English

Bristol

NEW
BLUE RHUBARB
50 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4BZ
Tel: 0117 973 7673, web: www.bluerhubarbbristol.co.uk
● Formerly the Bentley Cafe & Gallery, Blue Rhubarb opened in October 2009, nestled in an old garage premises. Currently only open for private dinners and functions during the week, but open to the public for weekend breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Robust and rustic modern British food with European influences: seared pigeon breast with puy lentils & lardons for dinner, eggs benedict for brunch. Bristol Evening Post paid the new management and chef a visit: ‘After working his way around some of Bristol’s best food pubs (Picture House, Robin Hood’s Retreat, Spotted Cow), chef Tremaine Plummer has moved up a gear at Blue Rhubarb and is delivering some confident cooking.’ Like the previous owners, the BR are keen to support local artists, displaying canvasses and sculptures in a quirky, intimate setting. Price Breakfast £2.50-£8. ALC: £5.50-£7.50/£10.25-£14/£6-£7.50. SL: 2 £12, 3 £16 Wine list Small and exclusive. HW from approx £13 btl, £4gls Open Fri-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Disabled access. Available for private dinners & functions during the week.

BROWNS
38 Queens Rd, BS8 1RE
Tel: 0117 930 4777, web: www.browns-restaurants.com
● Long-standing, popular British cafe-bar/restaurant institution (established way back in 1973) welcomes all. Menus (food served all day, breakfast till dinner) offer a reliable blend of classic dishes with contemporary additions, while the surroundings ooze style. At this branch (see also Bath listing), the light, airy interior (modelled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice, no less) is supplemented by undercover alfresco dining out front - perfect for people-watching while you scoff and quaff. Separate set menus for larger groups and children. Bar snacks and afternoon teas, too. Price Breakfast £1.25-£6.95. ALC: £3.95-£7.95/£7.95-£18.95/£4.95-£6.25. Sun roast £7.95. SL/early diners (Mon-Thur 12noon-5pm): 1 £6.95, 2 £9.95, 3 £12.95. SD (daily 5-6.30pm & 9.30-10.30pm): 2 £10.95. Special deals on pre-theatre and group menus - see website for details Wine list Extensive. HW £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls. Superb range of bottled and draught beers, cocktails Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 11am-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.

CARVERY COMPANY
The Venue, Merlin Way, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR
Tel: 0117 959 8272, web: www.thecarverycompany.co.uk
● Lively, independently owned 350-seater restaurant with a choice of three freshly cooked roasts (with full traditional trimmings) every day, alongside sturdy faves: fish & chips, pies, salads, jacket potatoes, vegetarian dishes. All food is freshly prepared on the premises and ingredients are locally sourced right down to the Yorkshire puddings, as insisted on by new chef Alan Broadhurst. Milkshakes, bottled/draught beers (bar open to non-diners). Sister restaurant, the Preview Buffet Bar, next door. Takeaway: choice of three meats and veg for £5.95. Price ALC: from £2.95/from £6.95/£3.95. SL: roast £5.95 (Mon-Sat 11.30am-5pm) Wine list Wide selection, plus beers, spirits, cocktails. HW from £9.95 btl Open Daily 11.30am-9.30pm. Disabled access. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome - call in adv.

NEW
CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR
Future Inn Cabot Circus Hotel, Bond Street South, Bristol BS3 3EN
Tel 0845 094 5588, web: www.futureinns.co.uk
● Featuring a smart, contemporary street level dining room and sweeping staircase that leads down to a jazz-themed room complete with a small stage, this bright, shiny newcomer to the Cabot Circus theme - part of an upcoming hotel chain - offers carnivorous satisfaction a go-go. The guest of one Venue reviewer recently declared her filet mignon to be possibly the best she’s had in Bristol, while the man-with-the-pen summed up the whole experience thus: ‘a smart, calm place; I’ll definitely be back’. Steaks and chops are locally sourced and chargrilled over mesquite wood chips to give them that unique, smoky flavour, and there’s plenty of fresh fish and seafood options to keep folk with a less meaty appetite happy - just made sure you leave room for a pud. Price ALC: starters £4.95-£6.95, mains £10.95-£17.95 (steaks, chops and grills inc. side dishes, onion rings, garlic bread & salad); desserts £3.95-£5.95 Wine list Extensive; well-chosen HW from £9.95 btl Open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 7am-10.30pm Disabled access & full facilities. Parties/group bookings welcome, please call in adv.

COMING SOON
THE CLIFTON KITCHEN
112 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton BS8 4DB
Tel: 0117 946 7870, Web: www.cliftonkitchen.com
● This brand new venture (opening May 2010) promises to bring a fresh taste of locally sourced, seasonal contemporary Modern British cuisine to the heart of Clifton Village. Expect a comfortable, relaxed and sociable dining experience - oh, and fabulous Sunday roasts. Price/Wine list/Open/disabled access Details not available at the time of going to press; visit website for updated information.

