eating out

Well, here's a tricky one...


The UK in general has a bit of a bad reputation in the food department and despite my generally large appetite and forgiving palate, I must say that reputation is probably deserved.  Sadly, Scotland, as a nation, may have an even worse reputation.

Quips about deep fried mars bars and 'the best chippy in Scotland' debate aside, I've decided to dedicate this post to just a few places I'll actually miss eating at and/or would tell visitors to check out.  So, in no particular order...

Kebab King
119 Victoria Road, Torry, Aberdeen AB11 9LX
Make no mistake, this guy is actually Kebab royalty.  His take away shop is located in a (ahem) colourful neighbourhood near the prison in Aberdeen.  I believe the proprietor is originally from Turkey and does his country proud.  His chicken kebabs are made from marinated chicken cooked to order on a smoky grill.  Likewise his sauces are fantastic and portions are substantial.  Everyone I've taken here has been initially a bit sceptical of 'going out of the way' to get a kebab, but has been surprised once they've seen what is on offer.

Assam's
57 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2AE
This is my favourite Indian place in Scotland.  The food is full of great texture and flavour, far beyond what you normally get in an 'average' Indian restaurant.  The naan bread is massive and the peshwari naan is the best I've ever had.  Typically I find peshwari naan to be sweet and gaudy, but Assam's version is beautifully executed.  Lastly, the spiced haddock starter may be the best Indian dish I have ever tasted.  Cooked and served in a simple foil wrap it never fails to amaze.

The But n' Ben
Auchmithie, Arbroath DD11 5SQ
Scotland has a terrible habit of not serving its own food.  There are few places where you can go to eat the kind of food a Scottish granny would make and the ones that do specialise in this type of food generally do it poorly and very self-consciously.  The But 'n Ben do this sort of thing perfectly and in a breathtaking location on top of the cliffs a few minutes drive from Arbroath.  You can get mince and tatties, cullen skink, clootie dumpling as well as some more modern twists on the local speciality - smoked haddock.