European & Mediterranean

Bristol

A CAPPELLA
184c Wells Rd, Totterdown, BS4 2AL
Tel: 0117 971 3377, web: www.acappellas.co.uk
● Cafe by day and friendly BYO pizzeria by night, and a favourite hangout for savvy locals in Totterdown and Knowle. Quality, value-for-money fresh food, with an interesting range of stone-baked pizzas, prepared using traditional techniques and all at
affordable prices - everything from the pizza base to the tomato sauce is made on the premises. Homemade desserts, tapas, healthy breakfasts and great coffees make it a popular destination for cafe dwellers, too - especially parents, as there are plenty of kid-oriented distractions on hand (toys, books, etc). Alfresco dining area, evening takeaway and delivery, and booking essential at weekends. The Evening Post effused: ‘Relaxed, good value and well-run, A Cappella is one of those places that ticks all the right boxes as a solid, reliable community cafe. We need more places like it.’ Price Tapas £2-£2.75, pizzas £7.45-£13.45, mains £9.45-£14.45 Wine list BYO (corkage £1 per head) Open Mon-Thur 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-10pm. Good disabled access.

AQUA ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR
Welsh Back, BS1 4RR
Tel: 0117 915 6060
NEW
153 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2RF
Tel: 0117 973 3314 web: www.aqua-restaurant.com
● The Welsh Back branch’s views over the docks are sublime and the atmosphere classy but classless. Its sister in Clifton is housed in a beautifully transformed grade ll-listed building, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in modern Rome. Both settings are bright, light and airy, and both offer excellent (heated) alfresco facilities. New for 2010 is the transformation of the Welsh Back restaurant into the Aqua Italia family. Venue’s food editor approves of the move to everything Italian: ‘The new makeover at the Welsh Back Aqua has brought a light and stylish spaciousness to the place, evoking a cooler retro-contemporary feel. The uncluttered bar area makes for a relaxing drinking space a million miles from the cider-drenched cobbles of neighbouring King Street.’ The food impresses, too: ‘The mid-priced menu is classic Italian, with wide-ranging choices of antipasti, risotto, pasta and pizza as well as meat and fish dishes. It was all nicely Italian, served up with amiable efficiency and satisfyingly filling.’ Huge portions of locally sourced and organic (where possible) produce, good-value Sun roasts and a dedicated kids’ menu all add to Aqua’s enduring all-things-to-all-people appeal. See website for current offers and specials. Price ALC: £2.50-£7.95/£8.50-£18.95/£5.50-£5.75. Set menu: 2 £11.99, 3 £14.50 (till 8pm, 6pm on Sat). Sun roast £8.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £15.50 btl, £5.15 lg gls. Superb cocktails, beers Open Welsh Back: restaurant daily 12noon-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat), bar daily 11.30am-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Good disabled access. Party bookings up to 150 welcome, late licence available. Clifton: restaurant daily 10am-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat), bar daily 11am-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Good disabled access. Party bookings welcome, private functions catered for.

ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR
16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
Tel: 0117 917 2305, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk
● Italian-influenced menu, with light bites and good-value lunch deals. See Cafes, Bristol.

BELL’S DINER
1 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QB
Tel: 0117 924 0357, web: www.bellsdiner.co.uk
● No matter how bottle-necked or crowded Montpelier gets, people, including reviewers nationwide, will make the trek to discover Bell’s. In the words of Venue’s food editor: ‘If you’ve ever wondered what great food is, then Bell’s is the answer.’ Chef/owner Chris Wicks and his team’s very modern, sophisticated style of cooking manages to stay cutting-edge and contemporary, and their extremely capable and knowledgable French sommelier will help with the wine selection. ‘We were having an Experience, rather than a mere meal, and the main courses built on our expectations: her rabbit piemontaise richly stuffed with roasted pepper and anchovies, my Gressingham duck exquisitely balanced with swirls of pumpkin mousse, while a deep cotes de ventoux complemented the meats exactly. We left, after faultless coffee, reeling from an experience that had been more than just ‘fine dining’. Bell’s is a place of casual virtuosity that provides a memorably blissful evening for just £50 a head.’ Price ALC: £6.50-£9.50/£16.50-£19.50/£7.50-£8.50. Tasting menu (Mon-Thur, highly recommended): 8 £45 (min 2, max 6 people - can also be accompanied by a Wine Flight at £32.50pp) Wine list Excellent and innovative. HW £14.50 btl, £2.95 gls Open Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, Mon-Sat 7-9.30pm. Disabled access possible (two steps) with help. Private hire, up to 30. Parties of 20+.

NEW
BERWICK LODGE
Berwick Drive, BS10 7TD
Tel: 0117 958 1590, web: www.berwicklodge.co.uk
● Following five years of regeneration, this unique arts and crafts manor house opened in September 2009, the stunning boutique ‘restaurant with rooms’ having been lovingly restored to its former grandeur. With inspired chef Chris (Bell’s Diner) Wicks at the helm, food is seductive and daring, rightly earning them Venue’s Best Bristol Restaurant 2009. ‘Dinner-suited staff wait on the red carpet,’ reported Venue’s food editor, ‘and the mystique is complete when you’re shown into an opulently furnished lounge for nibbles, aperitifs and the chance to discuss the awesome wine list with an impeccably French and knowledgeable sommelier.’ A set-price lunch and dinner are both offered - a bargain for food of this calibre. ‘I’ve picked halibut, a cubic fillet of pure white flesh, pan-bronzed and surrounded with artichokes in a variety of guises. Like the starter, it’s another heavenly example of the ‘sum of its parts’, as is my Middle Eastern dessert medley of figs, dates and couscous.’ A special place, serving special food - eat here now while you can still get a booking. Lunch and afternoon tea also available. Advance booking recommended. Price SL: 3 £29.90. Quick lunch: 2 £25. SD: 3 £39.90. Sunday Special: 4 full-price-paying adults, and one child eats free. Afternoon tea £12.50pp Wine list Extensive, thoughtful, pricey, from £19 btl, £6 gls Open Daily breakfast 7-9.30am, lunch 12noon-3pm, afternoon tea 3-5pm, dinner 6-10pm. Disabled access. Private hire up to 70. Conferences & events catered for.

BLACKSTICKS JAZZ CAFÉ, BAR & GRILL
85 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2NT
Tel 0117 973 9302, web: www.thepicturehouse.eu
● See Picture House entry, page 162

BORDEAUX QUAY
V-Shed, Canons Way, BS1 5UH
Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk
● With awards galore (too numerous to list, but including accolades from the Soil Association, Good Food Guide and Observer Food Monthly), BQ is a truly unique harbourside venture, housed in an elegant, converted warehouse and comprising a restaurant, brasserie, bar, wine bar, deli, bakery and cookery school all under one roof. At the heart of the project is a drive to reduce food miles, reduce waste through recycling and make full use of locally sourced produce (there are tanks for rainwater harvesting and low-energy lights, and everything possible is recycled) while the daily changing menus reflect the best of what’s local and seasonal throughout the year. From wild game to fresh Cornish fish or locally reared organic lamb, these are delicious ingredients, beautifully prepared. Breakfast, brunch and light bites are available in the informal brasserie (where bar snacks start at a couple of quid and mains at around a tenner), while the restaurant offers seriously fine dining opportunities in a lively but mellow atmosphere. The Guardian’s reviewer said: ‘What is so impressive about this place is, well, everything.’ Price Restaurant – ALC: £6-8.50/£13.50-£18.50/£650-£8.50. SL/SD: call or visit website for details Wine list Extensive, organic. Excellent range of Bath Ales, low-alcohol & fruit beers, spirits & liqueurs. HW £17 btl £3.75 gls Open Restaurant: Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm, Sun 12noon-3pm & Tue–Fri 6-10pm, Sat 5.30-10pm (closed Mon). Brasserie: Mon-Fri 8am-11pm (food 12noon-10.30pm), Sat 9am-11pm (breakfast 9-11am, main meals 12noon-10.30pm), Sun 9am-4pm. Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Wine bar: Tue-Sat 5pm-late (last entry 11pm). Deli: Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Good disabled access. Private room available for hire, parties welcome – call in adv.

