WITH my other half back in Aberdeen for more than a week already, it seemed about time to celebrate.
And we decided not to stray far from our humble abode, as we went for a late dinner in our neck of the woods.
Having walked past The Albyn more than once in the past few days, we decided to let curiosity get the better of us and see what all the fuss was about.
Family and friends have always spoken highly of the restaurant, so it seemed about time we went to check it out for ourselves.
Greeted by friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, we were soon whisked to our seats in a corner booth of the restaurant area.
Tucked away in the West End, just minutes from the city centre, The Albyn is the perfect location for a late dinner and a few drinks to chase away the Monday blues.
For a quiet weekday evening, the place was busy and tables were full of happy and relaxed diners.
Getting stuck in, we chose large glasses of Pinot Grigio and Shiraz to sip on as we looked at the huge array of dishes on offer.
With an eclectic mix on the menu, there’s something there for everyone.
And, coming from this picky eater, that’s really saying something.
I chose chicken skewers with satay sauce and salad while Alasdair went for onion soup.
The chicken was tender and juicy, while the sauce was salty, with just the right amount of tang.
The accompanying salad was crisp and fresh, and mixed perfectly with the savoury taste of the chicken.
The onion soup was wholesome and sweet with a thick melted cheese topping, and both starters kept us satisfied just long enough as we waited for our main course.
After a five-minute rest, we were soon tucking into our large mains.
My boyfriend continued with the hearty food theme and picked a large helping of vegetarian chilli. With a healthy dollop of sour cream and chilli sauce, the rich dish was satisfying but the portion was just a bit too much to finish.
My burger with barbecue sauce and salad came with chips served in a mini metal basket, that looked like those used in the deep fat fryer. A quirky addition, it certainly brightened up the plate.
The burger was meaty and cooked to perfection, while the chips were crispy on the outside, and the potato crumbled in your mouth.
There was just the right ratio of sauce to burger, and it quickly disappeared from the plate.
Never normally known to finish three courses, I decided after browsing the menu, that I couldn’t resist the temptation of Eton Mess. This classic sweet full of meringue, strawberry, Cointreau and cream was ideal, tasty but not too rich.
While he couldn’t complete his main, Alasdair suddenly got a second wind as he very chivalrously decided to help me with the dessert. We had soon cleared the bowl of its contents.
We decided we better quickly settle the bill before we indulged ourselves any further. It’s fair to say, we’ll definitely be visiting the Albyn again, and no better excuse than it’s a hop and a skip away from our front door.