Venue > Eating Out West > Bristol & Bath Restaurants

AQUA
Welsh Back, BS1 4RR
Tel: 0117 915 6060, fax: 0117 915 9914, email: bookings@aqua-restaurant.com, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com
‘Always been a great place to visit whatever the weather,’ our food editor said. ‘The view over the docks is always sublime, the atmosphere classy but classless.’ And, as ever, he’s absolutely right. This bright, light and airy bar and restaurant lies right beside the water and offers excellent (heated) alfresco facilities, with expanded outdoor seating for 90 and sliding doors that further add to the indoor/outdoor feel. Everyone from daytime shoppers and office workers looking for a decent lunch to those seeking a buzzing, contemporary foodie experience in the evening or at the weekend are all kept happy. Family groups will love it too, and a selection of small dishes from the main menu is available throughout the day in the bar for casual grazers and snackers. Meanwhile, huge portions, good-value Sunday roasts and a lovely kiddies’ menu all add to Aqua’s enduring all-things-to-all-people appeal (also has an Italian-themed incarnation in Bath – see listing). Menu S: king prawns in piri-piri or garlic sauce; beef carpaccio with rocket salad & parmesan shavings. M: Welsh rack of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes & red wine jus; sweet potato and leek cake. P: seriously sticky toffee pudding; raspberry crème brulee Price ALC: from £4.25/from £9.95/from £4.95. SL: the Aqua Classic (12noon-7pm): 2 £11.99, 3 £14.99 (Sun £13.99/£15.99) Wine list Extensive. HW: approx £14 btl, £4 gls. Superb cocktails, beers Open Restaurant: Sun-Thur 11.30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-10.30pm. Bar: Sun-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12midnight. Children welcome, own menu. Very good disabled provision - access & toilets. Major credit cards. Party bookings up to 150 welcome, with late licence to 1am available.

ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR
16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
Tel: 0117 917 2300, café-bar (direct): 0117 917 2305, email: cafebar@arnolfini.org.uk, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk
Food at this contemporary gallery/bookshop/cinema/performance/café-bar complex is very much a suits-you affair. Morning coffee and continental breakfast pastries etc lead the way to sturdy, imaginative, freshly made, impeccably sourced Euro-themed and British traditional delights throughout the day. The menu changes at least fortnightly, and mains cost no more than £7.50. Lovely, lively, laid-back atmosphere. Menu 12noon-7pm: Fresh soups, rustic sandwiches (grilled sausages with red onion marmalade; goat’s cheese with mixed roasted vegetables, etc); traditional lasagne; turkey & ham pie with roasted carrots; homemade breads, muffins, cakes, etc Price Mains from £4.95-£7.50. Nibbles, dips, muffins etc - prices vary, from approx £1.95. Warm toasted sandwich with soup & salad £5.95 Wine list Good selection from around the globe alongside an excellent, global range of bottled and on-tap beers. HW: £11.50 btl Open Mon-Sun 10am-11pm (Sun 10.30pm). Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Private hire/parties – call for details.

ARTS RESTAURANT AT THE KILN
Ramada Plaza Hotel, Redcliffe Way, BS1 6NJ
Tel: 0117 926 0041
Contemporary bistro food served in stylish surroundings at one of Bristol’s best hotels. Housed in the shell of an 18th-century glass kiln, the restaurant is more used to serving hotel guests and business people, hence being open for breakfast and dinner only. Menu S: terrine of duck with toasted brioche and herb salad; warm Thai marinated chicken salad with a sweet chilli sauce. M: wild mushroom ravioli with spinach and a wild mushroom cream; slow-cooked beef rib with mustard mash and roasted root vegetables. P: sticky toffee pudding served with custard or vanilla ice-cream; caramelised bananas on pan-fried brioche. Price ALC: from £5.25/from £11.25/from £5.25. Wine list Good selection from around the globe. HW: £13.99 btl, £3.50 gls Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-10am, Sat 7.30am-11am, Sun 7.30am-12noon and Mon-Sun 6.30-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled facilities. Major credit cards. IDC: 25% off bill.

BELL’S DINER
1 York Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5QB
Tel: 0117 924 0357, email: info@bellsdiner.co.uk, web: www.bellsdiner.co.uk
Well, where do you start? Garnering an unprecedented 15 out of 15 on Venue’s most recent visit, it’s no surprise that the innovative menus (born of the imagination of local uber-chef Chris Wicks) at this widely acclaimed modern bistro have deservedly garnered national approbation. Inspired by chefs such as Ferran Adria at El Bulli and Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck, as well as by stints cooking in Australia and travelling widely throughout Asia, the food that Chris and his team prepare reflects a very modern, sophisticated style of cooking. ‘What a feast,’ our food ed wrote. ‘Bell’s Diner is a must for anyone who enjoys eating out.’ Cutting-edge and contemporary, Bell’s’ strict avoidance of commercially farmed foods results in fresh, flavoursome dishes, and the ever-evolving tasting menu is a treat you do not want to miss. Tucked away in the heart of boho Montpelier, this is an unforgettable eating out experience. Small wonder that it was voted the Best Restaurant in the South West by the Observer’s Food Monthly magazine in 2004 and 2006. Menu S: quail jelly consommé with tea-smoked quail breast, pea shoots and pea nuts; beef carpaccio with beetroot sorbet and horseradish cream. M: braised pork with savoy cabbage, juniper jus and truffle macaroni cheese; sea trout with asparagus, broad beans, peas and a liquorice sabayon. P: coconut mousse with vindaloo ice-cream & poppadom tuille; crème brulee with wild strawberry sorbet, shortbread & rhubarb compote Price ALC: from £6.50/from £14.50/from £6.50. Tasting menu (highly recommended): Mon-Thur 8 courses £45 (min two, max 6 people - can also be accompanied by a ‘wine flight’ @ £32.50pp) Wine list Good selection from around the globe. HW: £13.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm, Mon-Sat 7-10.30pm. Children welcome, half-portions, half price. Disabled access possible (two steps) with help. Major credit cards. Private hire, up to 30. Parties of 20+. PC: ‘Special treat’.

BORDEAUX QUAY
V-Shed, Canons Way, BS1 5UH
Tel: 0117 906 5550, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk, email: info@bordeaux-quay.co.uk
A truly unique harbourside venture, housed in an elegant, converted warehouse and comprising a restaurant, brasserie, bar, deli, bakery and cookery school all under one roof, courtesy of local food hero Barny Haughton. 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 a heat exchange programme replaces wasteful air conditioning systems and everything possible is recycled) while the daily changing menus reflect the best of what is local and seasonal throughout the year. From wild game to fresh Cornish fish or locally reared organic lamb, these are delicious ingredients, beautifully prepared. Tapas/breakfast/brunch/light bites are available in the informal brasserie (where bar snacks start at a couple of quid and mains come at around a tenner), while the restaurant offers seriously fine dining opportunities in a lively but mellow atmosphere. See also Quartier Vert. Menu S: hare ravioli with walnut sauce; roast fennel, red peppers & purple sprouting broccoli with aioli. M: zuppa di pescatore (with monkfish, black bream, clams and langoustines); chicken breast with chanterelles, leeks, carrots and chive mash. P: pecan and hazelnut tart with caramel sauce and clotted cream; rhubarb crumble with crème anglaise. Price Restaurant ALC from approx £5.50/from approx £12.50/from approx £6. SL/SD: call or visit website for details Wine list Extensive, organic. Excellent range of organic, Bath Ales, low alcohol & fruit beers; spirits & liqueurs Open Restaurant Mon-Sat 12.30-3pm, 6.30-10.30pm (last orders 10pm); brasserie Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm (food served Mon-Sat 12noon-10.30pm), Sun 9am-5pm (food served 12noon-4pm). Breakfast 9-11am (weekends only). Bar Mon-Sun 12noon-11pm. Deli Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-5pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Private room available for hire, parties welcome – please call in adv. IDC: 25% off bill (in brasserie and restaurant). PC: 15% off Sun-Thur, 10% off Fri & Sat (restaurant).

