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 | bar snacks
parker house buns, whipped sun-dried tomato & pecorino butter, tomato oil [v] 7
sea bream crudo, tomato dashi, nasturtium oil, charred cucumber [r,gf] 8.5
venison tartare, oat cracker, smoked beetroot, fermented honeyberries, wild herb emulsion [r,gf option avail] 9
black mount goat’s cheese, lapsang pickled grapes, caraway cracker, pickled fennel [v] 8
bread selection, olives, oil, cultured butter [v] 9
olives [ve] 5
rye | sourdough bread, cultured butter [v] 5.75
charred umeboshi plum, shisho, toasted sesame, yuzu kosho, green sichuan oil [ve, gf, s] 7
tattie bravas, haggis [or vegan haggis] neeps aïoli, whisky hot sauce, pickled turnip, chives [gf option avail] 9
salt-roast celeriac, vegan xo sauce, pickled celery, crispy shallots [ve, gf] 8
british charcuterie selection, bread, butter, pickles, oil 33
british cheese selection, bread, butter, pickles, oil 28
sweet potato fries [ve, gf] 5.75
shoestring fries [ve, gf] 5.75
starter plates
braised pig’s cheek, rarebit, white bbq sauce, chive oil, pickled apple, watercress 12
charred leeks, muhummara, pickled walnut gremolata, chickpea cracker [ve, gf, n] 10
poached rainbow trout, buttermilk mustard dressing, pickled fennel, trout skin nori crisp [gf] 10
smoked beetroot & potato stovie bonbons, horseradish cream, pickled girolles, wood sorrel [v] 10
salad plates
grilled chicory & radicchio, harissa yoghurt, date molasses, toasted seeds [ve, gf] 9
compressed melon & fennel, lime-mint vinaigrette, shaved inverloch goat’s cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds, aleppo pepper [v, gf, ve option avail] 9
large plates
roast hake, smoked mussel makhani curry sauce, chickpea socca, fried curry leaf lentils [gf] 24
salt beef, pickled asparagus, horseradish cream, chives, hash brown, sauerkraut [gf] 24
cauliflower schnitzel, miso carrot purée, brown butter, pickled redcurrants, fried sage 22
creamy white bean & courgette stew, confit garlic, charred temderstem, broccoli, sourdough croutons, lemon zest, mint [ve] 22
chicken caesar burger: buttermilk chicken thigh, bacon, baby gem, caesar dressing, black garlic ketchup, potato bun 17
sloppy faux: tofu ragu, vegan american cheese, pickled fennel, kohlrabi slaw, aïoli, vegan potato bun [ve]
desserts
rhubarb curd tart, roast strawberry glaze, elderflower yoghurt sorbet10
deep fried potato ice cream croquettes, raspberry vinegar gel, brown butter crème fraîche, whisky oat granola [v] 9
chocolate tahini ganache, caramelised sesame banana, amaro gel [ve, s] 9
cherry granita, almond mousse, cherry compote, caramel popcorn crumb, dark chocolate [gf, n] 10
info
please note: due to the size of our kitchen dishes may not arrive to the table all together
menu subject to availability
[v – vegetarian / ve – vegan / n – contains nuts / s – contains sesame / sh – contains shellfish / r – raw / gf – made with gluten free ingredients [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.
[sample menu]
carnival
rich, zingy
cachaça, charred cucumber syrup, lime, sugar, pear liqueur, manzanilla sherry 10
rave nation
fresh, boozy, floral
quiquiriqui, mezcal, escubac, violette, liqueur, lemon, maraschino liqueur 10
disco to pisco
tart, aromatic, sour
pisco, rhubarb liqueur, honey, orange bitters, fennel, lemon, sugar, egg white 10
70’s garnish
tropical, zingy, sour
white rum, parsley, grapefruit bitters, lime, sugar 10
strawberry fields
fruity, fragrant
amarosa rosehip liqueur, strawberry liqueur, ginger liqueur, cava 10
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, 10
aperitivo time
bittersweet, crisp, refreshing
luxardo bitter bianco, berry bros gin, apple liqueur, cava 10
the rdj
punchy, aromatic, serious
wray & nephew overproof rum, yellow chartreuse, elderflower gin, citrus, sugar 10
classic
short, boozy, legendary
martin miller’s westbourne gin or ogilvy vodka, vermouth, lemon or olive –made your way 10
sage david
fruity, herbaceous
ocho reposado, greengage, sage, king’s ginger liqueur, lemon, sugar 10
40 thieves
fresh, light, aromatic
black pepper infused vodka, limoncello, saki, bay syrup, egg white, sesame, citrus 10
nod to rob
fruity, aromatic, easy
ocho tequila, lychee liqueur, absinth rinse 10
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 £10pp deposit is required for all bookings of 6 or more people
– a discretionary 10% service charge will be added to all tables
– we usually allocate 2hrs dining time per booking, please let us know if you would like longer
– last orders for food 21:50
– 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 august:
mon – thurs: 14:00-23:00/00:00*
fri: 16:00-01:00/02:00*
sat: 12:00-01:00/02:00*
sun: 12:00-00:00/01:00*
*late openings subject to business
Kitchen open until 21:50
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