CHRISTMAS is coming, the goose is getting fat ... and the budget is getting tight.
But don’t despair, there are still ways of enjoying first class food at affordable prices – go for lunch.
There are plenty of city eateries offering a bite on a budget of an afternoon, as I discovered when I met up with my old chum Rhoda.
It was also a case of revisiting my past. Rewind 20 years to when I was a student working part-time as a waitress in what was then Whisper’s Restaurant. Happy days.
Present day, and for the past several years, said restaurant is now better known as being one of the finest Italian eateries in Aberdeen – Ciao Napoli.
Settled in our bench seats, we were both pleased to see our old haunt hadn’t changed too much.
We were particularly chuffed to see the central feature in the room – a stone wall – still remains.
Dark wood panelling and rustic chairs give the restaurant an authentic Neapolitan feel.
But what about the food?
The starter menu had something for everyone and included deep fried calamari, homemade pizza bread and Buffalo mozzarella – all for under £5.
Rhoda fancied the antipasto mist, a selection of cured Italian meats, (£4.90).
My favourite of garlic mushrooms (£3.20) wasn’t on the lunch menu, but our waiter was more than happy to take the order.
We decided to wash our food down with a bottle of the house wine Graspello Rosso (£12.90).
As major foodies (Rhoda being a qualified chef) we were pretty impressed with the dishes. Rhoda declared her starter “delicious”.
The garlic mushrooms were heavenly and I enjoyed soaking up the residual oil with the complimentary bread.
On to our main course, and as a pasta lover I knew the macaroni ala carbonara (£5.95) was the right choice for me, but boy did Rhoda swither.
She first considered the spaghetti con polpete (meatballs to you and me, £5.95) but instead she ordered the medaglioni di maiale (pork escalopes, served with peppercorn sauce and French fries, £7.95).
My pasta dish was cooked to perfection and the generous spoon of parmesan complimented the creamy sauce and smoked pancetta.
Rhoda declared her pork escalopes to be tasty and tender.
As we said our goodbyes we both said we wouldn’t leave it another 20 years to return.
And we both agreed it’s no wonder Ciao Napoli has been nominated for the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2010. It’s certainly Aberdeen’s best lunchtime secret.