Hard Rock Café Review

Book a table at Hard Rock Café

Best for: Legendary burgers made with haggis; Rock memorabilia.

Great: For anyone with a wild streak in the soul.

I was going to write this in verse, set it to a good old rock standard, and then urge you to sing the results loud and proud no matter the location, company or resultant social exclusion. I flirted with the Stones’ “Gimmie Shelter”, Gene Pitney’s “24 Hours to Tulsa”, Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” and even moments of high adventure, mischievousness or insanity with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” - try hitting those Freddie high notes - but I’m told that the world is not quite ready for that yet (the time will come) so I’m sticking with the less melodic but infinitely more practical prose.

And just so that you’re aware, the key word for today’s review is “Legendary” (kerching). I’m on a bonus scheme for each time I manage to slip it into the review. A concept most...Legendary (kerching).

Which is the most tenuous of tenuous connections to get me down to Hard Rock Cafe George Street, Edinburgh. As regular patrons of The Rock* know, every Hard Rock Cafe in the world (and there are a few out there – check out the website – no, finish reading this review first) has sitting alongside the usual selection of locally sourced burgers, ribs and steaks a Legendary (kerching) Burger unique to that area; and Edinburgh is no exception.

Can you guess what’s in it?

Buenos Aires’ has some Latino zing. Berlin’s a little local twist. And Edinburgh has haggis, well what else could it be? It’s Scotland. It was going to be that or have the meat flambéed in a peaty single malt; unlikely in a country where the addition of anything more than a spot of water ‘to open it up’ can result in name calling, lynching and all sorts of homicidal unpleasantness.

Perhaps I’m underplaying this a bit: HAGGIS and a BURGER in the same bun; a saliva-tingling, ventricle-laminating, carnivorous delight!

Good afternoon taste buds, let’s rock!

As the motto above the Hard Rock Cafe door states in glowing red and amber - “Serve All, Scoff All” – I think I may be paraphrasing in my offal addled euphoria.

There also was some incidental cheddar from Mull too just to heighten the Caledonian quotient of the dish but the memory’s as hazy as that of an ancient tattoo-riddled roadie on his sixth spliff; overwhelmed by the whole medium rare burger experience (Hard Rock is one of the few places that cook burgers to customer taste).

With all that red meat hedonism, rock connections, not to mention the chain of hotels and casinos, you might be forgiven for thinking that the whole Hard Rock chain is in league with the devil. But, in fact, the owners are a North American tribe, the Seminole Indians out of Tampa Florida. This has a coolness all of its own.

The chain is almost as famous for its legendary (kerching) rock memorabilia collection as it is for its food. This allegedly began when Eric Clapton and Pete Townshead sent the owners of the original cafe their guitars in a sly game of humorous one-upmanship. The Edinburgh restaurant is no exception and has items festooning their cafe, a Monkee waistcoat here, a bass guitar used on Marilyn Manson’s first album there, but they are also blessed with a Rock Wall. There are only four of these in existence and a reward for Edinburgh winning Best Hard Rock Cafe in the World (if not the Universe) at the chain’s in-house awards last year. It’s a poster sized i-Phone-like touch screen guide to the 70,000 pieces of memorabilia owned worldwide by the Cafe. Simply touching on the item you’re interested in will bring up a profile detailing their provenance and location. This artefact is highly popular with more junior visitors, one member of staff (who wished to remain anonymous) described it as, “The greatest child minder in the galaxy”.

For the record, Edinburgh’s Hard Rock Cafe also won best customer service at the awards and one of the manager’s got a Harley Davidson (Fluid editors take note – that’s what I call a bonus).

Need more incentive to drop in?

If you order a Budweiser and a Legendary Burger before the 28th of February you’ll have the opportunity to enter the ‘Hard Rock Calling’ competition. A weekend pass to the annual rock festival in London (Bon Jovi confirmed, Prince and Coldplay likely at time of writing) with hotels and flights thrown in (if you live in the EU).

The power of (Hard) Rock compels you (unless it’s March 1st, in which case, you’re out of luck).


*I don’t know if the staff at the cafe actually call it this but wouldn’t it be cool if they did? Oh, well please yourself....read more

Hard Rock Café Description

Famous for heather-covered highlands, peaceful lochs inhabited by green things named "Nessie," bagpipe competitions, and men in skirts, Scotland appeals to those looking for a little something off the beaten path. So check your bagpipe at the door and scope out all the other monster instruments rockers around the world have used throughout the ages to enchant their fans…(*perhaps surprisingly, kilts only seem to do the trick in Scotland). Once you've feasted your eyes on our entire fabulous collection of memorabilia, be sure to feast properly on our varied menu items served in monstrous portions. Moor is more at the Hard Rock Edinburgh!

Customer Reviews for Hard Rock Café

Average (based on 1 votes): 1 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid Edinburgh and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Hard Rock Café.

“Great food and brilliant service. Go here a lot, always have a fab time.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Dermot, Edinburgh (1 years 13 days ago)

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Bar
• Group: (Unknown)