Cheesin’ is new at Edinburgh Street Food. It’s been open for a little over a week, and I’ve been several times. I say that to add some credentials to this review and spoiler that I like the place.
It should be no surprise that Cheesin’ is good because it’s the evolution/next project by the team who ran Fabbrica, a pasta trader, previously at Edinburgh Street Food. Learnings have gone into making Cheesin’ heavenly.
The cheese comes from the cheesemonger I.J. Mellis, which Edinburgh folk know is the good stuff.
Cheesin’ Food
You can get a cheese board straight from I. J Mellis with oatcakes, which I’m yet to try and three other types of cheesy goodness at Cheesin’.
You can get Mac and Cheese, and I’ve gone for the large Macarena Mac & Cheese, which has nachos, jalapenos and pulled chicken. There’s a classic Mac and Cheese, one with chorizo and one with pesto, semi-dried tomatoes and mozzarella balls, which I’ll have next.
My Macarena was delicious, but despite ordering a large, I found it was gone too soon.
You can also get grilled cheese sandwiches. There’s the classic artisan sourdough with a mix of cheeses as a base, and from that, you can get a classic with chutney, a Scottish-themed one with haggis and chilli jam, an American-themed one with pastrami and mustard and one with crispy onions. Dipping sauces are optional and extra. I went with the Scot.
That means the third type of food are the sides and power-ups which include Mac & Cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, poutine and halloumi salad. I went with the poutine while twisting in my seat to look directly ahead, though the Omni Centre walls, across the busy street and to a famous Canadian-themed restaurant across the way while I ate it.
As was the case with my Mac and Cheese at Cheesin’, the food was great, but over too quickly. The poutine would loose out in a battle against the Canadians, though.
Cheesin’ Vibe
Cheesin’ vibe is the vibrant blast that is Edinburgh Street Food.
You push into the neon and painted glass warehouse/market on the side of the Omni Centre and find a spot on bench. You might have to climb over some tourists, you might have to hop over a table or throw your back at a spot when it opens up, but it’s all part of the fun.
You can order at the counter or with a runner, but I did neither of those two things for any of my visits to Cheesin’. I’ve always ordered via the website and got hot cheese brought to me. Such decadence!
One of my visits to Cheesin’ was when I was fresh off a train from Glasgow. I had been up super-early, through to the sister city for a pitch (day job talk), and back needing a pick-me-up. Cheesin’ plus, the ESF energy is just perfect for that.
Things to do in Edinburgh’s city centre
Cheesin’ is in Edinburgh Street Food. Edinburgh Street Food is in the Omni Centre. The Omni Centre is in the heart of Edinburgh. There’s lots to do here.
I’m often at ESF after seeing something at the Playhouse or Vue. I’m yet to be won over by the posher Everyman cinema across the road in the St James Quarter, but the shopping centre is growing on me.
There’s the National Portrait Gallery nearby, John Lewis and posh shops across the road.
It’s even easier getting to ESF and Cheesin’ from the Edinburgh trams at the York Place stop than it is from the trains at Waverley, just be careful crossing the road.
Overall
Delicious and morish. Now, morish is a double-edged sword. I’ve never left Cheesin’ feeling full and always wanted more. The only straight-up niggle is that I thought that each time my food could have been faster, but, yes, I’m impatient.
Overall, Cheesin’ is tasty and perfectly placed to feed you some feel-good energy.
Review: Cheesin’
Summary
Cheesin’ is a delicious specialist trader in Edinburgh Street Food and a go-to for Mac and Cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.
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