A rare event occurred in our lives last month – the children were away for the night which meant my wife and I could go out for a meal together and not have to worry about catering for a growing boy and a daughter with particular tastes.
A relaxed evening of indulgence was just what was needed.
But where to spend it?
Milton on the Corner
I had been eyeing up Milton on the Corner, the new name for the venue previously known as Cognito on the Corner, after it was taken over by the team behind Milton Brasserie, in Milton of Crathes.
I reviewed Cognito on the Corner for the menu not long after it launched in 2017 – we were even seated at the same booth on this visit – and was very happy to see such a bistro open up in my local area.
I was a fan of its food after that visit, so I was intrigued to see what changes the new owners had made to both the venue and the food offering.
To my delight, my absolute favourite dish was still on the menu, and I was also pleased to note the stylish decor remained the same, with some subtle additions. In these post-pandemic times, I liked the use of see-through screens with plants inside the glass, in between each table.
They were a discreet and stylish way of adding a little bit of extra security for those still wary of being around others.
The one minor complaint from my previous visit was the scope of the menu. It didn’t offer a huge amount of choice, so I was glad to see some new additions alongside previous favourites.
But before we got to the food, it would be remiss of anyone to visit this establishment and not take some time to study the drinks menu. It offers a decent selection of wines, but where it excels is its range of gins, rums and craft beers, with their provenance stated on the menu.
I was particularly impressed to see a rum from Girvan, on the south-west coast of Scotland, not to mention gins from Aberdeen, Deeside, Islay, Caithness and Shetland, among many others.
But as this was a special occasion, we decided a cocktail was in order and both chose a passion fruit martini from the varied selection and thoroughly enjoyed it while deciding on what food to order.
The food
As mentioned, I was very happy to see the Fisherman’s Platter retained its place on the menu as I adored it on my previous visit. There was no way I was choosing anything else for my main, but what would it be for a starter?
I find Cullen skink very hard to turn down, but king prawns and shrimp were also drawing my attention.
However, I finally plumped for the haggis bon bons, which were served with a fig and chilli jam and mixed leaves.
My vegetarian wife was well catered for and started with some bruschetta. It came loaded with cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella and a balsamic glaze.
I eyed it up with envy but none was forthcoming. A sure sign that she enjoyed her choice very much.
I was not left disappointed by my selection, however. I am a big fan of the haggis bon bon and loved how the sweet chutney paired perfectly with the bold flavours and spices of the haggis.
For her main course, my wife could have chosen mac and cheese, a vegetarian Caesar salad, a falafel dish, Camembert platter or a falafel burger, but instead decided she liked the sound of a cherry tomato, chilli and basil tagliatelle. She described it as simple, authentic and bursting with fantastic flavours.
The moment I had been waiting for all evening arrived in the shape of the Fisherman’s Platter. I did feel a bit of a glutton ordering a sharing platter, but it was the perfect size for a main course. I would certainly recommend it as a main course, or as a snack for two people sharing.
Served on a wooden board, the platter contained grilled shrimp, king prawns, battered haddock goujons, smoked salmon, pickles, bread and tartare sauce.
I love langoustines but can’t say that I have ordered shrimp before. I’ve always held langoustines in a far higher regard, however all that changed on this visit.
The shrimp was utterly divine. The texture was incredible and the flavours lovely too. It was the highlight of the dish and the meal for me, and was the best seafood I have eaten in years.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the prawns, which were delicious and covered in a lovely marinade.
I’m not a massive fan of smoked salmon but loved this version. And the tartare sauce and pickled vegetables also deserve praise. The dish was a triumph.
The verdict
Sometimes, returning to a place that holds happy memories can result in disappointment, but that was not the case at Milton on the Corner.
It offers the same warm welcome as before and the high standard of cooking is still as evident as it always was.
I may well be a creature of habit ordering the same dish at the same table in the same restaurant, but when you are guaranteed satisfaction, why change anything?
David Dalziel is the features editor at the Press and Journal and Evening Express.
He is also the editor of Your Life magazine, the weekend supplement in the Press and Journal on Saturdays. Has been reviewing restaurants for several years.
Information
Address: Milton on the Corner, 1 Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen AB15 5NE
T: 01224 977896
Price: £93 for two courses for two, two cocktails and a bottle of merlot
Scores:
- Food: 5/5
- Service: 4/5
- Surroundings: 4/5
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