FOOD fans in search of a tasty, good deal to banish the January blues are being encouraged to Ready, Steady, Book as Aberdeen Restaurant Week prepares to get underway next week.
Running from Monday 16 January to Sunday 29 January 2023, the event will see more than 40 restaurants, cafes and bars across the city take part in this year’s event.
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Between them, they offer an eclectic mix of cuisines ranging from traditional Scottish fare to dishes from countries around the world.
Exclusive Aberdeen Restaurant Week menus begin at £10, with many venues offering exclusive deals for both lunch and dinner and a variety of tasting menus.
New this year is a special Burns Supper on Wednesday, 25 January at The Esslemont. To celebrate the Scotland’s national bard, diners will sample a five-course menu, built around some of the finest local produce, with – of course – an address to the haggis and bagpipe music featuring in the evening event, which can be booked directly with The Esslemont.
“Aberdeen Restaurant Week is hugely popular with the public which is why it now extends over two weeks,” said Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired which first brought Aberdeen Restaurant Week to the city in early 2018.
“It last took place in March 2022 and feedback from the participating restaurants as well as from the diners who took part was hugely positive.
“Post-Christmas can be a quiet time for restaurants and cafes and this event encourages customers to visit both midweek and weekends. It’s a fantastic opportunity for venues to demonstrate what they have on offer, and to introduce new dishes, through special deals which attract both existing and new customers.
“For diners, Aberdeen Restaurant Week showcases the city’s fast-growing, colourful food scene. Not only does it give customers the chance to enjoy meals at some of their favourite restaurants, but it encourages them to try venues they may not have eaten in before.
“Every year sees the addition of new, participating venues which adds to the richness of the overall offering. As word has spread over the years, we have also seen an increasing number of diners from outwith the city coming to Aberdeen to enjoy not just its eateries but everything else it has to offer,” he added.
All bookings should be made with the restaurants directly.
Neil Davidson, general manager of The Esslemont said: “Aberdeen Restaurant Week is always a great opportunity for us to showcase our offerings to new customers. We’ve previously hosted successful tasting menu evenings and this will be a great opportunity to bring these back. We are planning a ‘full blown’ Burn’s supper with piper, address to the haggis and obviously, a bit of whisky.”
Aberdeen Inspired was established to attract, sustain and boost investment in Aberdeen’s city centre for the benefit of its levy payers and all those who live, work, shop and visit there.
In addition to levy payments, which go to support city centre improvements and initiatives, the BID brings in additional funding which that for every £1 of levy collected, at least £2 is invested in the city centre.
The BID footprint covers Union Street and the surrounding streets, including Broad Street, Market Street, Bridge Street, Huntly Street and Holburn Junction.
- Further information on participating restaurants is available on the Aberdeen Inspired website at https://www.aberdeeninspired.com/festival/restaurant-week/restaurants
