The Botanist - Edinburgh, The Couches

Visited Botanist today, and unfortunately, the only redeeming quality of the evening was the ambience. The space itself is large and beautifully designed, with multiple levels of seating and live music, which initially gave us high hopes. However, the sound system was so poor that unless you were right next to the stage, you could barely make out the performance. We were seated upstairs and started with drinks — one of which had to be sent back because it was completely tasteless and lacked even basic sweetness. For starters, we ordered the Roasted Harissa Cauliflower, only to be served a cold dish that tasted like it had come straight from the fridge. When we flagged it, the waitress confirmed it was meant to be served hot and took it back. Five minutes later, it was returned lukewarm at best, clearly microwaved with no sign of roast or crunch. After this, we lost all confidence in the food and service, and decided not to order anything further. To top it off, the bill included a 12.5% of service charge, which felt completely unjustified given the experience. All in all, a disappointing visit. We won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone expecting quality food or service.