NEW
BOSSA NOSTRA
41-43 Baldwin St, BS1 1RB
Tel: 0117 922 5111, web: www.bossa-nostra.co.uk
Comfortable, informal yet stylish new brasserie and bar, serving classic cuisine with a modern twist at surprisingly affordable prices. Open from breakfast (for everything from toast to a full English) until well into the small hours, Bossa Nostra is the perfect place to stop for a coffee and a chat and, with both indoor and outdoor seating, a resident DJ and weekly live music, it’s fast becoming one of the places to see and to be seen at night. Fantastic cocktail selection. Menu S: lime and chilli prawns. M: sun-dried tomato and rocket risotto; duck breast with plum and port sauce. P: homemade bread & butter pudding with clotted cream ice-cream; strawberry cheesecake with a fruit coulis and champagne sorbet Price ALC from £3.95/from approx £8.95/from £3.95 Wine list HW: £9.95 btl, £2.95 glass Open Mon-Fri 10am-2.30am, Sat 9am-2.30am, Sun 12noon-1am. Major credit cards. Private parties catered for. PC: 15% off bar bill (min spend £20).

BOSTON TEA PARTY
75 Park St, BS1 5PF
Tel: 0117 929 8601, web: www.bostonteaparty.co.uk
Lovely, perennially popular laid-back coffee house/café bar with terraced, heated garden. Fresh, rustic food (largely organic, free range, Fairtrade and locally sourced) and friendly service: 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, paninis, homemade soup and daily special meals, with homemade cakes, flapjacks, muffins etc offering all-hours assistance for sweet-craving emergencies. Fairtrade coffee and tea, possibly the best range in the West. Also has branches in Bath, Barnstaple, Exeter and Honiton. See also Bath & Cafes. Menu S: vegan homemade soup of the day. M: always three hot specials, inc veggie option; sandwiches, inc gourmet & wraps. P: fantastic flapjacks; muffins; scrumptious cakes Price Daily special from approx £6; gourmet sandwiches from approx £3; sweet stuff from approx £3 Wine list HW: approx £11 btl Open Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Children welcome, small portions. No disabled access. Major credit cards. Can cater for parties up to 80, max 35 reserved seats. Parties of 20+.

BRIDGE CAFE
Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LD
Tel: 0117 973 8955, café reservations: 0117 906 4652, web: www.theavongorge.com
Set against what has to be one of the most spectacular backdrops in the UK (the Avon Gorge, complete with Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the river), this classy hotel brasserie and terrace has given the Avon Gorge Hotel a whole new lease of life. The inspired modern British and European cuisine from head chef Debbie Leatt and her talented team uses locally sourced and organic produce wherever possible. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a sensibly priced children’s menu and stunning Sunday lunches also available. Menu S: crab, smoked salmon and avocado tian with a chilli and coriander dressing; chicken liver parfait with grape, shallot chutney and toasted brioche. M: roast butternut and spring green risotto; West Country braised shoulder of lamb with boulangère potato, stuffed courgettes and a rosemary jus. P: passion fruit creme brulee with a coconut tuille; hot chocolate fondant. Price ALC: from £5.50/from £10.95/from £5.50. SL: 2 courses for £13.25 Wine list Extensive range of international wines, beers, liqueurs, cocktails, champagnes (including champagne by the glass) etc. HW: approx £16 btl Open Breakfast Mon–Fri 7-9.30am, Sat-Sun 8-10am; lunch Mon–Sun 12.30-2.30pm; dinner Mon–Sat 6-9.30pm, Sun 6-9pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Groups and parties welcome, call in adv.

BRISTOL FASHION BEEFEATER
The Haymarket, BS1 3LR
Tel: 0117 910 0666
Emersons Green, BS16 7AN
Tel: 0117 956 4755, web: www.whitbread.com
Big, contemporary pub/restaurant offering freshly chargrilled food prepared within sight of your table, updating the old Beefeater image (Bristol Fashion recently had a massive makeover). Bar food (jackets, sandwiches, wraps, soup, etc) available for those on the go. Menu S: sharing platters. M: chargrilled steak, chicken, ribs, burgers, salmon. P: profiteroles; apple crumble Price From 2.95/from 5.99/from £2.25. SL (up to 6.30pm Mon-Sat): 3 £9.95 Wine list HW: approx £11.95 btl, £3.65 gls Open Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Restaurant: Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled access with lift & toilet. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+.

BYZANTIUM
2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB
Tel: 0800 034 0934, email: info@byzantium.co.uk, 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. A spiral staircase takes you from the marbled candlelit bar up to the contemporary dining room - different in character but equally exotic in atmosphere. Menus are Mediterranean in approach, with novel twists such as the famed, unique food lanterns (starter or pudding) evincing the care and creativity of the Byzantium cuisine. A highly recommended experience for intimate dinners and large-scale celebrations alike, the restaurant is now open from Tue-Fri for lunch too, serving fresh light meals, a variety of summer salads and other exciting dishes from the renowned Byzantium kitchen. Menu S: Byzantium food lantern - a selection of six starters to share (examples: pesto palmier topped with sun-dried tomato; Thai-flavoured prawn croustade; pistachio & cayenne biscuit topped with guacamole). M: rack of lamb with jerusalem artichokes, goat’s cheese purée & creamy spinach sauce; roast monkfish fillet wrapped in parma ham & sun-dried tomato paste served with parsnip mash & grain mustard sauce. P: pudding lantern - a selection of six puddings to share (example: white & dark chocolate crème de menthe fondant; fresh fruit sorbet mille feuille; croustillant of praline & pain d’epice); armagnac & prune ice cream Price ALC: from £6.50/from £13.50/from £5.50. Set menu: 3 £23.50 (guide price only) Wine list Extensive, divided into European and new world, classic and contemporary, subdivided into grape varieties. HW: from approx £13 btl. Excellent choice of armagnacs, cognacs, cocktails and digestifs Open Mon 6pm-late, Tue-Fri 12noon-late (food served 12noon-3pm & 6pm-late), Sat 6pm-late. Children welcome. Disabled access & facilities. Major credit cards. Available for exclusive party bookings with max capacity of 250 and 2am licence. Private dining room. Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies. Parties welcome.

CAFE MAITREYA
89 St Marks Rd, Easton, BS5 6HY
Tel: 0117 951 0100, email: thesnug@cafemaitreya.com, web: www.cafemaitreya.co.uk
Café Maitreya has won lots of awards as the UK’s best vegetarian restaurant for its modern, wholly imaginative food. It’s also a surprise for non-vegetarians. ‘A variety of jaw-dropping combinations guaranteed to make most people forget that there’s no meat or fish on the menu,’ said Mr Carnivore himself, Venue’s food and drink editor, approving the creativity and imagination of his banquet before declaring that his pudding deserved a standing ovation. It’s easy to understand his fulsome praise, when the food is this original and inspiring. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly to use top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, often organic. The cheery staff are a highly knowledgeable bunch, happy to assist with your selection, and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. A deliciously refreshing eating experience: ‘You really can’t go wrong with the Maitreyans,’ said Mr Carnivore. Great stuff indeed. Gluten/wheat/dairy-free and vegan options clearly signed. Menu S: fenugreek and tamarind spring laksa with coconut, red onion, sweet potato and a wild garlic filo; crisp beet green laver bread of rolled nori with baby roast beetroot and horseradish cream. M: pied bleu mushroom, gruyere and brazil nut tart tatin of fresh baked all-butter pastry with sauté pak choi, marinated endive and plum dressing; rhubarb and sweet potato gratinée with roast hazelnut sauce. P: rosehip, champagne and raspberry trifle with honeycomb and lavender ice cream; hot pineapple rum and butterscotch cocotte with hot dark chocolate brownie and coconut ice-cream Price 2 £18.50, 3 £21.95 Wine list Excellent, extensive and thoughtful selection of organic wines (including some fabulous sparklies) & beers. HW: approx £12.50 btl, £4.25 gls Open Tue-Sat 6.30-9.45pm (last orders for food). Advance booking strongly advised. Children welcome. Cheques & major credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s). Private hire room available for parties.