CLIFTON SAUSAGE
7-9 Portland St, Clifton, BS8 4JA
Tel: 0117 973 1192, web: www.cliftonsausage.co.uk
● Winner of a 2009 silver Taste of the West award, this cosy Clifton Village haunt specialises in traditional and classic British dishes as well as those famous sausages, using the freshest, finest ingredients from British regional suppliers where possible. Decor as comforting as the food: stripped pine furniture, candles, warm yellow/sky blue walls. Venue reviewers are just a small part of the huge, loyal fan base who absolutely love this place: ‘Good, solid food with fancy touches. The definition of a hearty meal.’ With seasonal favourites including steamed mussels in cider, new season lamb, local game, a myriad of sausages and great puds, British cuisine is here receiving the celebratory treatment it deserves. Price ALC: £5-£6.50/£11-£15/£5-£7.50. Sun lunch: 2 £14.50, 3 £16.50 Wine list Impressive. HW £15.50 btl, £4 gls Open Mon 6pm-12midnight, Tue-Sun 12noon-12midnight. Lunch: Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm, Sat 12noon-5pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 6.30-10pm, Fri-Sat 6.30-11pm, Sun 6.30-9pm. Children over 14 welcome. Limited disabled access. Parties of 8+ - book in adv.

NEW
COWSHED
46 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NH
Tel: 0117 973 3550, web: www.thecowshedbristol.com
● ‘An unashamed celebration of the finest fleshy delights,’ is how Venue’s carnivores described this English steakhouse owned by Adam Denton, who felt there was a gap in the Bristol market for a restaurant serving good, simple, British food in a relaxed environment, with an emphasis on quality local produce. All suppliers (from tea to fish to beef) are carefully sourced: ‘They’ve certainly done all the right things,’ said Venue’s reviewer, ‘from selective, local, free-range sourcing to using the 28-day dry-ageing process, and they’re offering cuts from 6-16oz across the usual range. My guest has gone for the 6oz fillet, medium-rare with Cowshed ginger & tomato sauce, and I’ve gone for 10oz of trimmed sirloin and a ‘hot stone’, a searingly heated and salted stone tile brought to the table with your meat, presented raw for you to griddle yourself.’ Try booking the ‘Chef’s Table’, a 12-seater right in front of the kitchen, to witness the meat magic. Freshly sourced fish, tapas-style starters, wonderful chips and sides, and unctuous desserts. The Evening Post sums it up thus: ‘deserves to quickly establish itself as one of Bristol’s must-visit new openings’. Price ALC: £5-£8/£6.25-£14.50/approx £6.50. Steaks £15.20-£28.95. Early bird special (Mon-Thur 6-7pm): £10 for burger/steak & chips plus wine/pint. SL (12noon-3pm): 3 £10 Wine list Well chosen. £14.50 btl, £2.70 gls. Cider, interesting beers on tap, lots of digestifs Open Daily 12noon-12midnight (last lunch order 2.30pm, last dinner orders 9.45pm). Booking advised. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties of up to 100 - call in adv.

ELLIPSE AT MERCURE BRIGSTOW HOTEL
5-7 Welsh Back, BS1 4SP
Tel: 0117 929 1030, web: www.accorhotels.com
● Relaxed and stylish, with superb views across the water and an AA rosette. Unusually for a hotel chain, the ever-changing seasonal menu, courtesy of head chef Luke Trott, uses local produce where possible. Lazy brunches, light lunches, classy and romantic dinners, and very reasonable prices for top wines, too. Price ALC: approx £5-£8/approx £10-£17/approx £5-£7 Wine list Extensive grands vins selection, cocktails, real ales, draught beers. HW from approx £15.95 btl Open Mon-Sun 11am-5pm & 6-9.45pm (bar till 1am). Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv on 0117 906 9970.

GALA CASINO BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE
Explore Lane, BS1 5TY
Tel: 0117 906 9970, web: www.galacasino.co.uk
● Stylish, sophisticated, ultra-modern chargrill restaurant on the casino’s upper level, overlooking the harbour. Specialise in grills, using Scottish farmers they know and trust and only buying Aberdeen Angus cross-breed cattle that are grass-fed and naturally reared. Also serve excellent burgers, fish, pasta, salads and curries. For pre/post-dinner drinks, the casino’s Epernay Champagne Bar offers a full range of vintage and non-vintage champagnes, plus premium spirits, beers and cocktails, or there’s the designer vodka bar 18° Below Ice Bar, with giant blocks of ice embedded in the bar itself to keep drinks icy cool. Well worth a flutter. Price ALC: £1.95-£4.95/£6.95-£17.95/ £3.25-£5. SD: 2 £9.95, 3 £11.95 (seated before 8pm) Wine list HW £10.50 btl, £2.85 gls Open Daily 24hrs (food served 12noon-3am). Disabled access.

