Bristol
BURGER JOINT
32 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LA Tel: 0117 329 0887, web: www.theburgerjoint.co.uk
• If you’re after high-quality burgers made with high-quality ingredients, this is the place to go. Virtually everything is homemade on the premises using locally sourced ingredients – meat, toppings, sauces, chips - and ciabatta buns come from a specialist artisan baker. Venue’s food editor shunned the Golden Arches to check out the real thing: ‘On each table was a pad of forms, a multiple-choice test of your ability to design a ‘luxury homemade’ burger from six different patties (including two vegetarian options), six toppings and nine sauces. There’s a half-dozen choices of sides, too, including homemade chips and onion rings.’ You can also phone your orders through for takeaways. New on the menu this year: seasonal salads, mezze, kebabs, weekend brunch (inc full English and kedgeree). Not a fast-food conveyer belt, but Venue found it worth every wine-sipping minute. ‘The BJ have rolled back 40 years of processed atrocity and given life back to their chosen specialty.’ As we went to press, lunch special meant burger, side & drink for £7.50. Price Burger £6.95 inc one side, extra topping 70p, additional side £1.70, homemade dessert £3.50. Afternoon Meal Deal (weekdays 3-5pm): £4.95 burger & side. Brunch (Sat-Sun 10am-3pm): £4.95-£6.95 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri 12noon-11.30pm, Sat 10am-11.30pm, Sun 10am-10pm. Disabled access, but no toilets. Parties 28+ (call ahead). Takeaway.
FIREHOUSE ROTISSERIE
Anchor Square, Harbourside, BS1 5DB Tel: 0117 915 7323, web: www.firehouserotisserie.co.uk
• Channel 4 voted these Californian cooking specialists one of the top five American restaurants in the UK. Their quality fare is acknowledged in the Good Food Guide, and won Venue’s Best Newcomer gong in their first year. At the Bristol branch, rotisserie chicken and lamb, LA-style pizza and spicy south-western specials are served up in a large, casual, rustic dining room overlooking Millennium Square, with a continental alfresco dining area for up to 60 happy customers. Bath branch shares a similarly relaxed feel, vision and menu – Venue’s reviewer found the food impressive: ‘Food is fresh, imaginative and instantly appealing; nicely presented and served with a genuine smile.’ Seasonally changing menus, daily specials board. As we went to press, new lunch special (1 £8.95) included any gourmet pizza served as a 9in pizzetta. Price ALC: starter £5.25-£8.95/rotisserie & grill 12.95-£19.95/gourmet brick-fired pizza £10.95-£11.95 Wine list HW £14.50 btl, £4.25 gls, £10.25 carafe Open Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-3pm. Full disabled access & toilets. Parties 20+, usually Mon-Thur, with prior booking.
FRANKIE & BENNY’S NEW YORK ITALIAN
Unit SU 83b, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3NX Tel: 0117 954 9800
The Venue, Merlin Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 1180
Hengrove Leisure Park, Hengrove Way, BS14 0HR Tel: 01275 834725
Aspects Leisure Park, Longwell Green, BS15 9LA Tel: 0117 947 4680, web: www.frankieandbennys.com
• They Tweet, they serve organic baby food, and you can even buy the soundtrack from your eat-in dining experience. Specialising in Italian and American home-style cooking (‘just like Mamma used to make it’), nothing’s too much trouble for the obliging, friendly staff. Settle yourself into a booth and let them do the rest. Special-occasion menus, promos and deals abound (see website), with lunchtime menus including free refills on certain soft drinks and filter coffee. Popular with teens and families - a special kids’ menu starts at £3.95. Price ALC: £3.25-£5.95/£7.95-£19.95/£3.55-£4.75 Wine list HW £14.75 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access good: all on one level, disabled toilet. Takeaway. Parties 20+ welcome.
GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN
Glass Walk, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BT Tel: 0117 927 9997
74 Park St, BS1 5JX Tel: 0117 316 9162, web: www.gbk.co.uk
• Bright, clean and family-friendly, serving freshly cooked, exceptionally good burgers alongside milkshakes and a small but perfectly formed wine/beer range. With several combinations to choose from, these burgers are about as far from processed patties as you can get. Buns and sauces are all homemade, and burgers include Aberdeen Angus beef (or buffalo), vegetarian, lamb, lentil and the new ‘Kiwiburger’ (beetroot, egg, pineapple, with a percentage of each sale going to charity). Small selection of nibbles to keep you occupied till the main event arrives, and dedicated kids’ menu. Servings are massive, but do try the chunky-cut potato wedges or homemade onion rings on the side. Specials emailed to you if you join the GBK gang on their website; Facebook page, too. New menu in the works as went to press – call or see website for updates. Price Burger £6.45-£9.20, side approx £2 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Cabot Circus: Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Park St: Sun-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Takeaway. Parties – book in adv.
