I like nothing better than a Sunday roast but being a single girl about town, it’s not often I get to cook one, or even go out for one. So I was delighted to be invited along to Kyloe Steak Restaurant and Grill, to try their Sunday roast for two.
The Tandridge Lunch – a family favourite
Until now, my favourite place for a roast is not in Edinburgh but at Tandridge Golf Club in Surrey; though, you need to be a member of said Club or at least a guest of a member to dine there, and what an experience it is.
Thankfully my father has been for over 60 years and it’s the one place we all request to go and eat at as their Sunday roast offering is so special – a four course lunch that can only be described as ‘an epic, mouthwatering treat’. With a starter selection of a continental buffet of cold meats and anti-pasta or various fish and seafood dishes on offer, this is followed by a choice of at least three different roasts, excellently carved by Head Chef William Virley or his able-assistant Sarah, accompanied with all the trimmings and the most delicious choice of vegetables. Then if you still have room, there’s a choice of 13 puddings, including the famous Tandridge Pudding, plus cheese and biscuits, finished off with coffee and chocolates. You definitely need to skip breakfast if you’re ever heading for this lunch.
Kyloe’s smaller roast fillet – perfect for two
Anyway, back to Kyloe. Situated on the first-floor restaurant of The Rutland Hotel in Edinburgh’s West End, it’s grown an enviable reputation for its Sunday lunch. Award-winning in 2013, built on in 2014, reduced in size in 2015 and awarded best roast dinner in Scotland in 2016 and 2017, they create the ultimate home dining experience in a restaurant environment. With quirky decor, including some fabulous Caroline Shotton paintings of cows adorning the walls, cowhide papered walls, and an amusing cow and pasture installation alongside our cowhide booth, it had a rather designer-y feel to it, without being ostentatious.
In my normal style when I’m eating a Sunday roast, I skipped breakfast so was starving by the time I arrived. My dining companion, Ailidh of Plate Expectations and I managed a pre-dinner Bloody Mary in the Huxley Bar below. With a red-wine topping, and spiced to our asking of a 7 out of 10, the bar manager here certainly knows how to make a good cocktail and it certainly set us up for the feast ahead.
Kyloe is an old Scots word for Highland beef cattle, and they use cuts from Aberdeen Angus supplied from some of Scotland’s top farms and butchers. The cut Kyloe use for the roast dinner for two, is a chateaubriand, cooked with a thick cut from the tenderloin filet.
Cooked medium rare, it was served at our table on a wooden board, with generous sized fluffy Yorkshire puddings, crispy duck fat roast potatoes, pan gravy, roasted organic root vegetables, creamed cabbage and hot horseradish cream. Enjoyed at a leisurely pace with a bottle of Malbec, I can’t think of a better place or way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
This was followed by a huge brick of upside down pineapple cake with cream, which had originally been promised with some vanilla ice-cream but sadly was missed off. Slightly too heavy for my liking, after a big main course, it was definitely improved with lashings of cream; but I would have preferred something lighter like a lemon posset or a creme brulee, as I’ve never been a fan of traditional, sponge puddings. Thank goodness, we had declined the starters on offer beforehand though. We finished our lunch with some artisan coffees served with petit fours.
At £65 for 2 people the Kyloe Sunday Roast for two is served from 12.30-5pm.
With Mothering Sunday soon approaching on 11 March, why not give your mum a day off from slaving over a hot stove and treat her to a mother of all roasts at Kyloe. They are serving up their traditional Sunday roast, with the addition of a choice of classic starters and a little gift of flowers and Edinburgh Gin for mum to take home. As usual, this larger roast will be served with tasty sides and will be carved at your table by one of the waiters, and will then be followed with a classic dessert for all to share.
I’m embarrassed to say too that although I have had the pleasure of having tried many of Edinburgh’s restaurants, Kyloe was one that I’d never previously set foot in. I’m not sure why, I just never had. Will I be back – most definitely!
Kyloe Gourmet Steak Restaurant
1-3 Rutland Street
Edinburgh EH1 2AE
Tel: 0131 229 3402
Email: info@kyloerestaurannt.com
Follow on Facebook: @KyloeRestaurant
Twitter – @Kyloe_Edin