The Witchery has me entirely bewitched. (Witchery)

Member Name: edindave

Product:	Witchery
Date:	09/06/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant staff, brilliant food, brilliant wine, brilliant atmosphere.

Disadvantages: It is a little on the pricey side but I think it is worth EVERY penny.

I was taken to this restaurant as a birthday surprise and, having heard a lot about it, my expectations were high - not only did it live up to the expectations but it surpassed them and created an entirely new bar for all other restaurants to reach. It is located next to Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. It is easily accessible by taxi, by public transport and indeed by foot.

Beginning with the décor, the atmosphere is set by fairly dark and heavy décor. There are lots of dark reds and metals and feint stencilling on the walls and ceiling; the chairs are extremely luxurious and heavy and I personally wanted to take mine home with me! The table was laid immaculately and the cutlery and glasses were polished so well that I could have sworn that it must be someone's job purely to polish table settings!

The wine list next. It is phenomenal. I am a HUGE fan of red wine and there were so many to choose from that it became almost an evening in itself. There really is something for everyone - dark and heavy to light and fruity - regular restaurant prices through to once-in-a-lifetime-treat bottles at eye-watering prices. I settled on two different bottles and they were set aside and a specialist wine waiter came over to explain the wine to us and allow us to taste it as usual but something felt special about it. We felt really well looked after all the way through the evening.

Next, and most importantly, the food. The food was AMAZING. The style of food is a mix of high-end French/British/Italian dishes. The menu was world-class and when it was brought to the table (without any excessive waiting), it was absolutely divine. The starter and the main were beautifully presented and I had the world's nicest dessert; it was small bite-size pieces of everything on the dessert menu because I could not choose between them.

The waiting staff were an absolute dream and, although the restaurant is expensive, it is worth every penny. If I could, I would go to the Witchery for every special occasion! I recommend this restaurant to everyone ... go now and you'll never expect the same from any other place!

Summary: Fantastic restaurant, great food, great wine, great service - book a table NOW!