Carpe Diem

Millenium Parade, Millenium Square (next to @Bristol), Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5YT.
Tel 0117 316 9173

Having opened its doors late in December 2006, Carpe Diem is a recent and very welcome addition to the Bristol restaurant scene. Entrepreneur and Chef Rojer Chandre (also behind the Michelin-rated Curlew) has created a top-quality fine dining establishment that operates on sound ecological principles. The restaurant was built to a vision of a carbon and nitrates neutral footprint. The equipment used to cook and the lighting run to energy efficiencies approaching 88%, the furniture is made with wood from sustainable forests, while all glass, cardboard, paper and waste oil is recycled. In fact the restaurant contributes less than 5% to landfil. This is compared to 70% by the average business in the UK!

As for the menus, all ingredients are grown naturally and, where possible, organically, whether it’s a homemade croissant and Fairtrade coffee for breakfast, a Caesar salad or fish and chips for lunch, or a gourmet dinner!

Dinner menus are inventive as well as delicious. Start with diver-caught crab cake with mustard aioli, fennel salad and caramelised kumquats, follow with Cotswold Old Spot tenderloin pork with lemon, liquorice, pumpkin and café au lait and then round things off in style with a decadent hot chocolate fondant with hot chocolate sauce.

This new operation offers something for everyone and for every occasion. Whether it’s a relaxing beer and a spot of people-watching on the alfresco area, an intimate gourmet dinner for two or a special occasion for the family, Carpe Diem has it all. They also cater for large functions such as weddings, conferences and corporate parties for up to 220 people.