I remember when I moved to the Aberdeen suburb of Bridge of Don and people used to speak about this bar called the Mains.
It took me some time to realise that they were meaning the Mains of Scotstown – and even longer to find the place!
It is tucked into an area surrounded by various housing estates so you wouldn’t necessarily pass it while out and about.
Years ago when I was expecting my first baby, my antenatal group used to meet there for coffees comparing bumps and general baby talk. Bumps slowly became replaced by car seats as all the babies made their appearances into the world, so we had to swap to a more fitting setting for our catch ups.
Of course all of those babies are now grown up and old enough to drink in the bar by themselves nowadays.
The venue
The family restaurant is quite striking from the outside with a large courtyard and a wall adorned with a thriving ivy climber. There are plenty of picnic tables and a plethora of umbrellas on the tables if the sun gets too much, while a large marquee provides shelter if the rain appears.
They also have an outdoor dining menu and cocktail menu, but more of that later.
Three of us visited on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was very quiet, with just a few other tables occupied. Inside the décor is very stylish and modern, with seating in various shades of blue and numerous fabric textures, while striking teal dressers are used for storage.
Exquisite industrial-type chandeliers provide plenty light while wooden panelling and flooring complete the contemporary look.
A young waiter warmly greeted us and showed us to our table as we browsed the menus.
The menu boasts about half a dozen starters and desserts. The main courses are split into a classics section, burgers and dawgs, pizzas, from the grill and a healthier option section.
The food
We chose the popular Italian antipasto dish bruschetta to share.
Piled on top of two chunks of crispy ciabatta toast were delicious diced juicy tomatoes, red onion and basil. Balsamic glaze was delicately drizzled around the white serving plate and over the tomatoes.
A delightful fresh starter that went to down a treat.
Next up for mains was a giant chicken skewer, hunter’s chicken and a red Thai veggie curry.
The skewer arrived on a chunky wooden board laden with food. Plenty of chips, coleslaw and a side salad shared the board with the meat.
Threaded on to the wooden skewer were large chunks of juicy chicken marinated in peri-peri, red onion and pepper. They all had the perfect chargrilled look and flavour, while the accompanying dip was certainly not for the faint hearted with a surprising amount of spice.
I tucked in to one of my pub favourites, hunter’s chicken. How could anyone not love chicken breast wrapped in bacon, smothered in barbecue sauce and cheese?
It was real comfort food, oozing with lots of different flavours, and I devoured this and every one of the chunky chips.
Across the table, mum was tucking into her curry. Presentation looked good with a dome of rice topped with red chillies surrounded by the curry. However, she was a little underwhelmed with the curry that lacked any real depth of flavour and packed very little heat.
A naan bread or perhaps a poppadum might have been a welcome addition and would have also added some texture to the dish.
Being the “dessert queen” of the family, I had already spied some tasty sweet treats to the back of the menu.
Death by chocolate, affogato and a banoffee sundae all sounded equally enticing, but as it was summer and sunny I plumped for the Eton Mess.
It really resembled summer in a bowl with cherries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and physalis all perched on top of a thick layer of fresh cream.
Underneath this was a fruit coulis, smashed meringue and the absolute winning ingredient – lemon curd. The tangy, sweet curd brought this dish to a new level and I have vowed to give this a try at home.
We had a chat with the waiter while paying the bill and enquired about the outside area. He gave us a peek at the bar menu which is served outside and our mouths watered at the dirty fries section, with temping toppings such as katsu chicken, haggis and peppercorn sauce, or the old favourite, chips, cheese and gravy.
There is also a basket section with chicken, meat and veggie burgers, fish and chips and scampi, and a selection of pizzas with various toppings.
The Mains also showcases plenty gins to enjoy inside or al fresco and has a fine array of summer cocktails too.
The verdict
We thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday night treat. Special mention to the two young servers who were very polite and friendly throughout our visit.
The restaurant is ideal for all ages with plenty choice to suit even the fussiest of eaters at reasonable prices.
The beer garden is definitely worth a visit and we cannot wait to walk our dog there and sample those dirty fries and a cocktail – we just need the sun to shine.
Lesley Taylor is a staff restaurant reviewer. She works in the DCT Media events team and is based in Aberdeen.
Lesley has been reviewing restaurants across the region for more than a decade.
Information
Address: Mains of Scotstown, Jesmond Square, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB22 8WT
T: 01224 825222
W: mainsofscotstown.com
Price: £60 for one starter, three main courses, one dessert, two soft drinks, a beer and a latte
Scores:
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 4/5
- Surroundings: 4/5
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