Magda's, Edinburgh

This restaurant is not British food, they just didn't have the category: it's East African. And, it's great.

Located in Tollcross, it's pretty easy to get to from anywhere in the city, as it's on a few major bus routes. but we ended up going there because we live two doors down and were hungry one night and nothing else was open. We were glad we stopped in.

They actually opened up slightly early for us, the owner/head chef being really sweet and inviting us to come in anyway. The waitress was not crazy hyper, but calm and sweet, and she just knew, without us asking, when we needed something or wanted our bill.

The food was pretty quick to the table, and piping hot. We had a starter of olives, and then a salad of cucumbers, feta, and tomatoes and some crazy wonderful spice that we shared. Then my boyfriend had a meat stew of some sort and I had a tangy dish of beans and feta. For dessert we shared homemade coconut icecream and it was divine. I also had a glass of mango juice and he had a soda. In the end, we're students, so it was pricey for us, but I am pretty sure cheap for anyone with a real, grownup job: £30. We go back anytime we want a treat, as it so good.

When we got there at 5 it was empty, when we left an hour and a half later, it was packed. I'd make a reservation for a weekend night.