BOSTON TEA PARTY
75 Park St, BS1 5PF Tel: 0117 929 8601
1 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4HR Tel: 0117 973 4790
97 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NT Tel: 0117 923 9571, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk
● The Evening Post called BTP ‘one of those quintessentially Bristol institutions – a legendary hangout for the city’s students and bohemians’. This perennially popular, laidback coffee house/cafe-bar serves original, rustic food (largely organic, free-range, Fairtrade and locally sourced), with friendly service from people proud to be called barristas. Brilliant breakfasts (from full English to the smoked salmon/scrambled egg bagel variety) served daily, before the ever-changing menus move on to feature salads, wraps, sandwiches, panini, homemade soup and daily specials, with homemade cakes, flapjacks, muffins, etc, offering all-hours assistance. Fairtrade coffee and tea represents what’s possibly the best range in the West at this family-run chain (Bath, Barnstaple, Exeter, Honiton). Price Daily special approx £6-£8, gourmet sandwich approx £3-£5, sweet stuff approx £2-£5 Wine list HW approx £12 btl, £3 gls Open Clifton: Mon-Sat 7.30am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Park St: Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Whiteladies Rd: Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm. No disabled access to Park St. Parties up to 80, max 35 reserved seats.

BRIDGE CAFE
Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LD
Tel: 0117 973 8955, cafe reservations: 0117 906 4652, web: www.theavongorge.com
● The Bridge Cafe is set against what has to be one of the most spectacular backdrops in Bristol - the Avon Gorge, complete with Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the river into Leigh Woods. Interior decor is tasteful and contemporary, with a raised, glass-screened terrace outside offering uninterrupted access to that view. Focusing on modern British cuisine, their chef creates meals to impress, using seasonal ingredients from land and sea. ‘I’d jumped at the chance of pave of lamb, one of the softest and leanest of cuts,’ wrote Venue’s food editor, ‘and the evenly sliced portion I got was delicious, its fine, pink centre so tender I could cut it with a fork. The bonus was another rare treat - tempura sweetbreads, hot and crisp batter surrounding creamy meat. Across the table an 8oz aged rump steak was disappearing, along with chunky chips and a portobello mushroom.’ Wine list offers some 60 choices (£16-£40) arranged helpfully in categories like ‘Light Elegant White’ and ‘Softer, More Rounded Red’. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with heated seating outdoors on the private deck. Sun lunches, too, and a menu for the kids. Price SL: 2 £9.95, 3 £11.95. ALC: £5-£6.95/£9.95-£17.50/£5-£6.50. Sun lunch: 2 £14.95, 3 £17.95 Wine list Extensive range of international wines, beers, liqueurs, cocktails, champagnes (inc champagne by the gls). HW approx £16 btl Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat-Sun 8-10.30am. Lunch: Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10pm, Sun 6-9pm. Disabled access. Groups and parties welcome - call in adv.

BRISTOL FASHION BEEFEATER
The Haymarket, BS1 3LR Tel: 0117 929 8953
Emersons Green, BS16 7AN Tel: 0117 956 4755, web: www.beefeater.co.uk
● Big, contemporary pub/restaurant offering freshly chargrilled food prepared within sight of your table, updating the old Beefeater image. This year sees a new menu, with some new dishes and the return of a much-loved one: the ‘Ultimate 16oz Steak Platter’ (rump, fillet, sirloin and ribeye, served with chips). Bar food (jackets, sandwiches, wraps, soup) available for those on the go. Price ALC: £3.50-£5.35/£8.25-£19.99/£3.99-£4.99. SL (Mon-Sat till 6.30pm): 2 £7.99, 3 £9.99. Sun roast £5.99 Wine list HW £9.99 btl, £2.85 gls Open Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Restaurant: Sun-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm. Disabled access with lift & toilet. Parties of 20+.

BYZANTIUM
2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB
Tel: 0117 922 1883, web: www.byzantium.co.uk
● Byzantium’s mix of grand food and exciting entertainment is the stuff of local legend: a huge Victorian warehouse has been converted into an evocative pleasure dome, mixing fine dining with grand-style decadence and partying with panache. Said Venue’s reviewer: ‘Byzantium is indeed extravagantly hedonistic: a non-stop exotic cabaret combining decadent new romanticism (think jewel-hued velvet cushions, ornate rococo plasterwork, plenty of tongue-in-cheek references to neo-classicism) with people-pleasing, wallet-friendly menus and actual, erm, cabaret. A sweeping marble staircase links the street-level, candlelit bar to an equally seductive dining area on the upper floor, featuring windows that offer floodlit views of dear old Mary at night. It’s an adaptable, multi-functional space that lends itself well to parties, weddings or an intimate supper for two - if, that is, you’re happy to allow a wandering magician to very politely hijack your ménage à deux.’ Menus are Mediterranean in approach, with novel twists such as the unique food lanterns (starter or pudding) evincing the care and creativity of the Byzantium cuisine. Price Lunch: 4 items for £6, 8 for £10. ALC: starter £5.25-£5.50, main £10.50-£11.50, dessert £5.95. Set menu: 3 £25. Mid-week offer: free side dish per person with main course Tue-Thur Wine list Extensive, classic, contemporary. HW from £14.95 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2am. Disabled access & facilities. Available for exclusive party bookings for up to 250. Private dining room. Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies. Parties welcome.

CAFE MAITREYA
89 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6HY
Tel: 0117 951 0100, web: www.cafemaitreya.co.uk
● This lovely little spot in Easton continues to win numerous awards for its modern, wholly imaginative food, including Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the UK from the National Vegetarian Society. Even carnivores will be delighted by what’s on offer. On eating his first veggie ‘galette, Venue’s food editor wrote: ‘What looks like a mini-pizza is actually a butter-rich pastry disc bursting with powerful cheese and garlic flavour. The attractive Belgium winter salad with its charred caramelised endive topped with a nutty rissole of pistachio croute is heavenly. The opulent flavours make these starters filling in themselves, and the apparent tidiness of the portion size is a well-judged basis for the main courses. They, in turn, do not disappoint - more flavoursome fireworks on a pretty-looking plate.’ Seasonal menu changes regularly to use top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, often organic. The cheery staff are highly knowledgeable and happy to help, and the atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious. ‘The place has been packed all night but the visible kitchen has scarcely clattered. It’s a smooth operation, confident in its status as the Observer’s 2007 choice for best vegetarian restaurant in the country.’ Gluten/wheat/dairy-free and vegan options clearly marked. Price SL: 2 £9.95, 3 £12.95. SD: 2 £19.95, 3 £22.95 Wine list Excellent, extensive and thoughtful selection of mainly organic wines (inc some fabulous sparklies) & beers. HW approx £12.50 btl, £4.20 lge gls Open Lunch: Wed-Sat 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Wed-Sat 6.30-9.45pm. Adv booking advised. Private hire room available for parties. Disabled access.

CITY CAFE
Temple Way, BS1 6BF
Tel: 0117 910 2700, web: www.citycafe.co.uk
● New chef Matt Lord has joined this smart, urban hotel/restaurant after stints at Hunstrete House near Bristol and the Royal Crescent in Bath, with a Modern British menu with plenty of classics to keep the traditional hotel clientele happy. Eat a la carte in the restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner or take advantage of the Market Menu, rich in seasonal surprises and good value at two courses for lunch £9.95 and £13.50 dinner. ‘Of all the Bristol hotel restaurants,’ wrote the Evening Post’s reviewer, ‘City Cafe has always been one of the most consistent and this looks set to continue under the new head chef.’ Sunday lunches are legendary, children are exceptionally well looked after, and the heated terrace makes for a perfect summer evening oasis. Price ALC £4.95-£7.95/£10.50-£19.95/£5.50-£9.50. SL: 2 £9.95. SD: 3 £16.50 Wine list Extensive new & old world & European selection, vintage champagnes, ports, dessert wines. HW £14.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-9.30am, Sat-Sun 7-11am. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, Sat-Sun 1-3pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10pm, Sun 7-9.30pm. Bar food all day. Disabled access & toilets. Private dining rooms. Parties of 20+.

COAL GRILL & BAR
Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX
Tel: 0117 954 4624, www.coalgrillandbar.co.uk
● Most of the eating options at Cabot Circus are of the national franchise variety (burgers, pizzas, grills, shellfish), but what sets Coal’s apart is their attention to the details: sourcing most meats from a Devon co-operative and ageing it 21 days before serving. Bread is baked in house and sauces are made in the open-plan kitchen. ‘We began with garlic bread, plus a bowl of olives,’ said our reviewer. ‘This was easily more than enough for the pair of us, especially when washed down with a glass of a rather good, meaty Australian shiraz.’ His wok-tossed tiger prawns had been simmered in a spicy creamy coconut, lime & coriander laksa, with bamboo shoots and sweet peppers. The onion rings were homemade ‘and the unique idea of serving it spiked to a wooden board was a nice touch, as was the zinc bucket of fries on the side’. Different seating options mean you can snuggle up on a sofa while waiting for friends or an available table, sit alfresco, join the throng in the main dining area, or find a more intimate table at the back of the restaurant. Price Brunch £3.45-£8.95, starter £3.95-£6.95, main £6.75-£17.95. Daily set-price menu: 2 £7.45 (Mon-Fri 12noon-7pm) Wine list Well-chosen world wines. HW £13.95 btl, £2.75 gls Open Mon–Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10.30pm. Disabled access (lift to food court). Parties catered for.

