On the corner of Inverleith Gardens and Inverleith Avenue, an Indian restaurant with lovely big windows overlooks the road. There are a few steps up, so it isn’t that wheelchair friendly. However, there’s not an overabundance of choice in that part of Ferry Road or Goldenacre, and it is worth knowing about. Appropriately enough, the restaurant is called In Touch.
I’ve been to In Touch several times, never had a bad meal there but nothing will be more memorable than my first visit when I discovered the restaurant doesn’t offer any dessert.
In the past, I’ve been guilty of walking past In Touch. I guess I had been writing it off because of the BYOB message slapped in the window. I wasn’t paying enough attention. In Touch can serve your booze. It’s just that you can also bring your own and without corkage.
Pleasingly, luckily, I got over that and went in for dinner. That impulse visit meant I hadn’t looked at the menu before and didn’t know about the weird dessert gotcha. It also means I could upgrade the restaurant from “no thanks” to “maybe”.
There’s only really a single course to consider. The main dish and side options, however, are extensive. Indian restaurants generally have pages of variations and In Touch holds its own here. I checked afterwards, though, and the website menu doesn’t line up perfectly with the paper menu I was handed.
My favourite feature is the recommendation of which side dish to have with your main. I’ve followed it often and never gone wrong.
In Touch Food
Sides and mains are likely to be dishes you are familiar with. Looking for a favourite Indian dish? It’s likely to be here. Eating with conservative eaters with limited Indian experience? I think they’ll be safe here. In my experience, they’ll be cooked well and very tasty.
Portions are hot and as generous as you can expect. You tend to get a tealight heated stand on your table, and the meal comes out in metal bowls to sit on that. You get to transfer food over to your plate in quantities and mixes you want. I like their side dish recommendations. I tend to mix and match and really appreciate the tealight heating.
The presentation is straightforward, fancy-free, but not cheap. I’d describe it as no-nonsense but with attention to detail.
Ambience
It’s safely pleasant inside In Touch, the restaurant has lots of windows, and while it’s not a scenic view, it is a great “living and breathing Edinburgh” view.
I think you can dress up a little without being too weird inside, and I think you can be reasonably casual too. I think the restaurant best fits smart everyday wear, though.
There tends to be only one waiter on duty who’ll be wearing a suit.
Tables are clean and covered with high-end disposables. That’s to say the I imagine most of it ends up in the bin at the end of the day, not washed and re-used.
I’ve only once heard someone ask for a new plate because their first offering wasn’t clean. I’ve been in there for (not mine) hundreds of meals, so that’s a reasonable rate.
Value for Money
I’ve already noted that that the portions here are safe and sound. Not huge. Not petite, boutique, posh or any of the synonymous or polite ways to say “On the small side”.
If I wanted a hearty Indian meal, I’d absolutely consider In Touch.
Side dishes, I think, are excellent value for money. They tend to be about half the cost of the main dish, but you get about two-thirds of the main course dish. It’s just that the choices are a little more limited.
Grumbles
I wish In Touch would bring the bill more swiftly at the end of the meal.
They don’t serve dessert, so what else is there to do once the coffee is finished or declining? I’ve sat alone after the main meal until I’ve had to wheel around in my chair, raise a hand and check on the paperwork status. I shouldn’t have to.
Overall
Safe but unremarkable unless you want pudding, in which case In Touch isn’t the right choice.
It may sound cruel, but I can quickly describe In Touch as a takeaway Indian menu with seats attached. I think most of the business done by the kitchens are delivery orders, and it’s popular enough for those to get quite backlogged.
I’ve been to In Touch several times, but the question is whether I’ll be back. I think so, but probably on my way home and with time against me.
I can’t fault the food.