Girdy and Birdy met up at Educated Flea for a pre-Christmas meal and gift handover. The Flea proved a perfect setting, and the food was memorable for all the right reasons. (Oh, and Girdy almost choked due to forgetting to chew his food, but that’s by the by!)
Birdy: I’ve got to admit, I had actually visited Educated Flea once before, and it left quite an impression – mainly due to my partner choosing the white chocolate and horseradish ice cream as a dessert at the time – so, of course I was keen to go back for a Girdy & Birdy!
It was a cold, wet early December night and I regretted my choice of wearing heels (HEELS! I rarely EVER wear heels these days) to clip-clop down Broughton Street (WHAT was I thinking?!) but when I arrived, it was warm, cosy, and welcoming. Of course, I got there first, so took the chance to get settled before a Girdinator arrived.
Girdy: It’s my third time at the Educated Flea, and it is long overdue. About 20 months ago, I celebrated starting my new day job and told myself (and the Flea) that I’d come back to mark my first year.
So, when Birdy calculated with suggestion dropping subtlety that it was possible to squeeze one more Girdy and Birdy review into 2023; I not only got the hint but quickly offered the Educated Flea. Unlike high heels on Broughton’s ninja-stunt-trap, this turned out to be a great idea as (spoilers) we had a great night.
Educated Flea’s vibe
Birdy: As this is my second visit to Educated Flea now, I’ve got to say, the place has garnered a lot of respect and attention for its excellent food, but it doesn’t ever feel like it’s somewhere that’s overly uppity or pretentious. Instead, it’s all about the food.
You go there and feel immediately relaxed, welcome and like you’re just there to enjoy an exceptionally good meal in a quiet, friendly setting. And that’s exactly what you get! I recall there was a young family sitting next to us, and the staff were very welcoming to the kids, too.
Girdy: I think the Educated Flea is the most intimate or posh restaurant I would be happy to visit. If I was dating, I’d suggest here, even for a first date, especially for a second.
I’m not too fond of posh places that judge you. I like the Educated Flea as they welcome you. At least I felt like they welcomed Birdy and me. I remember the food, not what I was wearing, but I probably had wild hair, a backpack and jeans.
Is it all perfect? It’s cosy. The tables are carefully placed, and I would have to take my backpack off to get to some of the seats or slap fellow diners in the face. That said, it doesn’t feel crowded. It just feels tight-knit.
Educated Flea’s food
Birdy: At Educated Flea, you’re treated to some flavours and pairings that you might not find elsewhere – and it always feels a bit special. The food itself is divine. To start, I ordered some scallops from the specials menu – which were absolutely delicious.
For my main – and my favourite part of the whole meal – I ordered the venison haunch, which was paired with creamy parsnip & chervil polenta, green beans, radish, roast mushrooms, and a blueberry jus. This was a real showstopper! The blueberry jus was surprising, but turned out to be absolutely delicious. The radish worked so well with the parsnip & chervil polenta, and yes – I consider myself more educated after eating this main. SO good!
For dessert, I ordered the rocky road PB&J, which describes itself as marshmallow, shortbread, Turkish delight, choc, peanut butter and jam ice cream. It was yummy, but to be honest I hadn’t been expecting it to turn up in sundae form, so that made things a bit more awkward when eating the rocky road aspect. Worth it!
EDIT: I’ve just been reminded by a family member that although myself and Girdy both chose carnivorous options on this day, Educated Flea is also very suitable for non-meat eaters, who can find plenty of menu options to suit!
Girdy: I did well with my three courses, although the Educated Flea’s deliciousness did nothing to slow my fast eating.
I started with confit seatrout with vodka, horseradish, beetroot, gribiche, and crispy capers. I think this is a bold starter, not for the fish, but for the vodka. It was the protein that lured me in, though. I’d call this a starter that whets my appetite while providing some proper nourishment and a starter that was sold and exotic at the same time.
I had a festive beef steak offering with a lovely mash and greens. I absolutely wolfed this down, and the beef was perfectly done. In contrast to the starter, I’d say this was a safe-as-houses option for a main. However, it wasn’t dull; the Flea’s kitchens made this staple of mine taste as special and as festive as its place on the menu demanded. (Oh, and I must remember to chew.)
Did I resist getting a dessert? No, the Educated Flea tempted me with sangria basil Eton mess – sundae style! How could I resist that? I didn’t even resist making jokes about Eton, messes and politics, but Birdy and the restaurant’s front-of-house staff humoured me.
Our desserts were so good the neighbouring table asked what they were! You’ll often hear me insisting we’re not an influencer blog, but we absolutely influenced that table on this occasion!
Educated Flea’s service
Birdy: Educated Flea’s staff were lovely and friendly throughout our visit, and I remember we were taken care of and made to feel very welcome. We were served quickly and efficiently, I honestly can’t fault them at all, and I had a lovely time where the food was the star of the show.
Girdy: I fear we’ll lose amazing restaurants like the Educated Flea – small, indie locals that don’t specialise in one niche or gimmick to compensate for rising costs, fickle fashions and weird regulations. A trip to this enchanting venue motivated me to try harder in 2024 (to eat more? Gasp!) and support similar.
The staff here are experienced, warm, and capable, and the food is fantastic.
Things to do around Broughton Street
There are plenty of things to do around Broughton Street, and just a short walk up towards the city centre will take you to the Omni Centre. If it’s date night, you could double up a visit to the Edinburgh Playhouse with the Educated Flea.
There’s some great venues inside, including a Vue Cinema, Boom Battle Bar – and only one Wetherspoons to avoid!
Alternatively, across the road, you’ll find St James Quarter, with some fantastic shops, some “So-expensive-that-I’ll-never-shop-there” outlets, and the rather nifty Everyman Cinema. John Lewis department store was, of course, there first and is often perfect for finding what you need.
We also couldn’t fail to mention Fayre Play across the roundabout, which is great if you’re looking for a bit of novelty and a chance to win some ducks!
Overall
Birdy: For me, this was another memorable visit to Educated Flea, and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends, family, colleagues or acquaintances! I always feel like there will be a variant of something special on the menu I probably wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else, and it’s easy to see why they call that flea an educated one!
Girdy: Get your butt along Broughton Street and into the Educated Flea, although perhaps book in advance. This bijou restaurant is a reminder of how good things can be when you know somewhere worthy or recommendating.
Educated Flea
Summary
With delicious and sometimes unexpected food pairings, Educated Flea is not your run-of-the-mill restaurant but an amazing dining experience that’s really all about the food.
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