Ben D.
Google
We came for dinner last night and went for the signature tasting menu. The food was imaginative and beautifully presented, with moments of real creativity. The Brill, Cep Mousse and Ballotine was a standout with lovely balance and delicate flavours, and the Blackcurrant Soufflé ended the meal with a real burst of flavour and technical skill.
However, the overall experience fell short in several ways. Some of the food choices felt confusing, like the filet steak which was plated with great care but arrived with a side of dauphinoise potatoes that looked and tasted like they had come from a Tesco Ready Meal. It was such a strange contrast to have on the same table.
The biggest disappointment was the atmosphere .
We were seated right by the door, less than three feet from the next table, and the space lacked any sense of intimacy or atmosphere. For the price you are paying, it felt more like a café at lunchtime than a fine dining experience. It made it hard to relax and enjoy the food in the way you can at other top end restaurants in Bristol.
The staff were genuinely lovely and perfectly attentive, but the service was quite slow. From arrival to leaving, the meal took over two hours. One of the chefs came to speak to us about the food, which was a thoughtful touch, but the cramped layout made it difficult to enjoy the interaction as every conversation could be heard by everyone else.
Someone sat very nearby from me was enjoying the wine pairings, which did look excellent, and I imagine if you are there for that full wine experience you might have a better time.
But for me, our experience didn’t justify the cost at all. There is real skill in the kitchen, but when compared with other high-end restaurants in Bristol, the overall experience lacks the same care and attention to detail and at this price point, that really is a disservice.