French

Bristol

BISTRO 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 its lovely alfresco area out front. Lemoine divides his time between the Bristol branch and sister venue in Bath – and standards reflect his presence, whether he’s at the helm or has left it to his very capable staff. ‘It may be tucked away from the rest of the Gloucester Road restaurant strip,’ said the Evening Post, ‘but this modest neighbourhood bistro produced some of the best food I’ve eaten all year.’ People-pleasing menus largely comprise a wide range of ‘petits plats’ – French-style tapas, if you will – and a rounded selection of accompanying dishes, with plenty of choice wines by the glass. Those in need of blow-out sustenance can look to the daily specials board for their own big plate (£9.95-£14.95). 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. As we went to press, there was an early bird special of two PPs and one side for £10.95 (Mon-Fri 6-7pm, Sat 11.30-6pm, Bristol only). Price ALC: petits plats £5.25-£6.50/main £9.95-£14.95/dessert approx £5-£7. Lunch special: 2 PPs £8.95 (weekdays) Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £13.95 btl. Excellent range of liqueurs, brandies, etc Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-2.30pm. Disabled access. Adv booking advised. Parties catered for.

BRASSERIE BLANC
Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BF
Tel: 0117 910 2410, web: www.brasserieblanc.com
● ‘Raymond Blanc’s group of brasseries is in serious danger of giving restaurant chains a good name. I, for one, have fallen in love with Brasserie Blanc and cannot recommend it highly enough,’ exuded the Evening Post’s foodie after a stellar visit. Set within the magnificent grade l-listed Friary buildings at the centre of the piazza, the 140-seat restaurant offers a relaxed, stylish interior with banquette seating and a terrace for dining or coffees in summer. Menu features French classic and modern dishes made with fresh, local and seasonal produce, at decent prices: Mediterranean fish soup, crispy St Loup goat’s cheese with tomato chutney, Swiss chard & cep mushrooms lasagne, spring rack of Cornish lamb, and Raymond’s renowned salmon & smoked haddock fishcakes. Wines are predominantly French, naturally, sourced directly from selected vineyards to complement the food. Special Dine with Wine menu brings glass of wine and two courses for £12.50 (lunch) and £16 (dinner). Keep an eye on offers and menus via the helpful website. Kids get their own ‘Petit Blanc’ menu (around £5.95). Price ALC: £5.50-£7.30/£9.75-£27.50/£5.20-£11.50 Wine list HW £14.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-9pm. Good disabled access. Can cater for large parties - phone to check.

CAFE ROUGE
Unit SU51A, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 954 4808
85 Park St, BS1 5PJ Tel: 0117 929 2571, web: www.caferouge.co.uk
NEW
Unit R4, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TG
Tel: 0117 950 8730
● Lively, upmarket French-themed cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant franchise serving high-quality food, from morning coffee and continental pastries right through to dinner. Huge menu to suit most tastes, alongside daily specials board, superb classic French delights (moules/steak-frites, tarts, salads) and an excellent bar. Mull over the morning papers with a cafe au lait and croissant, pop in for a spot of lunch, share a post-work drink or relax over an evening meal (which you can now book online). Price Lunch £6.95-£9.95, ALC dinner: £3.95-£6.25/£10.95-£15.95/£4.95-£6. Set menu (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm): 1 £6.50, 2 £8.50, 3 £10.50 Wine list Good selection with strong French emphasis. HW £12.95 btl, £3.50 gls. Euro-beers & lagers, cocktails, liqueurs Open Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Cribbs: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm Disabled access - call ahead (Park St); Cabot Circus & Cribbs Causeway have excellent facilities including step-free access, accessible toilets, Braille and large-print menus. Parties welcome - call ahead.

Bath

NEW
1453 BAR & GRILL
34 Monmouth St, BA1 2AN
Tel: 01225 444770
● Those who mourn the passing of the Beaubar have nothing to fear - just think of 1453 as Beaubar+, the ‘+’ denoting a smartly revamped interior and fabulous (and we mean, fabulous) French food served at lunchtime, suppertime and on to well beyond sunset. 1435 may be small, but it’s perfectly formed: the cosy, comfortable, chic interior has been given a bright and breezy makeover, and booth seating adds to the overall intimate experience. Lunch brings a classy selection that ranges from salads and omelettes to ‘Rosbif Classics’: burgers, fishcakes, ‘Frogs Classique’, croque-monsieur, Toulouse sausages, steak tartare and classic grills, while the stylish dinnertime menu takes in snails, Henry lV beef en croute, and cotes de boeuf for two (£40; pre-order 24hrs in adv). Superior wines and cocktails also a speciality. Food served till midnight. See also Bars, Bath. Price Lunch £4-£13, dinner £4-approx £13 Wine list HW approx £15 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-late. Food: lunch Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm (3pm Sat), dinner 6pm-12midnight (last food orders). Limited disabled access. Call in adv for details of private hire.