NEW
GRAZE BAR & CHOPHOUSE
63 Queen Square, BS1 4JZ
Tel: 0117 927 6706, web: www.bathales.co.uk
● In the old Post Office building on the corner of Queen Square, formerly occupied by the Queen Square Dining Rooms. They’ve revamped the place and now there’s a raised dining area opposite the open-plan kitchen, high-quality bespoke furniture, creative lighting schemes and some quirky design cues. Venue’s writer couldn’t be happier to have something central serving uncomplicated English food, from beans on toast to oyster, chops, steaks and Sunday roasts: ‘I marvelled at the discovery - here was that rare thing: a smart and pleasant place to grab a drink slap in the centre of town. As a Bath Ales venture, that shouldn’t have been a surprise but, unlike their very traditional pubs, this is a spanking new and contemporary bar (albeit with a respectable selection of cask ales). Their roasts proved excellent - the potatoes’ crisply cased fluffiness and the punchy sauce of cauliflower cheese offset by buttery wilted spinach and generous heaps of meat.’ Price ALC: £3.50-£8.25/£8.95-£12.95/£4.95-£6.50. Sun roast: £10.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £12.50 btl, £3.25 gls. Lots of casked ales and btld beers Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm (Fri 12midnight), Sat 9am-12midnight, Sun 9am-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome.

GREENS’ DINING ROOM
25 Zetland Rd, BS6 7AH
Tel: 0117 924 6437, web: www.greensdiningroom.com
● The Bristol Evening Post calls it ‘the personification of everything a family-run local restaurant should be and a benchmark eatery for the city. We are lucky to have it’. Here at Venue, we couldn’t agree more. This lovely, intimate neighbourhood bistro serves up top-notch fare and (as you’d expect from a team comprising ex-Glassboat/riverstation chefs who’ve worked with Alastair Little, and the River Cafe’s Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers), the place positively screams pedigree. Food is mainly classic European/modern British (but don’t be surprised if the occasional Asian ingredient turns up on your plate), and the menu changes daily depending on what’s available from their (mostly local) suppliers. Leisurely brunch at weekends (from 10am Sat), and kids’ meals, too. They’re looking forward to expanding once they get the thumbs-up from the council. Price ALC lunch mains £6-£12.50. SL: 2 £10. SD: 2 £21.50, 3 £27.50 Wine list Extensive, international, 7-8 wines by gls/small carafe. HW £12.50 btl, £3.40 gls Open Tue-Sat 12.30-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call in adv.

JACKS BAR & BRASSERIE
The Pavilion, 1 Hannover Quay, Harbourside, BS1 5JE
Tel: 0117 945 3990, web: www.jacksbrasserie.co.uk
● Small, independently owned chain of restaurants in waterfront locations in both Bristol and Portishead (see also Out of Town Restaurants), making the best of sunny days with plenty of alfresco seating. Contemporary British cuisine with a modern European twist, with a recent menu relaunch focusing on fresh local produce. Favourites include fresh Devon crabcakes with fennel salad & sweet chilli sauce, chargrilled Somerset organic burger with salad, homemade relish and some of the best chips in Bristol. Many dishes are cooked in the charcoal oven for a fantastically unique smoky taste. All desserts are made on the premises, too, including the ice-creams and sorbets. Open All day for coffee, light bites, afternoon tea, beer, spirits and soft drinks. Price ALC: £3.95-£4.95/£8.95-£14.95/£4-£6. Check website for regular updates and dining offers Wine list Extensive, international. HW £13.75 btl, £3.25 gls Open Daily 10am-11pm (food 10am-10pm). Good disabled access.

NEW
OLD CAFE STEAKHOUSE
Opposite Broadwalk Shopping Centre, 304 Wells Rd, Knowle, BS4 2QG
Tel: 0117 980 3888
● The only thing that’s old about this place, besides the name, is the premises. The new owners, who’ve taken over the Old Cathay Chinese, offer completely organic, locally sourced food - as the names implies, steaks will be a speciality. Breakfast, lunch, light bites, Sun roasts (beef, pork or lamb). Price ALC: approx £3-£5/approx £8-£27/approx £2-£4. Sun roast: 2 £6.95 Wine list HW approx £10 btl, £2.95 gls Open Tue–Sun 8.30am-4.30pm & 6pm-12midnight. Disabled access & disabled toilet.

RIVER GRILLE AT THE BRISTOL HOTEL
Prince St, BS1 4QF
Tel: 0117 923 0333, web: www.doylecollection.com
● This light, airy, welcoming quayside restaurant (wooden floors, lots of natural daylight) at the Bristol Hotel (formerly Jurys) takes fine, fresh natural ingredients (steak from Somerset farms, West Country cheeses) to conjure up classic, handcrafted dishes with a modern twist. Tables are perfectly placed to make the most of people-watching opportunities along Welsh Back. Central location and smart interior make it popular for business lunches. You can make reservations and view the current menu online. Price ALC: £4.50-£8/£10.50-£22/£6.50 Wine list Extensive, well-stocked bar. HW approx £18 btl, £5 gls Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6.30-10am, Sat-Sun 7.30-10.30am; lunch: daily 12noon-2.30pm; dinner: daily 6-10.30pm Disabled access - from outside entrance.