CULINARIA
1 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PG
Tel: 0117 973 7999, web: www.culinariabristol.co.uk
● Stephen Markwick and wife Judy opened this airy contemporary bistro in summer 2004. Since then, Culinaria has garnered national acclaim for out-of-this-world food at down-to-earth prices, and won the Which? Good Food Guide’s South West Restaurant of the Year award 2007. The seasonal, largely organic menus change weekly and include a fixed-price option at two courses for £15.50, three for £20. The deli and ‘Food for Home’ counter let you take the Markwick magic with you - you can even pre-order your favourite and bring your own dishes in to be filled, passing Stephen’s food off as your own if you dare. Pleasant patio out back for alfresco dining (only two tables though, so book in summer). Menu is posted on their cracking website, where you can also order a copy of Stephen’s latest non-edible offering, ‘A Very Honest Cook’. Price ALC: £6.95-£8.50/£13-£17.50/£6.25-£7.95 Wine list HW approx £11.95 btl Open Thur-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6.30-9.30pm. Food for Home deli: Thur-Sat 11am-11pm (check out the weekly takeaway menus/freezer section online). Disabled access & toilet. Largest table seats six.

DELMONICO
217 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8NN
Tel: 0117 944 5673, web: www.delmonico.co.uk
● ‘Delmonico has nicely sidestepped the hip or the happening,’ said our reviewer, ‘concentrating instead on important (and often overlooked) things like friendliness, efficiency and a range of nicely prepared, interesting dishes.’ This cosy but contemporary neighbourhood cafe-bar/restaurant serves an excellent range of locally sourced, imaginatively cooked food – courtesy of chef Tyrone Tippins - from classic Anglo-French to globally influenced modern dishes, good vegetarian options, and tapas in the cafe-bar. Alfresco seating and early evening bargains (check the website as they change regularly - currently two courses £11.95 before 7pm). ‘Many restaurants could learn a lot from Delmonico,’ summarised our reviewer. Few, though, could replicate the gentle flamboyance of the original. Price ALC: £5.25-£6/£8.50-£15.95/£5.25-£5.50. Sun lunch: 2 £13.95 Wine list Small but perfectly formed, inc classic French & more unusual new world, excellent champagne. HW £13.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Tue-Fri 5-10pm (10.30pm Fri), Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm (last orders). Fairly good disabled access, but call ahead for details. Parties welcome, call ahead for details. Private dining for up to 30.

NEW
FLINTY RED
34 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LA
Tel: 0117 923 8755, web: www.corksof.com, www.flintyred.co.uk
● Proprietors Dominic Harman and Rachel Higgens are owners of intimate, independent wine merchants Corks of Cotha. So it’s with excitement that we hear they’ve branched out into food and something to soak all that good booze up with. They’ve gone into partnership with cheffy husband-and-wife team Matt Williamson and Claire Thomson, whose joint CV includes the former Quartier Vert and The Lido. FR is essentially a cross between a very fine wine bar, a tapas and a French deli. Ingredients are flawless and sourced locally and the menus change twice daily. The Evening Post described it thus: ‘A neighbourhood restaurant serving exciting rustic Mediterranean dishes, backed up with one of the best wine lists in Bristol, Flinty Red is the most interesting new openings this year [2009].’ Future plans include takeaway and pre-cooked meals that you can pass off as your own. Any wine on the menu is available for purchase, and they do special tasting sessions like the ‘World of Beer’ - call for details. Price ALC: approx £3-£7.50/approx £10-£15/approx £4-£8 Wine list Extensive, impressive, many served by the glass. HW: £12 btl, £3 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm, Mon-Sat 6.30-10pm. Disabled access - with one step at entrance.

GLASSBOAT
Welsh Back, BS1 4SB 
Tel: 0117 929 0704, web: www.glassboat.co.uk
● This unique destination continues to pull in the crowds with its winning combination of fresh creative food and exquisite service. And few restaurants can boast a location as beautiful as this. The stylish floating restaurant, berthed in the heart of the city’s historic docks, has pioneered fine dining in Bristol since 1986, and a recent grand refurbishment has included the addition of a private dining room made entirely of glass, as well as a new lounge area. Cuisine is modern European with a British accent, produce is seasonal and local, and there’s plenty of fresh fish on the menu. Perfect for business lunches and romantic smooching alike, it’s also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, with after-dinner dancing and entertainment. Try the new Soul Food Sundays (10am-4pm): a New York-style lazy brunch and roasts with laidback 45s from the Soul Brothers – just bring the papers and your appetite. Price ALC: £4.95-£8/£10-£18.50/£5.50-£7. Early bird (before 7pm): 2 £12.50, 3 £17.50. SL: 2 £10 (Tue-Sat). Sun: brunch £6.50 roasts £13.50 Wine list Extensive, international, incredible: 160 wines, superb choice of spirits, lots of malt whiskeys & vintage cognacs. HW £14 btl, £2.50gls Open Lunch: Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6pm-late. Disabled access but toilets downstairs. Private hire, up to about 110.

GOLDBRICK HOUSE
67-69 Park St, BS1 5PB
Tel: 0117 945 1950, web: www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk
● Three floors of fabulously fashionable, elegant but informal eating and drinking opportunities in uniquely graceful surroundings bring seriously stylish chic to proceedings - Goldbrick House has proved its worth as one of the frontrunners on Bristol’s foodie scene. A roof terrace with a skyline view, champagne/cocktail bar and private dining opportunities all add to the charm. Menus (which include breakfast/all-day brunch options) are generally modern European in style with a nod towards Mediterranean cuisine, with a few good old-fashioned British classics thrown in for good measure. ‘The food is sensational,’ our man declared, before awarding Goldbrick an impressive 14 out of a possible 15 stars. Other reviewers confirm that those impossibly high standards have been maintained. Sign up to their e-bulletin for regular updates and offers. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.25/£11.95-£18.50/£4.95-£7.25. SL & Sat brunch (12noon-3pm): 2 £10, 3 £13. Early eve (6-7pm): 2 £10, 3 £13 Wine list Extensive. HW £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm. Cafe-bar: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm. Champagne/cocktail bar: Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am. Disabled access – call ahead.

NEW
H BAR BISTRO
Colston Hall, Colston St, BS1 5AR
Tel: 0117 352 1151, web: www.thehbar.co.uk
● With the slick and impressive facelift of music and event venue Colston Hall, this crisp, smart restaurant is an attraction in itself. It’s run by Humberto Benevenuto, the imaginative Latin American chef behind the popular Bocabar at Paintworks and what used to be Bocanova up the road. Bocanova served Brazilian and Mediterranean fusion food, and a similar theme and menu are now available here. A fan of Humberto’s cooking, Venue’s food editor is pleased with his latest venture: ‘All kinds of intriguing combinations were on offer and we wrestled with choices before ordering from our aimiably patient waitress,’ he said, before enjoying rump of lamb & spicy aubergine, and wild mushroom, courgette & thyme risotto. ‘We also shared desserts - a classic, light creme brulee and an intoxicating dish of spiced plums with zabaglione - and finished our bottle of excellent Italian pinot grigio before the zingy, Italian-strength espresso arrived to round things off.’ Lunch, dinner, and a cafe-bar downstairs serving lighter bites, teas and coffees. Price SL: 2 £10, 3 £12 (or 2 mains £14). SD: 2 £13.95, 3 £15.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.50-£30 btl, £3.50 gls Open daily 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm. Good disabled access. Parties up to 40. Available for outside catering and events.

HARVEY NICHOLS SECOND FLOOR RESTAURANT & BAR
Harvey Nichols, Philadelphia St, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BZ
Tel: 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com
● Decorated in sumptuous gold, with luxurious finishes and soft lighting. A private dining room for 12 is the hottest table in town, while the bar offers a seasonally changing drinks list, plus wines and champagnes by the glass. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are based on classic techniques and indulgent world ingredients, including the finest local produce. The Evening Post had this to say after an indulgent meal: ‘Head chef Louise McCrimmon’s elegant cooking is assured, with great flavours and perfect poise. The room is as luxurious as it gets and the service is equally as slick.’ An award-winning wine list features hundreds of carefully selected wines from across the globe, and the fixed-price menu (lunch: 2 £12, dinner: 2 £15) offers great value. Enjoy two courses and a glass of bubbly for £15 on a Sun, with live jazz every third Sun of the month. Price ALC: £6-£8/£11.50-£20/£5-£7. SL: 2 from £12, 3 from £15. SD: 2 from £15, 3 from £18 Wine list Enormous, all-encompassing. HW £18 btl, £4.75 gls. Champagne £9.50 gls Open Lunch: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Afternoon tea: Mon-Sat 3-5.30pm. Dinner: Tue-Sat 6-10pm. Bar: Mon 11am-6pm, Tue-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-5pm. Disabled access. Separate entrance (via Penn St) in eve.

