Birdy descended on The Botanist as part of the Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club festive dinner – a date in her calendar she’d really been looking forward to!
I’d been casually aware of The Botanist for a short time – and had actually tried to book dinner there one night with a couple of my ladies when I saw their launch event was happening instead! The menu looked enticing, as did videos on TikTok.
So, as events coordinator for the Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club, snagging the chance to have our Christmas dinner here seemed like a no-brainer. NOTE: This review is purely of the set festive menu at The Botanist – I’ll be bringing Girdy next time for a business-as-usual review!
The Botanist’s vibe
When you first approach the big shiny glass building with all the pretty lights that is The Botanist, you might be impressed – I was. It all looks so shiny and new. Did I mention it’s shiny?
When you enter, it’s got a dark, glowing greenery with a definite A Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe about it – but quite low key. It’s also massive; you have to go on a little walk through to where all the REAL action is, and then it becomes A Midsummer Night‘s Dream but modern and on steroids.
I mean, LOOKIT IT! It’s very pretty, all the plants are glowing, and there’s a lovely thistle mural on the wall as a nod to the fact we’re in Scotland.
It’s beautiful.
However, not only is it massive inside, and very pretty, glowy and sparkly, it’s also ABSOLUTELY BLOODY HEAVING!!! I have to admit, I got a bit lost trying to find the 24 other ladies who were all there for the same dinner I was attending, who I knew were around somewhere having pre-drinks.
Eventually, with help from the lovely but extremely busy staff, I found my way.
The Botanist’s festive menu
Now, the way we’d booked our festive dinner, we had a series of set options to choose them, which we’d each locked in ahead of time. We all got given bits of paper to remind ourselves what we’d ordered, too.
I kept it fairly standard; a modern twist on the traditional, with a turkey kebab! To start, I opted for sweet potato and goat’s cheese tart, and finished with a cookie dough pie.
I’ve got to say, the turkey kebab looked a bit precarious as it was brought over to me – in the video, you’ll see that balance on top was a small jug of gravy!
I am NOT the most graceful, or delicate of people sometimes when it comes to food, so getting everything off the kebab was also a little bit messy – next time I’ll be more careful!
I was just grateful the gravy didn’t go flying along with my food! I really, really enjoyed the main course, and it was the star of the show. I was also really happy with the generous serving of sprouts I was served, although I know not all of the ladies agreed.
I was less enamoured with the sweet potato and goat’s cheese tart, mainly because beetroot (my mortal enemy and forever nemesis) was also prominently featured in the dish – but I was a good sport and ate around it.
The cookie pie was a slice of biscoff-influenced delight, and a great way to end the meal. Yum!
The Botanist’s staff
The Botanist’s staff were timely, efficient and very polite, despite the fact the place seemed to be absolutely BUZZING with customers and they must have been rushed off their feet.
Overall, I was really impressed with how well everything was handled, especially since serving a table of 25 ladies is no easy feat!
Things to do around Little King Street
When you come out of The Botanist, you’re literally right across from the Omni Centre. There’s some great venues inside, including a Vue Cinema, Boom Battle Bar, and only one Wetherspoons to avoid.
Alternatively, you can turn right and go into St James Quarter, with some fantastic shops, some “So-expensive-that-I’ll-never-shop-there” outlets and the Everyman Cinema. John Lewis was, of course, there first – St James just attached itself there – and great for your Christmas shopping!
If you’re really organised, then arrange a trip to Fayre Play across the roundabout, which is LOADS OF FUN and a cracking night out.
Overall
I had a great festive dinner at The Botanist, and the turkey kebab was a nice take on traditional festive dinner – just be careful when removing your food from it, and take it off the hook!
The Botanist provided a great vibe, and beautiful surroundings, so now I’m really interested in going back – and bringing Girdy with me – once the festive period is over.
Festive Dinner at the Botanist
Summary
The Botanist is a fab, extremely friendly on the eyes venue that’s shiny and new. Go there for tasty food, and a Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe.
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