The Barologist in Leith has launched a brand new menu as the cocktail bar come restaurant looks to welcome punters back through their doors as Covid restrictions are lifted.
New bar manager, Mairi Johnson, is putting her stamp on the venue, with a new menu designed by the head chef being rolled out alongside an extensive cocktail menu that they hope to add to in time.
The menu is fittingly seafood themed with touches of fine dining mixed in and a host of home comforts for those rainy Sunday afternoons - there really is something for everyone.
And in the name of research, both my partner Cathy and I, attended last Friday to sample some of the fine produce that was on offer.
We were greeted by Mairi and a male waiter - whose name I forget and I feel terrible for this as his service was fantastic throughout - before being seated in the Spring room of the venue.
The Barologist has a strong Phileas Fogg vibe. There are four different weather themed seasonal rooms throughout the bar to represent Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.
The bar’s name derives from a fictional character, Geordie Armstrong, who is credited with inventing the barometer - hence the name the Barologist - and who was once friends with both Phileas Fogg and Johnnie Walker.
We were handed a menu that had appeared to have changed extensively since we had last visited.
To be honest, we were spoiled for choice with the options that were on offer but being in Leith we decided to focus on the locally sourced seafood produce where possible.
We ordered pan fried scallops and squid a la piquante to start.
The pan fried scallops came on a bed of gin and bitter mushy peas with pancetta crisps which added a lovely crunchy texture. Overall the dish was fantastic and I personally thought it was quite inventive.
The squid a la piquante was delicious. We were offered toasted sourdough bread to soak up the sauce at the end but at first refused before asking for a plate with our tails between our legs when we realised just how tasty the sauce was. It reminded us both of a tapas dish that would not be out of place in the Galician region of Spain.
After this we ordered our mains, and again being in Leith, thought it would be rude not to have the fish and chips that were on offer. As well as this we decided to choose the chicken hotchpot with haggis dauphinoise potatoes.
The fish and chips were recommended and came in the form of a beer battered haddock with chips, peas and a crunchy salad. It was comfort food done right and I enjoyed having the change of pace from the starters that felt a bit more fine dining in their design.
The chicken hotchpot was good but did not hit the heights of the fish and chips. The dauphinoise haggis potatoes were really creative and the greens were cooked perfectly. The chicken was ok but just needed something extra with the red wine jus, it unfortunately just tasted a bit like gravy.
Next up was the deserts which are perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.
We decided upon the Nimbostratus which is a white chocolate and champagne torte with balsamic and pepper glazed raspberries as well as a sweet raspberry coulis. The raspberries were lovely and had a perfect blend of flavours, with the white chocolate bringing you back to your childhood with a real milky button flavour.
As well as this we ordered the Inch of Mercy which was a Biscoff cheesecake that was served with ice cream and drizzled with toffee sauce. It was absolutely brilliant. We both love a cake but this really was a treat with the biscuit base made each morning by hand by the head chef. We’d recommend it to anyone who is partial to a slice of sweet goodness.
Throughout our meal we were served a variety of cocktails with both choosing the Winter Berry Fizz to kick off the evening. This came in a bubbling fog emitting glass that was as much show as it was punch.
We were then treated to an espresso martini that certainly instilled some much needed energy after a long working week.
It came with a fantastic image of a woman drinking a cocktail printed on the top of the foam - this is a feature that is available within the bar with a photo booth on site for more personalised designs.
And last but by no means least I tried a whisky sour which was just delicious and thirst quenching in the same measure and Cathy tried their infamous Bellini that is so good it makes you weak at the knees.
It should be added that the venue is extremely dog friendly with furry companions welcomed by staff.
On the menu, Andy Fell, the sales and marketing director said: “Our amazing new menu is designed with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, specialising in some truly delicious meats and fish, whilst also providing a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options. We may be biased, but along with our already incredible cocktails, this menu is not to be missed.”
Alongside the launch of their new menu, the Barologist has said that they would also like to advertise their Winter Room which is available to groups as big as 60 for private events.
The room comes with its own bar and has several options for providing food for the event.
To enquire please visit their website here.
