Four Edinburgh restaurants have been listed in the annual SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants list.
It's the only list of its kind to exclude restaurants in London, in a bid to shine a spotlight on the wider UK dining scene.
The Top 100 has been compiled using a combination of thousands of reader votes and SquareMeal’s own expert critics, to list 'a true reflection of Britain’s beautifully varied dining scene'.
In there are fine dining experiences, farm-to-table restaurants and gastropubs, with each 'truly unique' entry having 'an unmissable menu'.
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There were a grand total of 13 Scottish inclusions on the list this year, including four in the Capital - Fhior, Eleanore, Noto and The Palmerston.
Here's what SquareMeal said about each of the top Edinburgh eateries:
Fhior, which means ‘true’ in Gaelic, is the new city-centre venture from chef Scott Smith, formerly of the acclaimed (but short-lived) Norn in Leith. Inside, it comprises an intimate main dining room plus a relaxed café/bar area for drinks and snacks, while the focus is on modern, seasonal cuisine based on Scottish ingredients (some of them foraged).
Eleanore is a British inspired restaurant located in Albert Place, Edinburgh. Launched by the owners of The Little Chartroom - and housed within the space that used to be The Little Chartroom - Eleanore is a small independent family-run restaurant serving a refined and elegant menu of fine foods and wine.
Noto is the second restaurant from chef Stuart Ralston, who also operates tasting menu restaurant Aizle. Found on a chic street in the New Town, Noto describes itself as ‘a New York-inspired restaurant with a love for Asian cuisine.’
The Palmerston is a restaurant and bakery in the West End of Edinburgh serving a seasonal menu of European-influenced dishes. This cosy neighbourhood joint offers a relaxed dining experience within cosy bistro-style interiors, but its true point of pride is the quality of its ingredients, which are all meticulously-sourced from a select group of farmers, growers and fishermen.
Speaking about the Scottish inclusions on this year's list, Head of Content Caroline Hendry explained: "A combination of votes from thousands of diners, along with the opinions of our professional restaurant critics has led to the spotlight firmly landing on Scotland’s dining scene.
"It’s brilliant to see so many of Scotland’s best restaurants featured in our UK Top 100, particularly those serving traditional Scottish cuisine that our readers clearly love."
Meanwhile, Somerset restaurant Osip came out on top as the UK’s best restaurant, with the SquareMeal team commenting: "This tiny farm-to-table gem is located in the village of Bruton and is owned by ex-head chef of London favourites Portland and Clipstone, Merlin Labron-Johnson.
"The 22-cover restaurant is housed in a charming stone building which used to be the village ironmonger and brings top-quality cooking to this idyllic rural spot."
Speaking about Osip’s win - Chef Founder of Osip Merlin Labron-Johnson said: “It’s a huge honour to be awarded No1 in SquareMeal’s top 100 UK restaurants. I’m so grateful to my team, and the amazing local suppliers we work with who have been so integral to achieving this accolade.
"I’m really proud that this has been voted for by genuine, passionate people who love what we’re doing at Osip, so it truly does mean a lot."
The top three UK restaurants included Ynyshir in Powys and Pensons in Herefordshire. Wales, in particular, has had a wave of incredible restaurants, including Home at Penarth and SY23 .
To see the 2022 list in full, click here.
