The best thing about treating someone to dinner is that technically you’re treating yourself too!
If you’re looking for a great little spot to celebrate a birthday then slip into something suitable and follow me…
Top – H&M (similar)|Cardigan – H&M (similar)|Jeans – ASOS|Shoes – New Look (similar)|Bag – H&M (similar)
Mac & Wild – London’s favourite Scottish restaurants has been on my radar for quite a while and the Mr’s birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to book a table and indulge. Tucked down Titchfield street, blink and you might miss it but once inside it’s a bustling treasure. Make sure you book because we went on a weekday and it was full to burst.
I’m not normally a whisky person but when you’re at a scottish inspired restaurant it would be rude not to. Kick off your meal with some cocktails; the Mr went straight for the Forager: Glenkinchie 12yo, foraged pine needle tincture,double infused heather honey & finished with barrel- aged bitters. Not my type of cocktail but the Mr loved it so much he took home a bottle! I however went for the slightly lighter Highland Solstice: Copper Dog whisky, triple sec, sweet vermouth,strawberries & mint – topped with ginger ale, basically a whisky pimms but even more refreshing.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to the food and quite frankly I could have eaten my way through the entire menu, so make sure you bring your appetite with you and go the whole hog with a 3 course meal. I started with the Campbell & Co’s Balvenie smoked Scottish salmon with whipped butter and a cheeky wee whisky on the side. Words can’t even describe how good this was so I won’t even try, just visit them and try it! The Mr went for deep-fried, crispy nuggets of haggis coated in breadcrumbs, served with Red Jon sauce, traditional Scottish with a London twist.
Whisky, it’s not to everyones taste but the Mr bloody loves it. So when he realised that you could do a mini tasting alongside your dinner he jumped at the chance. Three different whiskys to have alone or to accompany your food with price ranges to suit everyone.
Moving onto the main event, the main course. There were so many good vegetarian options on the menu that I almost didn’t try their famous Veni-Moo burger but the fact that they can trace right back to the suppliers and producers from the Highlands I knew it was to good to miss out on. I chose the ‘skinny’ option and ditched the bun for a side salad. Melt in the mouth patties with lashings of cheese and sweet candid bacon to stir up the tastebuds. He picks the Onglet steak cooked rare, it was like cutting through butter – he didn’t even have a steak knife it was that good. Large amounts of silence followed these dishes arrival with small intervals of waving forks in each others faces to try the others dish – pure bliss.
We almost didn’t have room for pudding but when I saw that they had Deep fried Mars Bar bites with Mackie’s salted caramel ice cream & whisky toffee sauce – topped with candied bacon pieces we couldn’t resist sharing one, and we weren’t disappointed. Plus the lovely staff had read my note on the reservation topped the sundae with a candle so I could embarrass the Mr by singing happy birthday in public – he won’t let me put any pictures up.
Whether it’s date night, a special birthday or just somewhere to meet up with loved ones Mac & Wild is the perfect place, plus if you are a Scottish reader they are just about to open one at The Falls of Shin.
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