Latest reviews by evilkitten

Bordeaux Quay

evilkitten — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:30:50 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Canon's Road, BS1 5UH, Bristol, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, seafood, good value

Almost perfectI've been meaning to go to Bordeaux Quay ever since it was awarded 9.5/10 in the Guardian's weekend magazine. Given their usual harsh reviewing, this is an outstanding score, so I was prepared to be impressed.

Bordeaux Quay is on Bristol's waterfront, and this is an excellent location for it. In a converted warehouse, the ground floor has the brasserie, while there is a restaurant upstairs. Bordeaux Quay also runs its own delicatessen, with fantastic looking produce.

For my visit, I had inadvisably taken a two-year old toddler as a dining companion, and I was a little concerned that they wouldn't be able to accommodate his disruptive tendencies. I shouldn't have worried - the staff were fantastic with him, and once he was installed into a high chair, they kept him amused by chatting to him, and by providing him with a menu to read and bread and oil to eat. He thought this was marvellous, and their ease at accommodating his needs makes me wonder just how child-friendly other supposedly 'family' restaurants actually are.

The food in the brasserie is fantastic. There's a big emphasis on fish, and they appear to have mastered this as a speciality. Locally-sourced vegetables were carefully chosen to complement the meal; service was excellent, and despite the fact that food was cooked to order, it was lightening quick.

All in all, I can recommend this restaurant. Despite being relaxed and laid-back, the service and attention to detail is sharp. I'll be going back.

Zero Degrees

evilkitten — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:46:36 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 53 Colston Street, , Bristol, United Kingdom

Website: www.zerodegrees.co.uk

Tags: lively, international, crowded, expensive

Zero degrees is just lukewarm.Zero degrees is a popular restaurant at the top of Bristol's Christmas Steps.

I've been here a few times, and have not really been too impressed, although I realise that my opinions are in a minority here. My main issue with Zero Degrees is that it doesn't really know what it wants to be.

It's a micro-brewery ... but the beer isn't what it should be. All the beers are served 'bright' rather than on the handpump, and I can't really see the reason for doing this. The IPA is the nearest you'll get to beer, and it's palatable enough, although it gives me an evil headache. But it's not special. The bar area is geared to large numbers of people drinking and standing â¬ there's a few sofas, but essentially it's empty warehouse space.

The food's not outstanding either. The huge menu has seafood, pizza, steak, and a whole range of other things, but I do get the feeling that by giving the customer such variety, they've sacrificed some of the quality. The last time I ate here, I had moules mariniere â¬ it was OK, but the mussels were a bit past their best (or out of a vacuum packet). Dessert was clearly recently thawed from the freezer. Call me picky, but for the price they charge, I expect more than food off the back of a catering wholesaler's lorry. And the place is too dark, so you can't see what you're eating.

All that said, the place is OK, as long as you're sure what you want. If you're looking for somewhere for an office outing that can seat you all, feed you all, and doesn't mind you being a bit loud, it's a reasonable alternative to a curry house. If you're looking for somewhere intimate and quiet, or somewhere that's going to really challenge your taste buds, then this is not it.

Riverstation

evilkitten — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 09:55:55 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: The Grove, BS1 4RB, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 914 4434

Website: http://www.riverstation.co.uk

A nice restaurant with nice food, but with a fantastic setting. In the summer, the terrace at the back of the restaurant overlooks the docks, giving a relaxing view of the world passing by. It's certainly quieter and more relaxed than the Severn Shed next door.

The food is modern bistro, with some interesting twists; the homemade bread is particularly recommended.

Excellent wine list.

Plantation

evilkitten — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 09:45:56 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 221-223 Cheltenham Road, BS6 5QP, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 907 7932

Website: http://www.plantationrestaurant.biz

Very good caribbean food, and good service. The atmostphere of the restaurant is slightly odd though; very white, minimalist decor, with a lot of space between the tables means that the dining experience can be a bit clinical, not something that I would have associated with caribbean food.

Grizzly's

evilkitten — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:44:42 +0000

Rating: 3.5

Location: Le Val Claret Centre, 73320, Tignes, France

Excellent for apres ski, but a bit pricy.

La Plage

evilkitten — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:42:44 +0000

Rating: 1.0

Location: Avenue de la Plage, , Benodet, France

Tags: brasserie

La Plage, Benodet. I know it's in another country, but the experience was just too interesting not to share with others. Perhaps someone's going on holiday to Benodet - if so, I can recommend the restaurant two doors down.

La Plage is an example of a restaurant that has a prime location, and so a high passing trade from tourists. We were seduced by the outside (yet covered) seating, and their willingness to accept two pushchairs.

