Feast
The city and shire’s hospitality sector has not been having an easy time of it over the past few years. The pandemic and cost of living crisis isn’t doing them any favours – so we thought we would! Here’s our guide to some of our favourite places to eat and what we love about them…
ITALIAN
Peterculter’s Borsalino is great for large gatherings and you can’t go far wrong with a restaurant that serves a calzone as big as your head and has staff that randomly burst into operatic arias. The only downside is that it’s not suitable for wheelchairs because of the entrance steps.
Da Vinci is tucked away on Alford Lane. The imaginative menu includes lots of vegan choices and they do good cocktails too.
Mi Amore on Huntly Street offers a modern take on Italian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. The set menu and pre-theatre menus offer good value, but leave room for the sticky orange chocolate cake.
INDIAN
Where to find the best curry in town is always a contentious topic. We all have our favourites, but we’re pretty happy to go anywhere that has lots of poppadoms.
Shri Bheema has branches on Belmont Street and in Bridge of Don. They combine an extensive menu with generous portions, lots of dishes you won’t find elsewhere and tons of vegetarian options.
Stonehaven’s Carron to Mumbai features elegant Art Deco surroundings with fine-dining Indian dishes. It’s particularly strong on fish dishes like Monkfish Asamese Rogni.
Jewel in the Crown is a long-term Aberdeen favourite. Vegetarians have to make do with a selection of side dishes, as there are no veggie mains, but it just means two delicious dishes instead of one. It’d be a great choice for someone’s first ever Indian meal as the staff are exceptionally helpful.
8848 on Union Street are known for their brilliant biryanis and what might, just possibly, be the best dal makhani in town.
Both Nurtaj and Mount Everest used to be in the city centre, but have relocated to the shire. Blackburn is now home to Mount Everest which
gets rave reviews for its Nepalese and Indo-Tibetan menu despite its business park location. It’s worth the trip to Aboyne to try Nurtaj’s Broccoli Chana Soul Tiger or unexpected delights like their Pinacolada chicken.
ASIAN
Go back twenty years and Aberdeen had many more Chinese restaurants. There are fewer Asian options these days, but sometimes we gain in quality when quantity suffers.
Yorokobi by CJ is an understated Japanese and Korean restaurant on Huntly Street. The lunch and early bird menus offer great value, and the sushi’s always incredibly fresh. Lots of noodly dishes and plenty of choice for vegetarians and gluten free diets.
Taste of Hong Kong moved from Aberdeen Market to the Adelphi where it’s developing a reputation for great food and customer service. Not the easiest bit of town to park in, though, so stroll up from Union Square.
Koh Thai on Rosemount Place is charmingly decorated and very inclusive, with menus for vegans and vegetarians, gluten free and kids. The mixed starters are a must order, but it’s difficult to go wrong.
The Royal Thai has been tucked away on Crown Terrace for over 30 years. Go for a banquet menu or a delightful sea bass marinated with Thai herbs, wrapped in banana leaves and served with chilli lime dressing.
Much like the Royal Thai, it feels like The Manchurian on Causewayend has been around for ever. It’s probably still the city’s best purveyor of dim sum, though.
PUB GRUB
Sometimes a bit of pub grub is just what’s needed. Robust, full-flavoured and unfussy dishes are the mainstay of the menu at McGinty’s Meal & Ale on Union Street. The Steak pie’s always a winner, though we have a sneaking affection for the loaded fries topped with AO Cuban spiced halloumi.
The Airedale out at Logie Coldstone is everything a pub diner should be, friendly and good humoured, with a menu packed with family favourites and excellent chips.
SOMETHING FISHY
Given our coastal setting and proximity to Peterhead, the biggest white fish port in Europe, it’s not surprising we have some outstanding fish restaurants, from Silver Darling down on Pocra Quay and Fraserburgh’s The Captain’s Table, to multi-award winning takeaways like The Bay in Stonehaven and Westhill’s Low’s Fish and Chips.
MICHELIN MENTIONS
We now have half a dozen restaurants that merit a mention in the Michelin Guide. Moonfish Café is always innovative and may possibly be the only place in Aberdeen that can make cold broccoli taste delicious. If you’re looking for a gourmet treat, then try Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish on Queen’s Terrace, Rothsay Rooms, Alford’s family-friendly Kildrummy Inn, The Fife Arms’ Clunie Dining Room or Stonehaven’s Tolbooth. None are cheap, the menus focus on three or four seasonal starters and mains using the best local produce and vegetarians are catered for, but rarely offered a choice.
Check our next issue for our pick of the best places for coffee and cake, veggie and vegan food, new openings and places to go for special celebrations, late nights and early mornings.