Hendersons is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Edinburgh serving vibrant dishes, freshly-made drinks, nourishing salads and healthier twists on desserts. The short story is that Hendersons opened its doors in 2021, but that would be doing its history an injustice. Hendersons actually originally opened in 1962 by Janet Henderson, and ended up becoming one of Edinburgh’s longest running vegetarian restaurants. It sadly had to close in 2020 due to the pandemic, but Barrie Henderson, Janet’s grandson, was determined to ensure his grandmother’s legacy lived on. He reopened Hendersons in 2021, alebeit with a few changes.
Alongside a revamp of the interiors, which includes textured white walls, pale and dark woods and festoons of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling, the newest iteration of the restaurant also features an updated menu. This includes some of the original dishes (like the chocolate mousse) alongside new and improved versions (like the lentil lasagne).
The food menu is made entirely from scratch by a dedicated kitchen team, and made using local, seasonal and, where possible, organic produce to ensure the best possible flavour on every plate. It changes regularly with the seasons, and draws on cuisines and influences from across the globe. Starters, for example, span everything from banana blossom pakoras with a spicy onion salad, sweet tattie chapati, mango chilli jam and coconut raita, to a corn brulee served with sweet potato crisps.
Its salads are given as much attention as the mains, with one particular broccoli creation featuring cavolo nero, cranberries, orange, toasted hazelnuts and a hazelnut and orange dressing. For something more substantial, opt for the likes of herby polenta with a lentil, smoked aubergine and walnut ragu, and almond parmesan crumb. Finally, desserts might include a raw lime and lemongrass cheesecake, or a classic banoffee tart.