NEW HOOTERS
Unit 2, Building 11, Harbourside, BS1 5SZ Tel: 0117 930 0750, web: www.hooters.co.uk
• Visiting Hooters for the food seems akin to reading ‘Playboy’ for the articles - surely not the point. But food it does serve, including buffalo (chicken) wings, burgers, salads and deep-fried pickles brought to you by scantily clad females in outfits reminiscent of American cheerleaders. Swimsuit contests, themed evenings (Thur trivia nights: Are You Smarter than a Hooters Girl?), and all-you-can-eat wings £8.95pp (Sun-Mon all day). Price ALC: main £3.99-£14.99/dessert £5.99-£14.99 Wine list Full bar with wines, ales, etc Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat), Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties – book in adv.
ROCOTILLOS
1 Queens Row, Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EZ Tel: 0117 929 7207
• Cosy, much-loved, 1950s-style American diner renowned for its laidback but buzzing atmosphere and authentic diner fare. Small but perfect choice of cooked breakfasts, triple-decker sandwiches, quesadillas, huge homemade 100% beef burgers, fluffy pancakes and muffins. Breakfasts are a specialty, made to order and served all day (except scrambled eggs - offered till noon, when the grill makes way for the burgers). Everything is cooked without extra added fat (even the fried eggs), so you’re allowed an authentic ice-cream-made milkshake. Freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice, too. Early Morning Breakfast Club means two bacon rashers, free-range egg, sausage and toast for £3.45. Won an Observer Food Monthly award for Best Breakfast in the UK. Interior boasts a few booths, one outdoor table, a few spinning seats at the counter surrounding the open kitchen, satellite TV, mirrors and a large wall mosaic. Price Breakfast £3.25-£8.95, main £4.50-£8.45 Wine list HW £11.95 btl, £3.45 gls Open Mon-Wed 8am-5pm, Thur-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun & bank hols 10am-5pm. Disabled access. Takeaway.
TGI FRIDAY’S
The Venue, Lysander Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7UB Tel: 0844 692 0275, web: www.tgifridays.co.uk
• Classic American fare (ribs, nachos, burgers, steaks) and cocktails in slightly circus-like surroundings. Friendly staff with flair and lots of specials - see website for details, including the current two courses, Mon-Thur, £9.99. Price ALC: £3.99/£7.99/£3.99 Wine list HW £11.99 btl, £2.49 gls Open Sun-Thur 11.30am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11pm. Disabled access.
Bath
CALIFORNIA KITCHEN
The Podium, Northgate St, BA1 5AS Tel: 01225 471471
• Crowd-pleasing cafe/restaurant offering morning coffee, lunch and muffin/teacake deals to shoppers throughout the day, alongside curries, burgers, steaks and salads (and kids’ menu) later on. Price ALC dishes £3.95-£10 Wine list HW approx £12 Open Daily 9am-9pm (10pm Fri-Sat). Disabled access, nearby disabled toilet in shopping centre.
FIREHOUSE ROTISSERIE
2 John St, BA1 2JLTel: 01225 482070, web: www.firehouserotisserie.co.uk
• See Bristol listing.
GARFUNKEL’S
The Empire, Orange Grove, BA1 1LP Tel: 01225 461465, web: www.garfunkels.co.uk
• The Bath branch of this nationwide chain specialising in loosely American-themed, family/tourist-friendly grub has to be the most elegant one of all. Located in a listed building (formerly a grand hotel), with conservatory section and alfresco terrace overlooking the Abbey, alongside separate lounge, bar (with cocktail menu) and dining areas. Kids’ menu and highchairs; opens for breakfast. Price ALC: £3.99-£7/£6.95-£17.99/from £5 Wine list HW £13.99 btl, £4.90 gls. Extensive bar, regular cocktail & pitcher deals Open Daily 10am-11pm. Disabled access with toilet. Parties up to 100 welcome, set menus for large groups.
HUDSON BAR & GRILL
14 London St, BA1 5BU Tel: 01225 332323, web: www.hudsonbars.co.uk
• This winner of a Venue Top Banana (Best Restaurant in Bath) and recipient of many glowing reviews in our food and drink pages offers a tried-and-trusted formula of classic California-style combinations of pan-global flavours served in contempo-elegant surroundings. Eat, drink and be stylishly merry in the laidback, cushion-strewn bar or upstairs in the dining room: a welcoming, bright, breezy affair that casually radiates discreet glamour. Food bears all the hallmarks of proprietor Richard (Firehouse Rotisserie) Fenton’s trademark flair: simple ingredients impeccably sourced and perfectly presented. The steaks are superb. Price ALC: £6.95-£9.95/£11.95-£29.95/£7 Wine list Intelligently eclectic. HW approx £14 btl. Fabulous cocktails Open Grill: Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm (last orders). Bar: 5-11pm. Disabled access to street-level bar only. Available for private hire.
TGI FRIDAY’S
Unit 2a, Kingsmead, James St West, BA1 2BT Tel: 01225 446929, web: www.tgifridays.co.uk
• See Bristol listing for details. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Thur 12noon-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm. Disabled access & toilets. Braille menu, hearing aids. Parties 20+ welcome by prior arrangement.
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