Shepherd’s Rest: Straik Road, Westhill

SOMETIMES when you’re looking for a bite to eat, you want the kind of place where you can sit back, chill out and have a good chat with your mates. The Shepherd’s Rest in Westhill is that kind of place.

For some reason, I’m absolutely rubbish at cooking steaks, so I leaped at the chance of ordering the 10oz sirloin steak (£14.49). Incredibly tender and succulent, with a deep, chargrilled flavour, it more than fulfilled my steak cravings. It came with the kind of chips you really want with your steak too – fat, fluffy and crisp. Lovely. However, it’s a good job I don’t mind my meat on the rare side. I asked for it medium ... and it was definitely more on the rare side of medium.

My mate’s lamb burger (£8.99) was juicy and packed a meaty punch. Unfortunately, the texture let it down slightly, it was dry on the outside and a bit rubbery in the middle. But the tomato salsa was a zingy take on ketchup and, along with the creamy coleslaw, it went well with the fries. With a few drinks the meal came to £28.52.

So, with good prices and friendly, welcoming staff, I know I’ll be back.