The Abercrombie Bar: Union Street, Aberdeen

THE MISSUS is always on at me about how much I spend.

Comics, video games, DVDs – if I don’t need it, I have to have it.

But I think I’ve come up with a great plan to try to combat the anger and it revolves around only eating at The Abercrombie.

Initially, I was slightly worried that its unique flat-rate pricing (£2.69 for every pint, £2.99 for a starter, £4.99 for a main, £2.99 for a dessert) would mean that the food suffered.

But my worries proved to be largely unfounded when my chilli burger and chips turned up.

The burger seemed bought-in, as opposed to handmade, having a touch of rubberiness. But what it lacked in texture, it made up for in flavour. The chilli was bold and strongly flavoured, packed with cumin and with a touch of fire. The chips were as fine as any pub fries and the portions were more than enough.

My girlfriend’s macaroni cheese was equally as good. Creamy and full of flavour, it certainly didn’t skimp on the cheese and managed to avoid the powdery, floury texture than can be its undoing. With some tasty but slightly salty garlic bread and salad, it did the job of filling her up.

But at those prices, we managed a sweet, light sticky toffee pudding with ice-cream.

With a few drinks, the bill came to an excellent £17.75, leaving me with more than enough change for the latest issue of Superman. Maybe I’ve missed the point ...