A pretty and charming tearoom offering top quality indulgences.

Rating
5

On a dreich Edinburgh day, there is surely no better place to be than in a charming tearoom.

Tucked away in a London Street basement, in the former premises of another Broughton Village favourite the French Fancies, is the gastronomical delight that is Casa Angelina.

The name is a loving dedication to owner Marie Claire’s grandmother Nonna Angelina who was known and loved throughout their hometown of Brindisi in Italy and known as "The Fairy" because there was nothing she couldn’t make. She cooked, baked, knitted and sewed with the motto that if you do something, do it well ("Ce la fe, la fe").

These skills are reflected in the very feminine décor of the lacy, feathered and beaded interior with its pretty mix of chairs from the comfort of a winged arm to a few regency styled ones that lend the decadent air of a salon. The toilet is suitably named the Powder Room and the cream walls are adorned in black by aphorisms like how a pretty woman looks prettier when making tea.

The charcoal touches here and there prevent an over sweet and twee look but with the subtle and cheeky curls of some of the walls’ calligraphy that is highly unlikely!

On our visit the soup of the day was leek and tattie. A. chose that with one of the generously filled rolls and I opted for the salad, the combination of which cost £6.95 each. The soup came served in a cup, but any similarity to cup-a-soup ended with that unfortunate coincidence. It was beautifully velvet-smooth, warming and delicious.

From the all-too-tempting variety of sandwiches, A. chose a generous filling of hot smoked salmon with horseradish that came in a monster brown roll and went down an absolute treat.

My mix of salads comprised puy lentil, roasted pepper, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes; Israeli cous cous, beetroot, mange tout, carrot and seeds; pearl barley broad beans, roasted artichoke, mange tout all served with a delicate lemon dressing and topped with torn, bright green lettuce leaves. The texture, taste and appearance were perfection on a plate.

A palate pleasing pleasure that leaves the diner feeling clean and satisfied.

Lunch isn’t lunch without a wee sweet thing to follow so we attended the worshipful altar of cakes in the front of the café. From the dizzying array of temptations like lemon cake, mango and coconut, gluten-free pistachio, or banana cake, A. chose courgette lime and mint and I the plum tart with berries.

The courgette lime and mint was not only aplenty but tasted subtly tangy and pretty damned splendid. Each portion was toothsome and more than ample with just the right amount of moistness.

Eteaket provides the impressive range of tea from which I chose a flavour new to me: chocolate abyss. And what a treat that was! A black tea with gentle hints of chocolate that was an apt accompaniment to my melt-in-the-mouth tart.

Artisan Roast is the quality coffee on offer and everything is delivered with an informal friendly service from the staff and owners. Owners Marie Claire and Scott are professional pastry chefs with amazing credentials between them like having worked in Harvey Nichols (London & Edinburgh), Rhubarb at Prestonfield House, The Balmoral, Hush and St John in London. Their commitment to using good quality, seasonal and well sourced local ingredients, free of additives and organic wherever possible, and keeping health consciousness in mind is paying off.

From breakfast to afternoon tea (a particular speciality with the option of making use of the dressing up box!) a fine range of delicious health conscious food is available including several gluten-free options and a mega healthy flapjack that is jam-packed with yummy goodness.

We will be returning for an Afternoon Tea treat tout de suite! Details of catering facilities and availability of parties are available on the website.