Business / New cafe/restaurant in Unst set to open to customers this weekend
A NEW cafe/restaurant which aims to offer “good food and good times” is set to open its doors in Unst this weekend.
Da Otter’s Neuk will operate from the former Victoria’s Tearoom premises in Haroldswick.
Opening to the public on Friday, the menu offers breakfasts, lunches and evening meals.
Behind the venture are Unst man Robert Gray and Barry McKay.
Gray said there has been a demand for evening meals in Unst, including from locals, which has been lacking in recent times.
There is of course the tourist trade in the summer too – with Da Otter’s Neuk naturally assuming the title of the UK’s most northerly cafe/restaurant.
Gray said McKay is a baker to trade, while he himself has experience of baking and has been working as a cook in the Nordalea care home in Baltasound for nearly two years.
“My midder has been a caterer all her days, so there’s a lot of experience in the family,” Gray said.
“We’ve never done the restaurant side of things, but the opportunity came up, so you kind of have to jump at it.”
Opening times in March are restricted to weekends for now due to prior commitments but the plan is to expand into the week in due course.
Most closing times for March are listed as 10pm, and Gray said they will “serve drink eventually, but it’s no coming anytime shortly”.
Busier periods of the year might also bring the chance for job creation, with Gray suggesting they could bring in two part-time staff in peak season.
In terms of the food on the plates, he said they are “pushing for as much local produce as possible”.
“It’s good to be trying to put something back in the community,” Gray said.
The opening weekend menu includes pan-seared Unst salmon and Unst moules mariniere, for instance, while elsewhere folk will be able to try dishes like lamb dopiaza, steak pie and crofter’s ratatouille.
Da Otter’s Neuk will open on Friday from midday to 10pm, with other opening hours listed on Facebook.
Prior to hosting Victoria’s Tearoom for the last decade-plus, the building used to be run as the Northern Lights Bistro.
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