We have come to love the Las Iguanas brand of late. We enjoy it’s casual and fun atmosphere and it’s great that it can be found in so many cities across the UK. On our most recent trip to Edinburgh we couldn’t help but visit their Edinburgh restaurant. Offering the same menu across the country, this is the sort of restaurant where you know exactly what you’re getting, and one thing we must say is their gluten free offering is very impressive. They actually have a dedicated gluten free menu which is full of tempting options, making it very difficult to decide.
When we arrived we were greeted by a friendly member of the team and shown to our table, where we decided to indulge in a cocktail ahead of the main event. I went for It’s a Gin Ting cocktail, which saw Beefeater gin mixed with maraschino and Ting grapefruit soda. This fruity cocktail was certainly a fun option and definitely hit the spot. My partner chose the Cuban Old Fashioned which was a blend of Havana Club 7 Year Old Rum, sugar and bitters, smoked with applewood in a conical flask.
To start, we shared the nachos, which was corn tortilla chips with melted cheese, topped with pico de gallo salsa, jalapeños, roasted tomato salsa, soured cream and guacamole, complete with chilli con carne. We also decided on the cheese dough balls, which is actually a traditional Brazilian dish known as Pão de Queijo, which was served with chipotle butter. The starters were wonderfully tasty and generous in size.
“They actually have a dedicated gluten free menu which is full of tempting options making it very difficult to decide.”
For our main courses, I opted for the Bahian Coconut Chicken dish, which included chicken breast strips pan-fried in cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper, cooked in a creamy coconut sauce with ginger, garlic, tomatoes and coriander. This dish was served with spring onion rice and shredded greens. The chicken in this dish was full of flavour, and the kick from the cayenne pepper was perfectly balanced by the creamy, coconut sauce. My partner chose the Moqueca de Palmitos dish, which was butternut squash, palm hearts and spinach, in a creamy coconut curry with charred red peppers, garlic and fresh tomatoes. Again, this dish was served with spring onion rice, but with the additions of plantain, pico de gallo and a coconut farofa.
For our desserts, we chose the Piña Colada Mess, which consisted of piña Colada ice cream with caramelised pineapple salsa, crispy pineapple pieces and toasted coconut chips, as well as the Tembelque, which is a creamy, set coconut pudding served with mixed berries and mango purée. The desserts were simply gorgeous, and offered the perfect end to a delicious meal.
In accompaniment, we chose a bottle of the 2016, Tierra Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley, Chile, which was a fresh wine that cut through the richness of the dishes perfectly.
If you enjoy Mexican and a fun bustling atmosphere then Las Iguanas simply must be visited.
The Bill: £28 per head