BEAUJOLAIS BISTRO BAR
5 Chapel Row (off Queen Square), BA1 1HN
Tel: 01225 423417, web: www.beaujolaisbath.co.uk
● This classic contemporary French bistro and bar (and wine shop) enjoys long-standing social institution status, thanks in equal measure to the laidback but lively surroundings (informal but efficient, cosy but smart) and menus that regularly feature competent Gallic delights such as steak tartare, escargots, marmite de poissons, confit de canard and tarte tatin. A delightful little alfresco area out back makes for a thoroughly charming urban oasis. Price SL: 2 £10.95; SD 2 £15. ALC: £4.80-£7.95/£13.85-£19.50/from £3.50. Wine list Extensive and euro-centric (inc British selection) including loads by the glass. HW approx £14.50 btl Open Bar/wine shop: Mon 5pm-close, Tue-Sat 11am-close. Lunch: Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, dinner: Mon-Thur 6-9.30pm, Fri 6-10.30pm, Sat 5.30-10.30pm. Disabled access – call in adv for details. Private dining up to 30.

BISTRO LA BARRIQUE
31 Barton St, BA1 1HG
Tel: 01225 463861, web: www.bistrolabarrique.co.uk
● Bathonians have welcomed with open arms the incarnation of a bistro that’s already a much-loved Bristol institution, thanks in equal parts to the cheerful, distinctly welcoming cafe-society surroundings (including pavement seating out front and absolutely gorgeous walled garden to the rear) and a lively menu selection, largely revolving around a ‘petits plats’ (the French version of tapas) theme. Head chef/proprietor Michel Lemoine’s inspirations have firm foundations in the classic French bistro experience, translating to emphasise confits, tatins, rillettes and balotines. ‘Proper French food with a seriously hedonistic flourish,’ is how Venue’s own petit cochon summarised the whole experience. Price Petits plat £5-£7, side dish £2.95, daily special (large plates) approx £10-£13. SL (Mon-Fri): 2 PPs plus one side £8.95 Wine list Intelligent selection. HW approx £14 btl (big selection available by the gls) Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Large parties welcome - call in adv. Private dining room available.

BISTRO PAPILLON
2 Margarets Buildings, BA1 2LP
Tel: 01225 310064, web: www.bistropapillon.co.uk
● Typically French bistro with menu and Gallic charm to match, offering affordable food in a relaxed atmosphere, with Mediterranean-style decor inside and alfresco tables on the traffic-free street out front. Daily specials are prepared in an open kitchen on the ground floor, sending heavenly aromas around the block - a little corner of Aix en Provence in Bath. Highlights include terrines, moules, confit duck, reliably good steak-frites, and classic French puds like tarte au pommes and creme brulee. Children are well looked after, with children’s portions of grown-up dishes, highchairs and booster seats. Now that’s what we call properly French. Price SL: 1 £8.95, 2 £10.95. ALC: £5-£6/approx £11-£14/approx £5.50 Wine list Small but carefully considered. HW £11.95 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10pm. Disabled access, but not to toilet. Room for private hire, up to 24. Parties of 20+ welcome.

BRASSERIE GERARD
The Empire, Grand Parade, BA2 4DF
Tel: 01225 461140, web: www.brasseriechezgerard.co.uk
● Part of a UK-wide franchise specialising in all-day dining in bright and breezy surroundings, offering Franglais menus that promise ‘the best steak-frites this side of Paris’ while acknowledging the influence that Moroccan cookery brings to French brasserie kitchens. Specialities include soupe a l’oignon, steak-frites, boeuf bourgignon, lamb tagine, creme brulee and tarte au citron. Kids’ menu, too. Price Light dishes approx £8.50/starter approx £5.50-£8/mains up to approx £12.95/ dessert £5.50-£7.50. Prix fixe: 2 £12.50, 3 £16. Kids’ menu £6.95 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £9.95 500ml carafe Open Mon-Thur 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

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. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call ahead.

CASANIS
4 Saville Row, BA1 2QP
Tel: 01225 780055, web: www.casanis.co.uk
● 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, and a pretty little alfresco area out back. A Venue critic was recently seduced when she ‘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 homecooking 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’. She ate Provencale fish & seafood bisque with garlic croutons, mini rack of lamb with herb crust, sauteed French beans & gratin dauphinoise, and tarte tatin. How you decide to use your visit to the Cote d’Azur is, of course, up to you. Price ALC: £6.25-£7.95/£12.50-£24/£6-£7.50. SL: 2 £13.50, 3 £17. SD (6-7pm): 2 £17, 3 £21 Wine list Well chosen, predominantly French. HW approx £14 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Wheelchair accessible. Private parties welcome – call for details.

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