NEW
STAR & DOVE
75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY
Tel: 0117 300 3712, web: www.thestaranddove.co.uk
● Formerly in our Pubs section, the Star and Dove is now an official foodie destination. With plenty of room to show off their fine cooking in the recently refurbished upstairs, diners can expect top-notch upscale versions of traditional English favourites. Semi-covered garden is well equipped with benches, lights and heaters. Back indoors, enjoy art and music or one of the much-loved film showings with food. Dishes include steaks, burgers, bangers & mash, great puds and excellent cheeses, with ingredients chosen and cooked with care. Mighty fine Sunday roasts, plus draught ales. It all attracts a wonderfully diverse clientele, from art trail types and bright young things en route to town to old cider blokes and young mums. Price ALC: £2.95-£5.50/£8.50-£15.95/£4.95-£5.50. SD: 2 £13.95, 3 £17.95. Sun lunch approx £12.95 Wine list HW £12 btl, £3.10 gls Open Restaurant: food Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm (or until it runs out). Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome - call in adv.

ZEST BISTRO
Second Floor, House of Fraser, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD
Tel: 0844 800 3710
● House of Fraser’s licensed bar and restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, a glass of wine, even champagne afternoon tea. It’s contemporary and stylish with tasteful decor, comfortable leather chairs and no intrusive music. Menu takes in salads, sandwiches, more substantial mains (sausages with tomato sauce & cannellini beans, steak with oven-roasted tomatoes) and classic puds like Eton Mess. Kids’ menu, too. Said the Evening Post: ‘With its back-of-the-store location, Zest Bistro is tucked away enough from the crowds to feel relaxed, and with its above average food and service, it makes a welcome break from the usual horrors of department store dining.’ Price Breakfast £3.25-£4.95. All-day menu £5.50-£8.50. Champagne afternoon tea for two £25 Wine list Mostly European, constantly changing, many available by the glass (from approx £4 gls) Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm (last orders 6.30pm), Sun 11am-4.30pm (last orders 4pm). Disabled access.

Bath

ARCH
2-3 Queen St, BA1 1HE
Tel: 01225 444403, web: www.restaurantdelarche.co.uk
● Stylish, split-level modern British restaurant in a prime location on one of Bath’s most picturesque cobbled streets. Informal, ground-floor dining room offers seasonal set and ALC menus (fresh soup, terrines, casseroles) while the first-floor Fine Dining Rooms (open Thur-Sat) serve up more indulgent, gourmet options: venison carpaccio, duo of dry aged Scottish beef & bubblegum panna cotta with liquorice caviar. Fresh fish dishes are reliably good. Price Casual dining: SL 2 £10.95, 3 £13.50; SD (5.30-7pm) 2 £12.95, 3 £15.50. Fine dining: ALC £6.50-£7.95/£14.95-£23.95/£5.50-£7.95 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £15 btl Open Casual dining Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30pm-late. Fine dining: Thur-Sat 7pm-late. Disabled access after steps to main entrance.

BANGLO
44 Lower Bristol Rd, BA2 3BD
Tel: 01225 345442, web: www.banglo.co.uk
● With its interesting, inviting decor, sofa seating on the covered alfresco deck and a thoughtfully eclectic menu, Banglo has brought a much-needed blast of life to an erstwhile overlooked location. Food is all about substantial, impeccably sourced classics, all cooked to order: chunky sandwiches (with equally chunky chips), caesar salad, pigs in blankets, spaghetti with Dorset crab, chilli & fresh mint, Cornish sardines on toast, free-range jerk chicken, superb steaks, classic puds. Sunday roasts go large here, the Banglo Burger is highly recommended, and fresh fish dishes are excellent. See website for details of various events throughout the week. Price Lunch dishes £5.95-£10. ALC dinner: approx £6/approx £10-£14/approx £5 Wine list Intelligent selection. HW £15 btl Open Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-late (live music/DJs from 11pm). Food: Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Limited disabled access – call in adv. Private hire/large parties welcome (licensed till 3am daily) - call in adv.

BATHTUB BISTRO
2 Grove St, BA2 6PJ
Tel: 01225 460593, web: www.thebathtubbistro.co.uk
● ‘The overall Bathtub experience is at once soothing and uplifting,’ said Venue of this charming modern British bistro featuring split-level, multi-mood dining areas, a genuinely warm but not overbearingly eager-to-please welcome and menus offering an accessible selection of modern/trad-Brit fare. Starters include salmon & haddock fishcakes, and chorizo & black pudding. Mains feature the likes of crispy pork belly, lamb rump, and roasted sea bass. Crunchy fruit crumble and creme brulee are among the desserts. Price ALC: £3.50-£4.95/£11.95-£14.95/£3.55-£4.65. SD (Tue-Fri): 2 £14.95 Wine list HW £13.50 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm (last orders). Limited disabled access.

