I recently visited Howies in Victoria Street for a long leisurely lunch. I have been dining in all the branches of Howie’s for a number of years.
I have always found the food to be fantastic and agree with their motto of ‘great food………without the faff’.
I had a made a booking for lunch to sure of a table and it was probably 50% full ( a Wednesday lunchtime) so probably pays to make a reservation
One thing that impresses me from the moment you step into Howie’s is that you are served a complimentary bowl of organic bread with butter and given a jug of iced water. If only other restaurants would follow suit with such traditions.
For starter I had rosemary crusted haggis balls with a sweet chilli dipping sauce £3.50 and I have to say that they were mouth wateringly delicious. The haggis wasn’t too spicy, but if you did want it hotter, you just needed to scoop up some chilli flakes in the sauce. You can also have it as a main, (£6.50) but perhaps 8 of them would become repetitive on the palate
- Haggis balls with sweet chilli sauce
For main I had shredded beef ciabatta with a rich onion and thyme Lyonnaise served with thick cut chips, £7.55 and my dining partner had the fish of the day which was hake served with baby new potatoes and vegetables £7.10.
- Shredded beef ciabatta
Fish of the day - hake
I also tasted the hake and pleased to report that it was perfectly cooked and beautifully flaky.
The service through the meal was attentive without being over eager to move us onto the next course. Both the waiter and waitress who served us were polite and friendly and knew the menu well.
The waiter was perhaps not expecting me to reel off my dessert order without looking at the menu again – there is only one thing to choose at Howie’s and that’s their famous banoffee pie !
- Howie’s famous banoffee pie
My dining partner also had the same and we sat in silence for the few minutes it took us to devour the dessert. The caramel layer is to die for and I am pleased to write that the pie is as good as it’s ever been.