HOTEL DU VIN & BISTRO
Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, BS1 2NU
Tel: 0117 925 5577, web: www.hotelduvin.com
● A winning mix of urban chic and urbane surroundings at the gorgeous Hotel du Vin continues to keep the Bristol fooderati very happy. Bistro menu rooted in classic, seasonal European cuisine with a contemporary edge, with head chef Marcus Lang adding his own selections daily, all supporting the HduV ethos of using the finest, freshest local produce, cooked simply and priced sensibly (three-course dinner, sans wine, around £40). Wine list, like the food, is the stuff that classic bon viveur dreams are made of. Price ALC: £5.75-£8.50/£13.50-£17.50/approx £5-£7 Wine list Extensive and impressive, with bottles from around £16 Open Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat-Sun 8am-11am; Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm, Sun 12.15-2.30pm; Mon-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access, toilets on ground floor. Three function rooms for hire. Parties of up to 10 in bistro, but on separate tables.

JUNIPER
21 Cotham Rd South, BS6 5TZ
Tel: 0117 942 1744, web: www.juniperrestaurant.co.uk
● This quiet, contemporary, cosy neighbourhood restaurant delivers a winning combination of informality, individuality and excellent food - hearty portions coupled with an eye for detail and some incredible artistic flourishes - resulting in a heart-warming, people-pleasing experience for all. It’s popular with locals, who consider it their little well-kept secret, but great food and value are making this a desirable place for foodies further afield, too. Interiors are intimate and elegantly quirky with a bright, friendly vibe, and attention to sourcing is as paramount as the presentation and finish of each dish. Regularly changing exhibitions of contemporary art on the walls. You can check the availability of tables online. Price ALC: £5-£8.95/£14.95-£17.95/£6-£7. SD: 3 £20.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £11.95 btl, £3.20 gls Open Mon-Sat 7pm-12midnight. Disabled access to cafe-bar but not toilets. Parties welcome – call to discuss.

KILN AT THE RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL
Ramada Plaza Hotel, Redcliffe Way, BS1 6NJ
Tel: 0117 926 0041, web: www.ramadajarvis.co.uk
● Contemporary bistro food in stylish surroundings at this top Bristol hotel. As well as classic English cuisine and international favourites, you’ll find local cheeses like Somerset yarg and Cropwell stilton. Housed in the shell of a 17th century glass kiln, the restaurant is open to the public for breakfast and dinner only. Price ALC: £5.50-£6.75/£11.50-£17.50/£5.25-£6.75 Wine list Good selection from around the globe. HW £14.50 btl, £3.65 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-9.30am, Sat 7.30-11am, Sun 8am-12noon. Dinner: Mon-Sun 6.30-10pm. Disabled facilities.

LIDO
Oakfield Place, Clifton, BS8 2BJ
Tel: 0117 933 9530, web: www.lidobristol.com
● The Victorian Lido, dating back to 1849, has undergone an extensive transformation. It opened in 2008, adding a spa, restaurant and poolside bar to the refurbished outside pool. The 90-seat restaurant is brought to you by the company that created the Glassboat and Spyglass restaurants, so you can guarantee that the food served in this impressive spa project is something to write home about. The restaurant, which overlooks the pool, serves fresh, rustic food, much of it grown locally, and cooked in an Italian wood-fired oven. It’s all reasonably priced, with starters, main courses, ‘small plates’ and sharing plates that are broadly European with a strong Middle Eastern and North African influence. ‘Great food in a unique waterside setting,’ wrote the Evening Post. ‘It’s as good as I hoped it would be. This is one rare example where you should believe the hype.’ Restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner, poolside bar open mornings and afternoons for breakfast, brunch, afternoon teas and light meals. Check website for special promotions combining food and spa indulgences. Price Light lunch: 2 £10, ALC £6-£17, tapas (4 plates) £9.50. Dinner ALC £6-£8/£12-£18/£5-£7 Wine list HW £14 btl, £2.50 gls Open Poolside bar: daily breakfast 8-11.30am, tapas 12noon-10pm, Sun breakfast 9am-12noon, tapas 12noon-4pm. Food served in restaurant 12noon-3pm & 6.30-10pm. Spa: daily 7am-10pm. Disabled access.

LIVING ROOM
Building 11, Canons Way, Harbourside, BS1 5LF
Tel: 0117 925 3993, web: www.thelivingroom.co.uk
● Set over two snazzily contemporary floors, this newer addition to Bristol’s Harbourside can accommodate up to 200 diners. Menu takes in everything from lunchtime light bites and hearty but humble home-comfort dishes to full ALC. With Sun brunch, roast lunches and the rather special Chef’s Plate (sample dishes typical of regions across the UK - each Living Room is challenged to prepare a dish from local produce or with local significance), the restaurant is living up to its promise of providing quality without exclusivity, high levels of service without high prices, and great food with a focus on wholesome dishes. Kids’ menu, and live music Thur-Sun. Price ALC: £3.95-£7.95/£10.95-£21.95/£4.95-£5.25. SL: 2 £9.95 Wine list Sturdy, well chosen. HW £14.50 btl, £4.50 gls. Signature drinks hour (Sun-Fri 5-7pm): £11.95 btl, £3.95 select cocktails Open Mon-Wed 11am-12midnight, Thur-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome. Private hire available. Business breakfasts available - call for details.

LOCKSIDE
1 Brunel Lock Rd, Cumberland Basin, BS1 6XS
Tel: 0117 925 5800, web: www.lockside.net
● The building looks really cool - an Edward Hopper diner in the shadow of the CREATE Centre - and quality ingredients, fresh produce and excellent value characterise the cuisine. Breakfast and brunch served till noon, and lunch (12noon-4pm) means bangers & mash, fishcakes, scampi and goat’s cheese tart. Evening menu includes grilled tiger prawns, seared scallops, lamb and apricot tagine, chicken breast, sirloin steak. Desserts include a bowl of Maltesers – how brilliant is that? Stunning views look across the eponymous lock to Brunel’s bridge, and decking terrace at the rear seats 60. Available for private hire for all sorts of gatherings. Price ALC: £3.50-£5.95/£6.25-£15.95/£2.50-£4.75 Wine list Finely tuned. HW £14.75 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Thur 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-4pm. No disabled access. Available for private hire.

MARRIOTT ROYAL HOTEL
College Green, BS1 5TA
Tel: 0117 925 5100, web: www.bristolmarriottroyal.co.uk
● Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, a very stylish sundowner or a full-on contemporary fine dining experience, all under one very elegant roof. This grand Victorian-style hotel is infused with polished marble, warm mahogany and gleaming brass, with polished, warm, gleaming staff to match. There are as many choices as to where to eat as to what to have. The Champagne Bar is the afternoon tea/cocktail zone, the Club Lounge offers lunch and light bar snacks, and the Palm Court Restaurant specialises in modern, locally sourced cuisine (and offers a rather spectacular global wine list, too). New menu was being introduced as we went to press - call or check website for details. Price Breakfast £6.25-£10.25, lighter bites £5-£8.50, mains £9.25-£22.95, desserts £4-£5 Wine list Extensive, global, with an emphasis on new world/European. HW from approx £18.50 btl. Excellent cocktails, very well-stocked bar Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6am-11am, Sat-Sun 7-11am. Dinner: Sun-Thur 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 5-10.30pm. Club Lounge: daily 12noon-11pm. Champagne/cocktail bar: Mon-Sat from 11am (12noon Sun), closes to public 11pm. Disabled access. Parties, weddings, functions – call in adv.

MEZZALUNA
81 West St, Bedminster BS3 3NU
Tel: 0117 953 2069 web: www.mezzalunarestaurant.co.uk
● A much-needed gap filled by this large, family-run venture situated under the Airpoint building on West Street, and it’s quickly become a local favourite. An airy space with a Turkish twist, the restaurant serves hearty breakfasts and lunches during the day, morphing into a more softly lit affair at night, when friends, families or couples are welcomed warmly by owner Mehmet Sogukpinar. Regular monthly changing specials include 10% off, or a free coffee with a meal – call for details. Front terrace and large garden. Price Breakfast £3.60-£5.95, lunch £5.90-£6.95, dinner £7.50-£11. Mezze for 2: £14.95 inc dessert & coffee Wine list HW approx £10 btl Open Daily 8am-12midnight. Disabled access. Parties up to 80.