BATHWICK BOATMAN
Forester Rd, Bathwick, BA2 6QP
Tel: 01225 428844, web: www.bathwickboatman.com
● Set within the environs of the Victorian Bath Boating and Punting Station, the tranquil surroundings and homemade quality fare (all made on the premises using largely locally sourced produce, and including an extravagant specials board and spiffing Sunday lunch) turn the BB into a beloved gem. A Venue reviewer once went overboard when describing resident chef Ben Hall: ‘a master of the art of euro-influenced, locally sourced, homemade cuisine with a passion for robust, earthy flavours, zingingly fresh fish and very thoughtful veggie options…’ she swooned. Think Tuscan vegetable soup, onion basola, lamb chump with saffron & rosemary sauce, roast devilled chicken breast, chestnut wellington, lemon cheesecake, and bread & butter pudding. During summer, arrive by boat from Pulteney Weir, and punts, skiffs and canoes are for hire by the hour/day from the station itself. Sunday roasts are of the kind that mother would have made if only she’d have known how. Price Starter/light dishes approx £5/approx £13/approx £5. Sun roast: 2 £15, 3 £18 (child 2 £9.50) Wine list HW from approx £11 btl Open Tue-Sun 12noon-2pm (last orders), Tue-Sat 6-9pm (last orders). No disabled access. Parties, weddings, corporate events & formal dinners catered for; no surcharge for exclusive use.

BOATHOUSE
Newbridge Rd, Newbridge, BA1 3NB
Tel: 01225 482584, web: www.sabrain.com/boathouse
● Impressively imposing converted boathouse in a lovely riverside location, with large alfresco garden and a welcoming, contemporary feel within. Modern British menus adapt to all tastes, from light-bite lunches and sharing platters to full-on feasts, including a Sunday carvery that’s sturdy enough to keep you afloat till Tuesday. Dishes revolving around Celtic Pride premium Welsh beef are a speciality, and children are well catered to, with their own special menu and a child-friendly play area in the garden. Price Light bites/sharing platters £4.75-approx £6.95, mains £7.95-approx £11. Sun carvery (12noon-4pm): 2 £8.95, 3 £9.95 Wine list Well-stocked bar. HW approx £11 btl Open Food: Mon-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-8pm. Full disabled access with lift & easy access to toilet. Large function room for private hire.

BROWNS
Orange Grove, BA1 1LP
Tel: 01225 461199, web: www.browns-restaurants.com
● Formerly a police station and magistrates court, today this stunning Georgian building plays host to a spacious, timelessly stylish 160-seater restaurant, separate bar area and gorgeous terrace out front, with top views of the abbey and weir. Good-value lunch/dinner deals, and great-value cocktail happy hour. Kids get their own menu. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm (from 9am summer), Sun 11am-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.

BRUNEL’S AT THE ROYAL HOTEL
Manvers St, BA1 1JP
Tel: 01225 463134, web: www.royalhotelbath.co.uk
● The Royal Hotel (opposite Bath Spa Station) was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1846 and has traded as a hotel, traditional restaurant and bar ever since, but a recent refurbishment has brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to proceedings, bringing everything right up to date while still retaining the building’s original charm. Grills are a speciality here, and all ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible. Price SL/SD: 3 £17.50. ALC: 3 approx £19 Wine list Popular classics. HW approx £12.95 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Good disabled access & toilet.

CAVENDISH AT THE DUKES HOTEL
Dukes Hotel, Great Pulteney St, BA2 4DN
Tel: 01225 787963, web: www.dukesbath.co.uk
● ‘Despite all the understated, hushed grace, there’s quite a flamboyant performance going on in the Cavendish kitchen,’ said one Venue reviewer of the Cavendish experience. And it most definitely is an experience. Beneath one of the magnificent, Palladian-style Georgian townhouses lining an imposing thoroughfare (in particular, the one that’s now the Dukes Hotel) lives one of the finest fine-dining restaurants in Bath, featuring a secluded patio garden (complete with sparkling fountain) and a contemporary but genteel dining room where seasonal menus reflect the taste and variety of the very best British produce, using organic, free-range and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. The restaurant boasts a bouquet of AA rosettes in the cabinet, and rumour has it that the Michelin men may sprinkle some stardust over the display soon - a much-deserved accolade for head chef Fran Snell, whose imaginative, très foodie menus currently include his signature dish of Cotswold rabbit with carrot puree, sauteed langoustines and tarragon & ginger foam, and the addictive hot dark chocolate pudding with blood orange sorbet and a cocoa-nibbed tuille. Price ALC: £7-£10/£17.95-£24.95/approx £7-£9. SL: call/visit website for details. Wine list Extensive, comprehensive. HW from approx £18 btl Open Lunch: Fri-Sun 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: daily 6.30-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Smaller, more intimate of the two dining rooms can be reserved for private parties, receptions, business meetings.

