Situated in the former Customs House at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour, the recently renovated Silver Darling has a seasonal menu created to embrace their unique location and to showcase the very best in Scottish food. In collaboration with Visit Aberdeenshire.
The Silver Darling restaurant is situated in the old Customs House at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour, just a hop, skip and jump away from the Northlink Ferry Terminal – and it’s been a popular restaurant for Shetland folk travelling to and from the mainland since it was first launched in 1986.
In September 2017 the restaurant was acquired by independent hospitality business The Mcginty’s Group who renovated it to the highest of standards, re-launching the new restaurant in February 2018.
The Silver Darling has been transformed with stylish interiors that celebrate their unique heritage and complement their stunning setting for memorable meals. Features include a hand-painted Fish Market board as a nod to the restaurant’s location and a bespoke glass installation created by local artist Shelagh Swanson featuring historic pictures of the neighbouring fishing village of Footdee – affectionately known as ‘Fittie’ by the locals.
The upstairs dining area boasts floor to ceiling glass windows, providing panoramic views of Aberdeen’s beach, harbour and the historic fishing village. The Harbour is said to be the UK’s oldest business, first established as a business in 1136 by King David 1st of Scotland, and has a history spanning almost 900 years.
With a passion for quality food and drink, their menus have been carefully curated to showcase the finest selection of Scottish produce from Aberdeen Angus Beef to the freshest fish and shellfish dishes, in a laid-back yet sophisticated atmosphere.
It’s is the perfect setting to gaze at the sweeping sea coastline, watch the ships sail by, or in the summer months, you may be lucky to catch a glimpse of the dolphins and seals bobbing in the bay. We were lucky to see quite a few playful dolphins in the harbour mouth as we dined recently.
As part of the relaunch, a new food menu is now on offer with a seafood influence, an increased selection of meat dishes and an extensive wine list. Their new head chef, Craig Somers, originally started his career at The Silver Darling at the age of 20 as a commis chef and now returns with more than 22 years of industry experience.
For my starter, I opted for the seared Shetland scallops with hazelnut vinaigrette, pickled apples and pea shoots. This recipe was recently featured in local lifestyle magazine Trend along with a feature on head chef Craig Somers (click here for the recipe) and it is a magnificent starter.
Four perfectly seared Shetland scallops are served with Granny apple matchsticks pickled in lemon juice and a drizzle of homemade toasted hazelnut vinaigrette made with olive oil and sherry vinegar. Pea shoots garnish. It’s a lovely light and fresh starter, a perfect meal to whet the appetite for your main course.
For my main, I kept with the seafood theme, choosing the pan-seared halibut with potatoes, wilted greens and parsley mayonnaise. Utterly delicious, and perfectly cooked tender, flaky fish.
Although this restaurant primarily focuses on seafood and meat dishes, there are vegetarian options on offer – this month’s menu features a toasted quinoa risotto as well as a wild mushroom linguine.
They also do a rather magnificent Silver Darling Platter – for just £30 you’ll get a platter of fresh, perfectly cooked crevettes (cooked king prawns), home-cured salmon gravadlax, mussels mariniere (pictured above), grilled langoustines, hot smoked Loch Fyne salmon and a pair of oysters served with bread, seaweed mayo and tartare sauce.
The Silver Darling also features a private dining room located away from the main restaurant next to the kitchen. It can seat up to 14 guests and would be a perfect venue for a celebration or a corporate meeting.
Location: The Silver Darling, Porca Quay, Aberdeen, Scotland AB11 5DQ
Telephone: 01224 576229
Website: www.thesilverdarling.co.uk
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Visit Aberdeenshire, although all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. With thanks to the staff at The Silver Darling for the complimentary meal and excellent service. Thank you to my readers for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
Traditional Shetland Reestit Mutton Soup Recipe
I’ve never been to Aberdeen, but if I ever go there, I will definitely head to the Silver Darling. It looks and sound like the kind of place I would love to go to, with it perfect views, info about the fish caught and extensive wine menu. I would definitely have gone for the scallops as a starter: they look absolutely mouth-watering. Had I been there, I would have gone for the Aberdeen Angus Beef as my main!
I really like the outside of the building design, so pretty. It sounds like you had a great meal at this resaurant.
I love the appearance of the building. I’m glad you had a fab time at the restaurant.
I have had a bad food poisoning experience after eating mussels and I haven’t dared eating them again since it happened. I must admit, though, that this restaurant might change my mind on that. If I ever were to visit, I wouldn’t want to pass on the opportunity to feast on that Platter just because it features mussels. Could keep it in mind if I ever want to d a comback to eating mussels again!
Wowzers your meal looks and sounds incredible! The setting and decor look amazing too. I’m completely sold;)
Seriously mouth watering stuff! Yum!! And that setting is just divine!
Oh my goodness, that halibut looks incredible. Very jealous.
Oh wow the food certainly looks delicious and what a wonderful view! Will have to keep it in mind if I ever visit Aberdeen! x
Oh, the view is breathtaking and the dishes, mouth-watering. I love seafood and this restaurant makes it more appealing to the eye xx
The restaurant looks and sounds lovely! The food looks great too!
Great post!
This looks such a lovely place, with amazing food and lovely setting. The decor is stunning
The view looks amazing, I’ve only been to Scotland a couple of times but we’re planning a road trip to Scotland in our new camper van. This restaurant looks very good and I love seafood so we’ll have to see if it’s on our route.
Oh wow that looks incredible! The food looks so good and what gorgeous surroundings! I love Scotland and will bear it in mind next time we are over that way!
Ate there recently, for the first time since the renovation. Delighted to say food was up to usual high standard. Atmosphere more relaxed (a good thing IMHO) than before – very good value.
I never saw the restaurant before but it certainly looks glorious after the renovation, and the food looks really really excellent. Good to know, if and when I come to visit you, shall make sure to stop here!
We dined there for my husband’s birthday and had a lovely meal. The food has always been good there but the new look to the space takes the whole experience to another level. Love Sheelaghs artwork.
That looks like a wonderful restaurant, just my kind of place with all that glorious seafood. The Silver Darlings was one of my favourite novels when I was a teenager and the restaurant looks like it lives up to Neil Gunn’s standards!
What a gorgeous building and such beautiful decor. I love the sound of that platter, it sounds so delicious!
Wow, that building is stunning, plus I love how classy it looks inside. The food looks and sounds amazing and the photos are fab!
WOW what a beautiful building and I love the sound of being able to gaze out at the coastline whilst eating. The food looks really delicious and fresh too!
Gosh that view looks amazing. It looks very stylish and that platter is a great price for a lucnh.
The food looks so delicious, especially those scallops! I like how crispy the skin is on that halibut. And the view from the restaurant is fantastic, so romantic!
So informative. Hope will visit The silver darling someday.
Loved it.
Keep sharing more
any place where you have a chance to see beautiful sealife in its natural habitat is one I would love to check out! sounds a lovely restaurant x
I love seafood so I can tell I would absolutely love visiting The Silver Darling. The food looks very tasty!
Mushroom linguine is my all time fave! The restaurant looks so cool and modern too, very pretty!