Venue > Eating Out West > Bristol & Bath Restaurants

BISTRO DE LA DEMI LUNE
Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4RP
Tel: 0117 927 7112
A full-on, gently gourmet bistro experience in exceedingly pleasant surroundings, serving up classic French dishes with an added side portion of stylish flair thrown in for good measure. Last year they launched a tapas menu, which moved our reviewer to rhapsodies over not only the quality of the food but the scandalously cheap prices too. Menu S: seared scallops with rocket, ginger & dill dressing; chicken liver parfait. M: belly of pork served with chive mash; cassoulet with confit of duck, pork & Toulouse sausage. P: chocolate parfait; passion fruit and mango tart with white chocolate sauce Price ALC £5-£6/£13-£15/£5.25 Wine list HW: £11.95 btl Open Tue-Sat 6-11pm, Sun 12noon-5pm (possibly opening weekday lunchtimes in the near future – call for updates). Children welcome. Disabled access possible – call in adv. Major credit cards. Parties – call in adv.

COMING SOON
BRASSERIE BLANC
Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus
Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s finest chefs, Raymond Blanc is responsible for the famous Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, and pioneered the concept of the ‘Brasserie Blanc’ in 1996. His new Bristol restaurant will be located in the historic buildings at Quakers Friars, set to be transformed into the centrepiece of a vibrant, European-style piazza. The two former Friary wings, Bakers Hall and Cutlers Hall, will be extensively renovated and operated by Brasserie Blanc as function rooms and available to the public for meetings, conferences, private dining and wedding receptions. The great man himself says: “Bristol has a great lifestyle culture and a strong reputation for organic produce and quality restaurants. We feel the city is a perfect location for our sixth brasserie.”

CAFE ROUGE
85 Park St, BS1 5PJ
Tel: 0117 929 2571, web: www.caferouge.co.uk
Lively, upmarket French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant franchise serving high-quality food, from morning coffee and continental pastries right through until dinner. Huge menu to suit most tastes, alongside daily specials board, superb classic French delights (moules/steak frites, tarts, salads, etc), and an excellent bar. Soon to open a second Bristol branch in the Cabot Circus development. See also Bath listing. Menu S: champignons gratins a la raclette (baked flat mushrooms filled with garlic & leaf spinach finished with melted raclette cheese); classic French onion soup finished with a melted gruyere crouton. M:.Dordogne duck confit served with orange liqueur sauce, French beans & dauphinoise potatoes; smoked Toulouse sausages with new potato salad and a thyme jus. P: traditional crème brulee; fondant au chocolat Price ALC: from £3.95/from £7.95/from £4.25. Prix Fixe menu (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri): 2 £7.95, 3 £9.95 Wine list Good selection with strong emphasis on French. HW: from approx £11 btl. Euro-beers & lagers, cocktails, liqueurs Open Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access - call ahead. Major credit cards. Parties welcome - call ahead. IDC: 25% off bill.

LA BARRIQUE
225 Gloucester Rd, BS8 7NR
Tel: 0117 944 5500, web: www.bistrolabarrique.co.uk
‘Comfortable and classy, with a welcoming feel,’ said our review of celeb chef Michel Lemoine’s charming urban bistro, complete with lovely alfresco area out front. The people-pleasing menus largely consist of a wide range of ‘petits plats’ – French-style tapas, if you will – and a rounded selection of accompanying dishes, while those in need of blowout sustenance can look to the daily specials board for their own big plate. Still, four to six PPs should suffice for a solid meal for two, while those who can’t resist a little nibble can graze to their heart’s content. Menu petits plats examples: duck confit with creamed julienne of vegetables & orange sauce; braised pork belly with sautéed savoy cabbage & cumin; pave of grilled Mediterranean vegetables, basil and virgin olive oil; bean cassoulet with onions, tomato & parsley; mussel & saffron chowder; terrine of the day with pickles; seafood pancake; crab, salmon & parma ham terrine with sauce vierge. Sides: potato gratin; haricots verts; tomato, shallot, basil & virgin olive oil salad. Specials/puds: sturdy, French-themed/Brit trad classics Price ALC: petits plats from £4.95; M: from £8.50/P: approx £5 Wine list Extensive. HW: from approx £12 btl. Excellent range of liqueurs, brandies etc Open Daily 11am-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Adv booking advised. Parties catered for.

