• Added: 22nd of November 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Aberdeen AB10 1HF
01224 640597

Scott66 said
Traditional city centre pub
No music and no television. This popular pub is situated near the St Nicholas Kirk at the East end of Union Street. There is a selection of real ales in addition to the usual choice of beers. Food is served at lunch time prepared in the kitchen at the far end of the pub.

in addition to the main area along side the long bar there are two areas with tables. In the rearmost several of the tables are separated by glass and wood panels.

The pub tends to be quite crowded at popular times, including Saturday afternoon shoppers. Bar service is quick and attentive, and the through flow of customers is fast enough that a place to sit usually comes available fairly quickly.

Walls are covered with wood panels, and give the pub a traditional look. Overall there is a welcoming atmosphere. It is frequented by quite a mixed crowd, including all age groups.

• Added: 19th of November 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB10 1RL
01224 652 959

Scott66 said
Limited but Outstanding
Fusion offers quite a limited menu, three choices for each of the starter, main course and desert. Despite the limited selection you will be very unlucky if you do not find something to your taste. I was told the selection changes every two weeks. We all had seafood, but this was not the only option available.

Between each course we were offered a small sorbet, and although I am not a great tea enthusiast the Earl Grey sorbet was excellent.

Overall the quality of each dish was superb, and the presentation again excellent. Although the dishes may seem quite small, at the end of three courses I was happy that i would not have wanted more. The quality is no doubt a result of being able to focus attention on the limited range of dishes on offer.

Not the cheapest meal in Aberdeen, but definitely one of the best. At the end of the meal our waiter also tuned out to be an expert and enthusiast of all things malt whisky, and gave us very expert advice and counsel.

• Added: 27th of September 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB11 6NY
01224 586180

Scott66 said
Good fish restaurant
This is the “other” fish restaurant in Aberdeen situated in the city centre and less formal than the Silver Darling Despite the the focus on fish there will be a dish on the menu for carnivores, nonetheless you would go here for the fish.

It is quite a small restaurant situated on The Green, next door to the Old Kings highway pub, and across from Cafe 52. The Green itself can be quite an attractive setting, as long as the concrete building accommodating the market is excluded from the view. On the North side of The Green the building tower up to Union Street.

In addition to the printed menu the days specials are shown on a black board. Popular dishes among the specials do tend to sell out. The last occasion I went the fish on offer included halibut, wolf fish. The wolfish came with rice and a slightly piquant sauce. I had preceded this with scallops served with black pudding.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the service generally friendly and helpful. Though on the occasion of my most recent visit one of the staff was rather surly and brusk. A three course meal for three including wine came to £115 in September 2008.

• Added: 27th of September 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Aberdeen AB11 6NY
01224 210952

Scott66 said
Traditional city centre pub
Claims to be the oldest hostelry in Aberdeen having been established in 1741. It is situated on the Green conveniently next door to Bistro Verde, and across from Cafe 52. The Green itself does not live up to its name, being largely Gray, but is an attractive “piazza” just below the South East end of Union Street.

This is a traditional pub with dartboard. Quite small, but with several tables along the side opposite the bar, and a couple of tables next to the windows. There are a couple of television screens and music is playing, however not at a level where it interferes with normal conversation.

This is not a pub for the trendy young Aberdonians out for the night, and is possibly frequented more by a small band of regulars. It is a convenient meeting place for anyone going on to the two aforementioned restaurants.

• Added: 21st of September 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB11 5DQ

Scott66 said
Pretentious and Expensive
There are comparatively few top end fish restaurants in Aberdeen other than the ubiquitous fish and chips. The Silver Darling is one of the few. It is situated next to the entrance to the port, next to the harbour master's office. There are good views of the oil field support vessels as they come and go past the entrance. Rumour has it dolphins can sometimes be seen in the water from the restaurant situated on the first floor of the building.

The restaurant has been here for several years and has a reputation as one of "the places to go" in Aberdeen, The menu is tantalizing and the dishes are well presented. The portions are quite small although well prepared and enjoyable. The food is of good quality but the portions are quite small. Service is slow enough to suggest dishes are being individually prepared.

Silver Darling appears to aim to be one of the top Aberdeen restaurants. Many of the customers are probably having company paid meals. I find the atmosphere is a bit pretentious. My advice would be to go there only when the meal can be put on an expense account.

