Simpson’s: Queen’s Road, Aberdeen

I DO it every January – fail to stick to my New Year’s resolution to get fit. But this year would be different.

Still, there was time for one last chance to indulge myself, wasn’t there? And the impressive setting of Simpson’s seemed the perfect place for it.

To start, I chose the wasabi-crusted goats’ cheese (£5.75). It was a great looking plate of food, with a sweet beetroot salad and artfully squiggled mango creme fraiche.

But while delicious, it didn’t have the explosive wasabi kick that it promised.

My mate’s tapas platter (£6.95), presented on a wooden board, also looked stunning. With chorizo, prawns, pancetta, olives, tomato tapenade and houmous – it was packed full of flavours.

For my main I chose warm cajun chicken salad with garlic yoghurt (£9.95). It was good – with a great mix of textures – but again, wasn’t as flavour-filled as I’d hoped.

With tender chunks of steak in a rich gravy, my mate’s choice of chef’s homemade pie of the day (£9.95) was a real winter warmer. His only comment was that there was too much pastry.

With drinks and an extra portion of chips, the meal came to £39.65.