An otherwise quiet corner of Edinburgh, Old Fishmarket Close, just off the Royal Mile, has been a hive of activity of late with two new outlets opening in as many months. The first was the brainchild of one of Scotland’s
youngest entrepreneurial chefs, Michael Neave, who unveiled his first bar and restaurant. The 21-year-old opened Michael Neave Kitchen at Old 21 Fishmarket Close, on the site of the former Mai Tai, at the end of June. Neave, a previous runner up of 2010’s Young Scottish Chef of the Year also spent some time working for his father, David Neave. Michael told DRAM, “I worked for my father in the Amber Restaurant for a while, although I trained at Edinburgh’s Bonham Hotel.”
The two-storey former Mai Thai hasn’t altered all that much from its previous incarnation, with the ground floor now a whisky bar and the basement a restaurant. Meanwhile, Pierre Levicky, founder of the old Pierre Victoire
chain, opened a new 70-cover restaurant called Passepartout, at 5/7 Old Fishmarket Close in early July. Pierre told DRAM, “It is based on a simple idea where we serve trays of food for sharing that isn’t limited to country of origin, but instead tailored to what we think customers want to eat, and some would call this fusion, although I don’t like to use that term.”
The interior design is simple, with, explains Pierre, “a trio of different styles.” He says, “There are three ambiences. The first is opulent with low-level tables and seating. The second has a cinema screen showing old movies and the third is what you’d call shabby chic.”
Neave-Ho
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