As I walked inside to Clark & Lake’s minimal interior I recognised the familiarly small restaurant space that used to be Frontier, a very good authentic American restaurant that never managed to attract enough custom, I wondered if Clark & Lake, a charcuterie and wine bar, would fare better.

After speaking to the owner and hearing his passion, wonder turned to hope. Edinburgh is a tough place to succeed as an independent food establishment, and cheese, meats and wine are a competitive area with the likes of Le Di-Vin already well established. I was looking forward to seeing what might set Clark and Lake apart.

We perused the menu over a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I noticed a couple of things that were a bit different. Firstly the create your own Cheese and Charcuterie Boards. From a list of meats and cheeses you can select your own and this is served with bread, crackers, and pickles. We enjoyed the freedom and chose Baron Brigood Brie from England, a Keens Cheddar also from England, a 24 Month aged Parma Ham, and a Blood, Red Wine and Chocolate Salami. Selecting our own was fun and I would definitely relish the opportunity to try something new each time.

The Raclette is also something I haven’t seen much of in Edinburgh and is perfect for the incoming winter. Melted cheese is folded over roast potatoes with a side of pickles to cut through the richness.

Finally we chose to try the Spanish Tortilla from the specials which was as good a version as I’ve had anywhere, not too dense, with plenty of seasoning and flavour.

I really enjoyed Clark and Lake, my only minor concern is that it doesn’t have a wine bar vibe, it feels more restaurant-like to me. That said, we were very happy to sit and pick at our board and enjoy the wine and it was very comfortable, so I think it just depends what you’re looking for. The constantly changing menu will also keep regulars who like the vibe coming back for more!

Clark and Lake
Location: 8 Gillespie Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HS
Price: Boards £5 – £16
Good for: Hand selected cheese and charcuterie