Review: The Tippling House Aberdeen Restaurant Week menu

It’s sexy, understated and much loved by anyone who appreciates a decent cocktail or two.

Yup, welcome to The Tippling House on Belmont Street in Aberdeen, where stairs descend into this quirky cellar bar.

From the wood panelled ceiling to private booth seating, and of course that seductive lighting, it’s no wonder this gem has forever proved a hit.

The Tippling House offers that speakeasy vibe. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

As me and my friend Kristin slid into a booth, we were no longer two knackered mums, not least because those hanging lamps did a marvellous job of hiding the eyebags.

The Tippling House is the place to be when you want to escape for a wee while, the din of nearby Union Street fading to nothing.

We were warmly greeted by staff, and were not surprised to find a good few tables occupied.

Take a seat and be seduced by the interior at The Tippling House. Image: Wullie Marr / DC Thomson

With both three courses and five courses on offer, priced at a thrifty £20 or £30, we were eager to get sampling the menu.

Head chef Stuart Galloway has put together a pretty marvellous selection, and having heard great things about the boozy brunches, we couldn’t wait to tuck in.

Sadly we were both driving that night, but your tipple selection matters not to the hard working staff.

The food

You won’t find half hearted mocktails at The Tippling House, and we both ordered from the ‘lo and no’ cocktails list.

I opted for Spring Back Highball and it was love at first sip.

Our mocktails were delicious. Image: Kristin Traquair

This £6 concoction was made up of Seedlip Garden, lavender and hibiscus shrub, cloudy apple and lemon.

Served in a proper cocktail class, it was delicious, and I may have ordered another one later in the evening.

Kristin settled on Bell Hop, which was a curious mix of Seedlip Spice, bell pepper cordial, hopped grapefruit bitters and lime.

In my experience, The Tippling House always does things a little differently, and I am 100% here for it.

Onto the food, which arrived beautifully presented.

We had selected the three course option, and I went for buttermilk fried chicken tacos served with red pickled onion and salsa.

Kristin eagerly tucked into burrata, served with pumpkin, hazelnut and sage.

If there’s one thing I love about Kristin, it’s that as a dedicated foodie she can always be relied upon to be honest.

A birds eye view of our starters. Image: Kristin Traquair

Her verdict?

It was a nice creamy but light start to the meal, and the toasted hazelnuts were a fantastic addition to the dish.

I gobbled down my own starter in record time, the chicken was tender within and served with mini flatbreads, perfect for dunking into the salsa.

Appetites perked up, our mains arrived with a flourish.

I had venison cannelloni served with wild mushroom, and Kristin had roast cauliflower served with pickled leeks and smoked cheddar sauce.

Venison cannelloni is a new one on me, but none the less delicious. Image: Kristin Traquair

The venison cannelloni was rich and perfect for a cold January night, the cannelloni itself draped over the meat and was cooked beautifully.

Whilst I couldn’t finish the dish, I wouldn’t hesitate to order again.

Across the table, Kristin was rather delighted with Tippling’s take on cauliflower cheese.

The cauliflower was roasted whole, and the sauce was very moreish. Image: Kristin Traquair

The cauliflower was whole and roasted so it wasn’t soggy or overcooked, but still had a bit of bite to it.

The pickled leeks added unexpected flavour bombs that cut through and complemented the rich cheese sauce, and yes, Kristin is now going to attempt to pickle her own homegrown produce.

Finally, dessert, and always my most anticipated meal in life.