The Granite City’s finest eateries are fully prepped and ready to serve up one of the most mouthwatering Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks yet as the Foodie Fortnight kicks off.
Many of the 83 restaurants, bars and cafes taking part in the celebration of Aberdeen’s thriving food and drink sector report bookings are already flooding in – and expect it to get even busier.
Fans of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, staged by Aberdeen Inspired, are in for a real treat with cuisines from around the world to enjoy, with special dinner and lunch menus ranging from £10 to £35, plus specially curated à la carte and tasting menus.
And if that isn’t tasty enough, Aberdeen Inspired are offering the chance to “dine, scan and win” with one £50 Aberdeen Gift Card up for grabs on every day of the Foodie Fortnight, via special QR codes on table talker cards in participating restaurants.
Dolores Rivera, of Kultura Filipino Restaurant and Bar, said: “From our experience of previous Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in business, with some evenings becoming fully booked.
“We anticipate being very busy again this year, so we’re looking at putting additional staff on to help us cope with the expected demand and ensure we can continue to give our customers a great experience.
“For Kultura, we hope Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks will help us reach more people, promote our restaurant to a wider audience and, ultimately, gain more loyal customers. It’s also a great opportunity for us to introduce more people to Filipino cuisine and showcase the flavours and dishes that make it so special.”
Elena Ionascu, owner of Da Vinci Italian Restaurant, said the popular venue was looking forward to the next two weeks of the festival and is staffing up to greet the influx of guest.
She said: “Bookings are coming in nicely, especially for the weekend, although we still have availability during the week. We expect it to get busier as we get closer and we’ll make sure we have the right team in place, so everyone still receives the warm, personal service we’re known for.
And Elena had a message for diners during the Foodie Fortnight.
“Come into town, enjoy some lovely food and support your local restaurants. Behind every independent restaurant there are people working incredibly hard, and every table really does make a difference."
Her enthusiasm was shared by Susan Hogg, brand manager at Café Andaluz.
“Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks is a brilliant opportunity for people to try somewhere new or rediscover a favourite in a different way. Tapas is perfect for that because it naturally brings people together, you’re sharing dishes, trying different flavours and spending more time enjoying the moment.
“That’s what we love about Spanish dining. It’s not rushed, it’s not formal, and it’s all about conversation, laughter and making time for the people you’re with. We want guests to feel that sense of warmth and connection when they visit Café Andaluz during Restaurant Week.”
Shona Byrne, who oversees Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, said Aberdeen Inspired always strives to find new ways for people to enjoy every Foodie Fortnight – including the innovative “Dine, scan, win” campaign.
“It just adds an additional layer of excitement and enjoyment to a meal out during Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks. Participating venues will have special table talker cards with a QR code – which was developed in house here at Aberdeen Inspired.
“You just need to scan the code as you are dining to find out whether you have won the £50 Aberdeen Gift Card up for grabs that day. I think people will have a lot of fun with it.”
Shona added that an air of anticipation was already growing about the return of the Foodie Fortnight among both diners and the venues taking part.
“Restaurants, cafes and bars jumped at the chance to be part of what is the largest event of its kind in Scotland. They are already telling us they are seeing bookings going up at what is traditionally a quiet time of year.
“As well as celebrating Aberdeen’s hospitality sector, it is that boost in footfall and business for venues that is the driving force behind Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks.”
Shona said that the response from the public online has also been overwhelmingly positive.
“We are seeing people sharing our social media content with friends and family, getting excited about where they want to go and try out over the next two weeks.
“Also, our two Secret Suppers, where diners only find out where they are eating on the day, were sold out within hours of going on sale. I think that speaks volumes to the popularity of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, said the spring and autumn outings for the Foodie Fortnight have become among of the most-popular and keenly-anticipated events in the Granite City’s calendar.
“Each time it is running, we see thousands of people coming into the city centre – and not just from Aberdeen. We know it pulls people in from Aberdeenshire and further afield, cementing Aberdeen as the vibrant and attractive regional city of the north-east.
“And that influx of visitors brings an economic boost of around £1million injected into the local economy every year.
“So, the table is set for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks and all that remains is for as many people – and businesses – as possible to enjoy it. Bon appetit.”
You can find out more about Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks - which ends on Sunday, September 6 - including a full list of participating restaurants and their offers, at Aberdeen Inspired’s website.