THE SQUARE
15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HB
Tel: 0117 921 0455, web: www.thesquareclub.com
Elegant and chic, with a dining room overlooking one of Clifton’s stunning Georgian squares. Enjoy prandial eclectica (Mediterranean classics meet pan-Asian fusion with a contemporary twist) in the opulent dining room, complete with Regency red walls, contemporary art, crisp white linen and picture windows. The decadent lounge, meanwhile, comes complete with wooden floors, sculptures, artworks and a state-of-the-art video wall. That’s all points of the good-times compass covered at The Square, then. Menu S: honey-baked capricorn goat’s cheese, beetroot salad, hazelnut dressing; warm salad of fried squid & baby spinach with smoked paprika, capers, garlic & cherry tomatoes. M: daube of beef, parmesan-roasted tomatoes, red wine & wild mushroom sauce served with saffron mash & gremolata; baked hake fillets, herb crust, linguine of mussels with garlic, chilli & basil salmoriglio. P: lime & stem ginger cheesecake with passion fruit sauce; chocolate & almond bread & butter pudding with amaretto & poppy seed ice-cream Price £17.95 for two courses, £21.95 for three Wine list Extensive. HW: from £11.50. Beers & lagers, champagnes, cocktails, digestifs, aperitifs Open Daily 6-11pm. Major credit cards. Disabled access – call ahead. Parties - call ahead. IDC: 25% off bill.

BISTRO PAPILLON
2 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP
Tel: 01225 310064, fax: 01225 463799, web: www.bistropapillon.co.uk
l The typically French bistro menu and Gallic charm on offer here continues to delight the many regulars attracted by the affordable food, fine wine, relaxed atmosphere and Mediterranean-style decor, with alfresco option too. Delectable daily specials are prepared in an open kitchen on the ground floor, sending heavenly aromas around the block. Tres jolie! Menu S: terrine of venison with toasted brioche & chutney; tartlet of pear, roquefort & walnut with mixed leaves & balsamic reduction. M: roasted duck magret with blackcurrant sauce & carrot & cumin mash; poached fillet of turbot in a wine & vegetable nage with squid ink spaghetti. P: pain d’epices crème brulee with amaretti biscuits; dark chocolate bavarois with butterscotch cream. Price ALC: from £4.25/from £11.90/from £4.85. SL: 1 £7.50, 2 £9.50 Wine list Small but carefully considered. HW: £11.95 btl, £3.20 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10pm. Children welcome – children’s portions, high chairs and booster seats available. Disabled access, but no toilet. Major credit cards. Room for private hire, up to 24. Parties of 20+ welcome.

LE BEAUJOLAIS
5 Chapel Row (off Queen Square), BA1 1HN
Tel/fax: 01225 423417, fax: 01225 462817, web: www.beaujolaisbath.co.uk
Equal parts classic French bistro, long-standing social institution and esteemed kitchen training camp specialising in delicious modern Mediterranean/British cuisine in laid-back but lively surroundings: informal but efficient, cosy but smart. The truly delightful little alfresco area out back makes for a thoroughly charming urban oasis - the perfect place in which to enjoy morning coffee and a croissant - and the menus are magnifique. ‘Undoubtedly a confident kitchen auteur,’ said our reviewer, having sampled chef’s delights. Menu S: homemade ravioli of mushroom & spinach with parmesan shavings; steak tartar with brandy, egg & chive oil. M: locally reared fillet of beef, foie gras, demi glaze sauce & hand-cut chips; pan-fried fillet of black bream, caramelised salsify, vanilla mussel butter. P: crème brulee; pannacotta Price ALC: from £4.90/from approx £11.50/approx £6. Sunday lunch 12noon-3pm 2 £14.95 3 £18.95 SL: 1 £6.95, 2 £8.95 Wine list Extensive; Euro-centric (inc British selection). HW: £12.90 Open Breakfast Mon-Fri 10-11.30am, Sat 9-11am; lunch Tue-Sun 12noon-2.30pm (last orders) (3pm on Sun); dinner Mon-Sat 5.30-9.30pm (last orders) (10pm Fri & Sat). Bar: Mon-Sun 11am-close. Children welcome. Disabled access – call in advance for details. Major credit cards. Private dining up to 30 people.

CAFE ROUGE
15 Milsom St, BA1 1DE
Tel: 01225 462368, web: www.caferouge.co.uk
Lively, upmarket French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant franchise. See Bristol listing. Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties welcome - call ahead. IDC: 25% off total bill.

NEW
CASANIS
4 Saville Row, BA1 2QP
Tel: 01225 780055, web: www.casanis.co.uk
A mini-oasis of Gallic delight tucked away on one of the prettiest lanes in Bath with a kitchen headed up by a real French chef with impeccable credentials. Venue’s petit cochon ‘took a seat at a simply dressed farmhouse table while a sexy Frenchman crooned softly through subtly placed speakers and a seductive aroma of real home cooking wafted all around,’ before going on to enjoy ‘quintessentially French dishes, at once elegant and robust’ and declaring that ‘authentic southern French cooking has come to Bath’. Bon appetit. Menu S: provençale fish soup with saffron rouille & roasted croutons; chicken liver & thyme terrine, onion compote and cêpes oil. M: daube provençale (slow-cooked beef stew, rosemary mash potatoes & root vegetables); confit leg of duck, fondant potatoes, garlic spinach & lavender honey red wine jus. P: chocolate tarte; crème brulee Price ALC: from £5.50/from £12.95/from £5 Wine list Well chosen, predominantly French. HW: approx £14 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2pm. Children welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Major credit cards. Private parties welcome – call for details.