CITY CAFE
Temple Way, BS1 6BQ
Tel: 0117 910 2700, fax: 0117 907 4116, web: www.citycafe.co.uk
Venue’s food & drink editor couldn’t speak highly enough about City Café, a contemporary dining experience in the heart of Bristol, featuring innovative modern European cuisine courtesy of award-winning masterchef Peter Quinion. ‘The food here really is brilliant,’ he said, of menus packed with imagination and flair. ‘You’ve simply got to try it.’ As ever, he’s absolutely right. Light bites and British classics are the order of the day at lunchtime, the Garden Menu features ever-changing, seasonal vegetarian delights, the Sunday buffets are legendary, children are exceptionally well looked after, and the heated terrace makes for a perfect summer evening oasis. Menu S: veloute of home smoked chicken, poached quail egg, basil tortellini; terruell serrano ham & fig tart, rocket and parmesan salad, balsamic dressing. M: pan-fried guinea fowl breast and boudin of leg, fricassee of vegetables and trompet mushrooms, pistachio and truffle jus; poached fillet of sole, buttered spinach and sauce duglere. P: stem ginger souffle, coconut ice-cream and mango sauce; pear tart tatin, liquorice ice-cream Price ALC: from £4.95/from £12.50/from £5.25. SL/SD: regular offers – call for details. Sunday lunch buffet: 3 £15.95 (children under 8 eat free; 8-14 £8.50) Wine list Extensive new & old world & European selection, vintage champagnes, ports, dessert wines. HW £14.50 btl; £3.75/4.95 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & Sun 12.30-3pm. Mon-Sat 7-10.30pm & Sun 7-9.30pm. Bar food available all day. Breakfast Mon-Fri 6.45-9.30am, Sat 7-11am, Sun 8-11am. Children welcome, own menu. Disabled access & toilets. Major credit cards. Private dining rooms. Parties of 20+. IDC: 25% off bill. PC: 15% off bill.

COMING SOON
CLIFTON LIDO
Oakfield Place, Clifton, BS8 2BJ
Web: www.cliftonlido.com
Due to open this coming September, the Clifton Lido comes from the company that created the 21-year-old Glass Boat and sister restaurant Spyglass, so you can guarantee that the food served in this impressive spa project (rejuvenating Clifton’s long-abandoned, circa 1849 pool) will be something to write home about. The restaurant (open to the public) is located on the first floor of the East Terrace with an entrance in Southleigh Road and will have close on 100 covers, with guests dining behind a sliding glass screen overlooking the fabulous heated pool. Final details of the menu will rest with the as-yet-to-be appointed chef, but current thinking is for a menu drawing on Spanish and North African influences. Main courses will be priced at between £10-£15, with less expensive meals and snacks also available throughout the day. A poolside cafe lounge will serve lighter dishes, spa-related refreshments and the Lido’s sundeck.

CULINARIA
1 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PG
Tel/fax: 0117 973 7999, web: www.culinariabristol.co.uk
Stephen Markwick and wife Judy, formerly of Markwick’s in Corn Street, 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 in 2007. The seasonal, largely organic menus change weekly, and the deli/’Food for Home’ counter allows you to take the Markwick magic home 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 al fresco dining; they recently added a fixed price lunch menu, with two courses at £15.50 (three for £20). Menu S: smoked eel with potato pancake, beetroot and horseradish creme fraiche; lamb’s sweetbreads with mushrooms in a madeira sauce with bruschetta. M: bourride (provencal fish stew); loin of venison with crushed sweet potatoes and pepper sauce. P: lemon and almond polenta cake with rosemary syrup and creme fraiche; pannacotta with poached rhubarb and blood oranges Price ALC: from £6.75/from £11.50/from £6.50 Wine list HW: approx £11.95 btl Open Thur-Sat 12.30-2pm and 6.30-9.30pm. ‘Food for Home’ deli: Thur-Sat 11am-11pm (check out the weekly takeaway menus/freezer section online). Children welcome. Disabled access & toilet. Most credit cards (not Amex or Diner’s). Largest table seats six.

DELMONICO
217 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8NN
Tel: 0117 944 5673, web: www.delmonico.co.uk
‘Delmonico is delightful,’ said one of Venue’s professional scoffers. ‘It’s nicely sidestepped the hip or the happening, concentrating instead on important (and often overlooked) things like friendliness, efficiency and a range of nicely prepared, interesting dishes.’ Indeed, this cosy but contemporary neighbourhood cafe-bar/restaurant serves an excellent range of locally sourced, imaginatively cooked food, from classic Anglo-French to globally influenced modern dishes and a great selection of tapas in the café bar, while excellent vegetarian options, alfresco seating and an early evening bargain of two courses for £10.95 (three for £14.95) between 5-7pm further confirm Delmonico’s winning status. ‘Many restaurants could learn a lot from Delmonico,’ summarised our reviewer. Few, though, could replicate the gentle flamboyance of the original. Menu S: lobster & crayfish bisque; chicken & pork terrine with onion marmalade. M: slow-cooked belly of pork with salsa verde & red wine sauce; maryland crab cakes with grain mustard sauce. P: bread & butter pudding with crème anglaise; espresso & chocolate tart Price ALC: from £5.50/from £12.95/from £5. Sun lunch: 2 £12.95 (extra course £4) Wine list Small but perfectly formed, inc classic French selection & more unusual new world, excellent champagne. HW: from £12.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Restaurant: Tue-Fri 5-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm (last orders). Cafe-bar: Tue-Fri 5-10pm, Sats in summer 12noon-10pm. Children welcome. Fairly good disabled access, but call ahead for details. Major credit cards. Parties welcome, call ahead for details, private dining for up to 30. IDC: 25% off bill.

COMING SOON
GIRAFFE
Cabot Circus
Fun, funky and family-friendly award-winning restaurant group which is about to open in the new Cabot Circus development. Giraffe’s winning philosophy is to provide a relaxed, comfortable dining experience with a focus on healthy, ethical eating. They pride themselves on making each restaurant unique and relevant to its local customer base, offering high-quality food and drink served to a spirited world music soundtrack. Open from breakfast through dinner, the typical Giraffe menu offers an extensive choice of foods from around the world, supplemented by blackboard specials. Kids are encouraged to indulge in puzzles and colouring-in - a hit with both parents and kids alike.

GLASS BOAT
Welsh Back, BS1 4SB
Tel: 0117 929 0704, email: bookings@glassboat.co.uk, web: www.glassboat.co.uk
This stylish floating restaurant has pioneered fine dining in Bristol since 1986. The elegance, romance and general uniqueness of the place - not to mention the excellent food - continues to attract high praise, not least of all from Venue’s food and drink editor, who would happily dock himself here for good. Berthed in the heart of the city’s historic docks, Glass Boat offers sanctuary to diners seeking to escape from the city without actually leaving, and few restaurants can boast a location as beautiful as this. The cuisine is modern European with a British accent and the produce is seasonal and local and, as befits such a watery abode, there’s plenty of fresh fish on the menu too. Perfect for business lunches and romantic smooching alike, it’s also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies with after-dinner dancing and entertainment. Even the early-morning breakfasts (Tue-Fri, 7-9.30am) are amazing, and the bar selection is legendary, too, while last year’s refurbishment includes an open-plan dining area and a new private party room which opens out onto the river. Menu S: squid ink crab ravioli with carrot and cardamom puree and a shellfish bisque; roast quail with sautéed black pudding and caramelised apple with a grain mustard and pomegranate dressing. M: monkfish baked in prosciutto on a bed of creamy savoy cabbage; balantine of guinea fowl, pork and sage with soft polenta, roasted vine tomatoes and pan jus. P: rhubarb and stem ginger brulee with chocolate dipped vanilla shortbread; caramelised lemon tart with biscotti, raspberry sorbet and lemoncello (all desserts come with a taster glass of dessert wine) Price Breakfast from £4.50. Champagne breakfast for two £37.50. SL: 2 for £10. SD: 3 for £29.50. ALC: from £4.25/from £8.95/£7.75 Wine list Extensive, international, incredible: 160 wines, superb choice of spirits, lots of malt whiskies & vintage cognacs. HW: from £13.95 btl Open Tue-Fri 7-9.45am (breakfast), Mon-Fri 12noon-2.15pm, Mon-Sat 6.30pm-late, Sun 12noon-4pm. Children welcome. Disabled access but toilets downstairs. Major credit cards. 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, a champagne/cocktail bar and private dining opportunities all add to the overall charm. The menus (which include breakfast/all-day brunch options) are generally modern European in style with a nod towards Mediterranean cuisine alongside a few good old fashioned British classics thrown in for good measure. ‘The food is sensational,’ Venue’s food ed declared, before awarding Goldbrick an impressive 14 out of a possible 15 stars. ‘Goldbrick House is an impossibly hard act to follow.’ Menu S: pan-fried scallops with beetroot and balsamic; duck faggot, caramelised chicory & grain mustard dressing. M: Goldbrick classic beef wellington; lightly spiced shoulder of mutton, braised butter beans, maple and mint-glazed parsnips. P: steamed ginger pudding with custard; valrhona chocolate fondant Price ALC: from £5.50/from £13/from £5.50. SL/SD: 2 £24, 3 £30. Table Feast (groups): price on application, call to discuss Wine list Extensive. HW: £14 btl Open Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm; café bar Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm; champagne/cocktail bar Mon-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-6pm. Children welcome. Disabled access – call ahead. Major credit cards. IDC: 25% off total. PC: Bar - 15% off tab & free cocktail upgrade (min £20 spd); café - 15% off bill; restaurant - 15% off bill and glass of champagne (excl Fri & Sat nights).

