Ronaq has arrived at New Waverley
After two weeks of eating nothing but pizza, pasta and aperitivo on holiday in Italy, we were positively salivating at the thought of a tasty curry at Ronaq, New Waverley. We hopped off the bus at the Mound and wandered along towards the trendy Arches area with its twinkling lights and smart new shops, cafes and restaurants. The owners of Ronaq have shown a lot of confidence in this untested part of town, building a sleek and shiny new restaurant with stunning views that take in the Balmoral and Calton Hill; all just a short walk from the Royal Mile.
There is a warm welcome and a bar downstairs if you fancy a pre-dinner drink or two but we were desperate to head upstairs for a look at the restaurant. It certainly has the wow factor with floor to ceiling glass giving diners a stunning panaromic view over towards the New Town. The decor is minimalist and modern but still comfortable with the natural light flooding the restaurant giving it a bright and spacious feel. The impressive staff also make you feel at home offering help with any menu choices and keeping everything moving at an enjoyable pace.
What will we choose?
We were offered poppadums and pickles while we pored over the menu and these tasted fresh, crunchy and didn’t have the usual day-glo colouring of a highlighter pen. The drinks menu is also worth a mention and includes a decent wine list at reasonable prices although it was hard to say no to the perfectly chilled Kingfisher on draught.
To Start
Donnie went for his usual onion bhaji that was served nice and hot and lacking the soggy texture that you sometimes get if it has been sitting around for a while under a heat lamp. My starter was really tasty – a light puri topped with a delicious chickpea curry that was rich and flavoursome. If you enjoy vegetarian food then Ronaq have plenty to choose from on their menu including a few specialities. I had asked about the special main earlier and our waiter brought us a small dish of the chicken and cauliflower to try – a nice touch.
Mains
After we had finished our starters, the waiter asked if we wanted a break before our mains – so nice, as we hate having to sprint through our meal. The relaxed pace meant that we were ready to enjoy our main courses. Donnie went for the Murgh Palak, an aromatic dish made with spinach, ginger and coriander that was quite light but you could actually taste every ingredient. We had a portion of pilau rice and a Tandoori naan which was plenty for both of us to enjoy with our food.
My main course was also delicious, the fragrant grilled chicken served with a deliciously sour spicy sauce which was very moreish. I don’t often manage to finish a main in Indian restaurants but portion sizes here are perfect and you can actually enjoy and appreciate the dish rather than feeling over-whelmed by it.
Room for Pudding?
We were both feeling quite full but in the interests of research decided to share the pistachio kulfi dessert which came with a blast of canned cream. You could taste the ground pistachio nuts and it was perfectly fine but slightly unnecessary after such a deliciously filling meal.
Ronaq’s New Waverley venture certainly delivers on all fronts – the food we had was excellent and the staff work hard to deliver a fantastic experience. All this and you get to enjoy one of the best views in Edinburgh.
If you’re visiting the area or going along to any of the festival events such as Castle Concerts or the Edinburgh Cocktail Festival which is being held close by, then why not pop in for a curry at Ronaq .
How to book a table?
Ronaq
32 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8FR
Tel: 0131 558 7683