Soul Bar: Union Street, Aberdeen

WHEN it comes to dining out, I pride myself on being very open-minded and adventurous.

Heart, brain, offal of all sorts, meats exotic and unusual, I’ve scoffed it. But something about a supreme of chicken and shin of beef parcels on the same plate struck me as far too strange.

But then again, this is Soul, and much like that plate of food, it doesn’t know what it wants to be.

A pub in a beautiful converted church (another contradiction), the prices could get you a meal at one of the city’s top restaurants but adorning the walls are promotions for deals more familiar to a Wetherspoon.

But like the moist chicken (£12.95), which came stuffed with spicy haggis, it does work very well.

My dining companion felt the peppercorn sauce helped unify the dish, and the rich, tomatoey shin parcels were a treat.

Being a scaredy-cat, I got the Soul burger (£10.95), a tasty and juicy specimen from top-drawer meat supplier Donald Russell. It was topped with quality bacon and flavoursome cheese.

We also got a bowl of crispy fries (£2.50), but with such ample portions, really didn’t need to.

While Soul is a little confused, there’s no denying the food is great and maybe next time (and there will be a next time), I’ll be a little braver.