The concept from Dean Banks Group offers a place to gather over fresh, local seafood, combining quality ingredients with affordable pricing
The Dean Banks Group is announcing a new concept popping up within its Leith restaurant venue, ASKR. The kitchen takeover, called Plaice, will focus on high-quality, fresh Scottish seafood at an accessible price point.
Opening today, Thursday 12 September, Plaice aims to become a warm and welcoming space in Leith, offering a relaxed and informal dining experience for after-work wine and small plates with friends, a weekend catch-up over lunch, or an all-out, sharing-style celebration dinner – suited to all tastes and occasions.
Visitors can enjoy a selection of small plates and high-quality seafood, including sardines on toast (£7), taramasalata on toast with breakfast radish (£8), smoked mussel flatbread, and trout pastrami on rye (£12). Accompanying the new dishes will be a wine and aperitif menu, in which diners can enjoy wine by the glass or carafe, yet again providing a variety of options to suit all price points.
Inspired by Chef Banks’ training under Rick Stein and his recent travels to Portugal, the pop-up will serve seafood exclusively sourced from the North Sea in a simple, classic preparation – highlighting products such as scallops, langoustines, and fish caught the same-day. Chef Banks’ unique buyer’s license allows the restaurant to purchase directly from North Sea fishing boats, ensuring unparalleled freshness and support for local fisheries. This local-first approach underscores Plaice’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
Following the success of its sister venue, Dune in St Andrews, Plaice will offer fresh lobster rolls on Saturday 14 September to celebrate the launch of its pop-up. Made with fresh lobster from Yule Fisheries in Arbroath—delivered straight from the boat to the restaurant—the decadent rolls feature a buttery brioche bun topped with steamed lobster, crème fraiche, spring onion, chipotle, and fresh lemon. Priced at just £10 per roll and available for pick-up only, diners are encouraged to visit the restaurant and take advantage of this exclusive offer, as only 100 rolls will be available and are expected to sell out quickly.
Group Executive Chef, Dan Ashmore, said: “As a group, we specialise in curating the best and freshest Scottish seafood, sharing the bounty of the North Sea with our diners. Plaice reflects what we do best, and by introducing this concept within the historic port of Leith, we’re building upon those strong ties to fishing and industry that bring the community together, with a goal to become a social destination for the neighbourhood.”
Group CEO, Dean Banks, said: “We know that our customers are making more conscious decisions about how to spread their budgets – but that shouldn’t mean that they can’t enjoy an evening out and a fresh, delicious meal. By paring back on the frills and embellishments of fine dining, we can use the same incredible local fisherman to provide the high quality our diners deserve at a much lower price point.”
Plaice is open from Thursday 12 September, for dinner Tuesday – Saturday and lunch from 12pm, Wednesday – Saturday.
Book your table by calling 0131 283 3309 or visiting https://www.askr.co.uk
