Thursday 29 May 2014

Eating @ Beanscene, Edinburgh

Eating @ Beanscene, Edinburgh 


My score: 3/5.
TripAdvisor review: here.
Address: here.

I say eating, but it was only drinking. The building is nice enough, lots of space, free wifi, a mix of chairs and tables and you can order food or drinks. I ordered a skinny latte (as usual), small size (they also do large size which is LARGE) and the price was normal for sit in, about £3. The staff who took my order was pleasant enough, I have no complaints. My latte arrived in good time with a leaf coffee art. How did the latte taste? Dull. The taste of coffee was not good and I ended up with a very average, forgettable tasting latte. Beanscene is a chain so I wasn't expecting too much, if I'm honest, and my expectations were met. I don't recommend them for coffee.

I don't have much to say about Beanscene, if I am honest. It was all very average and I won't be (purposefully) heading back.
WebRep
currentVote
noRating
noWeight

Friday 23 May 2014

Eating @ Patisserie Valerie, Edinburgh

Eating @ Patisserie Valerie, Edinburgh 

My score: 4/5.
TripAdvisor review: here.
Address: here.

Yesterday, craving coffee and a dessert, I and a friend headed aimlessly down George IV bridge looking for a spot to sit down and grab some grub. I had walked past Patisserie Valerie before and seen the delicious looking window displays but the shop looks as overpriced as it does inviting. Anyway, without much thought, we stepped inside the shop and were greeted by nice girl who sat us down at a table. Another slightly less cheerful waiter arrived and took our order: skinny latte and raspberry tart for me, and tea for my friend.

Our food and drinks arrived. My latte was served in a large mug with some latte art. It was milky, duh, with a pleasant coffee taste. Better than Starbucks, that's for sure! The serving size is very generous, and I would say I enjoyed my latte. It made for very pleasant and relaxed drinking. Although, sometime the mug was too large to see over and I lost sight of my friend, hehe.

As for the tart? A lot of people say the cakes at Patisserie Valerie are style over substance, but my tart was delicious! The raspberries were just sharp enough to cut through the sweetness of the white chocolate filling, and the base was firm. I gobbled it up in no time. To be honest, you can't go wrong with a fruit tart!

And the price? A little overpriced, yes. But, the serving sizes are generous and if you enjoy your order, as I did, the price is justified. It's not every expensive, but it is more expensive that most independent coffee shops. You pay for reputation, remember!

I know this chain of cafes has mixed reviews, but I enjoyed my time at Patisserie Valerie. I would recommend this cafe for when you feel like indulging!