Review: Chennai’s Marina, an Indian restaurant in Goldenacre 

Finally, there is a tenant in this little spot on the Goldenacre end of Inverleith.

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Girdy tried to be one of the first to visit the latest @Chennais Marina in Edinburgh but left it too late and found the Inverleith restaurant had already been adopted by locals.

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The venue had been trapped in redevelopment purgatory for months, apparently cycling through owners without opening, and now finally, the lights are on. I think it was an Indian takeaway before, and so credit to Chennai’s Marina for being able to TARDIS it into an Indian restaurant.

I’ve eaten in, and I’ll go back. I might even check out what Chennai’s Marina’s delivery is like. My main grumble, which is a small one, is due to the small size of the locatoin as I’ve seen people needing to stand and move mid-meal to let other diners out.

There are two other Chennai’s Marinas in Edinburgh, I think, one towards Birdy’s territory west of the city centre and the other nearer my folks in Newington. I’ve seen one between Abbey Hill and Meadowbank but maybe it’s closed because I can’t find it on Google Maps tonight. All are boutique and yellow.

Chennai’s Marina’s food

I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to good Indian restaurants, so if Chennai’s Marina fell short, then it wouldn’t even be a candidate. I rate it, at least the Inverleith branch, as better than average. I’ve not tried the others.

On my first trip, I ordered Devil Beef. It’s so-called because it’s spicy hot and made from cow. I don’t assume that an Indian restaurant will have beef, so I was intrigued by this item, which helped pick it from their large menu. I can recommend it. Yes, it’s spicy, but it’s tender and fun.

A second recommendation is the onion coriander padoka.  This treat is a side dish or a starter rather than a small dish but tasty.

This restaurant, on Montague Terrace, has a street food menu. A third dish to try is the Chilli Paneer. You can’t go wrong with paneer.

The prices are delightfully low. There is a little competition in the area, but I suspect the food here is really set for the takeaway price wars, and the fact that Goldenacre locals have adopted the wee yellow diner is a welcome bonus. We’re certainly benefiting. Perhaps the prices will slide up after Chennai’s Marina stops being so new here,

I think Chennai’s Marina’s range and food quality make it a safe place to bring friends. Perhaps the only gotcha is the BYOB as I’ve seen some locals ask for and struggle to get an ice bucket. Until my trips to Chennai’s Marina, I’d never even have considered asking for an ice bucket with a BYOB but there you go.

Chennai’s Marina’s vibe

It’s yellow and cosy!

I’ve been greeted warmly and quickly each time I’ve walked in. The ratio of customers to front-of-house staff often dramatically favours the customers (again, a testament to the clever optimisation of tables), but the waiter has always been appropriately swift.

That said, I’ve never felt hurried. Sometimes, when you are a solo eater, and the restaurant is filling up and you’re taking up a whole table just as a couple or even a larger group would but ordering a fraction of the food, you can sense the implicit hurry to get you fed and out. I’ve never had that at Chennai.

As the front-of-house area is so cosy, there is a nice atmosphere of chat and friendship. I’ve not heard a raised voice, despite the locals meeting there with a bottle of wine each for the table (hence the bucket) or the 10:30 close time. 10:30 is late for the area.

Things to do in Inverleith

Ah, this is the rub. There’s very little to do in this corner of Edinburgh. In fact, most of my friends who’ve eaten anywhere near here have done so for a wake because the Warriston Crematorium is a few minutes down Ferry Road!

However, the Royal Botanic Gardens are nearer, just head up the road towards the centre of town. It’s also possible that you’re on your way to the Royal Yacht Britannia from the Gardens, perhaps doing an Edinburgh tour, when you pass by here.

If you’re looking for a place to rendezvous with friends before heading out to The Pitt then, gee, this is a little far out but there are scant few places any closer!

Overall

I am really pleased that Chennai Marina in Inverleith (just off Ferry Road) has opened and has been such an immediate hit.

I like the yellow restaurant but not enough to re-write my regular Indian meal dining out routines. Instead, I suspect I’ll be visiting the little place if I’ve had to work unexpectedly late at work or perhaps even en route home after a late business trip.

If you live nearby, then I recommend a meal. If you don’t live nearby, then it’s hard to imagine how or why you’d happen to be on this residential corner!