Place by the sea / Esplanade - Espy

by **cuth** » 19 May 2008, 20:58

I went in today and had a chat with the new tenant. The pub is now going to be a bar/bistro serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pub will be divided into two sections, one of which will welcome children.

They hope to be able to offer good food and real ales in due course.

The lady has lots of experience in opening pubs, apparently, having been a publican here and down under.

Due to open in a week or so.

All looks very positive.

by **bearcub** » 21 May 2008, 22:14

New name - 'Esplanade'

by **GRANTY** » 22 May 2008, 07:17

I had a chat to the guy painting the pub today. He asked if I approved of it's new colour! He was really friendly and it'll be good to have the place open again. Good luck to them.

by **Sandra** » 22 May 2008, 11:21

by **bearcub** » 25 May 2008, 18:06

by **SoupDragon** » 30 May 2008, 21:19

by **cuth** » 04 Jun 2008, 22:20

by **Sandra** » 05 Jun 2008, 12:40

by **sally_miranda** » 10 Jun 2008, 00:24

by **Maria** » 10 Jun 2008, 08:19

Ah! The homemade ginger beer Cuth mentioned, reminded me of the 'Roseleaf'. I was there last Friday. For those who aren't familiar with it, it used to be the pimp's hangout on Coburg St - The Black Swan - though the clientele is rather different these days.

I didn't eat there (we went to 'Tinnelli's' on Easter Rd, which I'm sad to say is changing hands soon), but our friends did. They seemed generally happy with their choices. Huge portions.

Was going to say that prices were reasonable, but Homer had a suspiciously empty wallet come leaving time and we didn't drink that much

by **Sandra** » 10 Jun 2008, 12:48

by **Sandra** » 14 Jun 2008, 18:31

Love the Espy. Just what Portobello needs. Great atmostphere and very relaxing.

We went in for a few drinks (and a baked camembert

) this afternoon.

Can't wait to go back for lunch/dinner

To quote Cuth - use it or loose it.

by **Grunk** » 16 Jun 2008, 16:59

by **Lima** » 16 Jun 2008, 19:56

by **sally_miranda** » 17 Jun 2008, 01:25

by **Mark Cameron** » 07 Jul 2008, 13:05

by **sally_miranda** » 08 Jul 2008, 01:28

Food's coming out faster now, which is great. It's still not fast food but then quality rarely is. Lots of amazing specials. Finnan Haddie topped with the likes of asparagus, spinach, goats cheese or poached eggs. I had lamb kofta with spiced puy lentils, pitta bread and mint and cucumber yogurt tonight, let me tell you it was amazing! The only thing I think it's lacking is some real ale. The barmaid said something along the lines of it being down to what the brewery gives them, but the owner came over later and promised that two guest ales will be on next week as the brewery realised they were pretty busy and deserved it. The coffee is the best I've had in Edinburgh! Especially when the Australian owner makes it! They get their own blend made up. I'm going to try and get a job there, so I can get free coffee! :wink:

by **sally_miranda** » 08 Jul 2008, 01:31

by **Maria** » 08 Jul 2008, 15:30

by **kings roader** » 09 Jul 2008, 17:36

by **Stray NO.666** » 09 Jul 2008, 19:32

by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2008, 22:10

by **Lima** » 09 Jul 2008, 23:08

by **Robin!** » 11 Jul 2008, 13:39

by **Sandra** » 11 Jul 2008, 14:17

by **wangi** » 12 Jul 2008, 23:57

Went past this afternoon for a late lunch... Walked in and was warned that it'd be at least an hour for food (this was at 2). Top marks for honestly, but can't help pondering how it could be so long...

Swapped a late lunch for a late dinner after walking past the other new place (Bar-whats-it-ollo)... Couldn't face the emptiness, forest of chairs and 80s-esque dark décor! So, it was a scoot along to Leith tonight (past the police and ambulance mobbed Seafield Rd) and into the Compass. If anyone thinks preparing from fresh and have a small kitchen is a reasonable excuse for the Espy then they need to see the wonders at Compass from a kitchen half the size of your smallest bedsit kitchen, and without waiting for ages.

L/

by **Porty** » 13 Jul 2008, 03:37

aye right

by **sally_miranda** » 13 Jul 2008, 23:33

by **wangi** » 13 Jul 2008, 23:47

by **Porty** » 14 Jul 2008, 00:02

by **sally_miranda** » 14 Jul 2008, 15:26

I think the main reason it's taking ages is the 15 tables and only two wee fridges and a domestic cooker in the kitchen, hopefully when they've made a bit of money they can spend it on kitchen. I used to chef myself in Fishers in Leith on a 4 ring burner although we did have two grills, it was stresstastic! By the time I worked there though it was all bookings and you can time the tables and co-ordinate. At the moment Espy is largely walk ins so it's probably really hard to pace it well. For example if everyone came in at 1pm on Sat, it's bound to take ages. At the moment I cook in Bells Diner and a saturday night of 70 covers is easier than a monday night of half that as it's all bookings and you can time it well. Apparently the Espy did 140 covers on Saturday. That is quite a lot. Although I don't mind waiting for food, my four year old wont, so I really hope they can speed it up a bit more. It's been fine the last few times I've been in but not quite consistent yet. Still want to get a job there. The coffee is 4 million times better than anywhere else I work! Don't think I could take the heat in their kitchen though. :shock:

by **sally_miranda** » 19 Jul 2008, 00:02

Ok, it's official ! I now have a job at the Espy so I better stop wittering on about it here and get a move on. Lets speed that food up now! I think the owners had read my chat on here and that helped get the job, Well that and my natural charm of course! :wink:

by **Poppy** » 19 Jul 2008, 17:47

Congratulations and Good Luck!!

PS Do talkporty folk get discount? :wink:

Place by the sea / Esplanade - Espy

Place by the sea / Esplanade - Espy

The Espy has opened now

Re: The Espy has opened now

Slow food.

The Espy

the Espy

Real Ale

dont encorage them

compass

espy slow food

Espy

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