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. The interiors are low-key glamorous with a bright, friendly vibe, and attention to sourcing is as paramount as presentation and finish of each dish. Excellent Sunday lunches, and regularly changing exhibitions of contemporary art on the walls. You can even check the availability of tables online. Menu S: langoustine, salmon and truffle terrine with poached langoustines, lemon and dill ice-cream, melting gruyere crouton, tomato essence and shellfish vinaigrette. M: organic pork belly chasseur and pork tenderloin with creamed spinach stuffing, apple confit, sage and shallot potato cakes, black and white pudding, Dijon mustard, elderberry and meat juices. P: lemon posset with white chocolate & basil fudge Price ALC: from £5.95/from £12.95/£5. Sunday lunch: 2 £11.95, 3 £14.95 Wine list Extensive. HW: £11.95 btl, £3.20 gls Open Mon-Sat 7pm-12midnight, Sun lunch 12noon-4pm. Children welcome, menu adapted on request. Disabled access to café bar but not toilets. All major credit cards accepted, gift vouchers available. Parties welcome – call to discuss. IDC: 25% off bill. PC: 20% off bill.

LE MONDE
30 Triangle West, Clifton, BS8 1ET
Tel: 0117 934 0999, web: www.le-monde.co.uk
The aim of the innovative, interactive Le Monde is to fully involve the diner in the whole eating out experience. You get to choose the fish or cut of meat you would like to eat from the huge, glass-fronted display cabinet (a bit like the one you see in your local supermarket) before it’s whisked away to be cooked just the way you like it. The open-plan layout and the blackboard menus make this a very visual experience: you’re unlikely to get bored here, and people-watchers will have a field day. Although Le Monde specialises in fresh fish, there’s plenty for the carnivore or vegetarian to choose from too. Menu S: baked crab pasties served with a mango and sweet chilli sauce. M: sea bass baked in rock salt; black bream baked with lemon, sage, garlic and white wine. P: homemade sorbet Price ALC: from £4.95/from £9.95/from approx £5. SL (Tue-Sat 12noon-6pm): 2 £7.95 Wine list HW: £12.95 Open Tue-Sat 12noon-10.30pm (last orders), Sun 12noon-4pm (last orders). Children welcome. Full disabled access & disabled toilet. Major credit cards (not Diner’s). Parties of 20+.

NEW
MACKELL’S CAFÉ-BAR & BRASSERIE
196 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5RB
Tel: 0117 924 8930, email: colin.mackell@btinternet.com
Already establishing itself as a family favourite, serving all-day breakfasts, cream teas and, in the evenings, a comprehensive menu influenced by French and continental cuisine with contemporary SE Asian themes. Menu S: duck & orange pate. M: chicken supreme. P: New York cheesecake Price ALC: from £4.25/from £9.25/from £4.50. SD: 2 £18.95, 3 £22.95 Wine list HW: £10.95 btl, £3 gls. Open Sun-Wed 10am-5pm (Mon-Wed eves for bank hols & private bookings), Thur-Fri 10am-5pm & 7-11.30pm, Sat 9am-11.30pm. Children welcome.

MOREISH
6 Chandos Rd, Redland, BS6 6PE
Tel: 0117 970 6078, web: www.moreishrestaurant.co.uk
Located on the bustling Chandos Road in the heart of Redland, Moreish is a cafe, bar and restaurant with something for everyone. The menu offers breakfast, brunch and light lunches, sandwiches and paninis until late afternoon, but in the evening the mood changes, becoming a wonderful neighbourhood bistro with an informal, relaxed service. Food is modern European, with plenty of choice for both carnivores and vegetarians. The small, heated terrace has plenty of seating under the warm glow of the patio heaters. Relax in comfort with a coffee while poring over the daily newspapers, making the most of the free Wi-Fi access, and enjoying the wide selection of drinks. Menu S: pigeon, pickled mushrooms, watercress and foie gras mousse. M: breast of pheasant with a beetroot gratin, cabbage, onions and bacon. P: egg custard tartlette with butterscotch ice cream and a pine nut tuille Price ALC: £15 for two courses, £21 for three (Fri-Sat 2 £19.95, 3 £24.95). SL: £10 (one course), £14 (two courses), £17 (three) Wine list Sturdy, well chosen. HW: £11.95 btl Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-10.30pm, Sun 9.30am-9.30pm (closed Sun eve during winter). Children welcome, can offer children’s options. Disabled access but not to toilets. All major credit cards. Parties up to 50 welcome. IDC: 25% off bill. PC: 2-4-1 on mains.

MUD DOCK
40 The Grove, BS8 4RB
Tel: 0117 934 9734 (cafe)/929 2151 (shop), fax: 0117 929 2171, email: mail@mud-dock.co.uk, web: www.mud-dock.co.uk
Much-loved Bristol institution housed in a former dockside warehouse, now an uber-cool combination of bike emporium and chilled gastro hangout. A fair bit of remodelling has gone on recently, making the foodie experience even more laid back and enjoyable. The inspired, industrial decor is softened by candlelight in the evenings, and a small, south-facing sundeck with great views over the water add to the Mud’s mellow buzz. Every Sunday afternoon (and every other Wednesday evening) diners get to enjoy a free jazz session (currently with the talented Emma Hutchinson, but check the website for full details), but the bargain lunch and early evening dinner offers (£6.95 for a main meal and drink) make a trip to the Mud Dock worthwhile any day of the week. The menu consists of ‘imaginative fare that remains reassuringly earthy,’ said Venue’s reviewer when he went to check it out. There’s a distinct Spanish influence to the food, so expect an excellent tapas range alongside the daily specials board, superb breakfasts and a popular weekend brunches. Menu S: Mud Dock salad of home-smoked chicken, mango, avocado and parmesan. M: braised lamb shank with sweet potato mash and rosemary jus. P: bread & butter pudding. Price ALC: from £3.95/from £8.50/from £4.50. Call or check website for further seasonal promotions and events Wine list International, interesting. Well-stocked bar with bottled & draught beers. HW: £12.95 btl, £3.45 gls. Open Mon 10.30am-5pm, Tue-Fri 10.30am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Children welcome. Disabled access: call in advance. Major credit cards (not Diner’s). Cafe space for private hire. Parties of 20+, set menus for groups of 10+ for lunch & dinner.

MUSET
12-16 Clifton Rd, BS8 1AQ
Tel/fax: 0117 973 2920, web: www.muset.co.uk
The long-established Muset (celebrating its 21st birthday in 2008) offers lovely menus in a relaxed atmosphere where the conversation flows as freely as the wine, for which a small corkage is charged if you choose to eschew their grand selection and BYO instead. The menu changes regularly and the selection 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’. Menu S: locally smoked salmon platter served with cream cheese and courgette fritter. M: grilled fillet of sea bass with asparagus, garlic, field mushrooms and lemon butter. P: vanilla and blueberry crème brulee, served with a walnut biscuit Price ALC: from £4.95/from £11.50/from £5.10 Wine list HW: approx £11 btl, BYO (corkage charge of £1.50 applies) Open Lunch: daily 12noon-2pm, dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10pm. Children welcome, own menu. Disabled access, but no toilet. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+. IDC: 25% off bill.

