Scone Spy pays a visit to Ballater’s Orka Artisan Cafe & Bistro

Scone Spy walked in the footsteps of royalty when we visited Ballater, the much-loved Aberdeenshire home of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Balmoral Castle and Birkhall have, since the time of Queen Victoria, been a cherished retreat for the royal family, who are familiar faces on the streets of this pretty nearby village. Beautifully located close to the River Dee – one of the best salmon rivers in Scotland – and the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, it’s a wonderful spot to spend a day out.

Having visited the village’s boutique stores – a shopaholic’s dream – the artisan cafe and bistro Orka beckoned. Scone Spy arrived on what was arguably one of the cafe’s busiest days with visitors from all over the world converging on the village in the weeks following the death of the Queen. Despite the rush, Orka’s friendly staff gave this unannounced spy the warmest of welcomes.

Duly seated, a quick glance at the menu revealed an array of fabulous choices, from tasty lunchtime nachos and burgers, to evening meals. We were here for the scones however, and having visited Orka’s Aberdeen branch a year before, the bar was set high.

We were not disappointed. The scone offering included the savoury heritage tomato and Orkney cheddar offering, as well as a spicy cheddar with Ayrshire bacon and jalapenos – which a couple of regulars on a neighbouring table assured us were lipsmackin’ good.

The remaining line-up was raspberry with either coconut or white chocolate, blueberry, plain, or fruit. This spy plumped for the purist approach and sampled the plain option, putting the eatery to what we believed would be the toughest test – a simple, unadulterated and perfect bake. And it passed with flying colours. A generous-sized scone duly arrived with butter and jam on the side and a pot of tea to accompany. With just a hint of crunch on the first bite and a satisfyingly crumbly interior, it was off-the-scale delicious.

With a price tag of under £10, we agreed the cafe’s king, scone-maker Tony Haynes, should take a bow.

Verdict

A great bake, pure and simple. 9/10