Ooh La La: Best Damned Steak Tartare … Ever!

L’Escargot Bleu – Edinburgh, Scotland

French – Visited May 2017 & May 2022

While staying at our lovely b&b in Edinburgh (Millers64, which has subsequently closed due to the pandemic), our hostess Louise told us about a French restaurant (you can only have so much Haggis), L’Escargot Bleu, where she happened to be friends with the owners. As it turned out, Tracy, friends Kim & Mary along with myself got the Royal Treatment, although it looked like everyone dining received great service.

The restaurant touts its “French twist using the – best of Scotland” menu.  How did I know?  Well, I could read the writing on the wal

The interior was charming, and the meal got off to a rousing start.

                                       

We were offered an amuse bouche of whipped chicken liver paté on a cracker. Thankfully, Kim did not want his, so I was the lucky recipient of two.  He did take a lovely photo, however.

Next up, I flew over the moon with this restaurant’s Steak Tartare, served table-side. I was able to pick the ingredients and the hotness strength of the dish. I chose a “7” (out of ten). It was (and it’s really not even close) my favorite Steak Tartare ever. Next time, I’m going for a “9!”  “Wow!!”

                                       

I also enjoyed the Heritage Pig special. The server told us Heritage pigs have curly hair (fortunately not in the dish) and are very unusual in Scotland…it was quite good.

Tracy started with baked escargot and followed that up with Pork Cheek Casserole.

                                                                    

Kim’s salad would have given him his 5 A Day allotment, but he traded with Mary for her vegetable soup when he found out it contained tomatoes (Eat your tomatoes!!). They each had a faux filet.

                                             

I finally ordered my first Sticky Toffee Pudding of the trip, but my greedy cohorts stuck their utensils in, and I was forced at fork-point to share.  I’m coming here alone next time!

May 2022:

Since I had eaten the best steak tartare of my life at L’Escargot Bleu five years previously, I was wary about trying to replicate something done in the past, but I had been craving this dish since we left town in 2017.  We reached L’Escargot Bleu’s blue building that still emphasizes a “french twist using the best of Scotland.” Although I had vowed to come alone, somehow Tracy, Mary and Kim wangled their way into the restaurant.

The inside of L’Escargot Bleu was as charming as I remembered …

           

… and after I shared with our server my wonderful steak tartare experience on our prior visit, and she said for me to look at the chalkboard.  “It’s still on the menu.”  I breathed a large sigh of relief.

She asked me what heat index I wanted from 1 – 10. The last time I had chosen seven, and although I was so tempted to kick it up a notch, why mess with perfection.

                   

The dish is then prepared tableside, my mouth watering as I watched every ingredient being melded into what I hoped would be a repeat performance of deliciousness.

 

Our server was meticulous in her preparation, or as meticulous as one can be with me yammering away while she worked.

                

A couple of minutes later it was formed into that circular mound of flavors I had been waiting five years to enjoy. But was it as good, or was that meal five years ago just a “tartare of the moment?” One bite and I knew … today’s dish even surpassed my memories of 2017. Perfection!!! I still might try an 8 on my next visit.

The rest of the table didn’t fare too badly. Tracy ordered a delicious escargot in parsley garlic butter with chorizo, which she ate at a snail’s pace, while I dipped some fresh bread to scoop up the juices. I’m always here to help.

         

Tracy and I each had the spectacular Lincoln red Organic Beef Bourguignon for a main.

Mary started with an an exceptional Fish Soup with Cheese, Rouille and Croutons. She continued the seafood route with the Sea bass Fillet and Monkfish Cheeks with Cockles, Shrimps and Saffron Sauce. Both dishes earned “Wow”s from Mary. She even commented, “It tasted like the sea.” And Mary should know, since she is the only human who has fish taste-buds and has been known to sprout gills on occasion from the plethora of fish dishes she consumes.

         

Kim was not to be denied either. His tastebuds, bolstered by a Snowgoose lager he ordered, enjoyed the Steamed Mussels with Smoked Salmon as his starter followed by the Wild Sea trout with Shallots, Beurre Blanc and Langoustines. It, too, was phenomenal.

               

Although pretty darn full, our server enticed me with the apple tarte tatin with crème anglaise. It wasn’t a hard sell. As happened with some of the desserts before on this trip, when I said “we’d share,” I meant well at the time, and we’ll just leave it at that. It was fantastic.

                    

 

In between our two visits L’Escargot Bleu was named ‘Best Restaurant in Scotland’ at the Slow Food UK Awards in 2019.

I was very happy we’d revisited L’Escargot Bleu. It was everything I remembered and more … a charming setting with really good service, and, of course the best steak taretar I have ever eaten. If you visit enchanting Edinburgh, a stop at L’Escargot Bleu should be near the top of your dining list. I mean you can’t eat haggis all the time.

L’Escargot Bleu
56 Broughton Street
Edinburgh, EH1 3SA, United Kingdom
+44 131557 1600
Wednesday – Saturday Dinner 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday/Saturday Lunch 12 p.m. 2 p.m.
www.lescargotbleu.co.uk