Last week, Alex and I were kindly invited along to Contini on George Street to try some of their delicious spring dishes from their ‘Best of Contini’ lunch menu. Spoiler Alert - we knew we would be in for a treat, but it was even better than expected.
Located in the heart of Edinburgh, this award-winning, family-run restaurant opened its doors back in 2004 by Victor and Carina Contini. and we’re so pleased to see it’s as good, if not better, than ever. If you’re not already familiar, Contini serves a menu of classic Italian dishes in the magnificent setting of a former banking hall, setting it apart from other restaurants in the area. The stunning décor is perfectly complemented with their authentic cuisine, making it a truly special dining experience, setting it apart from the rest.
Owner, Carina greeted us on arrival and recommended we start our meal with a lovely Campari spritz, which is definitely worth a try if you’re an Aperol spritz fan. She talked us through the journey of Contini and how they import their ingredients from Italy. Did you know the delicious olive oil comes straight from the family farm in Italy? They receive one to two deliveries per week of the freshest produce, including huge parmesan wheels, offering customers the highest quality and greatest flavours possible. Their one-acre kitchen garden is immaculately cared for and grows many of these ingredients including the mint you’ll find in the delicious mojitos.
We began our lunch with homemade focaccia made with their new season I'Ciacca olive oil. It was light and fluffy, and perfect for nibbling on throughout our lunch. We didn’t wait long before the staters arrived. We opted for the Crispy Arancini with Gorgonzola and the Speck di Prosciutto – both where the perfect size and great for sharing!
Then came the main event. We had the Chicken Milanese, with almond puree, Italian salad leaves, fried new season potatoes and gremolata. Yes, it was as good as it sounds! The pan-fried crispy chicken was the standout for us, it was perfectly cooked and crisped to perfection and with a squeeze of their fresh Italian lemons over the dish – chefs kiss!
The second main we demolished was the Spaghettini with Pachino tomatoes, Taggiasche olives, capers, garlic, basil, and Capezzana EVOO - the strong components in this meal suited the spaghettini pasta well, and with a mountain of parmesan cheese (as requested) piled on top, it was perfect.
We couldn’t resist a 'look’ at the sweet menu (I think you know where this is going) and together agreed that we couldn’t leave without trying out classic Vanilla Panna Cotta with beautifully sweet home garden rhubarb syrup and dried raspberries sprinkled on top. It was so light and was the best end to an incredible lunch.
Thank you to the Contini team for our mid-week lunch; we absolutely loved getting to taste these seasonal dishes, and we will be back to try more of the menu and another of your famous Campari spritz; a drink that we will be drinking all summer!
If you are an egg card holder, Contini are offering a complimentary glass of fizz when dining with them for afternoon tea, lunch, or dinner! This applies at their restaurants, Cannonball and The Scottish Café & Restaurant on the mound too. T&Cs Apply!
If you want to check out the best of Contini menu, head to the Contini website.