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The Dining Room named Restaurant of the Year again

The Dining Room at Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum has retained the title of Grampian Restaurant of the Year. It gained it in 2010 and faced competition from four other finalists in this year’s judging.

The title was awarded at a ceremony this month at which judge Bruce Sangster, one of Scotland’s most highly-regarded Michelin Starred chefs, was present. He said: “The Dining Room at Meldrum House was chosen the winner of Grampian Restaurant of The Year because it delivered the whole package of good food delivered as promised from the menu which was not full of flowery descriptions but stuck to well practised technique coupled to a very good front of house made up of a young polite and professional team who delivered service with a smile.

“What impressed me most about my meal at Meldrum House Hotel was the enthusiasm shown by the restaurant staff. It was evident they had been trained well and genuinely cared, doing everything they could to ensure I enjoyed the experience of dining in the hotel.”

General manager, Peter Walker, believes that retaining the sought-after award is a testament to everything the hotel is trying to achieve. “We work exceptionally hard and are uncompromising on delivering the best – not just the best food but through friendliness, the welcome, being interested in our guests and knowledgeable about what is on the menu and where the ingredients came from.

“Entering competitions is part of our strategy.”

Bruce judged the five finalist restaurants unannounced. Karen Black, general manager of Hospitality Training and competition organiser, said: “The name of the judge was not released until judging had been concluded to ensure that the restaurant experience was assessed. It was a difficult task to keep the identity of the judge under wraps. However Bruce Sangster did a marvellous job and not one of the restaurants visited suspected he was there.

“Our restaurant of the year competition is about the real food and service experience that a customer can expect from the winning finalist.”

The competition aimed to give recognition to restaurants in Grampian that consistently use, wherever possible, locally sourced, seasonal quality ingredients that are prepared and cooked well by a kitchen brigade with the practical skills to deliver imaginative and well-balance menus. The friendliness and knowledge of the staff serving customers was also evaluated, as well as overall value for money.

Head chef Peter Conlin said: “I’m constantly on the phone to my producers, at least three of four times a day, keeping in touch to see what’s available.”

Meldrum House offers an a la carte lunch and dinner menu, as well as lighter items served in the lounge, and afternoon tea.

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