The morning the rest of our group was to arrive in Edinburgh for our first Ex.Expats of New York overseas trip, two of us stopped at the Singh Street Cafe—located near our hotel, across the street from the short holes at Bruntsfield Links—for a breakfast naan, one with egg (£8.50) and one with bacon and egg (£10.50). Tasty.

We stopped in at Greyfriers Bobby after a too-short visit to the National Museum of Scotland. There never seems to be enough time to see everything you want when traveling. In addition to the food, I liked how this traditional pub checked patrons out at the front register, where you tell what you had and pay for it. A procedure we found at a couple of places that made dividing checks much easier.

There, I enjoyed their Haddock with chips and mushy peas. If you’ve ever had the latter, they’re dried marrowfat peas, soaked then boiled until softened.  A classic in the British Isles.  I washed mine with some IG craft lager (£7).

Skipping to our final amazing 3-course meal from head chef Mathew Sherry at Number One in a private room at The Balmoral. It’s an amazing upscale restaurant where world-class service meets modern Scottish cuisine. Our three-course menu was £99, which included their “hand-dived” Orkney scallop, beef sirloin with oyster mushrooms, Perthshire potatoes and black truffles; Confit Loch Duart salmon in tomato water beurre blanc; and a raspberry soufflé with pistachio financier and salted pistachio ice cream. Divine.

Stay tuned for part two of our Edinburgh eating.

Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar
30-34 Candlemaker Row,
Edinburgh EH1 2QE, United Kingdom
+44 131 225 8328
nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Singh Street
88 Bruntsfield Place
Edinburgh, GB EH10 4 HG
467801959
singhstreetcafe.com

Number One
1 Princes St
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ, United Kingdom
+44 131 557 6727
roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel/dining/number-one/