Zucca

Grindlay Street, Edinburgh

visted 3/10/08

Zucca is in the Lyceum Theatre building and replaces the late-lamented Marque.

We went for a pre-theatre supper and it was pretty good. Although they made a couple of mistakes with our order these were quickly rectified and the service was good. I had a rather nondescript "autumn salad" (vapid beetroot, some decent goat's cheese and a few walnuts, all without any dressing which would certainly have enlivened the dish). Then a flavourful lamb stew with a tomato base (the lamb had dried out a bit but it was fine for the occasion and the price). My companion had a rather good butternut squash risotto--sweet, nutty and properly cooked rice. I had a glass of OK house San Giovese, but my companion's Trebbiano wasn't up to much.

Zucca lacks the flair of its predecessor, and I wouldn't linger there for the evening, but the pre-threatre menu (£16 something for two courses) is fair and I'd go again for that. You need its snappy service and decent, tasty food at such times.