Potarch Hotel: Near Banchory
Published:
WITH the sun out and the yellow on the broom it was a fine day to renew an old acquaintance.
“Potties” has been a popular stopping-off point for generations of Deeside day-trippers.
The only thing that had really changed since our last visit was the lunch menu – with its unusual mix of pub grub staples and posh nosh.
The five main meal choices featured just two standards – home made beefburger at (£9.50) and battered haddock at (£9.95).
Then there was herb-crusted aubergine with boiled egg (£10.95) and chicken and asparagus pie with pancetta lardons £11.50). The blackboard special was wild mushroom risotto. To be fair there were some excellent starters like Highland game terrine (£6.50); a trio of light meals including chicken nachos and a selection of upmarket sandwiches.
Anyway, I went for the beer battered haddock – an excellent catch – with a pile of chips, tartare sauce and lemon salad. My wife went for the fifth feature of the mains list – ribeye steak (£13.95). It was cooked to perfection with a whole baked tomato, Portobello mushrooms and battered onion rings. Our requests for French mustard, tomato sauce, extra salad dressing – and a steak knife – were swiftly met.
We both agreed our main meals were “spot on” and worthy of top marks ... if the prices were a bit nearer the going rate for a bar lunch.
