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 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 – 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. Try the early-bird special: two PPs and one side for £11.95 (Mon-Fri 6-7pm, Sat 11.30am-6pm, Bristol only). ‘Destined to be the ideal neighbourhood destination for gluttons and grazers alike,’ says our Venue man. Advance booking advised. See also Bath listing. Price ALC: petits plats £5.50-£5.95/£10.50-£16.95/£4.50 Wine list Extensive. HW £15.95 btl, £4.10 gls. Excellent range of liqueurs, brandies, etc Open Mon-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm. Disabled access. 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 II listed Friary buildings at the centre of the piazza, the 140-seat restaurant’s relaxed, stylish interior has banquette seating, with a terrace for alfresco dining or coffees. French classic and modern dishes, made with fresh, local and seasonal produce, come 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. Predominantly French wines are sourced directly from selected vineyards. See helpful website for offers, menus and Raymond Blanc online shop. Kids get their own ‘Petit Blanc’ menu (around £5.95). Price ALC: £4.95-£7.65/£9.50-£18/£4.50-£11.50. Breakfast £3-£6.35. SL: 2 £11, 3 £13.45. SD: 2 £13.50, 3 £15.95 Wine list HW £14.95 btl, £3.85 gls Open Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10.30pm, Sun 11am-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
Unit R4, The Mall, Cribbs Causeway BS10 7TG Tel: 0117 950 8730, 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 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 morning papers with a cafe au lait and croissant, pop in for lunch, share a post-work drink or relax over an evening meal (which you can now book online). Price ALC: £3/£4.95-£16.25/£4.95-£6. Breakfast £3.95-£6.95. SL (Mon-Fri 12noon-5pm): 1 £6.50, 2 £8.50 Wine list Good selection, strong French emphasis. HW £14.75 btl, £3.85 gls. Euro-beers & lagers, cocktails, liqueurs Open Cabot: Daily 9am-10pm. Cribbs: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Park St: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access - call ahead (Park St); excellent facilities at Cabot and Cribbs, including step-free access, accessible toilets, Braille and large-print menus. Parties welcome - call ahead.
NEW COTE
27 The Mall, Clifton Village, BS8 4JG Tel: 0117 970 6779, web: http://www.cote-restaurants.co.uk/
• Bristol (and Bath, too) can now take advantage of this successful chain’s reputation for freshly prepared French classics and great-value prices. Open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Cote also offers regularly changing seasonal specials. Atmosphere is informal and friendly, staff are efficient and there’s an authentic French-bistro buzz. Expect modern versions of classics like steak-frites, moules marinieres and corn-fed chicken from the heart of rural Brittany, alongside lighter dishes like tuna nicoise, and creme caramel for dessert. Cote was the Good Food Guide’s Best Value Restaurant in the UK 2009, and Venue has predicted they’ll be a hit in Bristol: ‘Full marks for the food and the service. Small wonder that the place is heaving and, I suspect, will continue to do so.’ Price ALC: £4.35-£7.95/£8.55-£17.95/£3.95-£5.25. Breakfast (Mon-Fri till 12noon, Sat-Sun till 1pm): £3.80-£8.10. SL (Mon-Fri till 7pm): 2 £9.95, 3 £11.90 Wine list Proudly all French. HW £14.50 btl, £4.30 gls Open Mon-Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-9.30pm. Good disabled access.
