If like me, you’re part of the #dietstartsmonday gang, Restaurant Week will be fast becoming one of your favourite times of year. Forget Christmas, Aberdeen Restaurant Week is here!
(If you’re reading this Santa, I didn’t mean it, and I’ve definitely been a good girl this year..)
Through some stroke of dumb luck, I was asked to be part of the official blog squad covering the second ARW and bringing you revues of some of the finest eateries in town. I know, it’s a tough job right, but someone’s got to do it. FYI, Calorie counters need not apply.
In case any of you missed out first time round, February brought us the inaugural Restaurant Week, aimed at bringing the foodies of Aberdeen out in force to dine at some of the finest local venues for a super affordable price. This time round it’s a two course lunch for £10, or a three course dinner for £20 at over 40 carefully selected establishments.
What better way to support some local businesses and discover new favourites, and sample some damn fine food along the way!
Read on for a round up of some of the best dishes I’ve tried this week, and that you definitely should too.
‘Tartufi al cocco’ at DaVinci.
DaVinci is a fabulous Italian just out of sight of Union Street where you can enjoy authentic Tuscan food cooked with heart and passion. With a massive veggie and vegan offering, this was always going to be top of my list to try out.
These vegan truffles were just to die for; sweet little chocolatey balls rolled in coconut with a sticky rum infused sauce, what’s not to like?!
Read my full review HERE.
I really just love The Craftsman. Just a stone’s throw from Union Square, it’s the best spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the high street and find a cosy corner to enjoy a carefully selected craft beer or freshly roasted cup of coffee.
It doesn’t just end there though, their food offerings are just the definition of comfort food, but cooked with finesse and skill, and I’ve been banging on about the most insanely sumptuous pie that I tried there all week long.
The veggie option of ‘Curried vegetable and chickpea pie with spiced potatoes’ was just everything that I love delicately layered inside a golden flaky pastry house, and washed down with a cold sour cherry beer, this was the ultimate Sunday lunch.
‘Curried vegetable and chickpea pie with spiced potatoes’
Read the full review HERE.
At the heart of the merchant quarter on the picturesque Green, family run Bistro Verde has been the home of fresh fish based cuisine for as many years as I can remember.
I don’t often break the rules and eat fish, but if I’m going to do it, it’s going to be for a dish like this!
Don’t miss out on the duo of fishcakes which you can enjoy as part of the evening menu this Restaurant Week. They were fresh, full of flavour, and that lime and coriander yogurt was the perfect flavour pairing to bring it all together. Plus it just looks really pretty! Instagram I’m coming at ya…
‘Duo of fishcakes – Hake/beetroot tartar , peppered mackerel/lime and coriander yoghurt’
Full review will be live HERE any time now!
As much as we all love 99 for an expertly made cocktail served by the cheeky chappies behind the bar and the funky weekend vibes, I came to the realisation that I had never had a full meal here, so what better time to give it a bash than Restaurant week!
‘Rowie and butter pudding’ at 99.
That’s right, it’s another pudding, but how could I not include this hip-widening, mouth watering, just plain awesome Rowie and butter pudding!? If the phrase ‘a what now..?!’ is springing to mind, a Rowie is an Aberdonian ‘delicacy’ (I couldn’t use the term more loosely..), otherwise known as a buttery, or a morning roll. It’s satisfyingly salty, fatty, and absolutely delicious. I’ve beaten off many a hangover with a couple of these bad boys, so imagine my delight when I saw that they were being used in a pudding!
A #seeninthedeen cocktail to wash it all down.
Read the full review HERE, and I dare you not to pick up the phone and book a table right away!
Hopefully this has been enough to tantalise your taste buds and inspire you to get off the sofa this weekend and out in to the city center to try out some truly amazing cuisine that’s right on our door step, not just during Restaurant week, but all year round.
If you miss out this time, don’t panic, Restaurant week is set to be a biannual event with the next round commencing in February, thanks to the hard working guys at Aberdeen Inspired.
It’s been an fantastic week of eating my body weight in incredible food produced by some of the finest culinary talent around. The scales at the gym won’t thank me for it, but do I feel bad about it? Not one bit…
Lipstick & Late Nights 