The evening tasting menu will be dropped in favour of modern Scottish interpretations of bistro classics, allowing for a more flexible, informal service.
Chef Hall McCarron says her frequently changing menu will “prioritise quality and detail” but with “a more comforting, generous style of cooking”.
Guests will be able to choose between a two- or three-course set menu, with snacks available as add-ons, including oysters with rhubarb ponzu and hot sauce, and ox cheek croquettes with salsa verde.
Starters nod to bistro classics with a modern edge, including beef tartare with kale and kohlrabi, or mussel Thermidor.
Mains are hearty, from confit duck leg with puy lentils and watercress to a rotating specials board of sharing steaks and indulgent, limited-run dishes.
Desserts lean towards the nostalgic, with crowd-pleasers such as sticky toffee profiteroles.
On Sundays, Eleanore will serve a special lunch menu, working closely with its sister restaurants – also located in Edinburgh’s Leith area – flagship The Little Chartroom and wine bar Ardfern, to utilise whole animals across all three kitchens.
Pricing will vary by service, with lunch (Wednesday to Saturday) and pre-theatre menus priced at £26 for two courses or £29 for three, while dinner will be £38 for two courses and £43 for three. On Sundays, lunch will be offered at £33 for two courses or £38 for three.
Wine will play a central role, with a concise list of around 25 bottles complemented by simple aperitivo cocktails.
Wines will be available by the glass, carafe and on draught, with selected bottles offered via Coravin.
Much of the list will be drawn from Helix Wines, the importing business founded by The Little Chartroom alongside Ardfern and The Little Chartroom head sommelier Finn Porelli and operations manager Johanna Cole.
The refurbishment will include a full kitchen refit with a new Electrolux suite, alongside a reworking of the dining room to echo the feel of the original The Little Chartroom, which launched in the current Eleanore site in 2018 before moving to its current location on Bonnington Road in 2021.
The kitchen counter will be removed to make way for a dedicated bar, creating space for pre- or post-dinner drinks, or for walk-in guests to enjoy snacks and a glass of wine.
Warm, dark wood tones and touches of oyster white will soften the room, which will remain intentionally intimate at just 20 covers, with 16 table seats and four stools at the bar, alongside standing ledge space for guests to enjoy a drink before sitting down.
“We wanted to take Eleanore back to its roots, giving guests the freedom to shape their own experience, from how long they stay to what they spend,” Hall McCarron says.
“There’s a lot of nostalgia tied up in this restaurant for us, and this felt like the right moment to reinterpret that in a way that reflects how people want to eat now. By bringing our kitchens and wine collections closer together across Eleanore, The Little Chartroom and Ardfern, we can operate more thoughtfully and pass that value on to our guests, without compromising on quality.”
The Little Chartroom is currently ranked 79 on Restaurant’s list of the top places to eat in the UK.