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Restaurant Reviews

 


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51 Welsh Back,
Bristol,
BS1 4AN
Tel: 0845 202 5101
www.bibaslounge.co.uk


Opening hours:
Mon-Thurs noon-11pm; Fri & Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-6pm

We visited: Tuesday evening

Prices: Very good. Express lunch for £5, mains for under a tenner – and they come with sides

Do they welcome children? Yes

Vegetarian choice: Good

Disabled access: A few steps up

Wine list: Good – plus an exceptional cocktail menu

“With both courses we were offered a choice of veg or salad and chips/mash or new potatoes which, considering my dish was no more than a tenner, represents pretty darn good value. The sides arrived first and boded extremely well: the veg was shredded cabbage, sliced carrot and a delightful, peppery swede mash; the mashed potato was buttery, smooth and utterly heavenly. Our mains didn’t disappoint…

“We were finally seduced by the Baileys and Maltesers cheesecake £5, which we washed down with a couple of decent coffees from that beautiful machine. Crowned with a physalis, leaves dusted with icing sugar, it had a rich biscuity bottom and made a suitably decadent coda to an evening of well-priced sophistication. We think Barbara Hulanicki would approve.”


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Primrose Café & Bistro

1 Clifton Arcade
Boyce’s Avenue, Clifton
Tel: 0117 946 6577
www.primrosecafe.co.uk


 

Opening hours: Café: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm; Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-3pm, Bistro: Mon - Sat 7-10pm

We visited: Thursday evening

Prices: (Bistro) Starters £5.95-£7, mains £11.50-£17. Mon – Wed table d’hote menu, £14.95 for two courses or £17.95 for three

Vegetarian choice: Good. Plenty of fish too

Disabled access: Good

Wine list: Good, varied. Also range of organic ciders, beers and aperitifs

“If any village eatery could be accurately labelled ‘a Clifton institution’, then surely Primrose Café is it. With its old-fashioned signage gracing the cul-de-sac end of Boyce’s Avenue, and small, wooden tables and chairs spilling out on to the street, peopled by lone diners with broadsheets, students being treated to dinner by Mum and Dad, couples smiling at each other over candles and posies, it epitomises the Clifton spirit – that of a quirky, continental village – such that if it weren’t here, this part of BS8 would feel quite different.”


Attix

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First Floor,

44 Park Street,

Bristol

tel: 0117 925 1140

www.attixloungebar.com

 

'Any new bar or eatery that wants to survive in this environment has to have a USP...'

Opening hours: 5pm till 4am Mon-Thur, 6am Fri & Sat, and 2am Sunday.

We visited: Tuesday early evening.

Prices: 4 tapas for £17.50, 6 for £25 and 8 for £32.50

Do they welcome children? It's a cocktail lounge, not a Hungary Horse.

Vegetarian choice: Good.

Wine list: Good but forget wine, the cocktail menu is something else.

Ambience: Chilled and decadent. 


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Firehouse Rotisserie

Anchor Square
Harbourside
Bristol BS1 5DB
tel: 0117 915 7323
www.frehouserotisserie.co.uk

   
Opening hours: Lunch 12-2.30pm, dinner 6-11pm daily, except closed Sunday evenings between October and April.

We visited: Monday evening

Vegetarian choice: Good

Wine list: New World and classic wines selected by Great Western Wine.

Prices: Starters from £5.50, pizzas from £9.95, rotisserie/grill from £11.95.

Service charge: Not included

Do they welcome children? Defnitely – there are kids’ options but they’ll also find a lot to enjoy on the grown-up menu.

Disabled access: Good

Reviewed: Issue 78

Published: September

Our Verdict

A favourite with locals since opening in  2000, the Firehouse Rotisserie is ideal for families as well as groups of friends, with a busy, buzzy feel.  Inspired by Californian and Mexican cuisine, the menu offers pizzas and rotisserie/grill and is bursting with fresh, favour-rich ingredients.


 

Zen

 Zen, Unit 4B
1st Floor,Harbourside
Explore Lane, Bristol
tel. 0117 9209372
www.zenharbourside.co.uk

 

If it's the Real McCoy you're after, head down to Zen at Harbourside for the ultimate experience.

 

Opening Hours: Lunch 12-3pm, dinner 5.30-11.30pm, seven days a week.

We visited: Thursday evening.

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Vegetarian Choice: Good - although watch out for rouge meat in 'vegetable dishes'.

 

Prices: Variable.  Starters from £4.50, mains £7.50 - £25.80

 

Service Charge: Discretionary 10% added.

 

Reviewed: Issue 77

Published: August

 


The Square

'Everything that arrived in front of us was beautifully presented.' 