MOREISH
6 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PE
Tel: 0117 970 6078, web: www.moreishrestaurant.co.uk
● Cafe, bar and restaurant serving up breakfast, brunch and light lunches, plus sandwiches and panini till late afternoon. Come evening the mood changes as this place transforms itself into a lovely neighbourhood bistro with informal, relaxed service. Small, heated terrace has plenty of seating for breakfast in the sun or your evening meal under the warm glow of the patio heater. Food is modern European, locally sourced where possible, with plenty of choice for both carnivores and vegetarians, and a serious desire to take the quality and creativity up a few notches from the average neighbourhood diner - and more than enough skill and imagination in the kitchen to realise that ambition. Venue popped by for one of chef/owner Tim More’s taster nights: ‘A non-stop fireworks display of intense flavours and subtle food ideas accompanied by wines that were themselves a revelation of their kind. Pretty sensational it turned out to be, not least as value for money, everything being well chosen and prepared with great attention to detail.’ Price SL: 1 £8.50, 2 £10, 3 £13 (till 6pm). SD: 2 £15, 3 £19.50 (Fri-Sat: 2 £21, 3 £25). Tasting menu £30pp (£45 inc wine). Sun lunch: 1 £10, 2 £14, 3 £17 (till 6pm or till it runs out) Wine list Sturdy, well chosen. HW £13.25 btl, £3.15gls Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-10.30pm, Sun 9.30am-9.30pm (closed Sun eve during winter). Disabled access but not to toilets. Parties up to 50 welcome.

MUD DOCK
40 The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com
● As much a part of Bristol’s docks as the water, this former harbourside warehouse is now an uber-cool combination of bike emporium and chilled gastro hangout. The remodeled interior with inspired industrial decor is softened by candlelight in the evenings, and a huge, south-facing sundeck with great views over the water adds to the mellow buzz. Menus are being remodelled too, with 2010’s Spanish-inspired fare including more tapas and rustic, filling mains like burgers, polenta and a great choice of fish, alongside daily specials, superb breakfasts and popular weekend brunches. The enormously popular £5 mid-week lunch comprises a freshly prepared meal and glass of wine, beer or soft drink, and the £10.95 two-course dinner makes a trip here well worthwhile. Pastries, cakes and tapas served between mealtimes. According to our reviewer, the menu dishes up ‘imaginative fare that remains reassuringly earthy. Good, tasty, unpretentious stuff that was impressive but never intimidating.’ Price ALC: £4.25-£6.25/£8.95-£15.95/£4.50. Brunch £3.50-£9.95. Call or check website for seasonal promotions and events, and menu. Wine list Carefully selected, with some Mud Dock-branded house wines. Well-stocked bar, bottled & draught beers. HW £12.95 btl, £3.45 gls Open Mon 10am-5pm, Tue-Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Cafe space for private hire. Parties of 20+, set menus for groups of 10+ for lunch & dinner.

MUSET
16 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AF
Tel: 0117 973 2920, web: www.muset.co.uk
● The long-established, family-run Muset, now 23 years young, brought the concept of BYO to Bristol, along with a relaxed European dining style - a sure-fire win-win concept that’s been regularly imitated down the years. The restaurant continues to maintain its laidback yet elegant atmosphere and lovely, eclectic selections of dishes, using local fresh ingredients alongside exotics, with the menu changing seasonally. Food is always imaginative, inspiring a Venue reviewer to ‘almost feel moved to write a short story about the trifle’ before reaching his denouement: ‘friendly staff serving unpretentious food at reasonable prices’. Early supper menu now available: two courses £10, three £12.95. Price ALC: £4.95-£7.95/£11.75-£18.95/£5.75-£6.95 Wine list HW approx £14 btl, £4 gls, BYO (£2 corkage charge) Open Lunch: Sat-Sun 12noon-2.15pm. Dinner: Mon-Sun 6-10.15pm. Disabled access, but no toilet. Parties of 20+.

NO.4
Rodney Hotel, 4 Rodney Place (off Clifton Down Rd), Clifton, BS8 4HY
Tel: 0117 973 5422, web: www.numberfourrestaurant.co.uk
● Charming, laidback, friendly restaurant housed in a beautiful Georgian building and offering high-quality traditional and contemporary Anglo/French/European cuisine. Recent recipients of an AA rosette in recognition of their foodie feats. Cheffy skill and good, fresh ingredients lead to top-notch food in a modernised interior that retains many of its original features (working open fireplace, huge sash windows that bathe the room in natural light). There’s an excellent wine list, and the POSH Bar, which overlooks the beautiful walled garden below, serves light meals in the bar and garden - perfect for summer pre-dinner cocktails. Their great breakfasts are also available to non-residents. Price ALC: £4.50-£5.95/£10.50-£14.95/£4.95-£5.95. Breakfast approx £6 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Fri 7am-9am & 6-10pm, Sat 8am-10pm & 6-10pm, Sun 8am-10am (closed Sun eves). Disabled access – ring in adv, ramp available. Private parties welcome.

OLIVE SHED
Princes Wharf, Harbourside, BS1 4RN
Tel: 0117 929 1960, web: www.theoliveshed.com
● In the heart of Bristol’s Harbourside, this lovely, Mediterranean-infused restaurant/cafe-bar/deli continues to go from strength to strength, with Raymond Blanc himself visiting in 2009: ‘I love this place - I hope you don’t mind if I copy some of your ideas!’ Olives (they also run the city’s many Real Olive Co shops and stalls), salads and fabulous tapas pack the deli counter, while sturdy, classic European faves proliferate on the accessible, people-pleasing menu. Food is organic wherever possible, and the seasonal menu changes frequently, while nothing is too much trouble for the friendly, laidback but enthusiastic staff. With meat now added to the menu, the lovely barbecues are a big treat. Regular events and promotions - see website for details. Price ALC: £5.50-£6.95/£10.95-£15.95/£4.95-£6. Tapas sharing platters £2.25-13.95 Wine list All wines organic, many hand-sourced from own vineyard suppliers in France. HW approx £15 btl, approx £4 gls Open Wed 6-10pm, Thur-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 11am-4pm, opening hours subject to seasonal change. Disabled access. Outside catering service for weddings and private & corporate parties.

PICTURE HOUSE EAST
44 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH
Tel: 0117 973 9302/1529, web: www.thepicturehouse.eu
NEW
BLACKSTICKS JAZZ CAFÉ, BAR & GRILL
85 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2NT
Tel 0117 973 9302, web: www.thepicturehouse.eu
● Fans of the original branch of Picture House will be delighted to hear that head honcho Nick Armitage has recently expanded operations to include a second branch just across the street. Impeccable taste sets the (incredibly high) standards at both branches, with Nick’s latest project (Blacksticks) offering a wide selection of cocktails alongside real ales and 30 wines available by the glass - the perfect accompaniment to all-day menus that focus largely on the chargrilled skewers of unusual meats, seafood and vegetables that gave the new venture its name. Meanwhile, back at the mothership, lunch and dinner menus change daily depending on what fresh local produce is available. An upper-crust Mediterranean-inspired menu offers a vibrant, impeccably sourced range of options while the newly-introduced light bites selection (salads, sandwiches, omelettes etc, from around £4.90) keep the grazers happy. The lovely staff take turns as to who “gets to work” on Sundays, when Nick himself comes along to cook the very popular lunch that includes seasonal beauties like panfried turbot and roast belly of pork with black pudding. Picture perfect? We think so. Price ALC: £4.50-£6.90/£8.90-£17.90/approx £5. Tapas from approx £4-7. Blacksticks skewers from £1.50. Weekday (lunch): 1 £7.90, 2 £10, 3 £13.50. Sun (lunch): 2 £15, 3 £18.50 Wine list Extensive selection of wines, cocktails, spirits and beers, including 25 globally-sourced, bottled brews at Picture House East. HW £13.90 btl, £3.50gls Open Picture House East Daily 10am-12midnight Blacksticks Daily 12noon-12.30am. Disabled access - contact individual branch. Parties of 20+ welcome.