OLIVE SHED
Princes Wharf, BS1 4RN/
Tel: 0117 929 1960, web: http://www.theoliveshed.com/
Nestling in the heart of Bristol’s harbourside (just beyond the Industrial Museum), this lovely, Mediterranean-infused restaurant/café-bar/deli continues to go from strength to strength. Olives (of course!), salads and fabulous tapas, etc, pack the deli counter while sturdy, classic European faves proliferate on the accessible, people-pleasing menu, and the restaurant boasts glorious views across the water (and alfresco dining opportunities, too). Food is organic wherever possible, and the seasonal menu changes frequently, while nothing is too much trouble for the friendly, laid-back but enthusiastic staff. Lovely barbecues (with a range extended to include meat this year) and regular events/promotions. Visit website for details. Menu S: mixed tapas platter; bread & olives. M: tagines; whole baked fish; huge fresh salads. P: crème catalan; chocolate torte Price ALC: tapas sharing platter £6-12/from approx £6/from approx £3.50 Wine list Most wines organic, some hand-sourced from own vineyard suppliers in France. HW: £13 btl Open Tue-Sun approx 11am-12midnight (food served until 10pm) but opening hours subject to seasonal change. Children catered for. Disabled access. Major credit cards (not Amex). Outside catering service for weddings, private & corporate parties. IDC: CMC. PC: 15% off bill.

NEW
OZ
4 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY
Tel: 0117 927 3097, web: www.ozrestaurant.co.uk
Pronounced ‘urz’, so our man reliably informed us after his visit, and named after a south-east Turkish dish of gently stewed lamb with smoked aubergine puree, Oz is a smart, unpretentious Turkish restaurant with a range of set meals, an interesting a la carte selection and a stated emphasis on organic, creative ethnic cuisine, sourcing locally where possible. Menu S: midye tava (battered mussels with garlic sauce); kizartma (fried aubergine and peppers with garlic yogurt and tomato sauce). M: iskender (mixed grill with yogurt and tomato sauce, served on pitta bread); karisik guvech (prawns, mussels and cod with garlic, tomatoes and a white wine sauce). P: baklava (filo pastry with pistachio, walnuts and honey); kayisi tatlisi (sun-dried apricot stuffed with almonds, pistachios and cream) Price From £3.45/from £6.45/from £3.45 Wine list HW: from approx £11 btl. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Private parties welcome.

POSH
Rodney Hotel, 4 Rodney Place (off Clifton
Down Rd), Clifton, BS8 4HY
Tel: 0117 973 5422, fax: 0117 946 7092, email: rodney@cliftonhotels.com, web: www.cliftonhotels.com
Charming, laid-back and friendly restaurant housed in a beautiful Georgian building that offers the best in traditional and contemporary Anglo/French cuisine. The restaurant has been modernised but still keeps many of its original features, including a working open fireplace and huge sash windows which bathe the room in natural light. There’s an excellent wine list, and POSH Bar, which overlooks the beautiful walled garden below, serves light meals both in the bar and in the garden, which, in summer, makes a perfect place for a pre-dinner cocktail. Open to non-residents. Menu S: grilled goat’s cheese with redcurrant in vodka syrup; homemade country pate M: roasted cod with coriander crust and cauliflower, cumin and coconut puree; confit of duck with vanilla risotto Wine list HW: from approx £12 btl Open Mon-Sat 6-10pm. Children welcome, catered for accordingly. Disabled access difficult - three steps to entrance. Major credit cards. Private parties welcome. IDC: CMC & starter.

PREVIEW BAR & GRILL
Merlin Way, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TT
Tel: 0117 959 8282, web: www.previewbarandgrill.co.uk
Lively, independently owned restaurant (closely related to the Carvery Co, right next door) focusing mainly on a Mediterranean-themed menu of pastas, pizzas, steaks, burgers and fresh fish. All food is freshly prepared on the premises and ingredients are locally sourced. Milkshakes, bottled/draught beers, bar open to non-diners. The all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet (available lunch and dinner £5.95/£9.95) is a serious bargain. Menu S: loaded potato skins. M: excellent burgers, pasta, pizza, salads. P: banoffee sundae; chocolate fudge cake Price From £2.95/from £6.95/£3.95 Wine list HW £9.95 btl, £2.45/£3.25 gls Open Daily 11am-late. Children welcome (own menu). Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties 20+ welcome – call in adv.

NEW
THE PUMPHOUSE
Merchants Rd, Hotwells
Tel: 0117 927 2229
Your writer absolutely loves this place, and Venue’s food ed seems to agree (‘every mouthful was indescribably good,’ he said of the tart tatin). The kitchen is headed up by co-owner Toby Gritten (formerly of the Albion in Clifton and Bell’s Diner), and pumps out fabulous food for both the upstairs restaurant and ground floor bar. Toby’s team’s command of creative, seasonal food is sublime, and the menu is replete with traditional cuts of meat and offal which could faze the less carnivorous, but for the adventurous diner a visit is a must. Menu S: hot and cold Bath chaps with summer truffles and quail’s egg; braised organic pork belly, seared Cornish squid and fennel. M: roast pollack with mussel and saffron chowder and rainbow chard; 35-day-aged rib of beef, hand-cut chips, bone marrow and nasturtium salad. P: dark chocolate fondant, peanut and caramel ice-cream and cookie; Pump House neapolitan parfait Price Restaurant from £5.50/from £14/£6, bar from £3/from £8/from £4.50 Wine list Extensive, international. HW: £12 btl, £3.10 gls Open Daily 11am-late, food served 12noon-3pm & 6-9.30pm (bar), 7-9.30pm (restaurant). Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties 20+ welcome – call in adv. IDC: CMC. PC: 15% off bill.

QUARTIER VERT
85 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2NT
Tel: 0117 973 4482, fax: 0117 974 3913, web: www.quartiervert.co.uk
Much loved brasserie which is the little sister to uber-chef Barny Haughton’s Bordeaux Quay leviathan. The QV ethos (‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Live’) is at the heart of a very thoughtful revolution which continually garners national acclaim as the restaurant goes from strength to strength. Adhering to a strict ethical sourcing policy, traceability of all produce is paramount to the QV menus. There’s a Mediterranean influence to the inspirational dishes - all made using local, organic and seasonal ingredients wherever possible – and alongside the goodies on offer on the main restaurant menu (lunch and dinner), there’s excellent tapas available in the cafe-bar too. Warmer days see a flock of people making the most of the cute little alfresco area out front, and there’s the ‘Slow Roast Sundays’ with a superb traditional roast diner served from 12pm. See also Bordeaux Quay. Menu S: fig, blue cheese and onion tartlet with a herb and leaf salad, hazelnut dressing; game terrine with celeriac remoulade. M: Cornish monkfish with lardons, caramalised shallots Jerusalem artichokes and port sauce; woodland reared pork with purple sprouting broccoli, grilled fennel and romesco sauce. P: pear tarte tatin with cinnamon ice cream; hot chocolate fondant with honeycomb ice cream. Excellent cheese selection. Price ALC: from £4.50/from £10/from £5.75. Tapas from £2 Wine list A selection of around 40 red & white from around the globe, inc good range of organics & biodynamics; list updated every 3-4 months; regular wine tasting events. HW: approx £16 btl Open Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6pm-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-3pm. Café Bar: Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Children welcome. Disabled access difficult (a few steps). Major credit cards (not Diner’s, Amex). Private bookings catered for. Parties of 20+.

RAINBOW CAFÉ
Waterloo St, Clifton
Tel: 0117 973 8937
Operating as a boho café in the heart of Clifton Village by day, evenings see the Rainbow become one of the city’s scandalously few quality vegetarian eateries. Every Thursday and Friday evening, Rainbow Nights offer a changing set menu each week with both vegetarian and vegan options sourced locally and ethically and, as it’s a BYO too, adds up to a really cheap night out if that’s what you’re after. S: chestnut mushroom and thyme soup; mixed leaf salad with apple, pear and walnut. M: fennel and orange risotto; vegan spinach, chickpea and cashew tagine with couscous. P: homemade mulberry ice-cream for dessert Price £13 for two courses (dessert £2 extra) Wine list Unlicensed, BYO Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Thur-Sat 6-10pm (last orders).

