Haigs Food Hall is a stalwart of Aberdeen’s lunchtime food scene, serving the city centre’s office workers, school kids and roaming packs of hungry visitors.
This year, owner James Haig invested in a wide-scale refurbishment of the Schoolhill shop and takeaway that includes an overhaul of the kitchen.
As a result, Haigs now offers an even wider range of takeaway food, most of which is made right there on the premises.
And with James’ pledge to oven cook instead of fry, the dishes are healthier than the normal lunch fare on offer in city takeaways.
Plus, he’s added an array of desserts that are likely to tempt many of those with good intentions into treating themselves on the odd occasion.
So, as the P&J office in Marischal Square is in Haigs orbit, Karla and I couldn’t wait to get down and try some of the new dishes for ourselves.
We were met by James and his wife Julie, who took us upstairs to the Haigs butchery and food prep area to get stuck in to some of the couple’s favourites.
The results
Did the new dishes tickle the taste buds? Will Karla and I be spending our hard-earned lunch money at the Haigs counter every day?
Main dishes
James cooked up a selection of his most popular items including stovies, mini sliders, hot dogs and mac & cheese. But it was the cheese and ham quiche that caught my eye.
Customers can choose their own filling, which is then stuffed into a Scotch pie. It sounds a bit crazy, but works well.
Karla’s second favourite pick of the round was the mac & cheese, which had a good amount of cheese and was nice and filling.
The sliders – mini burgers – were a great addition to the lunch menu, but Karla preferred the hot dogs and was bowled over by the spicy sauce.
Mac & cheese
Andy: 4
Karla: 4.5
Cheese and ham quiche in a Scotch pie
Andy: 4.5
Karla: 3
Stovies
Andy: 3.5
Karla: 3
Chinese chicken pasta
Andy: 3
Karla: 4
Mini sliders
Andy: 4
Karla: 3
Hot dog with spicy sauce
Andy: 3.5
Karla: 5
Desserts
We attacked the desserts with fervour – we’d heard great things about them.
They didn’t disappoint. James and Julie had cooked up a couple of dessert dishes in the shape of a cookie dough bake and a hot caramel apple pie.
Both of them were topped off with Haigs signature ice cream, which James gets in from an outside supplier, but with added cream.
Both dishes are absolutely delicious. Dangerously so, considering our office is within walking distance of Haigs.
Cookie dough & ice cream
Andy: 4.5
Karla: 4
Hot caramel apple pie & ice cream
Andy: 5
Karla: 4.5
The verdict
There was much to like at the Haigs lunch counter but my pick has to be the Scotch pie quiche. As for desserts – take your pick. The ice cream was delicious, and the range of pies and sweet treats on offer is fantastic.
I’d highly recommend it. And if you do pay a visit, remember to say hi. I’ll be in the corner with an ice cream.
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