Our Review of Contini George Street: An Award-Winning Italian Restaurant In A Former Banking Hall

Whether you’re local to Edinburgh or not, chances are you’ve heard of Contini George Street, a renowned family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of the New Town. Since opening the doors to the converted 19th-century banking hall 10 years ago, Victor and Carina Contini have expanded the independent, award-winning, family business, and opened two sister restaurants in the capital. As an Italian food enthusiast on the hunt for a new date night destination, exploring the menu at this highly sought-after spot seemed like the perfect choice on a cold, autumn night.

Both modern and traditional, the look at Contini George Street also reflects the food ethos.

DesignMyNight Review of Contini George Street

Often described as one of the most beautiful rooms in Edinburgh, high ceilings and Corinthian columns surround the grand yet cosy dining room. The soft chandelier lighting and large picture frame windows bathe the room with light, showcasing the grandeur of the building in all its glory. A date night setting, if ever I saw one.

We kicked off with some drinks, choosing from an expansive menu. I ordered a negroni di Torini (£14), which put a rich and sophisticated twist on a classic Negroni and made for a delightful aperitif. My fiancé enjoyed a glass of Fiano Minultolo (£9.75) and loved the subtle and refreshing notes of tropical fruits and citrus. Some complimentary homemade rosemary focaccia and olives shortly followed, accompanied by their house extra virgin olive oil which is made by the owners in Northern Italy. Contini’s dedication to combining fresh, local Scottish produce with Italian ingredients shines throughout their seasonally changing menu, which is supplemented by produce from their own one-acre kitchen garden.

Seasonal small plates to share and negronis shine on the Contini George Street menu.

The burrata (£14) followed, served with Puglian watermelon, pistachio crumb and fresh mint. The creamy, delicate richness of the burrata paired with the juicy sweetness of the watermelon was a dream. Our standout dish? The mozzarella di bufala DOP (£12), topped with roasted Italian peaches - a stunning plate with a beautiful combination of flavours. Clearly, we were all about the cheese and fruit combinations during this meal.

We decided to pair our refreshing drinks with a selection of antipasti instead of main courses, mainly because they all sounded so tempting that we couldn’t settle on just one to share. Our first dish to arrive was arancini (£10) with Gorgonzola DOP, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and butter sugo. We were most excited for this one, and it didn’t disappoint. The rich, creamy flavours were exactly what we’d hoped for, and the irresistibly moreish rice balls were polished off far too quickly. Next, we enjoyed a delightful selection of meats, cheeses, and more (yes, more) focaccia with the Speck di Prosciutto (£12) platter. I generously drizzled their homemade EVOO over the dish, perfectly tying together all the simple, delicious flavours.

Careful preparation means presentation matches the delicious, seasonal ingredients.

We couldn’t resist ordering a tiramisu (£8.50), which was brought to us alongside two other desserts as our served simply said, “we think you need to try all of them”. Of course, we were happy to oblige. The tiramisu was lovely, although we did feel that the mascarpone to sponge ratio was a little off, with the rich coffee flavours in the sponge being overpowered by the volume of cream. We then sampled the panna cotta (£8), which we were both pleasantly surprised by as this wouldn’t usually be a first choice for us. It melted effortlessly on the palate and we loved the subtle, smooth flavours and silky texture. However, the star of the show for us had to be the torta cioccolato (£9) - 70% cocoa torta with creme fraiche and sour cherry compote. Need I say more? I didn’t want this rich chocolate delight to end. So, to fully savour the flavour, we decided it was only right to pair it with a glass of Primitivo (£9.75). This perfectly rounded off the Contini experience, leaving us wanting to come back to try more.

Contini George Street: Overall

With a seasonally changing menu, Contini George Street embraces an ethos of combining top-quality local produce with Italian passion. Their commitment to serving fresh, seasonal, and authentic Italian cuisine has been unwavering since they opened their doors 10 years ago. If you’re in search of authentic Italian cuisine in an elegant yet unpretentious setting, this is the spot for you.