Sambuca is not the classiest of drinks, to say the least, more associated with a night on the tartan tiles than an elegant Edinburgh eatery, but at Sambuca Restaurant in Newington, they manage to strike a balance between the two. They offer superb Italian cuisine served up in a boisterous, family-run environment down on Causewayside, and when you head on over, you’re guaranteed a friendly welcome. Start with their antipasti – fresh mussels, proscuitto and melon or some cold-cured meats – and then move onto a main. There are plenty of pastas and pizzas, of course, but we’d go straight for their house specials menu which here at Sambuca means seafood: trout with lemon, sole in butter, prawns in tamarind and more. Take a trip to Causewayside in Edinburgh’s Newington for a great Italian meal: just remember to book your table ahead of time.
The Scots-Italian culinary tradition is a long and storied one, and the number of Italian restaurants in huge. One of the best exponents of the genre in Edinburgh can be found on Causewayside in Newington in the form of Sambuca Restaurant, where they have been building a reputation for themselves over the fifteen and a bit years that they have been in business. Their loyal cadre of customers come back time and again to enjoy what Sambuca have to offer, particularly in the range of seafood dishes.
Seafood is a house speciality at Sambuca, and their signature dishes include plenty of it. They apply their eponymous spirit to fresh crayfish as a starter, crayfish alla fiamma, as well as king prawns in a tamarind sauce with rice and cacciucco alla Carmine, a stew with various different types of seafood and cooked with garlic, a Napolitana sauce and saffron. There are countless other Italian favourites too: spaghetti with meatballs, risotto and pasta, as well as veal escalopes, scampi and a myriad of pizzas with all the trimmings. Book a table at Sambuca and make the journey over to Causewayside in Newington for a full on Italian feast in Edinburgh.
Great little place serving genuine Italian food and wine. The menu is extensive and the wine list is small but sensible. Excellent value for money. Highly recommended.
Relaxed atmosphere with great Italian food reasonable prices made for an enjoyable Saturday lunch. Service was excellent and menu was extensive covering pastas, pizzas and fish and steak specials.
We absolutely loved Sambuca. We had the best, friendliest waiter. Both the service and food were superb. The ambiance was warm. We will definitely be back!