NEW
CHEZ GERARD
The Empire, Grand Parade, Bath, BA2 4DF
Tel: 01225 461140, web: www.brasseriechezgerard.co.uk
Part of a UK-wide franchise specialising in all-day dining in chic, fresh surroundings; and Franglais menus that promise ‘the best steak frites this side of Paris’ while acknowledging the influence that Moroccan cookery brings to French brasserie kitchens. Menu S: soupe a l’oignon; coarse free-range pork pâté terrine served with baguette & pickled gherkins. M: pave de rump steak; boeuf bourgignon; lamb tagine; shellfish casserole. P: crème brulee, tarte au citron Price From £4.95/from £8.75/from £3.65 Wine HW £12.95 btl £3.25/£4.65gls £8.95 500ml carafe Open Mon-Thur 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties welcome - call in advance. PC: Cardholders & up to 3 guests get 15% off total bill at all times.

LE FLAMMA
Edgar Buildings, George St, BA1 2EE
Tel: 01225 443900, web: www.leflamma.co.uk
Stylish but friendly contemporary brasserie/champagne bar specialising in flammakeuchen: a traditional Alsace tarte flambee, consisting of a thin French pastry base smothered with fromage blanc, cream, eggs, spices and seasoning, topped with variety of ingredients (the Turckheim, for example, comes topped with sautéed spinach, basil, sliced ripe tomatoes and ricotta; the Strasbourg with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, peppers and onion. Yum, oui?). But if those tasty tarts don’t get you, the evening a la carte menu will: sturdy French classics, executed to perfection, all complemented by an exceedingly well considered wine list and properly exciting cocktails. Flammakeuchens are available all day/eve (supplemented at lunchtime by omelettes, salads, etc), with the ALC menu available from 6pm. Menu soupe a l’oignon; terrine de campagne. M: boeuf en daube (slow-cooked beef casserole with lardons, mushrooms, shallots & carrots); saumon nagel (poached salmon in a white wine & chive sauce served with a timbale of rice). P: crème brulee; sweet flamma with strawberries or apples. Price Flammakeuchen from £5.95, ALC from £5.25/from £10.95/from £4.95 Wine list Extensive, stylish, well sourced (inc a range of Alsace wines, uniquely imported from the family vineyard in Guebershcwihr); champagnes; lagers & beers; spirits; cocktails. HW: £11.95 btl. Cocktails from £5, 2-4-1 Happy Hour deals Open Mon-Sat 10am-11.30pm, Sun 10am-5pm. All-day menu available from 11am; a la carte dinner from 6pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties/functions/events welcome – please call in adv.

NEW
RESTAURANT DE L’ARCHE
2-3 Queen St, BA1 1HE
Tel: 01225 444403, web: www.restaurantdelarche.co.uk
Stylish, convivial French restaurant (with a chic, unique oyster and champagne bar upstairs) on one of Bath’s most picturesque cobbled streets. Lively but cosy, elegant in an understated way: ‘a smart, upmarket French bistro affair, with invitingly well-dressed tables (sparkling glassware, candles, single-stemmed roses, etc) and the kind of plush, dark red paintwork that adds a touch of classy bordello to proceedings,’ said Venue’s Madame de Scoff in her recent review, ‘and the food’s yum’ (translation: chef-driven Medi-themed menus, laden with Gallic gastonomics). Très bien. Menu S: French onion & red wine soup served with blue cheese & garlic croutons; warm duck breast salad served with walnut & tea-marinated prune. M: pan-fried beef fillet served with green herb mustard cream sauce, pickled morel mushrooms & hand-cut fries; grilled gilthead bream served on black linguini with orange & vanilla beurre blanc. P: crepe suzette filled with orange caramel, flamed with Cointreau & served with vanilla ice-cream; chocolate fondant with homemade Baileys ice-cream. Price From £5.10/from £12.60/from £5.20. SL/pre-theatre (before 7.30pm) 2 £12.95 3 £15.95. Sharing platters from £7.95; 6/12 oysters with a bottle of Taittinger Brut £36/£42 Wine Extensive, inc champagne. HW: approx. £13 btl Open Mon-Sun 12noon-3pm, 5pm-12midnight. Children welcome – own menu (2 £6.50). Disabled access after steps to the main entrance. Major credit cards. Group bookings - call in advance.

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ring 0117 942 8491. Only £5.95. Yum.