The New York Steam Packet
31 Rose Street Lane North, 220 4825
C; BYOB (No charge). £12 (three courses).

Slap bang in the centre of town, tucked down a lane off Rose Street, this intimate restaurant comes as a bit of a surprise to a lot of Edinburgh residents. Well worth tracking down, you arrive and climb the spiral staircase to the dining area with the sense that you're clambering aboard one of the steam boats from which the restaurant takes its name. The theme is inevitably reinforced by the nautical trappings adorning the wood panelled walls of the restaurant, while an open kitchen fills the room with the aroma of home cooking and adds to the curiously nostalgic look. The menu sticks to the traditional American theme with a touch of the French Quarter stealing in. The format is a set price menu of three courses for £12 (£2 supplement for the steak); starters include mussels in garlic and white wine sauce, chicken liver pate and deep fried potato skins, with the mains offering a burger, veggie enchilada, salmon, chicken and steak option. An important thing to remember is to bring a bottle or two, as they have no license, but with no corkage charge the cost of an evening out is bottom dollar. The friendly staff add that personal touch to your night and help make this one of the best bargain restaurants in town.

+ Great value in a central location
 - With only a set menu, options are limited