CIRCUS CAFE & RESTAURANT
34 Brock St, BA1 2LN
Tel: 01225 466020, web: www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk
● Stylish contemporary bistro in the heart of Georgian Bath, serving morning coffee and elevenses, lunch, traditional teatime treats and full-on suppertime feasts, all rustled up using intelligently sourced seasonal ingredients, locally produced wherever possible, and put together with a great deal of integrity. Highlights at the time of going to press include Devon mussels in leek & saffron soup, Wiltshire wild boar & venison game salami with sticky fig compote, Exmoor lamb pie, and organic beefburgers. Fresh fish dishes are always reliably good, as are the homemade puds. Price Elevenses/tea-time treats £2.50-£4.90, lunch approx £5-£10. ALC dinner: approx £6-£9/approx £12-£17/approx £6 Wine list Large, well-balanced selection. HW £14.30 btl Open Mon-Sat 10am-12midnight. Wheelchair accessible. Private parties welcome - call for details.

GASCOYNE PLACE
1 Sawclose, BA1 1EY
Tel: 01225 445854, web: www.gascoyneplace.co.uk
● This tasteful, easygoing cafe-bar/restaurant hybrid caters to a tasteful, easygoing crowd. Stylish, novel design twists proliferate throughout this split-level oasis, where the choice between buzzing lounge, cosy snug, elegant first-floor supper rooms or brasserie-style mezzanine dining is yours. Free live jazz in the lounge every Sun, and regular events throughout the week: at time of going to press, Mon is Quiz & Pie night, Tue is Burger Night and Wed brings posh fish suppers, while regular dining/wine-tasting events are hosted throughout the year, and there’s an alfresco jazz festival in Sept. This history-laden haven of contemporary merriment is also home to one of the most competent, thoughtful kitchens in Bath - current highlights from a regularly changing, seasonal menu include Mendip venison carpaccio, mixed seafood risotto with saffron & coriander sauce, Keynsham lamb on creamy mash with olive compote & rosemary jus, 28-day-hung Wiltshire steak, and sweet butternut squash & basil tart with liquorice ice-cream. Price SL: 2 £10, 3 £12.50. Pre-theatre (5.30-7pm): 2 £13.95, 3 £16.95. ALC: £5-£8/£12-£17.50/approx £6. Bar menu (5.30-10pm/10.30pm Sat) £8.95-£13.50 (sharing platters). Sun roast £11.50 Wine list Extensive, international, very carefully sourced wines (90 labels, 30 available by the gls). HW £13.95 btl Open Daily 11.30am-late. Food: 12noon-2.30pm (4pm Sun) & 5.30-10pm (Sat-Sun last orders 10.30pm). Disabled access possible but not to toilets – call in adv. Parties welcome, rooms available for private hire – call in adv.

NEW
GG’S STEAKHOUSE & GRILL
Spring Gardens Rd, BA2 6PW
Tel: 01225 311184, web: www.iltocco.co.uk
● Il Tocco d’Italia may be no more, but the many charms of that gently theatrical contemporary Italian trattoria still remain at head honcho Glyn Gronow’s newest venture in this singularly unique, standalone location right on the weir. Impeccably sourced, traditional steakhouse faves dominate the menus, while a courtyard-level bar and welcoming first-floor dining room overlooking the best weir view in Bath complete this wholly satisfying experience. Sirloin, rib-eye and fillet are sold by the ounce, while the signature Porterhouse (for two to share) comes in at £28. The rest of the menu has been created with classic steakhouse tradition (as well as the average wallet) in mind: a well-paced starter selection includes plenty of non-carny treats, there’s always a fresh fish or vegetarian option available, puds are sturdy but elegant versions of nursery faves, and two sides (from a choice that includes onion rings, mashed potatoes and thoroughly decent chips) come as standard with your main order. ‘Every chic caveman’s dream in the (literal) flesh, the best you could possibly press,’ said our reviewer. ‘If it’s true that not eating meat is a decision but eating meat is an instinct, GG’s has instinctively got it right.’ Price ALC: £5-£6/£14-£28 (fillet, rib-eye & sirloin steaks £2-£3 per ozs)/£5 Wine list Excellent Italian, well-chosen global selection. HW approx £14.50 btl. Well-stocked bar, inc cocktails Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm (last orders), Sun 12noon-2.30pm. No disabled access to restaurant. Parties welcome - call in adv. Weddings a speciality.

NEW (OPENING MAY 2010)
HALL & WOODHOUSE
1-3 Old King St, BA1 2JT
Web: www.hall-woodhousebath.co.uk
● Housed in the characterful split-level building formerly known as Bonham’s auction house, this ambitious, split-level good-times complex combines a pub/bar area, a fine dining restaurant and a continental brasserie, and incorporates a spacious alfresco area and rooftop garden, all overseen by Blandford brewery Hall and Woodhouse (hence the name), who’ve invested £5m in ensuring that the renovations/conversion scheme is top-notch. Price/Wine list/Open Not available at time of going to press. Check Venue’s food & drink pages for news/updates

