Achi news desk-
Mara brings fine Italian wines and inspired small plates to the Granite City. Grant Dickie heads over to try out the city’s newest restaurant.
Thursday night, and after a day’s work, there is nothing better than escaping from the house to wind down with a bottle of wine and some delicious food.
Enter Mara. New to Aberdeen, the Italian-inspired wine bar and small bottle shop on the city’s Thistle Street is a welcome addition to the city’s retail scene. food scene.
Run by award-winning chef Ross Cochrane, who previously worked at The Rothesay Rooms, and his wife Carolina, Mara is cozy and intimate, with a menu that changes every few weeks, depending on what’s in season.
Everything on the small curated menu sounds amazing. We choose to share four plates and a bottle of wine, leaving room for dessert. There was a special lamb that I couldn’t refuse, and it didn’t disappoint. The meat was cooked to perfection and served alongside pesto and beans. It was the perfect start to the meal.
We enjoyed a stunning red Mara Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso. Carolina explains that they feel so strongly about Mara’s wine that it was not appropriate to name their new venture after him. The wine is smooth and perfectly paired with the lamb dish.
The smoked chicken was a winner and quickly eaten. The hake with a gem lettuce wedge, Caesar and onion, alongside the balls and pecorino chips, was very tasty. The flavors were perfect.
The plates come out slowly, a welcome change from similar tapas-style restaurants where your table quickly becomes cluttered with dishes.
To finish the evening we tried the Sicilian orange polenta cake with curd and ice cream. Having only tried polenta in chips, it was nice to experience its versatility. Another success, and the perfect way to end an amazing meal.
Mara is the perfect place after work. The bar seating makes it ideal for popping in to enjoy a glass of wine after a long day, and the food is relaxed but executed to perfection.
It’s slightly cheaper than other food and drink options in Aberdeen, but the price is easily reflected in the quality of the food. I will certainly be back to try the other dishes on the menu.
For more information on Mara and their current small plates, visit marawinebar.com
