Stuart Ralston’s Lyla restaurant opens in Paul Kitching's former 21212 space

The Staff Canteen

Editor

Lyla is the fourth restaurant from Stuart Ralston and opens in the site of 21212 following the death of Paul Kitching in December 2022.

The new 28-cover seafood focused tasting menu restaurant represents an ode to produce from the Scottish Isles, focusing on ingredients from the coastline and earth.

The 10-course tasting menu will be served in a Georgian dining room. The dishes will be a confident expression of Stuart's cooking style, focusing on surprising flavour combinations with low to no manipulation of ingredients.

The restaurant will take over the late Paul Kitching’s 21212 restaurant, with the bedrooms still operated by Paul’s wife, Katie O’Brien.

“Paul has always been an inspiration to me. Taking over this space is bitter-sweet for obvious reasons. When Katie offered it to me, I just wanted to make sure that I would create a restaurant that I think he would be proud of,” explained Stuart.

Discussing Lyla in more detail, Stuart said: “I have just turned 40 and my interpretation of the industry has altered and changed over the years. Each of my restaurants represents something I love about this intensely creative and exciting industry.”

“Lyla will be unapologetically fine-dining, marrying classical elements of service and experience with dishes that I am really proud of. This restaurant will be a culmination of everything I have learned over the years and everything I love to cook and eat,” he added.

Lyla is Ralston’s fourth restaurant opening in Edinburgh; following Aizle, Noto and most recently tipo.

Stuart’s menu will be guided by what is available, and the menu will feature dishes such as N25 caviar with wild bream, black radish and sea buckthorn as well as Isle of Skye langoustine, bonito emulsion and burgundy sorrel followed by Chawanmushi with razor clam, fermented white asparagus and laminated brioche with cultured butter and whipped macadamia.

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