Review: Mowgli, an Indian restaurant in the city centre

The executive summary is that Mowgli coped with our tomfoolery and served up tasty Indian street food. All good, but I’m months late with this review, so perhaps even the swing seats didn’t motivate me to rush back home and tell the world about this particular Indian restaurant. I certainly had questions from friends about the experience, though. 

@edinburghreviews

Girdy and Birdy went for lunch at @Mowgli Street Food Restaurants and had a great time sitting at one of the swing tables! The food was delicious, too – full review coming soon. #edinburgheats #streetfood #indianfood

♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman

What is Indian street food when it’s in Edinburgh? I’m glad you asked because the question could lead to quirky answers! For Mowgli, this means tiffin boxes. The Mowgli menu comprises curries and accomplishments such as naan and rice. The street food angle means that the dishes are smaller (presented in the tiffins) and that you order more.

Mowgli was Birdy’s good choice. On the day of our visit, I was smugly on time until my smartphone pinged with the news that Birdy had swapped tables and was predicting I would be very late. Sure enough, I’d entered the wrong meet-up time into the calendar that rules my life.

I got to Mowgli 15 minutes after I should have been there. I know Edinburgh restaurants that could not cope with that. Mowgli had. Perhaps the fact that Birdy had got there on time only to notice tables, but not ours, had swing seats and had asked to move. If you are running late for a restaurant and don’t have anyone else there – just phone and let the establishment know.

When I finally got there, I was daunted by the idea of trying to load naan with curry and guide the delicious combo to my mouth while I rocked on a swinging seat. I’m a messy eater. Here, though, this one time, I managed.

Mowgli’s Food

We had six dishes in bowls and some bread to share. Highlights include the Mowgli Sticky Chicken, Mother Butter Chicken and the Temple Dahl.

I regret not getting even more Tiffin boxes! Next time. Yes, I think there probably will be a next time.

The food was temperature hot but spiced more mildly. I could have gone significantly up the spice scale, but that would have left Birdy behind and at no time was I disappointed with the curry teeth of any of the dishes.

The tenderness of the meat dishes was also just spot on. When you’re sharing food from tiffins you do need to be able to pass things around and dish out gloops of curry without everything collapsing with a splash back into the sauce. Who likes tough curry, though? Mowgli got it exactly right. 

The tapas approach, as I see it, isn’t for everyone. I like picking and mixing from many dishes as a way to slow me down and encourage conversation. However, I’m such a voracious eater I also sometimes want to hoover without accidentally eating the chicken that someone else had wanted. If you like to guard your own curry then I suspect Mowgli won’t be for you.

Mowgli’s Vibe

I liked the place’s vibe as soon as I walked in – or charged in, out of breath and late. The Mowgli team were relaxed.

I noticed several families and even some prams. Importantly, not all the seats are suspended on ropes as swings. 

The staff were attentive and helped with the menu. People were friendly, and they also seemed relaxed, and there was no annoying waiting. The Mowgli restaurant is just off Edinburgh’s (one time) famous Princes Street, and it can’t be a cheap rent, but Mowgli HQ aren’t saving pennies by skimping on front-line staff as for our visit, there seemed to be plenty of waiters.  Oftentimes, Edinburgh Reviews will visit a place two or three times before a review, but not in this case, so my observation about staff numbers is based on just one experience.

My perception is that quite a few of the customers are Mowgli regulars and had come here deliberately. I was reminded of many aeons ago when my mother would take us to the John Lewis cafe if my brothers and I behaved while shopping. It was that mix of middle-class families and the occasional tourist. 

Things to do in the city centre

You’re spoilt for choice! For shopping, there is a nearby John Lewis and the posh shops of the St James Quarter, plus an Apple store. 

I’d use Mowgli for pre or post-Edinburgh Playhouse, which is nearby, but only post-Edinburgh Dungeon, which is just on the other side of the nearby Waverley Station.

If you want something more obscure without leaving the beaten track too much, then check the Voodoo Rooms website to see if they’re hosting anything, or explore just a bit down Leith Walk. 

Overall

Mowgli has a great location and serves up a liberal collection of small dishes to share with an Indian theme. The swings are an absolute talking point, and despite messy eaters like me, the restaurant was nice and clean.

I’m not sure tiffin boxes are all that original. I’m used to getting curries in metal bowls, but I appreciated the Mowgli angle and learned the word from them.

Birdy and I both enjoyed our visit. Okay, we haven’t been back yet, but I suspect it’s on the cards.

Overall? Recommended.