Recommendations please where to eat in Edinburgh

[manicmamma]

Grannys birthday coming up and we are hoping to go out for some nice food as a family....
Where would you recommend to eat for a nice lunch or early meal with 2 young kids in Edinburgh or even the Lothians. Are there any nice child friendly places where you like to eat? Please tell me your favourite cafes or restaurants.
thanks

My favourite at the moment is Positano on Newington Rd. My kids are 5 and 2 and alwyas very welcome there, it's often stuffed with families in the early evening. Heller's Kitchen on Salisbury Place is good too.

Centrally Browns & Centro Tre are child friendly.

If you are interested in the Lothians you could try The Park Bistro near Linlithgow (just google it!). It is nice because while you can have a pleasant bistro type meal (the puddings are lovely!) and choice of wines etc, there is a children's menu, children's playroom, children's toilet etc . Perhaps the food is a bit overpriced but its worth going because its so child friendly. Its right by the canal so if the weather is good you can work off your lunch with a canal lunch.

Tusitala at Fairmilehead is nice, and child friendl.

y!

We like the Park as well. It does get very busy at weekends, so you do need to book.

the Park is lovely - but agree it gets very busy - great little playroom for the kids.

would second Hellers Kitchen too - I was in there for coffee with my Mum and had a 2.8yo and an 11mo whoc deposited crumbs and goo everywhere - the staff were fantastic! There is a little basket of toys with crayons etc - good if your kids are little.

There is Flotterstone Inn out past Faimilehead - nice walks for after lunch - lots of kids - there is a pub type menu and I think a carvery at teh weekend.

Thanks everyone who replied I really appreciate it as I have got the whole eating out experience wrong so many times.. ...The Park looks and sounds great really tempted to go there. Sounds like it's really worth the drive out too.
Heard about the Hellers kitchen before.... thats another good one..... and the nice Italian one...mmmmmm.....need to get out more and try them all!!!
thanks so much will let you know how we get on

Howies is lovely and they usually have v good lunch offers on (see website). They have great food (local and seasonal) and the atmosphere is family-friendly. I've only been to the one on Victoria Street, but they all look nice from the outside.

Can I recommend Itri on Gilmore Place. It looks a bit unpromising from the outside, but is on The List's Hitlist, and is really family friendly. It serves great Italian food, and the staff are lovely. We've been there for an early lunch a couple of times with our 3.5 and nearly 2 year old, and they are v. welcoming.

We are just back from La Partenope on Dalry Road, they love small children and even gave our DS a party bag.

It does get busy so I would go early, they do evening meals from 5.00pm.

Well we all went to the fantastic Hellers Kitchen as recommended by many of you lovely people.
It was a complete success...delicious food.....child friendly....great staff ..really couldn't fault the place...those chips were so so yummy....and the cake was the best!!!
My DH and I have decided to work/munch our way around all your recommendations once a month even if its just for a coffee and cake.
Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us your fav places..

Glad you had a good time. It would be a nice place for a MN meet !