Review: Greenwoods, Edinburgh

Girdy and Birdy visited Greenwoods on Frederick Street for a late lunch, at Birdy’s behest. Zero regrets from either party!

Birdy had visited Greenwoods once already with family, and knew immediately that it’d be a hit with Girdy. Therefore, she insisted it would be a fabulous Girdy and Birdy review! Unfortunately, the only time available happened to be 1:45pm, so quite a late lunch consequently occurred!

The vibe

Girdy: Greenwoods, located on Frederick Street, is a charmingly busy, vibrant restaurant right in the centre of town. For years, I had mistakenly overlooked it, assuming it was a posh restaurant that was out of my price range.

Seeing it from the outside, it certainly looks super swanky. However, visiting for a late brunch, I discovered the menu was a fraction of the price I expected. With nothing over twenty quid, the menu offered stacks of pancakes, eggs benedict, and chicken sandwiches for around £16 to £18.

Birdy: See, I told you it was lovely! Absolutely everyone in my party was impressed. And did you know that three out of the four venues Greenwoods own are located in the Netherlands?

Girdy: No idea. Does this mean we’re not counting Greenwoods as an Edinburgh restaurant?

Birdy: No, it’s definitely an Edinburgh restaurant, as it’s here in Edinburgh. Just with interesting roots and background! That, to me anyway, makes it a very interesting lunch/brunch option! You can read more about it on their official website.

Girdy: The interior seems best suited for twos, making it a great catch-up and chat location. The main drawback is its popularity. The problem is, everybody is doing it, and it’s actually quite noisy. I found it quite hard to hear Birdy at times, which was a shame.

The food and drink

Birdy: Now, this was my second visit to Greenwoods. The first time, I opted for the salmon hash, which included roast potatoes, wilted spinch, glorious smoked salmon and an enticing orange tartar sauce. It was delicious! But, part of me was longing to try the pancakes, hence why Greenwoods had made it top of my list for a Girdy and Birdy excursion!

This time, I went for the pina colada stack pancakes (pictured above), with pineapple compete and mascarpone cream – plus the extra bacon option. It was incredible! The pancakes themselves were thick, light and fluffy, and everything just complemented each other perfectly. No regrets whatsoever!

I also really enjoyed my blueberry and rosemary drink – very tasty!

Girdy: I opted for the Greek eggs on sourdough toast (pictured at the top of the page), and they were absolutely delicious. The plentiful portion was genuinely impressive; I received four slices of sourdough, which is rare these days. I noted that I’m not often impressed by food sizes, but I was impressed by this.

While the food is excellent value, the drinks are where the costs creep up. My Hibiscus and Cherry Fizz was nearly a fiver — though very delicious. The coffee, too, was more expensive than the nearby chains but, crucially, a thousand times better.

Greenwoods as a place to eat in the city centre

Birdy: There’s so much to do in the city of Edinburgh! Nearby in terms of shopping, there’s George Street, Princes Street, and all the posh shops of the St James Quarter, plus an Apple store. 

If you were heading to a matinee at the Edinburgh Playhouse, which is nearby, Greenwoods is a good shout – although it closes at 2:30pm most days, so bear that in mind. It’s also not far from Waverley Station and the bus station.

If you’re looking for something more obscure to do without going too far, then check the Voodoo Rooms‘ website to see if there’s anything on there, or go for a saunter down Leith Walk.

Overall

Girdy: Despite the noise, I will definitely go back and would recommend it. Just be sure to probably book in advance. It’s bloomin’ busy.

Birdy: On that note, I found a spontaneous visit mid-week was quieter, which meant it was actually quite suited to a hearing-impaired family member. Now I know that going on a Saturday lunchtime seems ill-advised!

However, I had a great experience on both my visits to Greenwoods, and will definitely be going back with my husband, who is also excited to try it!