Had the opportunity to stop by Hamilton's Bar in Edinburgh for a quick repast of their version of the Texas classic, nachos.

There were a couple of issues which threw this particular nacho tasting off, first of all, I was going to be dining later on in the evening, so I didn't want to have too many. Secondly, the nachos had chicken on them, which is a problem, since as you might know from my other nacho reviews, I'm a vegetarian.

However, in the interest of gastronomic adventures, I boldly pressed onwards.

The nachos themselves represented a healthy portion, with plenty of fixings, including homemade guacamole and salsa on top. The cheese adequately covered the chips to beyond the required minimum and my dining companions reported that the chicken topping was adequate. One added bonus was that the jalepenos were extra spicy and hot. I ate a couple raw and had to quickly quench the fire on my tongue with some of the local craft ale.

Overall, the nachos were solid and tasty, but nothing extraordinary. It's hard to put a finger exactly on what kept this plate of TexMex goodness from standing out, but even my dining companions seemed to agree. However, if you're in Stockbridge, Edinburgh and in need of a quick fix of nachos, you could do a lot worse than Hamilton's.

Arthur's Seat is the name given to towering slab of volcanic rock that dominates the Edinburgh skyline. Similarly, the nachos at The Auld Hoose certainly dominate your table when you first see them and, unfortunately also like Arthur's Seat, they hold a hardened volcanic core from which no taste can escape. First, the good - lots of guacamole (not fresh, however), and plenty, I mean PLENTY, of nachos. the Auld Hoose is a heavy-metal, student friendly pub that's located near the University of Edinburgh. This plate of nachos is geared towards students looking to soak up their beer and not expatriate Texans looking for a taste of home.

The problem arises when you get past the first layer of toppings - there's nothing underneath, so you're basically digging through a pile of dry tortilla chips. The other major issue with the Auld Hoose nachos is the structural integrity. Sure, it looks like an impressive pile of nachos, and it is, but once you start digging into the structure it starts wriggling like the Tay Bridge in 1879.

The other problem are the beans - or peas shall we say. Although I know that black eyed peas are technically beans.....technically they shouldn't be anywhere near nachos. And I like black eyed peas.

Overall, Auld Hoose nachos are good if you're looking for a mountain of chips to fill your gullet, but not if you're looking for nacho authenticity. Go for the beer, not the nachos.