I'd specifically chosen the restaurant as I wanted to enjoy the Brittany experience of Moules Mariniere. They were on the menu, and the blackboard, but sadly, our waiter informed us, not available today. Not to worry - with two infants installed in high-chairs, we weren't going anywhere. We ordered drinks, which arrived promptly, if a little inaccurately. I wanted cider, I got wine ... again, these things are not to be fussed over.

From there, things got worse. I won't bore with details, but

- We were served mains twice, rather than main, then dessert,

- The food was overcooked,

- Getting a knife and fork required more effort than it should have done,

- The bill was wrong.

Avoid.

The Folly

evilkitten — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:38:50 +0000

Rating: 2.0

Location: Westerleigh Road, BS16 7AJ, Bristol, United Kingdom

Tags: beer garden, plastic pub, pub chain, standard pub food

Plastic PubAs pubs go, it's OK. Part of a small chain, it has a fairly standard menu of pub food, i.e. chips with everything, and a high fat, sugar & salt content. Some of the food can be a little alarming: I ordered a chilli burger, expecting a burger with chilli sauce - I got a burger with chilli-con-carne on top. It may just be me, but putting minced beef on top of minced beef didn't strike me as the most sensible culinary decision.

Food aside, the bar serves Wychwood Hobgoblin, for which we will overlook some of the gastronomic sins.

Bell's Diner

evilkitten — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:14:47 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 1-3 York Road, BS6 5QB, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 924 0357

Website: http://www.bellsdiner.co.uk

Tags: cosy, british, pretentious, expensive, french, good food

Tries too hardI'd seen this restaurant mentioned in several national publications, not to mention BA's inflight magazine, and was determined to try it out.

I can see what the fuss is about; the restaurant has a lovely cosy feel to it, and the food is very, very good. I can't fault it, in fact.

There is, however, a problem with Bell's Diner, and that is that it tries too hard. Just because it is possible to create parsnip and tobacco ice-cream doesn't mean it is a good idea. The menu is littered with these gastronomic land mines, and it is difficult to pick a meal without chosing something that perhaps you wouldn't elsewhere.

Porto Lounge

evilkitten — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:09:21 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 765 Fishponds Road, BS16 3BS, Bristol, United Kingdom

Tags: friendly, convivial, students, crowded, cafe, comfy sofas, brasserie

Fishponds cultureMoving away from the usual squalid pubs and greasy cafes of Fishponds, the Porto Lounge provides a slightly more upmarket cafe/bar/restaurant for locals and the students of nearby UWE.

A sister restaurant of the 'Tinto Lounge' in Gloucester Road, the Porto Lounge offers a good choice of well cooked pub food, and a good selection of lagers and wine.

The Lounge itself has a very laid-back environment; wooden tables, leather sofas and pew-style chairs give a mediterranean feel. My only criticism of the environment is that it can become very smoky, but with the forthcoming change in the law, this will cease to be an issue.

I recommend the Porto Lounge for a lazy Sunday cup of coffee, or a mid-day meal.

Olicana Fisheries

evilkitten — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:44:45 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 5-7 New Brook Street, LS29 8DQ, Ilkley, United Kingdom

The best fish & chips in Ilkley.

The Angel Inn

evilkitten — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:41:04 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: Hetton, BD23 6LT, Skipton, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, gastro pub, traditional pub, independent pub

The definitive gastropubA fantastic gastropub; eat in the bar rather than the restaurant. Fish is always a good option here, and the sticky toffee pudding is by far the best I've had. Good selection of wines and beers.

Cafe Maitreya

evilkitten — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:11:53 +0000

Rating: 4.7

Location: 89 St Marks Road, BS5 6HY, Bristol, United Kingdom

Tags: vegetarian, vegan, local produce, good value, organic, cafe

The best vegetarian restaurantThis fantastic vegetarian restaurant is the Which? vegetarian restaurant of the year, and the winner of the vegetarian Observer Food Awards 2007. It is the top uk vegetarian restaurant as judged by the Vegetarian Society. Given the exceptional quality of the food, and the friendly atmostphere, it is easy to understand why.

The restaurant itself is relatively small, probably accommodating a maximum of around thirty people. The kitchen forms a part of the main restaurant. Coulours are fresh, and the tables are very cafe style, which makes for an easy, chatty atmostphere.

Cafe Maitreya prides itself on its food credentials, and the food is locally sourced and organic where possible. The restaurant is entirley vegetarian, and also caters for vegans. There is a good selection of food for those with dietary intolerances. The food is cooked with a lot of care, with delicate flavours being drawn out of the ingredients. The canapes and palate cleansers help diners to appreciate the individual flavours.

Given the quality of the food, the prices are extermely reasonable; expect to pay around £20 per head for the three course meal. Even if you're not a lentil-botherer usually, I recommend putting your carnivore principles aside, and booking a table.

http://www.cafemaitreya.co.uk/