The staff at Resting Brunch Face are ready to welcome customers in for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks. Image - Aberdeen Inspired.
Service starts today for the banquet of delights – and tasty prices – that is Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, with more than 70 eateries joining in the dining feast.
And restaurants are reporting a big boost in bookings even before the Foodie Fortnight, presented by Aberdeen Inspired, gets underway to showcase the best of the food and drink sector in the Granite City.
“We’re already seeing a fantastic buzz around Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, with bookings coming in strong,” said Martin McAuley, who owns and operates Resting Brunch Face and Resting Brew Face in Aberdeen’s Trinity Centre, together with Shipyard Streetfood in Shiprow.
“It’s great to see so many people excited to dine out, discover new flavours, and support local restaurants. We’re really looking forward to what’s shaping up to be a bumper Foodie Fortnight for the city.”
That enthusiasm for the city’s celebration of food was shared by Tana Pade, owner of Siam Cottage in Aberdeen’s historic Castlegate area.
She said: "Aberdeen Restaurant Week always brings such fantastic energy to the city. We’ve already had lots of interest in our menus and it’s wonderful to welcome both new and returning customers.
“It’s a brilliant way to showcase the diverse food scene Aberdeen has to offer, and we’re excited for what promises to be a very busy fortnight."
It will, indeed, be a busy two weeks as Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks pulls people into the city centre to enjoy special lunch and dinner menus at even more special prices, from £10 to £30.
Running until September14, Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks will boast cuisines from across the globe, from Latin American to Mediterranean, Mexican to traditional Scottish fayre.
The ever-popular 8848 will be joining the fun of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
This latest outing for one of Aberdeen’s best-loved festivals will see some venues joining in for the first time – such as Glenhouse Aberdeen and Wild Ginger – along with old favourites such as 8848, the Prince of Wales and Café Andaluz.
Shona Byrne, project manager for Aberdeen Inspired who organises Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, said she was delighted to see the response not only from participating restaurants, but also from people across the north-east.
She said: “Restaurants love being part of the Foodie Fortnight – as you can see from the fact that 70 of Aberdeen’s finest eateries have signed up. It is a chance to showcase the highlights of their menus while welcoming familiar customers and finding new ones.
“We have had so many places telling us their bookings are busy for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks which means this is a festival that isn’t just popular with eateries, but also with the public.
“And from the enquiries we have had, we know there are many, many excited diners out there, with knives and forks at the ready, waiting for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks services to start.”
Shona said that the Foodie Fortnight is happening while SPE Offshore Europe is running from Tuesday, September 2, to Friday, September 5.
“Tens of thousands of delegates will be attending Offshore Europe and Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks is the ideal opportunity for these visitors from around the world to enjoy the best cuisine the city has to offer,” she said. “It is a fantastic platform for all the venues taking part.”
Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks doesn’t just offer special menus. It also boasts a popular Foodie Passport with the chance to win a £500 Aberdeen Gift Card, plus other bonus prizes.
The ever-popular Secret Suppers are also returning, adding an air of mystery as people only find out where they are eating and who is cooking for them on the day of the booking.
The secret is out ... Bistro Verde offered up the first Secret Supper of this Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
The first was held last night. The sold-out supper saw 36 guests enjoying a superb meal at Aberdeen’s prime seafood eatery, Bistro Verde on the Green.
While the Secret Supper on September 12 – “A secret journey to the Mediterranean” also sold-out – there are still tickets available for the third and final one on Sunday, September 14 – “A symphony of spice”.
Shona said: “With venues reporting a flood of reservations, people shouldn’t delay in booking the places they want enjoy during Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks. Don’t miss your chance to pull up a chair for what will be one of our finest Foodie Fortnights yet.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks isn’t just a chance for people to enjoy excellent food at attractive prices. It’s also the ideal way for them to show their support for the local hospitality industry.
He said: “The overwhelmingly positive response from businesses who are seeing a boost in footfall is exactly why we started Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks in the first place.
“It gives restaurants, bars and cafes an economic lift at a time of year when they are traditionally quieter. We know that each outing of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, be it the one at the start of the year or the autumn outing, injects about £500,000 additional spend into the city centre economy. Team Aberdeen Inspired is proud of being able to deliver that.
“This event is also a superb way to shout from the rooftops about just how rich and varied the culinary scene is in the Granite City, with so many talented and skilled people doing so much to please their customers. It is because of them, that Aberdeen can proudly boast it of offering some of the best dining experiences in the country.”
Further information, including menus and booking details, can be found on the Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks website.
The iconic Prince of Wales will be serving tasty treats during Foodie Fortnight. Image - Aberdeen Inspired