FOOD : Pizza Geeks at Cask Smugglers, Edinburgh
Can you imagine… disembarking the bus on Princes Street, walking along past the east end of Princes Street Gardens, heading toward Waverley Station and the mall. Music, crowds and laughter. Yes, life is returning to some sort of normal and although Aunty Nicola still has some restrictions in place, we can pretty much do alot of what we done pre pandemic.
Alas, I was out out and couldn’t wait to arrive at my destination.
Located permanently ontop of Waverley Mall; currently surrounded by the Festival Village, is where you’ll locate the bar Cask Smugglers. Always a great spot for fabulous cocktails and outdoor seating with uninterrupted views of the Edinburgh sky line and castle, Cask Smugglers also have the local fantastic Pizza Geeks take up residence here.
And why not, cocktails and pizzas are truly a match made in food heaven.
REVIEW OF PIZZA GEEKS AT CASK SMUGGLERS, EDINBURGH
As soon as we were seated, I clocked all the various cocktails being delivered to other tables - highballs, flutes and coupes all balancing on trays high above heads and being swooped down and placed in front of delighted drinkers.
The Cocktail Menu is substantial and I guarantee there is a cocktail for everyone!
Cocktails pages detail a different variety of cocktail
You’re sweet enough but a bit more wont hurt - Porn Star Martinis, Belly of the Beast and Moon Child are listed here
Straight to the Point - Daiquiris, Old Fashioned’s and Negroni’s live on this page
Crisp and floral - Cosmos and Fizzs live here as well as Sharer Jugs
Best of the Best - Bloody Mary’s, Aperol Spritz and Margaritas
The remainder of the menu is filled with your bar staples - beers, wines and spirits.
It was such a glorious evening that we had to have something bright and shiny. Let me introduce Icy Feisty (£9) (the blue one) made with tequila, lime, blue curacao, pineapple and jalepeno syrup and margarita bitters. The dense rim of salt and chilli flakes with a sip of this blueness will defo pull all those cheeks together. It truly is tangfastic and quite addictive.
Next up is the Mochito Colada (£9) with rum, pineapple, lime, coconut milk, coconut water and agave. At first, we thought the colada mix had curdled but its made using fresh coconut milk and water. Tasted delicious, and easily transported me to a place with a gorgeous sunset, a white sandy beach, waves lapping at your feet and some laid back tunes in the background. Bliss.
Then came the Zombies (£12), and this knocked me for six! A delectable concoction of Appleton Special rum, Wray and Nephew rum, Appleton Signature rum, lime gomme, pineapple, grapefruit and grenadine. By the time you finish this, you will most certainly have returned from your beach daydream and will continue to be a very happy individual as the night wears on.
The food here is epic. Pizza Geeks are known for their nod to the dark side, gaming and all out comic geek-ness. Their Dalek Bread (garlic bread) is insane, their Go Super Saiyan dough balls come with every yum filling you could crave and Mario Kart is thoroughly acknowledged through their named pizzas.
We had to have the MacGyver and Cheese Bytes (£6). This is breaded mac n cheese but oh so cheesy and oh so more-ish. Sweet Chilli Jam was the dip of choice, and lets just say the pringle effect was in full swing here - once you dip, you can’t stop!
Up next was the Philip J Fries (Futurama) (£3.50), the largest fullest bowl of skinny fries I’ve seen in a while. Crispy, crunchy and fluffy in all the right places.
The pizzas, as always are great. 12” of freshly prepared Neapolitan Style pizza (which means that a tomato base and mozzarella cheese must be used). There of course is the exception when they make their vegetarian and Blanka pizzas.
The Mario (£8) - a beautiful simple classic pizza with tomato base, mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil.
The Pineapple Express (£10) - were sweet and salty meet. Tomato base, mozzarella, ham hock, pineapple and optional Sriracha Hot Chilli sauce.
The pizzas arrive super hot and uncut but you are provided with pizza cutters. The crust is bubbled and partially blackened, soft with a slight bite and chew. It’s thin and utterly scrumptious with just the right amount of toppings to dough ratio. My pizza did require some seasoning - salt and pepper, but thats just a personal preference.
Fringe or no fringe, this is one city centre spot you are going to want to visit and linger just that little bit longer whilst you sip on another cocktail and dunk those chip ends in the last of the dip!
Cask Smugglers with PIzza Geeks Kitchen Residency, Waverley Mall Roof, 3 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10
I was invited by Pizza Geeks and Cask Smugglers to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own