PUMP HOUSE
Merchants Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4PZ
Tel: 0117 927 2229, web: www.the-pumphouse.com
● Throughout the years Venue’s writers have loved this place, and our latest reviewer was no different. The kitchen, headed up by co-owner Toby Gritten (formerly of the Albion in Clifton and Bell’s Diner), pumps out fabulous food for both the upstairs restaurant and ground-floor bar, but without any gastropub pretensions. Venue recently tried and tested some of the bar’s creative, seasonal food on the mainly British menu: ‘The food comes, and it’s completely right: the fish is smoked haddock encased in the lightest, crispest of batters, with perfect, fat hand-cut chips stacked up like a tower of Jenga tiles, and (this is the best bit) a bright green smear of pulverized fresh peas and mint, all served on a wooden board. My Dover sole is so fresh it’s almost jumping off the plate, peeping out bright-eyed from beneath fronds of Clevedon samphire, with a dolphin-shaped mound of mash alongside it. We are so happy!’ Also recommended is their seven-course tasting menu upstairs: it’s everything they do on one plate, so you don’t suffer food envy. Price Restaurant: £5-£7.50/£14.50-£16.50/£6.50. Bar: £3.50/£7.50/£5. Sun lunch: 2 £15.50, 3 £18.50. Tasting menu £40pp Wine list Extensive, international. HW £17 btl, £4.50 gls Open Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-11pm. Restaurant: Tue-Sat 7pm-12midnight, Fri 12noon-3pm. Sun roast 12noon-3.30pm. Disabled access. Parties 20+ welcome – call in adv.

RIVERSTATION
The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 914 4434, web: www.riverstation.co.uk
● Now celebrating more than a decade on Bristol’s eating out scene, this place continues to build on its reputation as one of the city’s most cosmopolitan dining experiences – according to the latest Good Food Guide: ‘This modernist eatery remains one of the city’s most consistent places.’ Both levels of the two-storey former police station have access to alfresco decking and balconies. The lower-level bar/kitchen provides everything from morning coffee and pastries to fast-paced, simple lunches and suppers, afternoon cakes and teas. Comfy sofas and the outside terrace are a great place for sampling a glamorous cocktail or a bottle of (predominantly Italian and new world) wine. Menus are an innovative, eclectic mix of modern European and world cuisines, plus some dependable favourites. Environmentally responsible plans include recovering the kitchen heat and using herbs grown on the roof-top garden. Ingredients are stringently sourced from local farmers and growers where possible and the accent is firmly on freshness and seasonality. The brunch and early bird evening menus have proven hugely popular, and the Sun lunch menu is as relaxed and terrific value as ever. Wine-tasting nights offer a sampling of their fine foods and choice tipples to go with them. See website for details and offers and to hear some trance-jazz. Price ALC: £5-£11/£13.50-£19.50/£4.30-£6.50. SD: 2 £14.75. Sun lunch: 2 £16, 3 £19.50. Kids, accompanied by two paying adults, eat for free Wine list Global. HW from approx £14.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Bar/kitchen: Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12midnight (last food orders 10pm), Sun 9am-5.30pm (last food orders 3pm). Restaurant: Lunch Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & Sun 12noon-3pm, Dinner Mon-Thur 6-10.30pm & Fri-Sat 6-11pm. No disabled access to upstairs restaurant, but menu can be served at downstairs tables, where there’s access to a disabled loo. Parties of 20+.

SEVERNSHED
The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 925 1212, web: www.shed-restaurants.com
● Severnshed have recently been bought by the peeps behind the Coal Grill & Bar chain (see listing above) and the new menu will reflect the best from Severnshed’s existing European inspired flavours alongside some of Coal’s fresh chargrilled cuisine, such as their signature firesticks (skewered meat), fajitas and steaks. Severnshed will keep their name and their sophisticated lounging in uniquely stylish surroundings. Spacious and airy (and boasting the UK’s only ‘hover bar’, which can rotate 360 degrees and glide the length of the building), Severnshed are internationally recognised for innovative design qualities - formerly a Brunel-built boathouse, now a contemporary Bristol-chic hotspot, stripped back and urban. The balcony serves up comfortable space for up to 80 and offers superb alfresco dining, while the bright and airy indoor restaurant (floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the waterfront) offers a laidback yet luxurious ambience. For grazers and/or party animals, there are excellent tapas and superb cocktails, and a good cafe-bar menu for lighter bites. Price SL: 1 £7.95, 2 £9.95 inc gls wine or beer (Mon-Sat 12noon-7pm). ALC: £3.95-£6.95/£8.95-£15.95/£4.95 Wine list HW approx £14 btl. Wide range of cocktails, beers, spirits Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Private parties welcome, special menus - call for details.

SPYGLASS BARBECUE & GRILL
Welsh Back, Harbourside, BS1 4SB
Tel: 0117 927 7050, web: www.spyglassbristol.co.uk
● Bristolians know it’s officially time to bid winter adieu when Spyglass reopens for the spring. Venue celebrated the change of season: ‘The coloured lanterns sway in the thermal breeze above our table and we order a jug of fruity-sharp sangria, olives and hummus with pitta. There’s a good spread of people across the room, with lots of lively conversation and discreetly unobtrusive music giving the place a buzzy feel - one of those places you’d pick to enhance a good mood.’ It’s housed in a converted barge with floor-to-ceiling windows inside and adjoining quayside dining (with canopied deck, gas heating lamps and three-mast canvas) outside. ‘The key to Spyglass is simplicity. With a dozen meat and fish choices, it’s quick to choose and arrives in the time it takes to cook. There’s a grilled vegetarian option as well as a vegetarian tapas plate.’ Now in its ninth year, Spyglass’s food is largely organic and locally sourced wherever possible. Gets very busy, especially in sunny weather, with bookings taken only for groups of eight and over. Kids get their own menu and activity pack (and love the ice-cream parlour). Price ALC: starter/tapas sharing platter (2pp) £12/£5.95-£12.95/£3.95-£7.95. Party menu 8+: 3 £14.95pp Wine list Good range of continental/Mediterranean wines, beers, sangria. HW £12.50 btl Open Daily 11am-11pm (mid-March till end Oct), last orders 10.30pm. Disabled access, but no toilet. Parties of 20+.

THE SQUARE KITCHEN
15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HB
Tel: 0117 921 0455, web: www.thesquareclub.com
● Venue’s food editor visited this stylish, unstuffy members’ club, restaurant and art gallery and was impressed with the restaurant’s ‘decadent elegance’ as he was shown through to the new garden terrace. Expect quality cuisine of the highest order, with the occasional foray into more exotic delicacies. Venue selected ‘a small and perfectly formed quail pie and a sliced, stuffed quail leg on garlic mash with sauteed spinach and sherry vinegar jus, and a slow-cooked belly of pork scattered with broad beans on a soft polenta base and topped with an immaculate crisp of crackling. It was all faultless, sensibly sized portions of good ingredients carefully enriched and perfectly cooked. We were impressed.’ So fresh and locally sourced is the food, that one reviewer enjoyed asparagus that was straight from the sommelier’s Bristol allotment. Elegantly candlelit and adorned with contemporary art, the dining room is open to the general public and hotel guests, as well as serving the thriving private members’ Square Club. Price Breakfasts: £7.50-£11.50, lunch: tapas £2.50-£10.50, dinner: ALC £4.95-£7.50/£12.95-£16.50/£5.50-£6.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £13.30 btl, £3.75 gls. Sun: 25% off all drinks, all day Open Mon 6-10.30pm, Tue-Sat 12noon-5pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access – call ahead. Parties - call ahead.

STABLES BISTRO
Ashton Court, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN
Tel: 0117 953 1800
● This intimate dining destination opened in 2008 after a full refurbishment, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and their first year has been a smashing one. The chef brigade offer lunchtime meals, burgers (both beef and venison - sourced from the estate’s own deer), risottos, pastas and a Sun roast that’s booked solid from mid-week. Weekends include a full English breakfast with all the works and an ALC menu with plenty of fish and vegetarian options. As one happy customer reported: ‘The wood mushroom veloute with truffle croutons followed by the venison tastes like a condensed culinary version of the South West countryside.’ Those aged 60 and over can take advantage of a two-course lunch for £9.95 Wed-Thur. A great place to unwind after a day out at the woodlands, and a welcome addition to one of Bristol’s favorite destinations. Price ALC: starter approx £5 (most mains can be served as starters), main £10-£16. Sun roast: 2 £11.95, 3 £15.95 Wine list Thoughtful. HW approx £10 btl Open Wed-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Disabled access. Parties catered for. Can be booked out in eves for 20+ guests.

TYRELLS AT THE GRAND
The Grand, 53-58 Broad St, BS1 2EL
Tel: 0871 376 9042, web: www.thistle.com
● Since their renovation a couple of years ago, Tyrells have gained a good reputation for their innovative European and British cuisine. Our man in the know reckons they’re up there with City Cafe and Hotel du Vin as some of the best hotel food in Bristol. Chef George Opodo (whose menu includes pan-seared scallops, duck confit, fresh fish, game and meats) has done a stint at London’s Savoy Hotel and worked under the legendary Anton Edelmann, and has already has brought two AA rosettes to the Grand. Price ALC: approx £5-£7/approx £7-£12/approx £4.25 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £13 btl Open Dinner 6.30-9.30pm. Food served in lounge bar all day. Good disabled access.