HOLE IN THE WALL
16 George St, BA1 2EN
Tel: 01225 42524, web: www.theholeinthewall.co.uk
● Much-loved Bath institution flaunting food that scales modern English heights, all at non-scary prices, with set menu deals making for veritable bargains. Menus are based firmly around fresh West Country produce (everything is made on site, including bread and ice-cream), and opening hours have recently been extended to include Sun lunch, which includes the ‘Beast Feast’ (trio of roasted meats). ALC classics include double-baked wild mushroom souffle, confit duck leg, venison steak on apple & parsnip mash, roast fillet of cod with champagne veloute, and comforting homemade puds. Excellent, extensive wine list offers over 70 wines, many by the glass, from all around the globe. Price SL/SD: 2 £9.95, 3 £13.95 (Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-7pm). SD for pre-ordered parties of 6+: 3 £24.95. Sun roast £10.95, Beast Feast £14.95. ALC: £4.95-£8.75/£10.95-£17.95/£4.95 Wine list Extensive. HW £12.95 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm & 6-9.30pm. Wheelchair access, phone ahead. Parties welcome - call for details.

NEW
LIME LOUNGE
11 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP
Tel: 01225 421251, web: www.limeloungebath.co.uk
● Chic, charming, fully licensed cafe/bistro on one of the prettiest traffic-free lanes in Bath, twixt the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Breakfast rolls, pastries and thoroughly decent coffee, followed by gourmet sandwiches, salads, etc at lunchtime, and a lively, modern-Brit bistro menu (scallops, steaks, fresh fish dishes, homemade puds) keeping things lively four evenings a week. Pavement tables for when the weather complies. Price Breakfast pastries, etc, approx £3-£5. Light lunches/sandwiches: from approx £4.95. ALC dinner: approx £5-£8/approx £7-£10/approx £6 Wine list HW approx £12 btl Open Sun-Tue 8am-3pm, Wed-Sat 8am-10.30pm

NEW
MARKET
Sawclose, BA1 1EY
Tel: 01225 330009, web: www.marketbath.com
● This smart new kid on the block brings a blast of fresh air to the thriving Sawclose scene. What was formerly a rather dingy, rundown late-night haunt has undergone a complete spring clean, blending inspiration from the Jamie’s Italian approach to scene-setting (characterful reclaimed furniture, fixtures and fittings) with artful, gastropub touches (candelabras, wonky eclectic stylings, tasteful paintwork) inside and glorious suntrap patio outside. ‘The general layout offers a people-pleasing formula from the off,’ wrote Venue. ‘Whether you’re partying with a crowd or planning an intimate date, it’s unlikely that either arrangement would tread on one another’s toes.’ While the menu doesn’t attempt to suggest gastroporn, food is a distinct cut-above any expectations of an establishment that specialises in burgers, pizzas and Medi-themed sharing platters - properly upmarket grub, from breakfast till way past sunset. Wine and soft drinks include carafe options, beer buffs get their own unique treats, and classic puds go large. Price Tapas platters to share £4.90-£12.50, burgers £5.65-£7.25, pizzas £5.95-£7.95, salads £3.45-£7.95, sides £1.90, desserts £2.95-£3.45 Wine list HW from approx £12 btl/£4.50 250ml carafe Open Mon-Sat 8am-late, Sun 9am-5pm. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Parties welcome - call for details.

MOON & SIXPENCE
6a Broad St, BA1 5LJ
Tel: 01225 460962, web: www.moonandsixpence.co.uk
● Firmly established at the heart of the Milsom Place complex and housed in an old Bath stone warehouse off a cobbled passageway, the M&S offers separate candelit dining areas (and comfy sofas for pre/post-prandial lounging), pavement patios and a glamorous upper-level bar featuring an alfresco terrace and ‘casual menus’ all of its own. Our reviewer deemed it: ‘a warm and welcoming experience in a gloriously unstuffy way; a real urban sanctuary’. Food is of the ‘modern international’ variety, which loosely translates as an upmarket selection of familiar classics (crab bisque, potted shrimp, slow-roasted pork belly, crab & prawn risotto) laced with lashings of très foodie flair. Price SL: 2 £11.50. ALC dinner: approx £7-£9/£16-£21/approx £7 Wine list Extensive. HW £15 btl Open Lunch: daily 12noon-2.30pm (3pm Sun). Dinner: Mon-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm, Sun 6.30-10.30pm. Wheelchair access, phone ahead. Parties welcome - call for details.

OLIVE TREE
Queensberry Hotel, 4-7 Russel St, BA1 2QF
Tel: 01225 447928, web: www.thequeensberry.co.uk
● Offering broad appeal to contemporary chicsters, Bathonian traditionalists and hip long-weekenders who make the stylish boutique hotel upstairs their regular urban retreat, the restaurant’s location (beneath the discreetly glamorous Queensberry Hotel, just behind the Assembly Rooms) is as elegant as the experience itself. The Olive Tree is also home to the recently revamped Old Q Bar (a plush, uber-glam cocktail hotspot) and an absolutely charming alfresco urban oasis outback, but the restaurant is where it’s at for the foodie in your life. ‘The quality, generosity of portions and overall glamorous impact of the Olive Tree experience makes eating here an unforgettably superior prandial event,’ our girl-about-town told Venue HQ recently. ‘A truly remarkable feast.’ She came to her conclusion following a meal that included English rose veal carpaccio with Cornish blue cheese beignets, monkfish tail with slow-cooked jacob’s ladder, roast baby onions & cabernet sauvignon sauce, and Valrhona chocolate delice. Price SL: 2 £16, 3 £19.50. ALC: £7.75-£12/£16.50-£27.75/£8.50 Wine list Huge, international, regularly updated - the cellar is currently home to 300 labels. HW from approx £16 btl, £4.50 gls Open Lunch: Tue-Sun 12noon-2pm. Dinner: daily 7-10pm. Disabled access possible via lift (phone beforehand). Private dining room for hire, up to 35.

