The first ever Aberdeen Restaurant Week will run from Thursday, 1 February 2018, to Thursday, 8 February with many of the Granite city's best eateries signed up.
More than 25 restaurants have joined up so far and each has created a unique menu for the event with a simple pricing structure which also reflects the project’s inaugural year.
Participating restaurants include, Rye & Soda, Moonfish, Musa, Café Harmony, Food Story, Kirkview Cafe, Soul and the Carmelite.
A two-course lunch will be priced at £10 per person and a three-course dinner will cost just £20.18 per person.
Moonfish. Picture: ARW
The initiative has been launched by leading business organisation Aberdeen Inspired to encourage visitors and residents to support city centre restaurants during what is traditionally a quiet time of the year.
Nicola Johnston, evening and night time economy manager of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are delighted with the response we’ve had from city centre businesses about the inaugural Aberdeen Restaurant Week.
“Similar projects have proved popular across the world, where it originated from in North America to the likes of Newcastle a little closer to home. Restaurant Week means cities and traders benefit from a healthy increase in footfall and customer spending.
“Aberdeen Restaurant Week offers a unique incentive for customers to explore some of the best of Aberdeen’s cuisine and acts as an incentive for them.
"It’s also an opportunity for participating restaurants to showcase their food and customer service styles.
“My role is to stimulate the night time economy and to support our local businesses in doing so, there’s still time for businesses to get involved in the project which will highlight the city centre’s best eateries and help them get 2018 off to a bumper start.”
Francesco Di Nicola, restaurant manager of Café Harmony, said: “As restaurant manager of Cafe Harmony, I had the chance to create the menu with our head chef considering three simple factors: fresh, daily and natural local products delivered almost daily to our doors from the fields of Scotland.
“We created the menu considering simple ideas and of course the ingredients are combined with our Mediterranean recipes.
“We cannot wait to welcome customers that are looking for a new experience in our cosy restaurant, and of course it gives us the chance to create a unique menu in addition to our existing one that will give our guests a huge selection to choose from.”
Adrian Gomes, managing director and CEO of 10 Dollar Shake, added: “Having seen similar initiatives in cities such Bristol and Portland, the prospect of Aberdeen’s finest restauranteurs working together should certainly whet the appetite.
“There are some great chefs and food joints right here on our doorstep and I encourage everyone to visit a venue that they have never been to before. With a level menu price, there’s never been a better time to try something new.”
Aberdeen Inspired is the banner under which the Aberdeen Business Improvement District (BID) operates. It is a business-led initiative within the city centre in which levy payers within the BID zone contribute.
Proceeds are used to fund projects designed to improve the business district. Due to its on-going success, the organisation won 2017 European BID of the Year in July.
• For more information and to register and for Aberdeen Restaurant Week, please visit: www.aberdeenrestaurantweek.com
