Celestia launches New Lunch Menu showcasing modern Indian cooking for Edinburgh’s midday crowd

Celestia raises the bar for Edinburgh’s midday dining, pairing sharp technique and contemporary Indian flavour with a lunch menu that’s both polished and properly priced.

Celestia, Edinburgh’s contemporary Indian dining destination on Eyre Place, has unveiled a new lunch menu designed to deliver bold flavour, refined technique, and exceptional value — and early visits suggest it succeeds. 

Priced at £15.95 for vegetarian and £19.95 for non‑vegetarian, the menu invites guests to choose an appetiser, main, and accompaniment, creating a flexible, flavour‑forward midday experience that feels both

polished and accessible.

Opened in April 2025, Celestia pairs modern Indian cooking with sleek, atmospheric interiors: emerald banquettes, purple and amber lighting, a sculptural chandelier, and spicy‑brown marbled tables that glow warmly on a dull Edinburgh afternoon. 

The new menu is the latest project from Mohammed Abbas, the driving force behind sister restaurant Cilantro. His reputation for elevating Indian cuisine continues to grow, bolstered by Celestia’s recent Best Newcomer win at the Asian Curry Awards.

A recent lunch begins with crisp poppadoms and a thoughtful trio of accompaniments: crunchy half‑cloves of garlic tempered with mustard seeds; a gentle coral‑pink dip with the smoky sweetness of roasted tomatoes; and a pale green cooling sauce — more complex than a standard raita combining mint, cilantro yogurt and citrus.

Crispy Onion Fritters follow, reminiscent of pakora but with far less gram flour, letting strands of onion and veg fry to a delicate crisp. Plates arrive garnished with jewel‑bright pomegranate, beetroot, and a fine mirepoix of red pepper — a small flourish that make the dishes feel genuinely cared for. 

From the starters, the Bhatti Murgh offers well‑textured, tender, naturally flavoured chicken with a hot sauce on the side, while Paneer Tikka kebab combines buttery moreish cheese with glossy chunks of green and red pepper and more of that excellent mint green dip. The Tandoor lends many of our dishes subtle smoky flavour.

Mains continue the theme of confident cooking: a Scottish Lamb Curry with tender meat in a warmly spiced sauce, and a Goan Fish Curry  where the fillet keeps its structure and bite rather than turning woolly, a common pitfall when marinated in strong spices.

For those seeking something quicker, the separate Celestia Lunch Plate selection offers standalone options including Mince Meat Seek (£13.95), Masala Fish & Chips (£12.95), Jashila Chicken Tikka (£12.95), and that Paneer Tikki (£11.95).

Dessert negotiations end in the usual stramash, resolved by sharing: a pistachio‑mint Kulfi with clean, bright flavour, and syrup‑soaked Gulab Jamun streaked with saffron — indulgent in all the right ways.

Mint tea rounds things off, though the sensible lunch portions meant digestion never felt challenged.

While Edinburgh’s fine‑dining landscape remains shaped by European and Nordic influences, Abbas continues to challenge assumptions about how Indian cuisine is perceived in the city. By combining refined technique with bold, contemporary flavours, he aims to expand expectations and demonstrate that Indian cooking deserves the same space, ambition, and recognition as any other modern culinary style.

Lunch service is now available daily from 1pm–3pm, offering Edinburgh diners a vibrant, modern alternative to the standard midday meal.

Related: Read our other reviews of Indian restaurants

Celestia - 18 Eyre Pl, Edinburgh EH3 5EP - 0131 287 2914 - Info@celestiarestaurant

Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday 1pm-10pm, Friday & Saturday 1pm - 10.30pm