VILLAGER
35-36 Church Rd, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3EQ
Tel: 0117 950 0373, web: www.villager-restaurant.co.uk
● Set in two converted 18th century cottages, complete with beams and open fireplace, with the village church close by, this charming little restaurant offers a relaxed, friendly, intimate atmosphere for dinners and Sunday lunch. Menus take advantage of seasonal produce and are regularly updated, with modern English, French and Mediterranean influences leading the way. Suppliers are local and there are plenty of good-value menus, with discounts for children. See the frequently updated website for details. Price ALC: £4.50-£7.50/£10.50-£14.50/£4.25. SD (Tue-Fri, 6-7.15pm): 2 £10.50, 3 £13.50. SD (Tue-Sat, 7.15-9.30pm): 2 £12.50, 3 £16. Sun lunch: 1 £7.50, 2 £9.95, 3 £12.95 (under-10s: 2 £7.95, 3 £10.95) Wine list HW £9.95 btl Open Tue-Fri 6-10.30pm, Sat 7.15-10.30pm, Sun 12.30-2.30pm. Takeaway available. Parties catered for. No disabled access.

WATERSHED CAFE-BAR
1 Canons Rd, BS1 5TX
Tel: 0117 927 5101, web: www.watershed.co.uk
● Upbeat trendy and arty environment – great for spending a few quality hours before or after a film or just for the sake of it. Said Venue’s food editor: ‘A very warm and pleasant place, quietly busy with a mix of diners, drinkers and talkers and the usual scattering of Apples glowing with Wi-Fi activity. Thanks to Watershed’s ‘plot to plate’ organic/seasonal/local policy (developed with Better Food Co main man Phil Haughton), the menu board tells you where all the meat and fish is sourced. The difference is immediately obvious in the vibrant flavours.’ Food is predominately Mediterranean/European-influenced and includes nachos, jackets, sarnies and mains, plus plenty of sweets for dessert and afternoon teas. Breakfast/brunch menu is served till 12noon, and there’s a separate kids’ menu. Don’t forget to check out the cinema, exhibitions and shop. Can get very busy later on, as it transforms from continental cafe to booming bar. Price ALC: starter approx £3-£7.95 sandwich £5.95/main £6.95-£12.95/dessert £1.55-£3.95 Wine list Extensive and lots of real ales, lagers, cider, guest ales. HW £13.30 btl Open Mon 10.30am-11pm, Tue-Thur 9.30am-11pm, Fri 9.30am-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Food: Mon 10.30am-8.45pm, Tue 9.30am-8.45pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-9.45pm, Sat 10am-9.45pm, Sun 12noon-6.45pm. Teas & coffees served Mon-Sat till 10.30pm, Sun 10pm. Children welcome till 9pm. Disabled access possible via lift, and adapted toilet. Semi-private room for private bookings, up to 200.

WILD WOOD
90 Colston St, BS1 5BB
Tel: 0117 929 3627, web: www.thewildwoodbristol.co.uk
● No longer the new kid on the block, Wild Wood continues to draw in the locals in this gentrified Christmas Steps arts quarter - as well to impress our Venue reviewer: ‘A remarkable oasis offering a place to meet, drink, ‘do lunch’ or dine with the minimum of formality. The food is satisfyingly freshly prepared and reasonably priced and should cater for most tastes.’ Menu, on offer from breakfast till dinner, changes daily. A full English is available at any time of day; big, tasty burgers come with homemade chips and fresh salad. Plenty of vegetarian options, including goat’s cheese & caramelised onion tart with wild mushroom stroganoff. The atmosphere is as mellow as the food is good: ‘The front room, with its large and soothing forest pictures, now has fewer tables to accommodate a sofa corner, and a smart, tiled bar asserts itself as you enter what feels more like a continental cafe-bar.’ Live music at the open mic night every other Thur. Check posters or ring for details. Price ALC: from £2 for eggs & soldiers to £14 for sirloin steak Wine list HW from approx £12 btl Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Fri 10am-12midnight, Sat 12noon-12midnight. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties catered for.

NEW (REOPENED)
ZAZU’S KITCHEN
45 Jamaica St, Stokes Croft, BS2 8JP
Tel: 0117 923 2233, web: www.zazuskitchen.com
● Toby Bywater is the proud new owner of Zazu’s Kitchen, the quirky corner cafe/restaurant that had a loyal fan base and special place in Stokes Croft’s heart. When it closed briefly last year, Toby, who helped Raymond Blanc to launch Brasserie Blanc, saw the ‘For sale’ sign in the window and decided to take the plunge. Chef Will Beesley turns locally, organic and responsibly sourced ingredients into a menu with Mediterranean influences - the mixed seafood vongole linguine is a steal at £7.95. Open for breakfast, coffee and pastries to go, Sunday brunch, lunches, and dinner Fri-Sat. Expect spanking fresh frittatas, pasta, salad and soups from around £5. Venue visited during one of the special dinner sessions, which are a wee bit fancier, but with the same homey vibe: ‘There’s an assured mastery to it all - the key seems to be absolutely first-rate ingredients: start with raw materials this good and you don’t need to mess about with them. Absolutely superb.’ The Evening Post felt the same after a recent sampling: ‘What a fabulous little place this is, although it may not be such a best-kept secret now.’ Oops, sorry guys. Price Breakfast £4-£7, lunch £5-£8. SD: 2 £16, 3 C £19 Wine list Small but perfectly formed. HW half-carafe £8 (day), £17.50 (eve) Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (food 9-11am & 12noon-4pm), Sat 9.30am-4pm (breakfast till 11.30am, lunch 12.30-4pm), Sun 9am-4pm (brunch 10am-2pm), Fri-Sat 7-11pm (last orders 9.30pm). No disabled access - several steps up to entrance. Takeaway available.

ZERODEGREES
53 Colston St, BS1 5BA
Tel: 0117 925 2706, web: www.zerodegrees.co.uk
● Unique drinking and dining experience that brews award-winning beers on site - the Mango Beer is particularly flavoursome. Try them all during happy hour, Mon-Fri, for £1.50 a pint. Take home a five-litre mini-keg or order a 50-litre proper keg for your next party. After the beer, this place is best known for its kilo pots of fresh mussels and fine selection of gourmet pizzas. Bangers & mash, hearty salads and European-influenced pasta dishes combine to make the menu modern and fresh. Combines a sleek, industrial interior with the cosmopolitan vibrancy of three alfresco dining balconies - the latter providing tables and heaters and smoking opportunities. Special Sun roast menu alongside regular offerings. Prices are friendly, with an average course at £8.95, two courses £12.95. Check website for regular dining offers. Price ALC: £2.75-£5.95/£7.50-£12.50 Wine list Extensive. HW £12.75 btl, £3.50 gls. Fabulous, unique range of beers. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7pm Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access & toilet. Parties of 20+. Takeaway.

Bath

ALFRESCO AT THE BATH SPA
Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF
Tel: 01225 444424, web: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/bathspa
● Modern British food in an informal yet extremely elegant atmosphere. More casual than sister restaurant Vellore, both to be found within the five-star Bath Spa Hotel. Menus are seasonal, with a strong emphasis on natural flavours, fresh salads and grills. Price ALC: starter £6-£12/main £7.50-£32 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £20 btl Open Lunch: Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm. Dinner: daily 6.15-9.15pm. Dress code: smart-casual, no jeans, sportswear or mobile phones in dining area. Full disabled access & facilities.

BATH PRIORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT
Weston Rd, BA1 2XT
Tel: 01225 331922, web: www.thebathpriory.co.uk
● Bath’s original country house hotel, set in the city’s own version of LA’s Mulholland Drive: a grand but accessible mansion featuring an intriguing art collection, gorgeous gardens and lots of very, very plump cushions, all serviced by graciously welcoming, effortlessly knowledgeable, impeccably polite staff. The kitchen is headed up by affable superchef Michael Caines, whose trademarks - technically exacting classics executed with subtly imaginative flourish - are writ large throughout the entire experience. ‘Absolutely stunning,’ Venue’s own lady of the manor declared after a recent trip to the table (crab ravioli with crab & ginger sauce, truffle butter poached turbot with braised beef cheek, mushroom duxelle & cepe foam, milk chocolate & hazelnut dacquoise). ‘Consistently perfect, from start to finish, on all counts.’ Price SL: 2 £24, 3 £30. SD: 3 £65. Tasting menu £90pp Wine list Extensive, from approx £23 btl Open Mon-Sun 12noon-2pm (last orders) & 7-9.30pm (Fri-Sat 10pm). Disabled access. Separate rooms for private hire, capacity 64.

