The Tippling House is one of Aberdeen’s best kept secrets, but if you know, you know.
It would almost be easy to walk right past The Tippling House, despite it’s central Belmont Street location, were it not for the spectacular display of fabulously bohemian dried flowers that consume the window space and draw the eye.
The last thing you expect when you descend the monochrome tiled steps into the subterranean late-night venue is to find yourself in the bar equivalent of an Aladdin’s cave of wonders, reminiscent of every 1920’s New York jazz bar you ever saw in a movie.
All that’s missing is the thick smoky haze and the wandering piano lazily tinkling away in the corner.
There are softly furnished cosy booths, ideal for enjoying an intimate dinner or kicking back with one of their expertly crafted cocktails under ambient lighting.
Given the super stylish surroundings, it comes as no surprise that the menu follows suit with understated, fashionable small plates available to enjoy late into the night.
The Aberdeen Restaurant Week menu sticks to the theme, but with an indulgent tasting menu on offer.
What can you expect a taste of?
The Tippling House are offering up either two courses for £20 or three courses for £25, all inclusive of an ‘amuse-booze’ to start, and with an optional cheese course (for an additional £10) to finish, all under the expert direction of head chef, Stuart Galloway.
Given the quality of the ingredients and all-round high class nature of the venue, this is a truly fantastic deal.
The service, which just happened to be brought to us by one of our good friends, the very lovely Lucy, on this occasion, was absolutely stand-out from start to finish.
We couldn’t have felt more welcome and taken care of from the moment we sat down. Very soon after, we were treated to some bowls of plump, juicy olives and unbelievably moreish smoked almonds to keep us going while we eagerly awaited the first course.
Shortly returning with our ‘amuse-booze’, painted as the ‘tot’ of the day, we couldn’t wait to find out what was in the wee glasses filled with an inviting amber-coloured potion.
It turned out to be a combination of champagne and Framboise. Sweet, berry flavoured, and a delightful way to start the meal.
Scrumptious starters had us off to a flying start
While a luxurious duo of oysters were on offer, call me uncultured, but I unfortunately cannot stand the things, so for me it had to be the smoked haddock croquettes. I was not disappointed with my choice.
Served with a burnt leek cream, the deliciously crunchy croquettes were packed with savoury flavour and left me longing for more. Just perfection.
The hubby went for the warm potato salad, which came tossed in a wonderfully mustardy vinaigrette. A beautifully light way to kick things off.
The charming Lucy kept us entertained as we chuckled our way through the tough decision of which cocktails to choose to wash down the fabulous food, because you can’t possibly visit The Tippling House without sampling at least one. Or three…
The main event…
Promptly, our mains arrived and they were a sight for sore eyes.
Grant had opted for the pan-fried seabass, which arrived atop a pile of piperade basquaise (a rich and spicy tomato sauce) with chickpeas.
There was definitely something magical about this dish, as he managed to make the whole lot disappear in moments right in front of my eyes, only stopping for breath for long enough to tell me how exquisite the fish cookery was, perfect crispy skin and all.
For me, it was the vegetarian option – romesco caponata with parmesan polenta.
While the Mediterranean flavours were bold and rich, the dish proved a little tricky to eat – at least with a fork anyway. I might of had better luck with a spoon as everything on the plate, particularly the polenta, was on the liquid side, and ate a little more like a soup.
That being said, if it had been served with a chunk of crusty bread to mop everything up, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. A little bit of texture would have gone a long way.
Something sweet this way comes…
The most mouth-watering moment of the evening came with the arrival of the dessert. I couldn’t resist the apple crumble with miso butterscotch, and oh, what a great choice it was.
This was the kind of dessert that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sweet sticky pieces of apple topped with crunchy chunks of crumble, gently spiced with the festive flavours of Christmas, all nestled cosily in a pool of rich, glossy caramel. An utter triumph that left me grinning and feeling mellow all over.
Grant, predictably, as happens most times he sees this on any menu, went for the oat milk panna cotta, which was actually vegan. Topped with candied ginger and fresh raspberries, it looked pretty as a picture.
His only comment was that it was a little firm in texture and lacked the satisfying wobble that usually comes with this jiggly dessert, but such is the nature of any vegan dessert like this that lacks gelatin. It’s still fabulous to see a vegan option on the menu all the same.
The verdict
Great food, and unbelievable value for money in a setting that makes you feel like a movie star, what more could you ask for?
Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to a night at The Tippling House, not just during Aberdeen Restaurant Week, but any time. You deserve it.
Information
A: 4 Belmont Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JE
Price: £50
Aberdeen Restaurant Week promotion: Set price tasting menu with two courses for £20 or three courses for £25
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