 

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15 Berekley Square,

Clifton,

tel: 0117 921 0455

www.thesquareclub.com 

 

 

 

Opening hours: Terrace and Bar, Tues-Sat, 12-3 pm & 5-11pm; fine dining 6-10.30pm, except Sunday 6-9.30pm,

We visited: Wednesday evening,

Vegetarian Choice: Good,

Prices: 'Casual' starters from £1.95, mains from £6.95; fine dining £19.95 for two course or £24.95 for three,

Do they welcome children? Yes, except of course in the bar downstairs, 

Diasbled access: No.

Reviewed: Issue 76

Published: July

  


 

therestaurant

therestaurant
Cadbury House

Frost Hill
Congresbury
North Somerset
BS49 5AD
tel: 01934 834343
www.cadburyhouse.com

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'...in truth, surrounded by moo-cows though it is, Cadbury House is quite a trendy, boutique-y sort of place'

 

Opening hours: 7–9.30pm daily

We visited: Tuesday evening

 

Vegetarian choice: Limited but good

Prices: Starters £7–£10, mains £18–£24, desserts £5–£7.50

Wine list: Excellent, comprehensive.

 

Do they welcome children? Yes.

Disabled access: Yes.

Reviewed: Issue 75

Published: July

 


 Bocabar

Paintworks, Bath Road
Arnos Vale, Bristol
tel: 0117 972 8838
www.paintworksbristol.co.uk

This vibrant café-bar is more than a meeting & eating point for Paintworks residents, writes Alice Curwen.

"All in all it was the perfect summer snack and substantial enough for a light lunch."

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Opening hours: Monday–Thursday, 10am–midnight (last orders 11pm); Friday– Saturday, 10am–2am (last orders 1pm, no entry after midnight); Sunday 10am–11pm

Vegetarian choice: Good

Prices: Lunch – bruschetta from £5.95, tapas from £3.95; dinner – pizzas £8.95–£14.95; Sunday roast from £8.95

Do they welcome children? Yes – try a Boca Junior pizza for £6.95

Disabled access: Yes

Reviewed: Issue 74

Published: June  


 

olive_shed_ext.jpgThe Olive Shed

Floating Harbour
Prince’s Wharf
Bristol
BS1 4RN
tel: 0117 929 1960
www.theoliveshed.com

Many restaurants aspire to a Mediterranean atmosphere, but this rustic harbourside favourite is the real deal, writes Vicky Green “This was the definition of ‘rustic Mediterranean’

 

 

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-10pm; Sunday 10am-4pm Vegetarian choice: Excellent, although no longer exclusively veggie

Prices: Tapas starters £2–£5.95; platters from £6.95 small to £13.95 large; mains from £9.95

Do they welcome children? Yes

Disabled access: Ground-floor seating and cloakroom

Reviewed: Issue 73 Clifton Life

Published: May

 


 

cafe.jpgCafé Maitreya
89 St Mark’s Road
Easton
Bristol
BS5 6HY
tel: 0117 951 0100
www.cafemaitreya.co.uk

This lively Easton eaterie transforms the humble vegetable into something sublime, writes Vicky Green. Prepare for a taste explosion…
“Food of this calibre isn’t usually served in such a relaxed environment, We jealously eyed up the pre-dessert amuses bouches”

Opening hours: Evenings only, from 6.30pm, Tuesday – Saturday. Last orders 9.45pm

We visited: Tuesday evening – and it was buzzing

Vegetarian choice: The best in Britain, according to some

Prices: Reasonable given the quality. £18.50 for two courses or £21.95 for three. Glass of wine from £4.55

Do they welcome children? Yes

Disabled access: Yes

Reviewed: Issue 72 Clifton Life

Published: May 12

  


 

 
p1020585.jpg The Hophouse
16 King’s Road
Clifton
Bristol
tel: 0117 923 7390

Can this Clifton watering hole reposition itself as a sophisticated restaurant? Vicky Green thinks so. “The pinotage was fruity but soft and mellow too, With this risotto, every mouthful was different”

After an extensive, chic refurbishment, this long-established watering hole in the heart of Clifton now doubles up as a sophisticated eaterie. The bustling ground-floor bar serves quality pub grub while the first-floor restaurant offers modern British cuisine. The menu shows imagination and is surprisingly reasonably priced, while friendly service provides a ‘local’ feel.


Opening hours: 12 noon until midnight daily. Food served 12-3pm and 6-10pm Mon–Fri, 12-10pm Sat and 12-8pm Sun. Sunday lunch menu available from 12 noon-6pm.

