The In Touch restaurant has also faced a barrage of complaints from neighbours in Inverleith Gardens who are objecting to its proposed late opening hours.

Owner Shorof Uddin says without the longer hours it will be difficult to keep the business going. He wants to extend his 10pm closing time to midnight from Monday to Saturday and 11pm on Sundays.

But residents fear this will cause unacceptable levels of noise and traffic in a residential area.

Despite these complaints, city officials have recommended the late opening hours be approved by the council's planning committee.

The restaurant has had to recover from several set-backs this year.

In July, Mr Uddin was told to remove an air conditioner installed before the restaurant was opened in May, after the illegal work caused tension with neighbours.

Just days later thieves broke in and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, destroying the restaurant's kitchen and stealing expensive bottles of alcohol.

And the following month it was hit by a fire in the building's basement, caused by a faulty power supply cable.

Mr Uddin said: "We have had so many problems already this year with the fire and the robbery, and I have to keep on my staff, so if I cannot open later it will be difficult to keep going.

"A lot more people are looking to book a table for 9pm, but when they are told we close at 10pm they change their minds.

"I have had a lot of trouble with the neighbours, but I do not cause any trouble. I have spent a lot of money soundproofing the restaurant, and I comply with all of the council's demands."

Neighbour Mark Quinn was one of nine to object to the extended hours, and wrote to the council saying:

"The restaurant has continually flouted council regulations, there is illegal parking on the yellow lines on both sides of Inverleith Avenue, and these concerns will be exasperated by extending the opening hours."

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "Extending the hours will potentially change the character of this restaurant (and] heighten the possibility of more take-away business."

Alan Henderson, the council's head of planning and strategy, said: "The use of the premises as a restaurant has been established, and subsequently the impact upon residential amenity has been deemed acceptable."

The extension of hours is expected to be granted by the council's planning committee on Wednesday.