The Magnum – A dog friendly pub in the heart of Edinburgh
The Magnum has always been very much a favourite ‘local’ of mine so when I was asked to review it I jumped at the chance to take my dog out with me. The Magnum has the sense of a local country pub but with restaurant standard food and a very central location. It is also a dog friendly pub so if you have a lovely pooch, as I do, it is a good place to go for a delicious dinner with your furry friend.
From the Whisky barrels outside the door to the wood and racing green interiors, The Magnum exudes rural Scottish – like being in the library of an old country house. It’s cosy in the winter and busy and sociable in the summer with an outdoor eating area which catches the sun. It’s great for people-watching on Dublin Street!
Although the bar menu is always good (with lots of Scottish favourites including the best Cullen Skink in Edinburgh) we opted for three courses on the dinner menu. To begin I ordered Crab, Tomato and Green Pepper Gazpacho. I am a huge fan of crab and Gazpacho, a summer favourite of mine, so the two together sounded bliss. I had lots of crab garnished with a avocado cream – a fresh summer starter. Celia opted for a dish of wild mushrooms with griddled polenta and parmesan, and although it needed a little more seasoning in her opinion, the mushrooms were delicious.
For main course I had chosen Guinea Fowl with apple and smoked bacon and flash fried greens. I felt that in this ‘country pub’ style environment it was quite fitting. The bird was well cooked and the beans were just how I like them – al dente with a crunch. Celia’s favourite are dauphinoise potatoes so that made her plump for the Scottish fillet of beef. This dish was beautifully cooked; the potatoes were creamy and accompanied by balsamic shallots, horseradish butter and a melt in your mouth steak (I was quite jealous).
We, of course, had a pudding (each). I highly recommend mine, a Dark Chocolate and Caramel Pot with a Chantilly cream and a really tasty praline biscuit. It is certainly a must if you have a sweet tooth. Celia picked the less indulgent Apple Terrine with home made ice cream which was a lovely summer sweet:- good if you want to go for something lighter than my chocolate pot.
All in all, The Magnum is a lovely country pub in the middle of the city with fantastic food and a laid-back atmosphere.
The Magnum , 1 Albany Street 0131 557 4366
The Reporter Food reviewer, Holly Jones, is a partner at The Lifestyle Company Scotland . You can follow the company and their lifestyle tips on Twitter .
