A new fine-dining restaurant which recently opened in Stockbridge is offering what we think might just be one of the most enticing dining experiences around.
The restaurant, eòrna, is the brainchild of two of Scotland’s brightest up-and-coming hospitality stars and has opened its doors on Hamilton Place.
Head chef Brian Grigor and sommelier Glen Montgomery have created a venue with just 12 covers, that sees the pair only working with one service each night, meaning they can really offer an intimate dinner for guests paired with drinks from some of Scotland's, and the world's, best producers.
Named for the Gaelic word for barley, the pair oversee all aspects of the restaurant – with no other chefs or front-of-house staff – creating a pared-back yet sophisticated dining experience.
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The duo are keen to show off the focal point of the new venue, the 12-cover countertop “chef's table” overlooking the kitchen which also features custom lighting designed to show off the plates.
Each diner is sat in front of Brian as he cooks, and are encouraged to chat with both him and Glen (and each other) throughout the night ensuring an intimate atmosphere with a difference.
"It really does just feel like a dinner party every night," explained experienced chef Brian, who has worked in some of Scotland's best restaurants. "The dynamic of having just the two of us in the restaurant really allows us to really spend all our time with the guests and give them an experience that they will never have had before.
Talented sommelier Glen added that creating that memorable chef's table style experience has meant they can dedicate a lot of their time to just a small number of guests each night.
He added: "Even with just the two of us doing all of the preparation and the serving, with 12 guests across three to three and a half hours, it really gives us time to get to know them and deliver something really personalised with the drinks offering, as well as to give them a chance to talk to the chef about the dishes."
The duo were keen to stress that the way they operate the restaurant means each menu is entirely seasonal and dictated by the excellent produce they can source on any given day.
Brian explained: "The good thing about working in Scotland for your whole career is that you build strong relationships with the suppliers, so you get to know the best produce as it comes in and ultimately we wanted to have that flexibility of being able to cook what's good on that day, so the menu I design daily is dictated by that."
This, however, does mean that they are asking people to engage with the process and their expertise, meaning that the pair won't be able to cater for specific dietary needs.
The six-course tasting menu that is prepared for each service is down to the ingredients sourced and Brian's skill in the kitchen, and they worry that changing that to suit individual diners might compromise the entire service. Something they'd rather not do.
Glen said: "It's just one tasting menu available throughout the night, and the general idea is that you relax and put your trust in us to serve you something delicious and tasty and interesting to enjoy.
"We've been delighted with the feedback for the few weeks of service we've offered so far, people are really on board with Brian's style of cooking and are really enjoying the conversations."
He added that each night has been different, with larger groups happily engaging with them and with each other, while smaller groups and couples are also able to enjoy their own company but also ask questions and chat when they want to.
And it's not just wines Glen offers, the drinks expert, who has over 15 years of experience in the industry, say they also offer an incredible selection of single malts, single barrel rums and quality mezcals.
They are also working with local producers, suppliers and Stockbridge and even teamed with BRIC Interiors on nearby Howe Street, Glen revealing they were delighted to discover such a talented company close by that could inject that extra level of detail and texture into their space that he and Brian "could never have come up with".
The duo have created something different in eòrna, with a dining experience they say will live long in the memory of each guest.
As Glen explains: "It's a real chance to see behind the scenes and still have a luxury dining experience."
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