Tolbooth Tavern Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "One word-LUKE! This young man is exemplary in his interactions with the public."
• "Service was excellent."
• "Service was awesome server matched up our cider need perfectly."
• "Service was excellent and our bartender Luke was entertaining and very informative."
• "The staffs are so friendly and so kind to offer us a table for 1 hour without reservation."
• "The staff were very helpful and patient."
• "Service? Imagine if your best mate from college learned impeccable manners, mastered the art of pouring the perfect pint, and decided to cater to your every food and drink whim. Yes, it's that good."

Cons:

• "On the second evening we did have to go to the bar to ask for a menu."
• "The table service was pretty shambolic as well."
• "The rudest service I've experienced in Edinburgh."
• "We waited forever for someone to bring us the menus, then we waited even more for our order to be taken…"
• "Slow service, awful beer choice."
• "Unacceptable behaviour: if you dislike tourist, just tell us 'Sorry we are sold out'."
• "Terrible service, and I rarely write a review."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Very very kind people, nice food."
• "Really nice old pub. In need of a really good Balmoral chicken and they do it."
• "Haggis is delicious and they have good beers."
• "Friendly bar staff and lovely food."
• "The food was lovely and the whiskey sauce was delicious 😋."
• "Food is great, haggis is highly recommended!"
• "The food here was delicious! With the chef individually creating each meal! The Haggis was divine and the pie was just the heart warming meal needed for the breezy Edinburgh."

Cons:

• "Sadly the Mac n Cheese was a little bland and didn't come with the advertised breadcrumb crust."
• "The Cullen skink was terrible."
• "Fish and chips in this pub, unfortunately, is really bad."
• "We were a little disappointed with the haggis burger and the chips seemed like they were frozen fries."
• "The food menu was missing a good few items."
• "The Angus beef patty was a little dry and hard."
• "The mains of Steak & Haggis pie was disappointing, steak lovely, hardly any gravy, and a slab of haggis which was tasty popped on top, but then dry old flaky pastry was on top."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Amazing food and atmosphere."
• "Fantastic place. Try it off your a visitor. You will love it X."
• "Lovely traditional Scottish pub in the heart of Edinburgh."
• "Great atmosphere, awesome food."
• "Feels cosy and welcoming."
• "The ambiance of the pub added to the overall enjoyment of the meal."
• "An atmospheric pub in the heart of Edinburgh."

Cons:

• "The only problem is that since the owners changed a few months ago, they stopped doing it."
• "Keep on your eye your bill; It was charged x3 pints more than ordered and x2 one main course."
• "Unfortunately there was a group at the next table that was very loud and it was not pleasant to sit and listen at all."
• "Ahhh, they also try to add 20 pounds in tip because tourists are mainly silly...."
• "The place was nice... Also, the price was higher than other places - again because it’s on a tourist area."
• "Been 11 years since stayed in this area. And was looking for a nice old typical Scottish pub, 200 year old should be wonderful I thought.....shame 1st night and sadly let down. :("
• "I've been turned away twice now, due to issues in the kitchen."

Value

Pros:

• "Food and drinks were reasonable."
• "The food is unexpectedly good."
• "Visited for lunch during the Festival, the place was packed and the staff rushed off their feet but they were still smiling and friendly."
• "Drinks were well priced for a bar in the centre."
• "Food was plentiful, tasty and really reasonably priced."
• "The food is delicious, nicely presented and large portions."
• "Service was first class, drinks arrived in a quick, food came not long after."

Cons:

• "Charged £23.80 for a half pint and a diet coke."
• "Indeed, prices are too high for what you get."
• "Mac & Cheese come in a very small portion, not worth the cost."
• "Our food was ok, but it was also dearly overpriced and simply nothing to write home about."
• "Veg was stone cold...asked for more and this time hot but raw."
• "The drinks, the beer selection was very limited and they had ran out of a few lagers."
• "Not sure they wanted me to stay at first as a single tourist."

Cleanliness

Pros:

• "The Tollbooth is a traditional pub with a good choice of drinks and friendly service."
• "Nice quaint pub with decent food and friendly staff."
• "Family friendly place with lovely staff."
• "The beers are excellent."
• "The food was good especially the vegetarian options I had the white bean casserole, yum."
• "Very nice, cozy pub with brisk, friendly service."
• "This charming tavern is located along the Royal Mile and has been in operation for over 200 years."

Cons:

• "Unfortunately the table was still sticky and hadn't been wiped from last customers."
• "Very bad. Our table was dirty."
• "The table was grubby."
• "Our table was dirty and i asked the waitress to clean it."
• "I have never experienced such bad service in all my life."
• "Terrible service, for the first time in my life we left two beers at the table without drinking them."
• "Apparently shuts at 8 now for food. Didn’t know, but asked and the new owner told me to F off and stop being a D."