RIVERSTATION
The Grove, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 914 4434, fax: 0117 934 9990, email: relax@riverstation.co.uk, 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. Both levels of the two-storey building have access to outside decking and balconies, perfect for alfresco dining. 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 an outside terrace provide the perfect evening venue to sample one of the glamorous cocktails or a bottle of one of the predominantly Italian and new world wines on the list. The refurbishment of the upper floor restaurant retained its light, airy atmosphere, and added a private dining area for special parties or business functions. The kitchen continues to serve an innovative, eclectic mix of modern European and world cuisines as well as some dependable favourites. Ingredients are sourced from local farmers and growers where possible, especially cheeses, meat and vegetables (several of them organically produced), but the accent is firmly on freshness and seasonality. An à la carte Saturday lunch offering, alongside the usual brunch menu, has proved hugely popular, and the Sunday lunch menu is as relaxed and terrific value as ever. Menu S: ravioli of slow-cooked lamb shoulder, vegetable minestrone and salsa verde; baked crotin goat’s cheese with a warm salad of roast jerusalem artichokes and asparagus. M: stuffed rabbit loin with pistachio, celeriac rösti, wild garlic and jus de cassis; pollock fillet, crushed potatoes, cauliflower tempura, crisp pancetta and basil pesto. P: baked American cheesecake with passion fruit sauce; hot pear and rhubarb crumble with pistachio ice cream Price ALC: from £5.50/from £14.50/from £4.50. Sun lunch: 2 £15.50, 3 £18.75 Wine list Global. House recommended: £13.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Bar/kitchen Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12midnight (last food 10pm), Sun 11am-10.30pm (last food 9.30pm); restaurant Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm, Mon-Thur 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm, Sun 6pm-9pm. Children welcome, special menu if pre-requested. No disabled access to upstairs restaurant, but menu can be served at downstairs tables, where there is access to a disabled loo. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+.

SEVERNSHED
The Grove, Harbourside, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 925 1212, fax: 0117 925 1214, email: info@severnshed.co.uk, web: www.severnshed.co.uk
Formerly a Brunel-built boathouse, now a contemporary Bristol-chic hotspot, the Severnshed folk go from strength to strength, with a recently launched sister restaurant in Exeter (see City Guides). Combining fine dining with sophisticated lounging in uniquely stylish surroundings, Severnshed was voted one of the top 100 restaurants in the UK by ‘Olive’ magazine, and it continues to be popular with Venue readers too. Robust, fresh flavours fill the modern European menus, dominated by locally sourced produce. Spacious and airy (and boasting the UK’s only ‘hover bar’, which can rotate 360 degrees and glide the length of the building), Severnshed is internationally recognised for its innovative design qualities. The balcony boasts comfortable space for up to 80 and offers superb alfresco dining opportunities, while the bright and airy indoor restaurant (with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the waterfront) offers a laid-back yet luxurious ambience. For grazers and/or party animals, there’s excellent tapas and superb cocktails, too, alongside good cafe-bar menu for lighter bites. Menu S: Asian duck and noodle salad with hoisin sauce; Severnshed charcuterie platter. M: Somerset fillet of lamb, wellington style, with mint pesto in filo pastry and dauphinoise potatoes; cod wrapped in streaky bacon on parmesan mash potato and cherry tomato compote. P: whisky and choc chip bread & butter pudding; layered posset of kiwi, strawberry and papaya served with vanilla sable biscuits. Price ALC: from £4.95/from £9.55/from £4.25. SL/SD Mon-Sat 12noon-7pm: 2 £9.77 (inc choice of side dish) Wine list Excellent, extensive. HW: approx £11 btl. Wide range of cocktails, regular champagne promotions, beers, spirits Open Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am. Children welcome – own menus. Disabled access. Major credit cards (not Diner’s). Private parties welcome, special menus, phone for details.

SPYGLASS BARBECUE & GRILL
Welsh Back, BS1 4SB
Tel: 0800 034 0933, web: www.spyglassbristol.co.uk
Housed in a converted barge with floor-to-ceiling windows inside and adjoining quayside dining complete with canopied deck, gas heating lamps and three-mast canvas outside, this seasonal barbecue and grill offers a perennially popular good times eating experience. Open during the summer months only, the food (largely organic and locally sourced wherever possible) reflects warm weather flavours, with menus built around sophisticated kebabs, grills and salads, terrific tapas and an excellent fresh fish selection, while a range of eclectic accompanying sauces, glazes and marinades, gourmet sausages and wicked puddings continually evolves. Extended recently to now house up to 170 diners, they’ve also installed a terrifically popular ice-cream parlour. Gets very busy, with bookings taken only for groups of eight and over: otherwise it’s first come, first served; arrive early to avoid disappointment. Menu S: tapas (parma ham, chorizo, anchovies, marinated olives, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, hummus, tortilla, etc). M: fish & meat grills & barbecues; kebabs; gourmet sausages; steaks; warm salads with chargrilled, barbecued additions; good vegetarian options. P: chocolate fondue for two with fresh fruit, meringues, marshmallows, toffee & biscuits; Spyglass knickerbocker glory Price ALC: tapas sharing platter (2pp) £12/from £6.50/from £3.50. Party menu for 8+: 3 £14.95 (inc tapas mezze starter) Wine list Good range of continental/Mediterranean wines, beers, sangria. HW: £11.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Daily 11am-11pm (mid-March ‘til end Oct), last orders 10.30pm. Children welcome, own menu, high chairs. Disabled access, but no toilet. Major credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s). Parties of 20+.

NEW
STAR AND DOVE
75-78 St Luke’s Rd, Totterdown, BS3 4RY
Tel: 0117 300 3712, web: www.thestaranddove.co.uk
Very much two businesses in one (the Star is the ground floor pub, whereas the Dove restaurant takes over upstairs), Venue’s food ed called this ‘another great addition to Bristol’s burgeoning gastropub scene’ - and who’d want to argue with him? For casual dining, opt to snack from the bar menu, but for something a bit more interesting, pop up to the restaurant - a calm, informal space - where you can enjoy Jamie Oliver protégé Eamon Fullalove’s Italian-influenced cooking. ‘There’s clearly a lot of skill and imagination going on in the kitchen,’ said our man, evinced by Eamon being one of the very few chefs we’ve come across who actually makes his own sausages (Buster’s Bangers) on the premises daily. Menu S: salad of prosciutto, figs and fennel; grilled sardines with beetroot, horseradish and green sauce. M: grilled rump of beef with fat chips and horseradish; fennel, potato and porcini pie with dressed green beans Price ALC: from £4.50/from £10/from approx £5. Bar menu from £3/from £7 Wine list Extensive Open Pub: Mon-Fri 11am-11pm; Sat-Sun 11am-12midnight. Bar food served all day, until 4pm on Sun. Restaurant: Wed-Sat 7-11pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. IDC: 25% off bill. PC: 15% off tab Sun-Thur, 10% off tab Fri-Sat.

THEKLA
The Grove, East Mud Dock, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 929 3301, email: office@theklabristol.co.uk, web: www.theklabristol.co.uk
lTraditionally, Thekla would be far more likely to appear in Venue’s Music and Clubs sections than the food and drink pages, but since its massive overhaul the old boat has established a fair reputation for the quality of its grub too. In the week you can choose from a selection of stone baked pizzas, sandwiches, salads, sharing platters and burgers, all freshly made for people on the go (which you can pre-order by phone or email if you’re in a real rush), while Sundays bring a glorious roast to the menu. ‘We stayed on a lot longer than we planned, mainly because the atmosphere was just so nice and unselfconsciously laid-back,’ said Venue’s food and drink editor of his last Sunday blowout there. ‘Bloody marvellous.’ The covered, heated deck offers a great al fresco experience. Menu Lght snacks, pizzas, burgers etc. See the website for regular food offers Price Sides and extras from £1.45; sandwiches etc from £3.95; pizzas £6.95. Sunday roast £7.45 Wine list Extremely well-stocked bar Open Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Sun 12noon-5pm. 18+ only. Disabled access limited, but please call in advance and the staff will be happy to help. Parties welcome – please call in adv.

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 an open fireplace, with the village church close by, this charming little restaurant offers a relaxed, friendly but intimate atmosphere. Menus take advantage of seasonal produce and are regularly updated, with modern English, French and Mediterranean influences leading the way. Menu S: piedmontese cheese fondue; battered avocado with smoked oyster pate on minted mixed leaves. M: poached lemon sole with smoked salmon topped with ginger & peach butter; medallions of beef cooked with boursin served with mushrooms & shallots sautéed with marsala & game chips. P: frozen lemon tart with orange sauce; chocolate roulade with chocolate sauce & whipped cream Price ALC: from £4/from £9.50/£4.50. SL (Tue-Fri from 12.15pm): 2 £8.50, SD (Tue-Fri, 6-7.15pm): 2 £8.50, 3 £12. SD (Tue-Fri, 7.15-9.30pm) 2 £12.50, 3 £16. Sun lunch: £7.50, 2 courses £9.95, 3 £12.95 (under-10s: 2 £7.95, 3 £10.95) Wine list HW: £12.75 btl Open Tue-Fri & Sun 12.30-2.30pm, Tue-Fri 6-10.30pm, Sat 7.15-10.30pm. Children welcome. Major credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s). Parties catered for.

