there on a Friday evening at about 6:30 and was able to get a table without a wait. Larger groups might have waited a bit. It was a fine choice and I would have no problem dining there again. read more

Howies - Restaurant business card - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We stopped in on a lark and made a reservation before going up Carlton Hill. So glad we did. The staff is very friendly and cheerful. We had a wonderful meal with excellent service. The aged fillet was prepared to perfection with a tasty fresh side salad and roasted tomato slice. The seared salmon and crispy potatoes did not disappoint. Howie's also offers a wide selection of wine, beer and spirits. Definitely try a whiskey flight. Do not pass up a chance to enjoy a great meal with such a wonderful staff. read more

My family and I had a fantastic experience at Howie's! This was our first night in Edinburgh and the restaurant was recommended to us by our tour company. I ordered the ribeye steak and thought that it was delicious. It came with a great side of fries and also a small salad. The service was also exceptional and our server made some fantastic wine recommendations. Only negative would be that it was really hot! Nothing they can control though as the weather has just been abnormally hot this summer. If I'm in the area again I will definitely be back! read more

Howies - The ribeye steak which came with roasted tomatoes, salad greens, and fries! Delicious! - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Spot. On. 100% recommend the haggis starter. Service was impeccable and the entire stay was lovely.

This location of Howie's lies just at the base of Carlton Hill in an old restored building. We went with a larger sized group for dinner and they did a nice job of accommodating us although the service was pretty slow due to the fact that they had a number of large groups in there at the same time. There had to be about 60 children at two long tables (looked like a mess hall) while we were there and the noise was unbelievable. But the staff took it all in stride getting us our drinks and our food with smiles on their faces. I had a simple chicken breast served with potatoes and vegetables and others around me had the bream (a fish). One in our group ordered a burger and was told it only came "well done" due to the kind of meat . . .which left us wondering just what that meant? For dessert, the banana cream pie was a hit but I kept wondering all night what made this dinner "Scottish"?? After all- that is their claim to fame. Doubt I would head back to this location if I was on my own, but for a large group they did a good job. read more