HEADING off to the airport at stupid o’clock in the morning always puts a dampener on my holidays.
So, for a bit of extra luxury, a pal and I decided to stay over at the Thistle Airport hotel at Dyce before jetting off early the next day.
And for dinner we decided to splash out a little and headed to the hotel’s Osprey Restaurant, which had recently undergone an overhaul.
I’m glad we did, because I have discovered a new place to eat that is well worth a trip in its own right.
To get to the restaurant, you have to walk through the bar, which on this particular evening was bustling with a lively wedding party.
But the restaurant itself was an oasis of quiet and calm.
The dining room is beautifully modern with giant, red glass baubles hanging from the ceiling and boasts comfy booths to settle in for an evening meal.
Since we were already splashing out, I opted for a glass of prosecco to sip while perusing the tempting menu.
For a starter, my pal and I decided to save our appetites and share the delicious-sounding tempura prawns.
We weren’t disappointed by the dish that arrived on our table a short while later.
The healthy portion of tender shellfish was wrapped in the lightest layer of breadcrumbs and coconut.
The coating was crispy and sweet and was offset by a hint of spice in an accompanying zingy, chilli sauce.
Very more-ish, indeed.
For her main course my pal went for her favourite, duck with orange dressing.
A delicious breast of duck was served pink in the middle and doused in a tangy orange dressing.
It came with pan-fried sweet potato which complemented the tartness of the citrus sauce. And crunchy chunks of beetroot completed the dish.
Now, I usually go for fish when it comes to a main course but I’d already fulfilled my seafood love in the starter. So I chose instead the tandoori-grilled chicken with risotto.
The poultry was cooked to perfection with a slightly smoked flavour. This was served on top of deliciously creamy spinach and mushroom rice and the whole thing was doused in a subtle but herby tarragon sauce.
The lightly creamy risotto was soft with a little bite – delicious.
We were tempted by the calorific puddings, but the generous portions had defeated us.
But while our tummies might have been fit to burst, our meal wasn’t going to break the holiday budget – checking in at a reasonable £43.60.
So next time I feel the need for a break, I might just head for the Osprey ... without the need to travel any further.