Bristol
COSMO RESTAURANT
30 Triangle West, BS8 1ET Tel: 0117 934 0999, web: www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk
• See Chinese.
MASA
42-46 Baldwin St, BS1 1PN Tel: 0117 929 3888, web: www.masajapaneserestaurant.com
• Never heard of teppanyaki-style eating? Guests share tables surrounding a large hot plate, where theatrical Japanese chefs whirl, twirl, juggle, flip and flame raw ingredients into delectable meals. Set menus offer outstanding value - choose from fresh meat or seafood, with soup, rice and vegetables. Chilled or hot sake is a must on the side, or try a Japanese-inspired cocktail. Sushi, sashimi and tempura, plus a flame-grilled fruit dessert that’s well worth saving room for. See website for a good old gander at the menu. Price ALC: starter £2-£8.50/main £6.95-£13.95. SL (weekdays): 2 £6.80. SM from £15.50 Wine list HW £12.95 btl, £2.80 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-11.30pm, Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome - call for details.
NEW NOA
12-13 Waterloo St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BT Tel: 0117 973 2881, web: www.noajapanese.co.uk (TBC)
• There’s a Japanese lightness to the menu at Noa that might be a tempting contrast to the traditional uber-stodge – and they can tailor things for gluten-free folk. Splendid Mikado four-course meal combines beef negimaki with grilled Bahamas lobster. Full vegetarian menu, too. Our food editor gave his chopsticks a whirl and found ‘meticulous quality and top ingredients brought together with proper care for detail’. Also serves sushi but is definitely not just a sushi bar. Search them out – ‘one of the finest Japanese dining experiences for many a mile’. Price ALC: £3.50-£6/£8.50-£15/£3.50 Wine list HW £15.50, btl £3.90 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-11pm, Sun 6-11pm. Disabled access - two small steps, staff will assist. Takeaway.
OBENTO
67 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ Tel: 0117 929 7392, web: www.obento-bristol.co.uk
• From the same family who bring you Dynasty and Zen. Venue’s reviewer enjoyed a ‘fine, filling meal of contrasting tastes and textures’ – this place has earned itself a great reputation for healthy, flavoursome Japanese-themed menus in contemporary surroundings, at prices that belie the quality on offer. Sushi, salads, soups, sashimi, teriyakis and three types of noodle (soba, ramen, udon). ‘Well prepared and well presented,’ said our man of his Sakura banquet. ‘A thoroughly good experience.’ Sign up via website for special offers. Price ALC: sushi, sashimi £1.80-£9/main £9-£11. SL: bento box £6.80-£7.80. SD: set menus from £17pp Wine list Good range, plus beers, lagers, etc. HW £16 btl Open Mon-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome (karaoke room available) - call for details. Takeaway.
TAMPOPO
Unit SU84A, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 927 7008, web: www.tampopo.co.uk
• The name (Japanese for ‘dandelion’) is taken from the title of a Japanese film that chronicles a quest for the perfect bowl of noodles. Eating Out West paid a visit to this oasis of calm in the throng of choices that is Cabot Circus: ‘There’s something reassuringly discreet about Tampopo’s presentation: a combination of the homely and the exotic, well suited to the comfortably friendly service.’ Street food and signature dishes from across eastern Asia, including steaming noodles, slow-cooked curries and sizzling stirfries. Just like in kitchens across East Asia, they make their sauces and stocks in house every day from the freshest market produce. Said Venue: ‘Fresh flavours, relaxed atmosphere and a tempting menu’. If you’re in a hurry, try the Eastern Express Menu (main & side £7.50, Mon-Fri 12noon-5pm) before popping next door for a film. Price ALC: £3.85-£5.60/£6.50-£9.50/£3.60-£4.95 Wine list HW £13.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm (10pm Sun). Disabled access (lift to food court). Takeaway. Parties welcome - call for details.
TEOHS
28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191
Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122, web: www.teohs.net
• See Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean & Indonesian.
YO! SUSHI
Glass Walk, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BQ Tel: 0117 321 3161
The Avenue, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5DG Tel: 0117 321 3170, web: www.yosushi.com
• ‘A smart operation with helpful staff,’ said our reviewer, ‘and designed to be user-friendly. Tables are neat modules with dispensers of chopsticks, soy sauce, wasabi, sliced ginger and filtered water on tap, plus a button to alert staff when you need something else - hot food, miso soup, human contact. The food was all good and some things particularly so: harusame aubergine, tuna loin sashimi and eel dragon roll topped the cold selection; spicy pepper squid, chicken yakitori and salmon & asparagus yakitori were the hot favourites.’ YS recently came to Bath (Milsom St), where our woman with the chopsticks found ‘our table for two was mildly titillated and generally satisfied by the Yo! experience’ (see also Bath listing). Find more than 90 dishes to choose from, and sign up for the Yo! Love Club on website for special offers and discounts (up to a third off). Price All dishes £1.70-£5 Wine list Small, exclusive. HW £13.30 btl, £2.95 gls. Japanese beers, sake Open Cabot Circus: daily 12noon-10pm. Cribbs Causeway: Mon-Fri 11.30am-9pm, Sat 11.30am–8pm, Sun 11.30am-5pm. Disabled access at both locations. Parties welcome - call for details. Takeaway.
Bath
YEN SUSHI
11-12 Bartlett St, BA1 2QZ Tel: 01225 333313, web: www.yensushi.co.uk
• Take a ringside seat at the conveyor belt in this cheery but cosy, unfussy Japanese canteen, which Venue called ‘the hottest seat in town for the inquisitive gourmet’. Dozens of brightly coloured saucers flaunt tantalising toppings right under your nose, from the familiar (California rolls, tempura, edamame beans, sashimi) to every variation on the full-on authentic makizushi theme, while a jolly sushi chef chops, dices and rolls everything together before your eyes (and is happy to talk you through your choices). A separate kitchen deals with the hot stuff: soup, teriyaki, noodle-based dishes to order, bento (rice-based) boxes and ramen (noodles in soup). Price Conveyor belt/hot dish £1.80-£4.30, bento box/ramen £7.10-£8.40 Wine list HW approx £12 btl. Japanese & continental beers & lagers, plum wine, sake Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm. Disabled access. Group bookings - call in adv. Takeaway (excl ramen).
YO! SUSHI
29 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 562250, web: www.yosushi.com
• This international chain credited with introducing British diners to Japanese kaiten-zushi (conveyor-belt) presentation has made a lively home for itself in a semi-subterranean corner of the chic Milsom Place complex. See Bristol listing. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 12noon-10pm (9pm Sun_. Disabled access. Group bookings - call in adv. Takeaway & online/phone orders. |
