Discover Dublin Street Social: Cocktails, tapas-style dining and a warm welcome in Edinburgh’s New Town

Their parents are behind-the-scenes but still very much hands-on investors in the enterprise.

If you visit, you might even catch a glimpse of the family’s miniature poodle, Ted, who has become something of a local celebrity and appears to be in charge of meeting and greeting guests.

Al-fresco heated terrace and twinkling dining room!

This is the family’s first foray into the restaurant business, and they’ve enjoyed collaborating to create the bistro-style place that they felt the neighbourhood really needed.

The dining room, which seats 56 covers, has been fitted out with sapphire and emerald-toned banquettes, as well as bold pop art and a vast eucalyptus swag that’s twinkling with fairy lights.

There’s also an alfresco heated terrace area, to sit 14 people. It could be the perfect vantage point, especially during the Festival, to sip an Aperol spritz and watch any New Town goings-on.

Inside, there’s a new bar, which is heavily upholstered with whiskies and bottles of every variety of Edinburgh Gin.

They currently serve a wide selection of classic cocktails, from old fashioneds to French martinis, and are planning to extend the menu soon.

Also, among other beers, Asahi, Jubel and, of course, Guinness, are on tap. As the McShanes are from Northern Ireland, they’re very proud of serving what they claim is the best pint of Guinness in the city.

All-day tapas: You can have a bit of everything

This seems particularly apt, considering the name of the restaurant, and the Georgian street, which once had the working name of Hibernia Street.

To go alongside the black stuff, Dublin Street Social focusses on classic brunch dishes from Friday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm, and there are also small plates from Wednesday to Saturday, noon until 9pm.

They went for this all-day tapas-style concept, to keep the feel of the place relaxed and flexible.

Says Anna: “It is more common these days to have options, so instead of having one main, you can have a bit of everything.”

Suppliers exemplify chef’s cooking ethos

Chef Stephen Holmes has 20 years of kitchen experience at venues including the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews, Edinburgh’s Castle Terrace restaurant, Dakota in South Queensferry, and other dining destinations.

His favourite suppliers are Welch's for seafood - “they’re amazing, there’s nobody else in the city who can top what they’re giving us” - and Gilmour Butchers.

The current menu includes the owner’s favourite dish - garlic-buttered West Coast langoustines, which have been barbecued on Dublin Street Social’s Japanese Konro grill, to impart a smoky flavour.

They exemplify the chef’s simple cooking ethos.

Delicious seafood and other small plates

Other winning options include the pan-seared Orkney scallops with an aromatic curry sauce, crispy salt and vinegar capers, and the nibbly “chippie style” batter bits; or the tempura monkfish cheeks with a pot of curry and lime mayonnaise and pickled red onions on the side.

However, there isn’t just seafood. Other small plates include picante chorizo and Manchego croquettes; Scottish sirloin steak with Lyonnaise potatoes, bread and wild garlic and bone marrow butter, and four vegan or vegetarian creations.

Says Stephen Holmes: “It’s been really good, as normally you have a couple of dishes that are stragglers, but there’s nothing that’s not selling.

“We’ve got four or five options that are tied at the top that are doing the best - our steak dish always flies out, as do the croquettes and any of the chicken dishes.”

As the chef has previous experience in a pastry section, the pudding isn’t an afterthought.

Dishes will be tweaked if customers want changes

There are three to choose from, including a Raeburn apple Tarte tatin and a rather lavish sharing dish of white chocolate and strawberry Crème Brûlée.

The kitchen is very happy to tweak dishes, if customers want any changes. They want the team to be approachable, and to convert occasional visitors into regulars.

Perhaps this willingness to please is part of the reason why feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

At two-months-old, they’re happy to only have five-star reviews on Google.

Hopefully this will continue, as the team at Dublin Street Social actions the plans for the future.

For one thing, there will be more happening in their basement events space, Ollie’s, which is named after the family’s much-loved golden Labrador, who passed on at the advanced age of 16.

Plans for atmospheric, private, basement space

This atmospheric space, which has a rustic vibe, has room for up to 120 people and is perfect for birthdays and anniversaries, though they’ve also just hosted their first wedding reception down there, too.

It has its own private entrance, a bar, kitchen, two large digital screens and there’s space for a DJ and dance floor.

This venue was formerly Little White Pig , and they hadn’t used the basement space, so this is an opportunity to bring it to life.

Upstairs, they’re planning to introduce wine and whisky tastings, which they think the locals will appreciate. They’re also introducing more live music, after some recent experiments went down well with diners.

How to find out more, and visit Dublin Street Social

There is plenty happening at Dublin Street Social.

Food, music, family, and a very friendly dog, all punctuated with a pint of the black stuff.

Visit Dublin Street Social at 26B Dublin Street, Edinburgh; phone them on 0131 563 0403, or visit their website www.dublinstreetsocial.com.

They are on Instagram as @dublinstreetsocial.