WATERSHED CAFE-BAR
1 Canons Rd, BS1 5TX
Tel: 0117 927 5101, fax: 0117 921 3958, web: www.watershed.co.uk
Upbeat trendy/arty environment - the ideal place in which to while away a few quality hours. A daily changing menu offers largely Mediterranean/modern English flavours, with sturdy sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads, etc keeping everything going. The breakfast/brunch menu is served until 12noon with all versions a bargain £3.50, and there’s a separate kids’ menu too. It’s always worth checking out the shop and the cinema. Large, sunny and spacious, with dockside views, wooden beams and huge plants. Can get very busy later on in the day, as it transforms from continental cafe to booming bar. Menu S: hummus, olives, excellent breads & charcuterie. M: burgers; jacket potatoes; daily casseroles, pies, etc. Range of soups, lighter bites, sandwiches, salads, croissants & French patisseries. P: flapjacks; brownies Price ALC: from approx £1.95/from £4.95/flapjacks etc from £1.30 Wine list Extensive, international, and lots of draught beer, cider, guest ales. HW: approx £11 btl Open Mon 10.30am-11pm, Tue-Thur 9.30am-11pm, Fri 9.30am-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Food served Mon 10.30am-9pm, Tue 9.30am-9pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 12noon-7pm. Children welcome till 9pm, high chairs. Disabled access possible via lift, and adapted toilet. All major credit cards. Semi-private room for private bookings, up to 200.

ZERODEGREES
53 Colston St, BS1 5BA
Tel: 0117 925 2706, fax: 0117 934 9420, email: info@zerodegrees.co.uk, web: www.zerodegrees.co.uk
A unique drinking and dining experience in the heart of Bristol, brewing award-winning beers onsite and serving them up alongside a mouth-watering menu of European-influenced dishes in a stunning environment, combining a sleek, industrial interior with the cosmopolitan vibrancy of three alfresco dining balconies. A fine selection of gourmet pizza, delicious salads, speciality sausage & mash, hearty pastas and kilo pots of mussels served in a variety of exquisite sauces combine to make the menu modern, fresh and inviting. Menu S: seared beef carpaccio served with shaved parmesan, olive oil & black peppercorns. M: terrific pizza selection such as BBQ chicken, wood-roasted vegetables, seafood; sausage & mash; tagliatelle with courgette pesto and gorgonzola sauce and sprinkled with parmesan; a kilo of mussels ‘Royal Sauce’ (with smoked salmon and champagne); Cajun king prawn salad, king prawns pan fried in garlic butter and Cajun seasoning, served with a mixed salad and avocado drizzled in ranch dressing with garlic bread and garnished with mussels. P: cheesecake; homemade banoffee pie, warm chocolate fudge cake Price ALC: from £2.95/from £8.25 (pizzas £6.75)/approx £4.25 Wine list Extensive. HW: approx £12 btl. Fabulous, unique range of beers, etc. Happy Hour (deals) Mon-Fri, 4-7pm; lunch specials from £4.95 Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Children welcome. Disabled access & toilet. Most credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s.) Parties of 20+. PC: 15% off bill (restaurant only).

ALFRESCO
Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF
Tel: 01225 444424, fax: 01225 444006, 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. Menu S: whole dressed Lyme Bay crab, saffron mayonnaise & lemon; confit free-range chicken & Anjou prune terrine, spiced pear chutney & watercress. M: pan-fried calf liver, shallot cream, mashed potatoes & crispy bacon; Mediterranean roast vegetable tart, grilled asparagus, goat’s cheese & red pepper essence. P: Granny Smith apple parfait, apple & basil confit; cappuccino & orange chocolate mousse, apricot & clove ice-cream Price ALC: from £5.95/from £10.95/£8.50 Wine list HW: Extensive, from approx £19 btl Open Lunch Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm, dinner daily 6.15-10pm. Children welcome, own menu. Full disabled access & facilities. Major credit cards. Private dining, contact hotel for details. Parties of 15+, book well in adv.

BATH PRIORY HOTEL & RESTAURANT
Weston Rd, BA1 2XT
Tel: 01225 331922, web: www.thebathpriory.co.uk
Bath’s original country house hotel (set in a row of original Georgian houses just down the road from the famous Royal Crescent), with a recently refurbished, elegant dining room that boasts sweeping views over the hotel’s glorious gardens and a Michelin-starred chef who’s fast gaining a reputation for being one of the most interesting kitchen maestros in the UK. Imaginative, passionate about local sourcing and nutrition, and with impeccable cheffy credentials under his belt, Chris Horridge’s regularly changing menus fascinate and flummox in equal measure. ‘This self-confessed gastroporn junkie was mesmerised,’ said a Venue reviewer recently, before going on to wax lyrical about her pudding: ‘Magnificent. I instantly wanted to forsake all others, and exist on only this forever.’ But don’t let overdraft nightmares scare you away from sampling this experience: the bargain table d’hote and tasting menu prices are amazing value for money. Menu S: boudin of chicken & wild garlic chive, haricot blanc spume; pan-fried scallops, fennel in various forms, bronze fennel shoots & pollen. M: roasted bass, spring leeks & chorizo oil, St. Johns Wort emulsion; pink & tender pigeon, salsify, appled lentils & root syrup. P: collage of fruit, some as nature intended, rhubarb essence; cappuccino mousse, dentelle & dandelion decoction, goose grass; iced fantasia, crisps, paper & powder, burdock to drink Price SD 3 £55 SL 2 £20, 3 £25 Sunday lunch 3 £35. Afternoon tea from £15.50 Wine list Vast, including a selection from the ‘wine library’. HW: from approx £25 btl, £6 gls Open Mon-Sun 12noon-1.45pm (last orders), 7-9.30pm (10pm Fri-Sat). Disabled access. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Separate rooms for private hire, capacity 64. Parties of 20+.

BOSTON TEA PARTY
Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AE
Tel: 01225 313901
Perennially popular laid-back coffee house/café bar with covered patio out front. See Bristol & Cafes. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-7pm. Children welcome, small portions. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Major credit cards. Call for party/group bookings.

CAFE RETRO & RETRO MODERN
18 York St, BA1 1NG
Tel: 01225 339347, fax: 01225 333889
lEasy-going cafe-restaurant with continental-style wine bar downstairs and the chameleon-like ‘Retro Modern’ upstairs, which offers slightly more formal dining opportunities complemented by a modern European menu as the sun goes down towards the end of the week and a great view of the abbey by night. The cafe-bar menu (which extends upstairs during daytimes) features all-day breakfasts, pastas, sandwiches and plenty of vegetarian options at bargain prices, while the Retro Modern menu changes every month, making the overall Retro experience popular with students, businessfolk and shoppers alike. Meanwhile, Retro to Go (on the corner) sells baguettes, paninis and smoothies to Bathonians in a hurry. Menu Regularly changing modern British & European classics Price Café Retro sandwiches/pasta etc from approx £3.95, Retro Modern ALC from approx £3.95/from approx £8.95/from approx £5/ SD: call for details Wine list Extensive HW from approx £12 btl Open Café Retro Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Retro Modern Thur-Sat 6-10pm; Retro-to-Go Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Children welcome. Good disabled access downstairs. Major credit cards. Parties welcome – please call in adv. IDC: CMC.

THE DOWER HOUSE
Royal Crescent Hotel, 16 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LS
Tel: 01225 823333, fax: 01225 339401, 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. If you want a taste of celebrity life, consider going bespoke in one of three elegant private dining rooms, set within the hotel’s fragrant garden - but then again, why would you possibly want to miss out on the gorgeous surroundings of the hotel’s main dining room itself? This is guaranteed gourmet glamour to the max - a real treat. Menu S: ballotine of foie gras, golden beetroot, quince puree, sauté pigeon, spiced gingerbread; millefeuille of red mullet, aubergine puree, sherry pepper dressing. M: assiette of Wiltshire Downs lamb, glazed shoulder, slow-roast rump, tongue, cutlet & kidney; wild sea bass, smoked eel tortellini, salsify puree, watercress foam. P: chocolate and praline soufflé, biscotti biscuits, tonka bean ice-cream; perry soup, pear fritter, pear & caramel charlotte Price SL: 3 £25 (a la carte 3 £37.50) SD: 5 £60 (vegetarian 5 £50) Sunday lunch 3 £35. Traditional afternoon tea from £12.50 Wine list Extensive, £23+ Open Daily 12.30-2pm & 7-10pm. Children welcome (own menu). Disabled access. Major credit cards. Various private dining options, groups/parties/functions welcome.

