House of Soutra
‘Soutra’ is a small cafe in Midlothian, right next to both East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. Named after Soutra Hill, which the cafe sits just below, this would be the perfect stop for those looking for a bite to eat at breakfast or lunch, but also for those after a sweet treat and a warm cup of coffee to brighten your day.
On a drive-by at lunchtime, I popped in for a bite to eat and was pleasantly surprised by the location of the cafe. With its impressive view of the countryside, there’s no surprise why the car park was packed with vehicles on arrival.
After walking in, I wouldn’t go as far as saying the cafe has any stand-out features or is a must-visit spot. However, what I will say is that it truly gives off a homely, garden centre vibe which feels wholesome. When you walk in, you will be sat down if you are choosing to eat there but you can also just go to the till and order if you wish to get a takeaway.
Rushed for time, I ordered some lunch to take away. Before taking a look at their menu which had a decent amount of breakfast and lunch items on offer, I grabbed a drink from the fridge where there was a decent selection to choose from. And despite not sitting in, the staff were all lovely and super helpful!
Originally, I was going to go for one of their special sandwiches, but after the waitress explained how this might not be the most practical item to order if taking it away, I changed my mind and opted for a toastie. There were a few different filling combinations on their menu but I decided to try a classic combo — brie, bacon and cranberry.
This comes on either white or brown bread and is also served with a side salad and homemade coleslaw. I must admit, the salad looked and tasted as if it wasn’t fully freshly made or had been sitting out for too long (with the exception of the coleslaw which was great!). But, despite being let down by the salad, the toast more than made up for it. Jam-packed with filling and crispy on the outside, there’s not much more you could ask for from a toastie!
They also had a nice selection of homemade sweet treats on display, which seemed to be going quickly. According to House of Soutra, everything is all made in-house and they have over 300 baking recipes in their book — some of which you’ll be lucky enough to try when they’re on offer.
Although I haven’t tried much from the menu, I already know this is a great wee spot for those nearby or travelling by. Nice food, lovely staff and even better views! However, maybe not somewhere to travel for as it is quite out of the way.
Another thing to note about Soutra is that it’s fully accessible. Both the front entrance and back garden area are equipped with a ramp so everyone can enjoy both the food and the view. A bare minimum in my opinion, but sadly not as common as you’d think!
- House of Soutra
- A68 Blacksheils, Pathhead EH37 5TF
- 01875 833795
- www.soutra.scot
- Walk-ins
- £5pp+
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