The Holy Cow

When I found myself in Edinburgh a few days ago I thought I'd use the opportunity to sample the scene in the capital, starting with a quaint little café located a short walk from St Andrews square. Its basement setting renders it somewhat hidden and gloomy from the vantage point of the street above but don't be fooled! Once you make your way down the stairs and through the front door you will be greeted by a bright and welcoming interior and the friendly faces of the cafés staff. The low-lying situation of this place actually makes for a comfortable and cosy dining experience.

The service was rapid. No sooner had we taken our seats we were presented with menus and drinks. I opted for a cappuccino and was pleased to discover the plethora of milk alternatives they offered. Further delight came when my coffee arrived and was delicious; none of the dreaded milk burning associated with 'fake' milks!

The top of the menu reads '100% vegan- no microwave- organic- homemade' which certainly fits in with the vibes of this place. They offer various well-named and enticing varieties or burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups. For those who have room or perhaps fancy something lighter there is also a display cabinet filled to the brim with mouth-watering home baked, vegan treats.

After long deliberation I ordered the quarter pounder burger and holy cow it was good. It was a top-quality burger with a bean and soy patty, hearty bun, BBQ dressing and lots of other elements I couldn't name but were undoubtably adding to the yummy flavours. It left me pleasantly stuffed. My non-vegan companion was less convinced by her 'vegan CBLT',  particularly the tempeh bacon. Although it looked lovely it failed to bring her over to the vegan dark side.

Overall, Holy Cow know what they are doing when it comes to vegan burgers and are also very reasonably priced. If you find yourself vegan, hungry and in their vicinity definitely give them a try! Mucho yum, 10/10.