We visited: Friday evening

Vegetarian choice: Limited but imaginative

Prices: A gastropub that hasn’t run away with the prices. Small plates from £3.50, sharing boards from £6.95, mains from £6.95, puddings from £4.95 and sandwiches from £4.50

Do they welcome children? Yes

Disabled access: Yes

Reviewed: Issue 71 Clifton Life

Published: April 18

 


 

 

p1010912.jpgTantric Jazz

39-41 St Nicholas Street

Bristol

tel: 0117 940 2304

www.tantric-jazz.co.uk

Conclusion;

A suitably laidback place with a friendly atmosphere and highly edible tapas served in generous portions. It’s part jazz club, part restaurant and the kitchen is open till late so you can eat as much or as little as you like and there’s no pressure to order as soon as you arrive. With live music every night, it’s one of Bristol’s most characterful eateries.

Vicky Green and the Pub Landlord join the cool cats of Bristol for a feast of tapas at this jazz club-restaurant hybrid. “At these prices you can afford to be excessive.  Tantric Jazz has nothing to do with religion or sex”

Opening hours: 6pm-3am daily, kitchen open till late. Admission fee of £3 Thur, Fri & Sat

Vegetarian choice: Great – one meat menu, one veggie, both long

Prices: From £2.40 for some olives to £11.50 for a sharing platter

Service style: Laidback. You order at the till.

Do they welcome children? It’s a nightclub.

Disabled access: All at ground level.

Reviewed: Issue 70 Clifton Life

Published: March 28

 

 

img_0626.jpgHa!Ha! Bar and Canteen

20a Berkeley Square

Bristol

tel: 0117 927 7333

www.hahaonline.co.uk

Conclusion:

Bristol’s Ha!Ha! celebrates its 10th year this March so Gabi Woolgar pulled up a chair to see how this elegant diner is doing, a decade after opening “In summer this place must be heaving, being so ideally placed”


Opening hours: Mon to Weds 10am to 11pm, Fri to Sat 10am

Vegetarian choice: Yes, delicious options such as stuffed red peppers

Prices: £3.75 to £11.75

Service style: Funky yet helpful

Wine list: Extensive and eclectic collection of wines from around the world

Do they welcome children? Yes, though this is more of a singles’ place

Disabled access: No – steps down from the street make it awkward

Reviewed: Issue 69 Clifton Life

Published: March

 


 

 

fishworks_sign.jpgFishWorks

128 Whiteladies Road

Clifton

Tel: 0117 974 4433

Conclusion:

Revisiting one of Clifton Life’s favourite restaurants was in order for Gabi Woolgar – would its revamped menu prove to be a winner? “The £15 set lunch was stonkingly good value, with half a lobster, chips and some fizz, In fact I’d go so far as to say that lobster is my favourite thing on ten legs”

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 3pm, 6 to 10.30pm, Monday 6 to 10.30pm

Vegetarian choice: Yes, and plenty of fish of course. Even meat lovers are served now, with steaks on offer.

Prices: Set lunch £15, daily prices for freshly caught fish

Service style: Slick and professional

Wine list: Knowledgeable selection of fish friendly wines

Do they welcome children? Yes with their own special menu

Disabled access: Yes

Reviewed: Issue 68 Clifton Life

Published: Feb 15


 

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Ocean Cafe

185 Whiteladies Road

Clifton

Tel 0117 946 9825

 

Conclusion:

Gabi Woolgar finds herself unexpectedly in Whiteladies Road, and hugely enjoys an impromptu Spanish-style tapas feast, with some of the best homemade bread she has ever tasted. “Ocean had the relaxed air of a proper Spanish bar, I was delighted with my triangle of lemony heaven”

Opening hours: open 8.30am to 11pm, Mon to Fri, 10am to 11pm Sat

Vegetarian options: Lovely veggie options

Prices: £50 for two including drinks, set lunch available too

Children: Welcome

Conclusion: Just the place to enjoy a taste of the sunshine in winter

Reviewed: Issue 67 Clifton Life

Published: Jan 25

 


 

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Hotel du Vin
Narrow Lewins Mead
Bristol
Tel 0117 925 5577

 

Conclusion:

The kind of place that you want to celebrate life in, rain or shine. Gabi Woolgar checked into the Hotel du Vin – for one evening only – and found a comforting oasis of hospitality, great service and mouthwatering cuisine in the bleak midwinter.

 

Opening hours: Lunch noon - 1.45pm Mon-Fri,

Sun until 2.30pm, dinner 6-9.45pm, Sat 10.30pm

Vegetarian options: Imaginative choices

Prices: £60 for two plus drinks (dinner)

Children: Welcome

Reviewed: Issue 66 Clifton Life

Published: Jan 4 





 



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