The banquet of finest cuisine that is Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks starts service today – with eatery bosses already praising the boost the Foodie Fortnight will bring the city.
Almost 80 restaurants, cafes and bars are taking part in the special celebration of the north-east’s finest food offerings – organised by Aberdeen Inspired - with discerning diners able to tuck into tasty menus and deals from as little as a fiver.
Running until Sunday, March 9, you can literally eat your way around the world with food ranging from Latin American to Scottish, French to Asian during the event that is loved by foodie fans and restaurants alike.
Already looking forward to welcoming old and new customers – and boost in spending they will bring through the door is Paparao N. Manager of Nepalese Restaurant 8848 on Aberdeen's Union Street.
He said: "Reservations are steadily coming in and weekends are almost full. Our chef has created another very appetizing tasting menu for this round of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks which we look forward to serving up to guests over the course of the Foodie Fortnight."
Michael Pergl, owner of returning restaurant week favourite, Al Fresco Italian on Bon Accord Street added "Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks always delivers for us. We are delighted that brand-new guests seek us out for the very first time, many of whom go on to become regular guests!
“The first week is filling up nicely and this event definitely delivers a boost for hospitality businesses at this time of the year."
Shona Byrne, project manager with Aberdeen Inspired, said she was delighted that nearly 80 restaurants had been attracted to take part in the Foodie Fortnight, and said the mix of established city centre favourites such as Poldino’s and Namaste Delhi, along with newcomers such as The Prince of Wales and Soul offered wide appeal attracting diners from far and wide into the city to try out the unique menus and price points which are key to the events success. “It is so heartening for us to have so many restaurants taking part and already reporting they are busy with bookings as diners at tempted into the city centre to enjoy fantastic food at such delicious prices, be it lunch, dinner or special tasting menus,” said Shona.
“And the wave of enthusiasm from the public when we announced the dates for this latest Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks was a joy to see, underling the appetite people have for what has become a highlight of the city’s calendar.”
As well as fantastic lunch and dinner menus at special prices – from £5 to £30 – Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks is offering some special events, including the chance to dunk your own donut at Dough & Co, create your own dessert in a Sundae School at Mackie’s 19.2 Ice Cream Parlour.
The Foodie Fortnight will also see the return of Secret Suppers, where diners don’t know where they will be eating until the day of the event – both of which sold out within hours of going on sale.
Shona said: “Obviously we are keeping the destinations under wraps but the one thing I can say with certainty is that those who snapped up a Secret Supper place are in for an unforgettable dining experience.
“We also have the Foodie Passport again, which encourages diners to eat at four different restaurants with the chance to win a £500 Aberdeen Gift Card. It’s a fun way of encouraging people to make the most of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The aim of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks since we first introduced it in 2018 was not just to put the fantastic food and drink offerings in Aberdeen in the spotlight, but also to give the hospitality sector an economic boost in quiet times of the year when they need it most, while increasing footfall in the city.
“It has certainly succeeded on all those counts and gone from strength-to-strength thanks to the way it has been embraced by the people of Aberdeen and the food and drink venues taking part. We can’t thank them enough for making this one of the best restaurant weeks of its kind in the country.
“This outing for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks has a theme which stand repeating for the next two weeks – come and get it!”
For a full list of participating restaurants and events during Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks click here.