Bath
BEAUJOLAIS BISTRO BAR
5 Chapel Row (off Queen Square), BA1 1HN Tel: 01225 423417, web: www.beaujolaisbath.co.uk
• For those who aren’t familiar with the unique charms of a restaurant, bar and wine shop that, over a three-decade history, has earned itself long-standing social institution status in the heritage city, think of it as the Bath incarnation of legendary Parisian boho hangout Brasserie Lipp, complete with a characterful proprietor who’s one part René François (‘‘Allo ‘Allo’) Artois and two parts all his own work. Laidback but lively surroundings (informal but efficient, cosy but smart, with a delightful little garden outback) and menus that regularly feature competent Gallic delights like steak tartare, escargots, marmite de poissons, confit de canard and tarte tatin recently moved our resident French floozie to declare ‘a faultless, technically correct, stylish French feast that spoke softly of wonderful things’. Price ALC: £4.90-£9.50/£11.50-£18/£3.50-£6.50. SM (Tue-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-6.45pm): 2 £12.95 Wine list Extensive, euro-centric (inc British selection), lots by the gls. 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
• 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 petits plats (French version of tapas) make this a very popular Heritage City hotspot. Head chef/proprietor Michel Lemoine’s inspirations have firm foundations in the classic French bistro experience, translating to emphasise confits, tatins, rillettes, crepes, balotines, etc, in a thoughtful selection of dinky little dishes. ‘Fans of either sophisticated reason or raucous ensembles of self-assured flavours will find plenty to celebrate here,’ is how Venue’s own tarte tatin put it. Price Petit plat £5.75-£6, side £2.95, daily special (large plate) £10-£14, dessert £5-£6 Wine list Intelligent, lots by the gls. HW from £16 btl 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.
BRASSERIE GERARD
The Empire, Grand Parade, BA2 4DF Tel: 01225 461140, web: www.brasseriechezgerard.co.uk
• Part of a UK-wide franchise delivering all-day dining in bright, breezy surroundings, with Franglais menus that promise ‘the best steak-frites this side of Paris’ while acknowledging the influence that Moroccan cookery brings to French brasserie kitchens. Other specialities include soupe a l’oignon, boeuf bourguignon, lamb tagine, creme brulee, tarte au citron. Kids’ menu and breakfasts, too. Price ALC: £5.50-£6.95/£10.95-£12.95/£4.95-£5.95. SL (Mon-Fri 12noon-5pm): 1 £6.95, 2 £9.95, 3 £12.95. SD (Mon-Fri from 5pm, Sat from 7pm): 2 £12.50, 3 £16.50. Kids’ menu £5.95 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £9.95 500ml carafe, £3.75/£5.25 gls 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
• In one of the prettiest buildings on one of Bath’s most picturesque traffic-free lanes, and serving exemplary, authentic French bistro food in elegant but gently informal surroundings. Styling within this softly-lit haven of bonhomie represents that quintessentially Gallic sense of effortless good taste: pristine white tablecloths set with twinkling tableware prove how stunning simplicity can be, and even Michel Roux couldn’t fail to be impressed by the utterly charming service, from warm welcome to bonsoir. A hot contender for Most Romantic Restaurant in Bath award - intimate without being cloying, a table for two here offers a dream-date fantasy made flesh. ‘Only the grumpiest of grouches could fail to find the Casanis experience uplifting,’ said our swooning Eating Out West critic. She ate pan-fried scallops and chicken ballotine with leek fondue and jus reduction, followed by roasted rack of lamb with French beans fageot, gratin dauphinoise potatoes and black olive & thyme jus, and finished with creme brulee. How you decide to use your visit to the Cote d’Azur is, of course, up to you. Price ALC: £6.25-£11.50/£13.95-£24.50/£6.15-£6.75. SL: 2 £14.75, 3 £18.75. SD (6-7pm): 2 £18.50, 3 £22.50 Wine list Well chosen, predominantly French. HW from £15 btl Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm. Limited wheelchair access. Private parties welcome – call for details.
NEW COTE
27 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 335509, web: www.cote-restaurants.co.uk
• Another branch in what one Venue reviewer recently called ‘a classic brasserie experience from a chain with no weakest link’ comes to Bath, making full use of the gorgeous split-level nest (complete with alfresco courtyard area and upper-level terrace) recently vacated by the Moon and Sixpence. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10.30pm. Disabled access to ground floor, inc toilets.
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