Dobbies Garden Centre Edinburgh - Lasswade

Steve C.

We recently had the pleasure of calling in for lunch on our way back from The Borders while the car charged. The right-hand part of the cafe, heading towards the outdoor garden centre, is the dog friendly section, identified by markers on the windows and on the tables. There is table service here, unlike most other Dobbies. We were all made very welcome, including the four-legged friends.

For lunch we chose the Cumberland Sausage and Mash, with Red-onion Gravy, and the Mac and Cheese.
I traditionally expect Cumberland to be a long, curly sausage, but the description of "3 sausages" implied otherwise. It was served with seasonal veg, which was cooked relatively soft. The gravy was nicely sweet and the sausages were tasty with slightly crispy skins. I am told the Mac and Cheese was very cheesy on top.

In all, it was delicious comfort food, just what was called for as a travelling lunch on a cold day. My expectations for a high-class restaurant would have been much higher, but for a pub/garden centre lunch it really doesn't get much better than this.

Iain W.

We visited the cafe so this only reflects the visit here and not the store in general.

Short wait of 5mins to get seated which we thought was good. When it came to ordering we started with a bit of a disaster off of the kids menu - no chicken goujons, then there was no mashed potato so we ended up with fish fingers, chips and beans. The rest of the food came and was very well cooked and tasty - couldn’t fault that. Service however was very poor. We asked for additional cutlery and the waiter went off and never returned so we took some off of another table. No one checked in that everything was ok or if we needed anything - we managed without any vinegar, salt and pepper as none on table and couldn’t get anyone’s attention. We then sat for 20mins once we had finished and no one came to clear table or ask if we wanted anything else. We had to go down and join the queue to ask for coffees which that till wasn’t able to add to the bill so we just paid for them and took them to table ourselves. We then had to go and find someone when we were finished to pay. The thought crossed our mind of wondering how many people just leave without paying as the staff aren’t paying attention. Was good food but unfortunately the service was terrible. Would have been one star if it wasn’t for the quality of food.

ava M.

As a Dobbies member, you receive a voucher for free coffee and cake for your birthday.
The only word I can use for the seating in the coffee area is, disgusting. Nearly all of the sofas/chairs were heavily stained, and it clearly had been like that for some time.
As there were no other seats left, we had to sit there. There was food all over chairs and the floor, trays of dirty dishes etc on tables. A member of staff did come and start cleaning away the trays but left all the food on the chairs/floors and walked away.
The place just seemed a shambles, we won't be back.

Dougie T.

Very poor service in the cafe. We sat in the dog friendly area - the fact it has a dog friendly are, is why I awarded my review 2 stars. A sign indicated table service, so we waited.... for 15 minutes. No one arrived so I joined the queue, which was another 15 minute wait, only to be told our area is table service and they would send someone over. I sat down and a waitress arrived promptly. We ordered a toastie, soup, a panini and two coffees. When the food arrived, my wife's toastie was only toasted on one side. I took it back only to be told the kitchen was now closed, would I like a refund. I insisted it was prepared again as we had ordered well before the kitchen closed. Incidentally, the cafe closes at 17:30hrs but the kitchen closes at 15:00hrs When the sandwich came back, it was burnt on one side and toasted on the other. The tuna sandwich I ordered was just tuna stuffed between two slices of bread, no salad or garnishings. The only reasonably good part of it all, was the coffees, it's good coffee. We waited over 30 mins for someone to come with our bill, no one did, so we left.

Paula R.

It was our first Santa grotto experience.
Hence wasn't sure what to expect.
It was well organised, had 10 minutes of allocated time with Santa.
Before that there are little activities suitable for toddlers and bit older kids.
You can get pictures taken with your phone or they take it with the camera and you can buy it by the end.
Children get the present from Santa, but that was included in the price.

bob ?. B. P.

Great place for all types garden and home shopping even large food area. Lovely coffee shop restaurant Great selection. Big tip there are 2 counters for getting coffee and cakes second is further in restaurant. Great play area for kids up to 4 and 3 10 .outside play area as well.

Amy M.

Stopped in for soft play. The customer service was brilliant, and the staff throughout the store were so helpful. the plants looked well looked after and the kids lunch looked decent. I'd definitely come back

ihavea C.

Don't bother trying to use the restaurant - the slow and inattentive service is possibly the worst I've ever had the misfortune to come across.
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon around 2:00pm and we were shown to a table straight away and told someone would be over to take our order. We could choose from the Sunday Lunch menu or the Spring Specials. After a considerable wait we had to ambush a passing waiter to get any attention at all. He said he would send someone over to take the order. Eventually someone appeared and told us all the Sunday Roast options were sold out (90% of the Sunday Lunch menu) and no we couldn't order from the Spring menu!
We ordered from the one or two remaining options and the long wait began - not even drinks appeared! Just before 3:00pm we gave up & had to leave without having received anything!
This is really an abysmal pretence of a customer-focused business, you'll get better service & guaranteed food at Greggs. Avoid at all cost! 🤬
One star only because I can't post a zero.