Review on The Silver Darling
There's little doubt about the main foodie enterprise in this former Customs House overlooking Aberdeen harbour. The Silver Darling is not only the most highly rated restaurant in the city, but offers some of the finest seafood cookery in Scotland.
Chef/patron Didier Dejean is a Frenchman through-and-through and his Gallic thumbprint is everywhere on the menus. Dishes are intricate and often involve lots of components, but the results hang together impressively. To start, there might be a ceviche of oysters, sea bass and tuna with whipped vodka, streamed quails' eggs and citrus coulis or a grilled 'escalope' of squid on ratatouille with garlic, basil and ink dressing. 'Les plats cuisines' continue the theme with the likes of pan-fried sea bass with mushroom risotto, confit parsnips and mushroom cappuccino or steamed cod with potato brandade, garlic toast, crunchy spring onions and herb dressing.
There are generally a couple of options for meat-eaters, while contemporary desserts could run from an assortment of 'petites' crème brûlées to little shots of homemade sorbet with a crispy rice biscuit. France naturally holds sway on the well-assembled, fish-friendly wine list.
The main conservatory-style dining room is at the top of the building, but during the summer there's also a neat, modern oyster bar on the ground floor, offering anything from mussels to steak and frites.
The Silver Darling is also featured in: Good Food Guide, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Seafood / French
Chef
Didier Dejean and Craig Somers
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.00pm (3.00pm Fri, 9.30pm Sat & 8.00pm Sun)
Dinner: 5.30 - 8.30pm (9.30 Sat & 8.00pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card