DOWER HOUSE AT THE ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL
Royal Crescent Hotel, 16 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LS
Tel: 01225 823333, web: www.royalcrescent.co.uk
● Top-of-the-range food in Bath’s most elegant city centre hotel, with regularly changing menus that utilise the very best local produce while drawing inspiration from around the globe. Selection of menus includes all-day casual dining, vegetarian, afternoon tea, kids, set lunch and lunch/dinner ALC. But whichever option you go for, expect dishes along the lines of wild grey mullet, cauliflower textures, young leeks & cep bubbles, hot and sour tofu with cashew puree, candied beetroot, seeds, pulses & shoots, and caramel parfait with rum-roasted bananas and basil syrup. It all tickled our dour-faced reviewer: ‘Glamorous in a distinctly British, understated way, with menus that cleverly bridge that troublesome gulf between on-trend and accessible,’ she gushed. ‘Even the complimentary nibbles whisper competence over flashy flourish.’ Price SL: 2 £15.50, 3 £18.50. SD: 2 £50, 3 £60 (vegetarian: 3 £45). Sun lunch: 3 £35. All-day menu £5.50-£18.50. Traditional afternoon tea £12.50 Wine list Extensive, from £23 btl Open Daily 12.30-2pm & 7-10pm. Disabled access. Various private dining options. Groups/parties/functions welcome.

GREEN PARK BRASSERIE
Green Park Station, BA1 1JB
Tel: 01225 338565, web: www.greenparkbrasserie.com
● Convivial Euro-style brasserie with alfresco, covered seating (60-seater port-cochere out front; 70-seater deck out back, in what was once a railway station but is now home to the popular weekend farmers’ market) adding to the overall appeal. Free broadband/Wi-Fi in the library area and regular live jazz up the good-times ante. Mornings mean coffee and cakes, lunchtime set menus are exceptionally good value for money, and the evening ALC is always imaginative. Price SL/early dinner: from 2 £9.95. Sun lunch: 2 £9.95, 3 £13.50. ALC: £4.75-£6.95/£9.50-£14.95/£4.95-£6.95 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £11.95 btl Open Mon 10.30am-3pm, Tue-Sat 10.30am-11pm, Sun lunch 12noon-2.45pm. Disabled access. Large parties/weddings/business functions welcome (up to 200, set menus available).

NO.5
5 Argyle St, BA2 4BA
Tel: 01225 444499, web: www.no5restaurant.co.uk
● This understatedly elegant French bistro is one of Bath’s most amiable, easygoing diners, featuring a nicely proportioned, welcoming dining room furnished with classic cafe-society fixtures, all bathed in soft sunset hues courtesy of subtle lighting and tasteful paintwork. Snails, moules marinieres and duck confit fly the tricolore amid an appealing roll-call largely based around a modern Brit-Med theme, all fervently adhering to a locally sourced/seasonal dictat, resulting in ‘an eminently cheerful, satisfying experience’ for Venue’s reviewer. Tue night brings free, non-intrusive live ‘gypsy jazz’ to the melange. Price SL: 2 £8.95. SD: 2 £18.95, 3 £24.50. ALC: from £6.95/from £15.95/approx £6 Wine list Thoughtful, extensive. HW £14.50 btl Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30pm-late. Disabled access.

RAPHAEL
Gascoyne House, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RN
Tel: 01225 480042, web: www.raphaelrestaurant.co.uk
● Casual candlelight, elegantly efficient service and lovely food with wine to match, in chic bistro surroundings. Very popular with the pre-theatre crowd. Menus feature imaginative Medi-themed dishes based around regular seasonal changes and daily market deliveries: sweetcorn & coconut fritters with crunchy green leaf salad and sweet Thai chilli dip, moules marinieres, pan-fried fillet of pork on spinach mash with gorgonzola & mushroom cream sauce, and classic puds. Children get their own menu, daily specials board often features fresh fish, and there are always good veggie options. Price Lunch/pre-theatre (5.30-7pm): 2 £10. ALC: approx £6/£12.95-£17.95/approx £6 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £15 btl. Draught beers, cocktails, fine brandies Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm (last orders). Parties of 20+ - call in adv.

RITCHERS BISTRO & WINE BAR
2 The Wellsway, BA2 3AQ
Tel: 01225 480871
● Small, contemporary neighbourhood bistro and wine bar offering excellent breakfast options and light lunches to eat in or take away during the day, and tapas and sturdier modern European fare at suppertime (if steak and chips is on the menu, go for it). An evolving events calendar features regular offers including tapas & wine deals and monthly Sun lunch specials. Price Tapas from approx £3/main approx £6-£9. SL: 2 £8.50 (inc gls wine or beer). Takeaway lunch (sandwich/baguette, crisps & drink): £3.25 Wine list HW from approx £11 btl Open Mon-Sat 10am-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm. Sun lunch (last Sun of each month) 12noon-4pm. Disabled access. Group bookings - call in adv. Whole restaurant available for private hire/dining
events.

SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT
7a Princes Buildings, BA1 2ED
Tel: 01225 466856
● Sturdy goodies and tapas served Thur-Sat evenings at this charming licensed cafe with a Mediterranean-themed daytime menu. See Cafes, Bath.

TILLEYS BISTRO
3 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX
Tel: 01225 484200, web: www.tilleysbistro.co.uk
● Cheerful, Tardis-like bistro, located in one of Bath’s prettiest passages. An eclectic mix of thoughtful Mediterranean and traditional English food is served up in an atmosphere that lives up to the setting, and the fact that it’s one of the most reasonably priced restaurants in Bath adds to the charm. Menus change every two weeks, with dishes marked small, medium or large - you decide how to mix and match, depending on whether you want a snack, light bite or traditional three-course affair. The impressive array of Somerset regional dishes combined with a comprehensive vegetarian/vegan selection and legendarily scrumptious homemade desserts has further reinforced the long-standing Tilleys legend. If there are snails in garlic butter and ‘smokies’ (smoked haddock in cheesy saffron sauce) on the menu, order them immediately. Other reliably good classics include French onion soup, Toulouse sausage cassoulet, really good steaks, proper bread & butter pudding, and lemon & lime posset. Price Small dishes £6-£8.50/medium dishes £6.50-£9/large dishes £10-£19/dessert £6 Wine list HW £15.50 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Disabled access to ground floor & toilet. Separate room with lounge & bar for private hire: 10-16. Parties of 20+ welcome.

VELLORE AT BATH SPA HOTEL
Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF
Tel: 01225 444424, web: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/bathspa
● The Bath Spa’s fine dining restaurant has been awarded two AA rosettes for impeccable, classic culinary delights served in an elegant ballroom setting with a very upmarket ambience, all in a five-star hotel amid seven acres of tranquil gardens. As you might imagine from such a description, food is of the perfectly executed pan-seared sea scallops/roast loin of Highland venison/pear clafoutis pedigree rather than a voyage of brave new world molecular gastronomy, but overall, it’s an unforgettably grand experience. Price ALC: £6.95-£10.50/£17.50-£32/£7.50-£10.50 Wine list Extensive, international. HW from approx £25 btl. Large cocktail list Open Mon-Sun 7-10pm (last orders 9.45pm), Sun 12.30-2pm (last orders 1.45pm). Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat 7.30-10.30am, Sun 8-10.30am. Dress code: smart-casual, no jeans, sportswear or mobile phones in dining area. Disabled access – call in adv. Available for private hire - contact hotel’s banqueting department. Parties of 20+ welcome - call for info.

WOODS
9-13 Alfred St, BA1 2QX
Tel: 01225 314812, web: www.woodsrestaurant.com
● Enjoying a prime location opposite the Assembly Rooms since the late 1970s, this upmarket but informal bistro serves affordable food to match and deservedly enjoys local institution status. A French-style bar-brasserie area at the front leads to an elegant, spacious dining room - all white cloths, fresh flowers, candlelight, softly-softly carpet underfoot and walls lined with all things racehorse-related. Menu of modern Brit/French classics was described thus by a recent Venue reviewer: ‘A refreshingly uncomplicated approach sums up the Woods ethos: well-sourced ingredients, competently cooked and nicely served in quietly convivial surroundings.’ Price SL/early dinner: 2 £14.95 (Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-7-pm). ALC: £5.50-£8.25/£10-£23.95/approx £7 Wine list Includes good range of organics and ‘specials’. HW from approx £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9.45pm (last orders), Sun by special arrangement. Wheelchair accessible with staff assistance at entrance, no problems inside. Room for private hire, up to 45.

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