NO 5
5 Argyle St, BA2 4BA
Tel/fax: 01225 444499, web: www.no5restaurant.co.uk
Regarded by locals, visitors and Venue journalists alike as one of Bath’s nicest bistros, this lovely independent eaterie serves up modern French classical cooking with a Mediterranean influence at prices that represent excellent value for money - and in gorgeous surroundings, too. Long-established head chef Michel Lemoine concentrates mainly on his Bristol venture, La Barrique, these days, but protégé Alexander Barjstatt is doing a fine job in the No 5 kitchen. A relaxed, informal atmosphere, friendly and attentive service and seasonally changing, inspired menus combine to provide an absolutely charming, satisfying experience overall, which our resident Bath scoffer chose to sum up thus: ‘Glorious gourmet credentials in a no-jacket-required atmosphere’. Menu S: boudin blanc with crispy bacon, bean puree & red wine reduction; stilton tartlet with walnut, poached pear salad & candied baby chilli. M: roast marinated venison with sweet pepper, red onion, orange & olive compote; pan-fried fillet of salmon with roast fennel, tomato concasse & chive butter sauce. P: balsamic poached figs with sesame croustillant & fennel seed ice-cream; crème brulee with prune compote & coffee tuile Price ALC: from £5.25/from £14.25/£5.25 SL: 2 £8.95 Wine list Thoughtful, extensive range. HW: £12.95 btl Open Daily. Lunch 12noon-2.30pm, dinner 6.30-10.30pm. Children welcome, some half-portions available. Disabled access, but no toilet. Major credit cards (not Diner’s).

NEW
THE PINCH
11 Margaret’s Buildings, BA1 2LP
Tel: 01225 421251, web: www.thepinch.biz
l Comfortably chic contemporary bistro with pavement tables on the traffic-free street to the front and an intimate garden out back. Supersexychef Christian Lacroix blends European influences with his own inimitable, quirky style, creating some highly original, innovative dishes alongside sturdy versions of much-loved French classics. Members of the Lunch Club are entitled to a free glass of wine with lunch (and one for a friend, too) and advance booking entitlement of any special offers. Menu S: duck liver pate maison with brioche and chutney; burgundy snails & fresh gnocchi Mona Lisa, carbonara style with old regiano parmesan. M: roast rack of lamb on cassoulet with sun-blushed tomato butter; pan-fried salmon pave on crab & red wine risotto finished with fresh local truffle. P: white chocolate creme brulee; mousse au chocolat with orange coulis Price from £7.50/from £14.90/£6 SL 2 £9.90 Wine HW £14.25 btl, £3.95/£4.65gls Open Wed-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm (last orders). Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties welcome, available for exclusive private hire Sun-Tue.

RAPHAEL
Gascoyne House, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RN
Tel: 01225 480042, www.raphaelrestaurant.co.uk
Casual candlelight, elegantly efficient service and a diva crooning softly in the background: according to a Venue food angel, ‘Raphael makes you feel pretty even if it’s drizzling outside and a stressful day has really taken its toll’. Stylish Bathonians come here to enjoy lovely food with wine to match in chic bistro surroundings. Very popular with the pre-theatre crowd, the menus feature highly accomplished, imaginative, Euro-with-a-flair dishes, based around regular seasonal changes and daily market deliveries. Daily specials board often features fresh fish and there are always good veggie options too. Menu S: ham hock, soft boiled egg, garlic croutons & vine tomato salad with a stilton cheese & mustard dressing; assiette of smoked fish with a spiced cous-cous & herb salad. M: fillet of pork stuffed with chicken, gorgonzola cheese, caramelized onion & pine nuts with French beans, red wine jus; wild mushrooms in madeira cream sauce en croute with tarragon hollandaise & nutmeg spinach. P: pear & almond tart with Cointreau ice-cream; white chocolate cheesecake with strawberries & a dark chocolate wafer Price ALC: from £5.05/from £12.95/from £4.75. SL (12noon-3pm): 2 £10.95; pre-theatre (5.30-7pm): 2 £13.95 Wine list Extensive, well considered. HW: approx £14 btl. Draught beers, cocktails, fine brandies Open Daily 12noon-11pm (Sun 10.30pm). Children welcome, own menu (2 £6). Major credit cards. Parties of 20+, phone in adv.

NEW
RITCHERS BISTRO & WINE BAR
2 The Wellsway, BA 2 3AQ
Tel: 01225 480871
Contemporary neighbourhood deli, bistro & wine bar which cleverly morphs from continental breakfasts to light lunches, tapas to sturdier modern European fare as the day progresses. Lunchtimes are based around classy sandwiches, salads, wraps etc before the menu gives way to tapas, ‘small plates’ and ‘larger plates’ (including a daily changing specials board dish) as the sun goes down. A welcome addition to the increasingly interesting Bear Flat foodie scene. Menu S (small plates): duck liver parfait with toasted brioche & red onion marmalade; crab & haddock potato cake with tartare sauce. M (larger plates): English sirloin steak with sautéed mushrooms, béarnaise sauce and big chips; seared sea bass with stir-fried peppers, bok choi, beansprouts & red onion with a coriander & ginger plum sauce & fried potatoes. P: apple custard tart with crème fraiche; crème brulee with rhubarb compote Price Tapas from approx £3/small plates all £4.50/larger plates from £8.50/£4.50. SL: 2 (plus 175ml glass of house wine) £8 Wine HW from approx. £11 Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm & 5.50-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm Food served Mon-Sat lunch 12noon-3pm, tapas 3-10.30pm, dinner 6.30-9.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access/ Major credit cards (excl. Diners/Amex, min. payment £10). Group bookings - call in advance.

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, leaving it up to you to decide how to mix and match, based 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. Menu Small dishes: chicken liver pate with toasted brioche; assiette of smoked fish. Medium: wild mushroom pancake; Toulouse sausage a la Dijonnaise. Large (all served with dauphinoise potatoes): corn-fed chicken supreme, wrapped in pancetta & stuffed with apricots; ‘Veal Tilleys’ (pan-fried breadcrumbed escalope of veal, stuffed with Gruyere cheese, topped with roasted asparagus spears wrapped in Parma ham). P: Belgian dark chocolate, armagnac & prune terrine served with a hazelnut cracknel, double cream & soft fruits; lemon & lime posset Price Dishes range from £4-£17, desserts all £6. SL: 2 £11 3 £13.50 Pre-theatre SD (6-7pm): 2 £10 Wine list Global selection. HW: £13.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access to ground floor & toilet. Major credit cards. Separate room with lounge & bar for private hire: 10-16. Parties of 20+ welcome. IDC: CMC.

VELLORE
Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Sydney Rd, BA2 6JF
Tel: 01225 444424, fax: 01225 444006, web: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/bathspa
Unique gastronomic delights in an elegant ballroom setting with a very upmarket ambience, all amid seven acres of tranquil gardens. The Vellore hosts jazz/champagne Sunday lunches on the first Sunday of every month (£39pp, inc three courses and champagne), tea dances on the third Sunday of every month (£23.50pp, inc full afternoon tea) and traditional Sunday lunches every Sunday in between the two (3 £24.95). Spiffing. Menu S: seared Cornish scallops, Jerusalem artichoke & truffle foam; pan-fried foie gras, gingerbread crouton & roast figs. M: rabbit saddle, Anjou prunes, celeriac cream & braised lettuce; darne of brill, buttered kale, root vegetables, shellfish & horseradish cream. P: lime & green chilli pepper parfait, ginger & kiwi fruit salsa; bitter chocolate & soft cheese tartlet, wild strawberry & black olive confit Price ALC: from £12.95/from £25/from £9. Table d’Hote 3 £37.50 Wine list Extensive, international. HW: from approx £23 btl. Large cocktail list Open Sun 12.30-2pm (last orders 1.45pm), Mon-Sun 7-10pm (last orders 9.45pm). Breakfast Mon-Fri 7-10am, Sat 7.30-10.30am, Sun 8-10.30am. Children welcome. Disabled access – call in advance. Major credit cards. Available for private hire - contact the hotel’s banqueting department. Parties of 20+ welcome, phone for info.

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