There’s a sign on the wall that says; “We don’t do fast food”. It’s not there as a bluff. There are two reasons why I’ve always had to wait when I’ve gone to the Old Chain Pier; it’s busy, they don’t rush. It’s worth the wait.
In fact, I’ve tried chilli beef nachos the length and breadth of Edinburgh. I must have some sort of expert status by now. Without a doubt the very best template of nachos I’ve ever had was served to me at The Old Chain Pier.
I was lucky to get served at all. It was a Sunday lunch. We hadn’t booked. We knew the risks but turned up anyway. They found a table for two for us tucked away in the corner and warned that there would be at least a 20 minute delay on food.
The fact that Old Chain Pier can get so busy, especially during good weather, counts against it. I dislike cramped places and they often show the stress and strain of dealing with lunch and dinner. If you turn up with high expectations then you’re likely in for a disappointment. I don’t think they do normal days there. However, if you book or turn up on a whim, as a “why not” or because you’ve an established favourite you can trust them to get right then you’re in a much better position. It gets so busy that I struggle to take any meaningful photographs of the inside for this review.
The menu isn’t huge but it’s surprisingly flexible. They do lots of breakfast options including a “pick five of the above” which is ideal for picky eaters like myself. The fact that the mince from my nacho felt like it had been teased from super expensive steak and the sauces balanced carefully to suit suggests there’s some serious talent in the kitchen.
There are four parts to the Old Chain Pier. There’s outside and that’s lovely when the weather allows. Then there’s the “overhang” which is good unless the weather is awful – in which case it’s awesome. There’s a mezzanine floor around the side and the last space is stuck between the two, comfortable but not always warm as it is right by the door. This is not a large building. It just makes good use of all the space.
I’ve been to The Old Chain Pier a few times over the years. I need to go more often. Granton harbour can be so photogenic at times and, yeah, sure, it’s a little out of the way but worth the trip.