RIVER COTTAGE CANTEEN AT KOMEDIA
22-23 Westgate St, BA1 1EP
Tel: 0845 293 8480, web: www.komedia.co.uk/bath
● Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen splashed into Bath last year, some months after Komedia turned the old Beau Nash cinema into a contemporary pleasuredome. Back in the day, the Canteen closed at 5pm and the Cottage morphed into a foyer for the main auditorium. But those who wished that the RCC show could go on have recently been given cause for applause: it’s now possible to enjoy a Hugh-endorsed feast on Wed-Sun eves, when clever soundproofing turns the River Cottage into a stand-alone metropolitan oasis, strictly adhering to fundamental RCC principles regarding seasonality, impeccable sourcing and chic, urban-meets-rustic stylings. ‘We left feeling as though we’d eaten exactly what should be on the menu right now, created moments before we took to our table,’ said Venue’s reviewer, of an organic lamb of a feast that included toasted fennel & parsnip soup topped with crispy pork belly and drizzled with garlic oil, slow-cooked brisket of beef, curried squash with spelt tabbouleh, hummus & chilli oil, and steamed apple pud. ‘I’m unlikely to cease waxing lyrical about the whole experience for a long time yet.’ Opens for breakfast and glamorous light lunches too, and features an onsite bakery. Price From £3.95 (breakfast, pastries, etc) to approx £14 (ALC lunch/dinner mains). Thur currently ‘Stew Night’: stew & pudding £10 (takeaway £6, bring your own container). Wine list HW approx £14.50 btl. Organic beers, juices, etc Open Mon-Sun 9am-4pm, Wed-Sun 7-9.45pm. Bakery: Wed-Sat 9am-3pm. Disabled access.

SALLY LUNN’S
4 North Parade Passage, BA1 1NX
Tel: 01225 461634, web: www.sallylunns.co.uk
● Located in the oldest house in Bath (built in 1482) and named after the Huguenot refugee who baked here some 200 years later during the building’s bakery incarnation, Sally Lunn’s is one of Bath’s major tourist hotspots. The good lady’s buns (enjoyed today with sweet and savoury accompaniments) are served up alongside historic English (and a bit of French) cuisine. Also very popular for afternoon tea, a quintessentially English experience that graciously gives way to candlelit dinners later on. Don’t be put off by the crowds - inside, it’s much bigger than it looks. Price SD (5-7pm): 2 (+ gls of wine) £12. ALC: approx £4/£8-£10/approx £4-£5. Afternoon tea from approx £6 Wine list HW approx £11 btl Open Mon-Thur 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Disabled access difficult as this is a listed building, but staff try to be as helpful as possible.

THEATRE VAULTS RESTAURANT
Sawclose, BA1 1EY
Tel: 01225 442265, theatre: 01225 448844
● Atmospheric thesp hangout in a vaulted cellar beneath the Theatre Royal. Cosy and elegant with a relaxing ambience, the general style is English with a touch of the Med, and seasonal menus incorporate the freshest ingredients. Set menu changes monthly – call for current details and prices Wine list Cosmopolitan. HW £14.50 btl Open Call theatre for current details - opening hours fluctuate according to theatre programme/events, but generally pre-matinee lunch & 5.30-7.30pm. Disabled access difficult but possible. Parties of up to 40 - adv booking only.

WALRUS & CARPENTER
28 Barton St, BA1 1HH
Tel: 01225 314864, web: www.thewallybath.co.uk
● This popular Bath institution was established back in 1973, when the Wally based menus on locally sourced, free-range, organic ingredients with an emphasis on wallet-friendly crowd-pleasers and a hearty dollop of conviviality - principles that hold even stronger significance over three decades later. Inside, several cosy, charmingly eclectic dining areas offer instant cheer - intimate in a classic French brasserie way (candlelight, chequered tablecloths, interesting prints on the walls). A straightforward, sturdy menu selection matches the initial vibe: downhome classics like chicken liver or mackerel pate, chicken curry, fish pie, the Wally’s legendary Chocolate St Emilion, and an excellent vegetarian selection. ‘There’s clearly a big dollop of integrity at the heart of the matter here,’ said Venue’s reviewer, who was also delighted to learn that the Wally’s legendary homemade burgers are now available to take away. Price ALC: £5-£6/£10-approx £18/approx £6 Wine list International, lots of new world. HW from approx £13 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access possible – call in adv. Parties catered for, up to 20.

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