Aberdeen Restaurant Week starts on Monday (22 January) and this year there are already 77 venues taking part making it the biggest foodie festival in the city to-date.
Running for two weeks, not one, it’s offering special menus starting at £10 across breakfast, lunch and dinner deals, as well as a range of tasting menu’s. Some special events this year include The Esslemont and The Albyn who are both hosting a Burns Supper, and Namaste Delhi who is offering 30-minute ‘taster’ cooking classes.
Organised by Aberdeen Inspired, it features restaurants, bars and cafes across the city centre and was boosted by a £5k grant from the Scottish Government’s Regional Food Fund.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said, “I’m sure fans of the foodie fortnight will be delighted to see more choice than ever in this latest outing for the hugely popular Aberdeen Restaurant Week.
“We are delighted this grant from the Regional Food Fund has allowed us to build on the success of Aberdeen Restaurant Week, which we first launched in 2018, and offer a real feast of so many venues taking part later this month.”
Adrian said the return of Aberdeen Restaurant Week in January was a perfect pick-me-up for food fans and a major boost for all the venues taking part, all while attracting people into the city centre, to enjoy other attractions and even make a night of it with an overnight hotel stay.
“After the fun of the festive season, everyone needs something to get them through the grind of winter – and what could be better than some of the best food in the finest restaurants in Aberdeen at great prices?
“Aberdeen Restaurant Week is the perfect way to visit favourite places to eat and to find new hidden gems that you will want to return to again and again.
“For the venues themselves, the foodie fortnight is a welcome way of boosting business in what is traditionally a very quiet time of the year for the hospitality industry. And now, with so many new restaurants taking part, there is a real feast of fine food for everyone to enjoy. Tuck in.”
Just some of the venues taking part include Italian restaurants Da Vinci, Amore, Alfresco and Amarone, there’s West African and Caribbean-inspired dining at Gidi Grill, Scottish-inspired dining at the Braided Fig and The Atrium and tasty pub at McGinty’s Meal An’ Ale. There are three Shiprow Village venues taking part this year – Molly’s Bistro, ABERDAM and Shipyard StreetFood.
New venues include Mara Wine Bar, the first city centre venture for chef-owner Ross Cochrane, formerly of The Rothesay Rooms in Ballater.
Ross said, “As a new entrant to the city centre we are delighted to be able to participate in the popular Aberdeen Restaurant Week promotion which we know has a great following among food lovers.
“We are offering a selection of small plates and wines at set prices to tempt people into our new spot. We look forward to welcoming everyone into Mara over the foodie fortnight and beyond.”
Others making their Aberdeen Restaurant Week debut include The Albyn, on Albyn Place, Thai restaurant Madame Mews, and Second Home Studio + Café on Gaelic Lane, a not-for-profit café that also focuses on making art more accessible.
Returning restaurant week favourites All Bar One, Chaophraya, Mac’s Pizzeria, Revolucion De Cuba, Chop Bar and Grill the Pigs Wings Olive Alexanders and the Globe.
All Bar One General manager Roy Morrison said, “We took part in Aberdeen Restaurant Week for the first time in August last year and it was a fantastic result for us. We saw a huge number of brand-new guests visiting our site for the very first time, many of whom have now become returning guests!
“We can’t wait for the January edition of the promotion it’s definitely a boost for hospitality businesses at this time of the year.”
Aberdeen Restaurant week runs from Monday, January 22, to Sunday, February 4.
