For Aberdeen locals, Moonfish Café is one of those charming neighbourhood restaurants, combining thoughtful, seasonal plates with a bucket-load of character and a great location. It's the perfect name to scribble in your little black book of 'must visit' restaurants in the city, and a spot to earmark for birthdays, office dos and even wedding receptions, too.
You see, as well as serving up locally-sourced dishes in a casual environment throughout the week, the team here are excited to open their doors for private dining events, too. While the website doesn't share the breadth of their venue hire offering, simply get in touch with the team to chat through booking large tables, your own corner of the restaurant or even taking over the entire place.
Moonfish Café started back in 2004 and since then has been committed to celebrating Scottish produce through modern British dining, paired with natural wines and an extensive gin list - many of which are sourced from across Scotland. The restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide for the last six years on the trot, which offers an insight into the quality of the dishes here.
To get a feel for the food, check out the website for an example of the ever-changing menu. Dinner comes in either two, three or four courses, with starters such as scallop with chicken butter, pickle mushroom and hazelnut, mains like spring lamb with peas, couscous and grilled gem lettuce, followed by sweets like rhubarb clafoutis with mascarpone cream and pistachio. If you really fancy going all out, there's also the option for a cheese course, served with quince, prune and crackers.
No celebration is quite complete without some tipples and the team are experts in organic, natural and biodynamic wines, so be sure to ask them for suggestions for your meal or perhaps as welcome drinks for your guests.