Aberdam takeaway restaurant talk of Deliveroo success in Glasgow

Aberdam was launched ‘by chance’ last year by business partners David Griffiths and Michael Robertson, both 32, who were searching for a way to breathe life back into their home city’s economy in the wake of the pandemic. 

David explained: “Michael and I met up in lockdown to discuss starting a larger project like a food hall that would allow us to help improve the regeneration of Aberdeen. 

“We went on to launch our own street food collective, the Backyard Beach, which helped to support businesses that had suffered a loss of income during Covid. 

“To fill a space, we opened a humble Dutch fries stall using imported seasonings like mayo or satay sauce. 

“I put £5000 on my credit card, borrowed a couple of fryers and that was it. 

“It completely took off.” 

It wasn’t long before Aberdam outgrew their first unit and opened a larger outlet at the city’s Shiprow Village which allowed them to celebrate the ‘Aber’ side of the business, collaborating with local butchers and bakers to add high-quality smashed burgers to their menu. 

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Their meteoric rise to success caught the eye of Deliveroo, who offered a golden opportunity for the team to make the move to Glasgow in October of this year, joining a group of other restaurants at the takeaway giant’s Scotland Street Editions Kitchen. 

Michael said: “Glasgow has such a diverse food culture and we had always thought of it as the first city we would like to expand to. 

“There’s a huge amount of competition compared to Aberdeen and we couldn’t wait to get in amongst it. 

“So far it’s been absolutely great.”  

On the menu is a quirky mix of patriotic Scottish dishes like the loaded Braveheart fries with black pudding and Dutch influences including bitterballen, a traditional snack which Michael describes as a kind of “breadcrumbed stovies bon bon”. 

But how we wonder, will the team add a taste of Glasgow into the mix? 

Michael said: “Our food is fusion so we’ve always had it in mind that we can’t stay too pigeonholed to relying on local ingredients. 

“It will always be important to us to showcase Aberdeen’s incredible natural larder but what we want to do is have a certain amount of the menu sourced from the cities we’re located in. 

“In Glasgow, we’re looking for someone to partner with to supply our dessert at the moment. 

“We’re really trying to collaborate and make those connections.”  

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While Aberdam is fast making a name for itself within the Glasgow food scene, the team’s Deliveroo residency will last for just six short months, leaving David and Michael determined to lay down permanent roots in their second Scottish home. 

David said: “It’s been great to get our feet under the table and show people what we’re about with Deliveroo, but we’re definitely on the lookout for a bricks-and-mortar space or a kitchen residency. 

“For two guys who almost didn’t have a pot to p*ss in two years ago to now having all of these projects on the go is a lot, but it’s what Aberdam is all about. 

“We want to be busy, collaborate and do good for local communities wherever we go.” 

For more information on Aberdam click here.