Britannia Spice

★★★★★

“We travelled 30 miles to visit Britannia Spice restaurant in Leith. Arriving there at 4 pm which is the time it opens according to the notice on the door. It was closed so we phoned there number but no one answered. We then went on their website and booked a meal for 4.15 pm. The booking was accepted. We waited until 4.45 pm still no one turned up and no one answered the phone. After returning home we phoned them to ask why they did not answer the phone and they said they would phone us back in 2 minutes. Which they never did. Awful service.”

★★★★★

“I stay near to Britannia spice and have ordered takeaway from there before which I found to be prompt, tasty and decent portion sizes if a little expensive so couldn’t understand why the restaurant is always empty. Out of curiosity my and I partner ate here yesterday and now it makes much more sense, as eating in is a totally different experience. The restaurant smells faintly of stale cigarette smoke, there are ants on the window sill as someone else mentioned and the bathrooms are not clean at all. The host was pleased to see us (we were the only walk ins at the time) and insisted we sit in a particular area of the restaurant. The sit in menu is expensive (£1.45 per poppadom, £7 for a pint, £15 for a main, £6,95 for 2 store bought samosas, £4.50 for a small pilau) which stung a bit more as the portion sizes were tiny, much less than what you get in a takeaway box. I got lamb and my partner got chicken. Of the wee mains we received it was 90% sauce and 10% meat. Only two samosas are included in the starter for £6.95. The food was average at best, not much depth , flavour or complexity. Eventually a couple more groups drifted in but even though the entire restaurant was empty, the host insisted on seating us all directly next to each other which is awkward for conversations and ruins the atmosphere even more as you end up whispering or not talking so you’re not accidentally eaves dropping on other tables convo. It’s like a library. Food did come out quickly at least so we didn’t have to stay long. A table of tourists next to us wanted to order several starters each instead of a main (not much size difference tbh) but a rule of the restaurant is you HAVE to order a main which the host kept insisting. The food and a drink each ended up £35 per head for a wee shared rice and useless peshwari naan between us, 2 tiny mains, 2 even smaller sides and 2 drinks. Restaurant is charging pretty high for stingy, below average food, I guess it’s to compensate for lack of guests. I’d recommend they revisit their menu prices which I think they’re catering to passing tourist trade and ignoring locals who would be happy to have a decently priced, good food Indian so close as lees kitchen and albys are always busy - there are people getting carry out and going out to eat! Service wise, he tries to be hospitable and friendly, but there is a serious undercurrent of him just being a control freak and pedant. Now I’ve visited once, I don’t have to go again and I get why the place is empty. It may have been popular in 2008 when they were winning awards but this place isn’t doing itself any favours now. Hope the owner is reading these reviews to help improve the restaurant when he’s sitting on his phone by himself most evenings.”

★★★★★

“Been using this restaurant since it first opened. Was taken by a colleague who is related to the owners and had probably the best Asian meal I have ever had. Will continue to visit when staying in Owld Reekie”