Tomato martini garnished with edible flowers
August 9, 2023

Avery X Argile Pop Up

If fine dining and exquisite tasting menus are your thing, then you won’t want to sleep on the Avery X Argile pop-up in Edinburgh. But first, here’s a little bit of background into both of the existing restaurants that are teaming up for this epic collaboration…

Flatlay of the menu, oysters and tomato martini from the Avery x Argile collab
Duck pate sandwiches from the Avery x Argile collab

Avery is a Michelin-star restaurant in San Francisco, United States, and is owned by chef Rodney Wages. After its roaring success in the states, chef Rodney Wages has decided to move overseas and bring his restaurant to Edinburgh…Avery Edinburgh. Although at the time of writing this, the restaurant is still in progress (it will be in Stockbridge!), he has decided to collaborate with the team at Argile for the month of August.

Argile is still a relatively new restaurant to hit the Edinburgh food scene. Opening its doors in May 2022, owner and chef , Jack Montgomery, has brought a small, independent chef’s table to the food scene in Marchmont.

Tartlets from the Avery x Argile collab
Razor clams and caviar serves in tall skinny glassware from the Avery x Argile collab

The evening started off with a bang (literally!) when the chefs brought us outside and chef Rodney Wages popped open a bottle of champagne in style. This was a super fun way to start the evening and a lovely way for him to inject seemingly one of his traditions into the tasting menu experience.

Although a unique way to start things off, we were then brought inside to truly begin the evening. The restaurant is small with only 8 covers and is set up so that every guest is facing the kitchen where the chefs work their magic. It’s important to note that the seats in this restaurant are high, bar-stool-like chairs and are not fully accessible. 

Warm bread in a black cast iron dish from the Avery x Argile collab
Scallop dish from the Avery x Argile collab

Not only did we get to watch the team of four do what they do best, but the chefs also gave a detailed explanation of what each dish was made up of, and how it was cooked all whilst it was being cooked/plated. It took very little time to realise just how much care and thought had gone into each dish.

I won’t go into detail on what each dish consisted of, as the menu may vary for each sitting, but do have a skim through the images for a glimpse into what the experience may look like for you. Overall, we had 13 (yes, 13!) courses and also ended with a gummy sweet too. 

Lagoustine curry from the Avery x Argile collab
Pasta dish from the Avery x Argile collab

Along with the food, I also got the wine pairing. I’m not sure if that’s what they called it, as the drinks didn’t just consist of wine. 

The matching drinks were all perfectly paired. From white wine, to red, to orange to sake…each course truly brought something different. One of my favourites was a pairing chosen for the last dessert course by Chef Jack Montgomery. It was a deep red colour and was oozing the smell and taste of freshly picked strawberries. Needless to say, it was a match made in heaven for his ‘Strawberry’ dish. 

The whole experience was elevated by the drink pairings so I would highly suggest opting for this if you drink alcohol.

Pork belly in a dish from the Avery x Argile collab
Pecan pie topped with heaped portion of freshly grated parmesan from the Avery x Argile collab

Getting to enjoy such an intimate dining experience where you can chat with the chefs/other guests around the table over the most phenomenal food is not something you come by often. 

With there only being a few Avery X Argile pop-up dates to attend this month, and very limited seating, trust me when I say you won’t want to miss out on a special experience like this. 

The next pop-ups will be held on the 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 21st & 22nd of August.

Note: To get the full experience, I personally would NOT recommend bringing kids under 18 years old and would also not suggest booking if you have dietary restrictions (the menu is not interchangeable and is not suitable for veggies, vegans or those with allergies unless you check with the chefs beforehand). The experience lasts around 4 hours and will also start sharp so don’t be late! If you are, the dinner will continue as all guests eat the same dishes at the same time and you will end up missing out on the first few plates.

Disclaimer: This was a PR Invite but all views are my own.

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