In Abbeyhill, surrounded by parks, you'll find Polentoni, a friendly much-loved neighbourhood Italian bakery. Serving as a cafe throughout the morning and afternoon, Polentoni supplies hungry passers-by with delicious Italian pastries, focaccia, sandwiches and more, along with great coffee. Polentoni doesn't sell alcohol but allows diners to bring their own for a small corkage fee.
Start off your day with a coffee and pastry, typically along the lines of a custard croissant or Nutella swirl. More savoury breakfast options are also available, like a pancetta, egg and parmesan focaccia or a mushroom substitution for veggies. Throughout the day, the sandwiches from Polentoni are quickly snapped up, with entries like porchetta and salsa verde, smoked prosciutto with courgette pesto and mozzarella or salame with rocket and artichoke pesto. Pizza and focaccia are also available, with similarly authentic fillings. For a meaty option, try the ragu and parmesan calzone, while veggie options include a potato, chilli and garlic broccoli and mozzarella focaccia. Sweet treats like brownies, bundt cake, polenta cake and tiramisu are also up for grabs, ideal for dessert on the go.
From the kitchen, however, there is a broader range of options, such as a hot smoked salmon and saffron chowder (burrida). Homemade ricotta gnocchi come with a choice of sauces, including cherry tomato with basil and mozzarella, fennel sausage and rosemary ragu or goat's cheese and beetroot pesto. The insalata calda (warm salad), meanwhile, features green beans, potato, lentils, polenta croutons and salsa verde. Polenta chips are also available as a side.
You can expect the usual offering of teas, coffees and other hot drinks to accompany your food at Polentoni. Alternatively, bring along a bottle of wine for a seriously affordable lunch with a drink. On special occasions, you might see a seafood feast or Hogmanay dinner too.