Two stars for value, four for quality.

• Added: 21st of September 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Aberdeen AB10 6BS

Scott66 said
A bit run down
An unpretentious and quiet pub near the West end of Union street. To describe it as unfashionable would be an understatement. The regulars tend towards elderly and male. On my last visit in mid September on a weekday evening at around 7pm there must have been about four customers.

That said i have been a frequent visitor in the past. Not for the glamour, notably lacking in this establishment, but rather for the convenient location.

In general not a place to impress a partner.

• Added: 6th of August 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB11 6EP
01224 581486

Scott66 said
An excellent French experience
This used to be Les Amis and it has retained its French roots. The french theme is reflected in the menu. The decor is pleasant and unobtrusive.

My choice this evening was mussels as a starter, it could also be ordered as a main course. The quantity I felt reflected more a main course than the starter, and I was not quite able to finish them. I followed with Dover Sole which was succulent and came off the bone easily. This meal was accompanied by a selection of vegetables. The potatoes deserved a special mention in a superb sauce, just fantastic. To end I had a creme brulee. My companions were similarly well impressed.

A meal for four in late July 2008 including wine and coffees came to £145

• Added: 21st of May 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB11 6PH
01224 571771

Scott66 said
Not so much a cafe more a restaurant
Musa is advertised as an Art and Music Cafe. The art is scattered liberally around the restaurant and is all for sale, prices vary. On the occasions I have been there in the evening there has been no music, though there is a small stage in one corner of the restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is pleasant, the tables appear to have been hand decorated, and all are slightly different. The kitchen is open to view at the back of the restaurant

The menu is fairly extensive and should suit all tastes, daily specials are shown on a blackboard. There is a fairly obvious Scottish tinge to the menu, which included for example Cullen Skink (fish and potato soup), as well as black pudding and Aberdeen Angus steak. Dishes are well presented and distinctive. We were on a largely fish evening, with a calamari starter and Thai stock pot as a main course containing a variety of fish in a pleasant sauce, and served with basmati rice in a separate bowl.

We left well satisfied after a three course meal each, plus a bottle of Pinot Grigio at a cost of £80 for two (May 2008). Service is attentive and friendly without being intrusive. There is a taxi rank close by if an after dinner walk is not on the agenda.

• Added: 18th of May 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB10 6BR
01224 575227

Scott66 said
Lively
On entering I noticed there are a number of flags of Italian football teams suspended from the ceiling and numerous pictures on the wall. After I had been seated at the table one of the waiters came over with a small joke coffee. This sets the tone of the restaurant. It is not a restaurant that would be recommended necessarily for haute cuisine, but rather for the lively and boisterous atmosphere.

There is an extensive and fairly typical Italian menu, including a selection of pizza and pasta dishes as well as a variety of meat dishes. I ordered bruschetta to start with, and possibly they were a shade generous with the olive oil, followed by spaghetti arrabbiata with again possibly a shade too much sauce for my taste, and finished with a tartufo ice cream. On the whole the meal was pleasant enough, though it could have been better. Staff are cheerful and friendly.

I left fairly early, about 21:30, before things became really lively, however I am assured dancing on the tables may follow later in the evening.

• Added: 26th of April 2008
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Restaurants

Aberdeen AB10 1XL
01224 611 909

Scott66 said
Modern Restaurant in the West End
Restaurant with a modern ambiance in Queen's Terrace, parallel to Albyn Place. Clean looking and well finished. The entrance takes you into the basement of a traditional granite terrace building in the West End, where most of the houses have been converted to offices. On entering there there is a small bar area with the restaurant beyond.

The feeling of being in a basement is dispelled in the restaurant. A section of the room towards the rear of the restaurant is raised about a meter above floor level, and adjacent to a large window which opens one entire wall. Another wall is decorated with a backdrop of whisky bottles. The uniformity of the labels suggests these are purely decorative rather than genuine.

The menu is not too lengthy giving the impression the kitchen has a realistic idea of how far a menu can be stretched. To start I had scallops and followed this with a steak. Both were well prepared and presented. In a group of six everybody seemed favorably impressed with the quality of the meal.

It could rate 4 stars on a good day, however on my most recent visit the service was very slow. We waited ages for the first course. The food fairly unexceptional considering this is a relatively expensive restaurant.