We asked the concierges at The Balmoral Hotel for a recommendation for a upscale dining/casual seafood restaurant for our first night in Edinburgh, and the quick consensus among them was Fisher’s in the City. They were able to book us a table. This establishment is...located within a reasonable walk of the hotel, and is one of 3 restaurants with the same ownership in the Edinburgh area. After a short walk up the hill, we located the restaurant on a small cobblestone side street, and were quickly seated. The menu was primarily seafood, both in the starter section as well as the mains, and there were many options. I felt as though I could visit the restaurant several times without duplicating a desirable food choice.
After obtaining our adult beverages, Catherine chose what would come to be a ‘go to’ starter for her, a Scottish tradition, Cullen Skink. Cullen Skink is a seafood soup, made with smoked haddock, in a white broth. We came to learn that it comes in many iterations, with every chef putting his or her own stamp on it. This was Catherine’s first bowl, and she fell in love with it immediately. I selected a Scottish seafood sampler, which contained a large shrimp, a small cold salmon fillet, 2 different versions of smoked salmon, smoked mackerel and pickled herring. Lots of my favorite things, and it was a pure delight. Catherine opted for an upscale version of fish & chips, featuring a substantial fillet of breaded halibut, with peas and French fries, which she devoured. I chose roasted scallops with a ½ lobster tail, which perfectly hit the spot. (See photos). Service was done in group style, with a number of different servers working with us, and everyone was pleasant and upbeat, and knowledgeable about the menu options. After an evening stroll back down the hill to the Balmoral Hotel, we agreed that it was a great start to our Scottish dining journey!More