La Garrigue

A slice of Languedoc food heaven awaits on Edinburgh’s historic Jeffrey Street. La Garrigue – which can be found just a short walk from Waverley Station – was opened in 2001 by Jean-Michel Gauffre, who still informs the imaginative menu alongside head chef Peter Duck. It offers a glorious window into rustic, homestyle French cuisine, as well as an impressive collection of authentic Continental wine. Upon arrival at La Garrigue, myself and my companion admired the warm and inviting interior. Striking royal blue panelling and tableware complement the exposed stone walls, wooden furniture and vibrant original artwork adorning the walls of each of the intimate dining rooms. We were welcomed with a delicious aperitif of Armagnac and Blanquette de Limoux and a delightful amuse-bouche of chilled carrot soup and crostini with flavoursome blue cheese topping.

To start, I savoured king scallops with smoked French sausage on a bed of spinach, while my friend tucked into the fish soup with grated cheese, garlic dip and croutons. Both dishes looked and tasted incredible. Next, the chef advised me to try the rack of lamb, which came with Provençal tomato, watercress roulade and tarragon jus. It was a great choice – the lamb was mouth-wateringly tender, perfectly enhanced by the flavours of the accompaniments. My friend opted for the vegetarian chickpea pancakes with aubergine caviar, pepper stew and wild garlic pesto. Its appearance alone was a work of art and I was assured that the taste was equally impressive.

For dessert I decided to sample the seasonal cherry flan with orange blossom ice cream, while my guest ordered the warm peach tart. Both were deliciously sweet and perfectly balanced – an ideal way to end a truly memorable meal. 

A particularly impressive aspect of La Garrigue is the friendly, attentive service and the team’s extensive knowledge of the food and flavours on offer – this contributed to the fantastic atmosphere and I was delighted with the team’s recommendations.

In addition to all this, Jean-Michel runs cookery classes in the restaurant and, once a month, offers wine tours to Languedoc. For him, it’s important to reconnect with his roots and he loves keeping up to date with all the new wines available. In the spirit of staying well informed, I intend to return soon to sample more delicious cuisine from the regularly changing menu.