Eat & drink in Bristol
Restaurants, pubs, cafés, bakeries, Sunday roasts and date-night picks.
Bánh-Mì Càphê, North Street: 'A sucker punch of pork, and moreish in the extreme'
We don’t often review grab-and-go style lunch spots like this, but a good banh-mi is such a joy that I couldn’t resist commissioning this. I’d like to offer a warm welcome to Ben, our newest writer, who responded to my call out for pitches last month with this idea. It’s a great…
Secret Service: There's something so inherently sexy about a chef
The person who wrote this has clearly been reading , and who can blame them — Slutty’s writing is most entertaining. Our Secret Service column is designed to give chefs, front of house, suppliers and indeed anyone working in hospitality the chance to vent — or in this case,…
The Pharmacy, Bruton: 'You better hope it’s here to stay'
The Pharmacy represents exceptional value, even after you’ve factored in the hour drive from Bristol. If you’re over that way, perhaps for a nosey around the Hauser & Wirth gallery or a stomp around the Dovecote, then I’d enthusiastically recommend popping in. The Pharmacy…
The Totterdown Pub Crawl
Despite being just a 20minute walk from town and Temple Meads, Totterdown has always seemed further away than it actually is. I blame the hills and busy Bath Road for making the area feel so separate. You can do this pub crawl in reverse order if you’d prefer to start at the top…
Where to eat in August
For those new to The Bristol Sauce — welcome. We have 2,500 regular readers and the population of Bristol is around 500,000, so you’re now in the top 0.5 per cent of the most informed eaters in the city. Every month, we send a short, curated round-up of our top picks for…
Bristol Food & Drink: August
I’m back after a brief summer hiatus, to tell you about all the delicious things happening this month and distract you from week #485 of this heatwave. It’s a very cider-y month with Bristol Cider Week and a few festivals, News Let’s start with a sweet treat – there’s an ice…
La Cubana, Easton: 'Simple, wholesome, and designed to fill bellies'
If you enjoy reading The Bristol Sauce, please consider recommending it to a friend. One of the main ways people find out about our publication is through word of mouth, and every new reader is a big win for us — partly because we want to grow, and partly because we know that…
July Digest: Bristol food and drink news
Hello Saucers and happy Monday. This month’s news is a bumper issue; we’ve come across all sorts of salacious gossip. There’s new openings galore — 14 in total — including a high profile potential opening from the founders of COR and RAGU. Exciting times! To read the full news,…
Solina, Bath: 'The pasta rocked up so swaggeringly confident that nothing else mattered'
Hello Saucers and happy Thursday. We’ve got an exciting project in the works, which I’ll be revealing more details about in the coming weeks . It’s something we’ve been working on behind the scenes to help you find great, independent restaurants quickly. A second iteration of…
Bristol's best women-owned restaurants
If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend reading ‘A Woman’s Place is in the Kitchen’ by Sally Abé. Sally is not a Bristolian sadly — I’d love to claim her as one of our own — but I do feel she has a bit of Bristol spirit in her. Sally is a wonderful writer, a phenomenal chef…
Noah's, Cumberland Basin: 'As good a piece of fish as I’ve had anywhere'
Good afternoon Saucers. Today’s review takes us to the site made famous by Only Fools and Horses, which now houses one of Bristol’s best fish restaurants. Philip Sweeney reports. A reminder that if you’ve ever had a good meal as a result of something you’ve read in these digital…
A Bone To Pick: Down with the Rule of Three
Attention obsessives, creatives, dreamers! The Bristol Sauce is looking for writers. As I posted on our Instagram a couple of days ago, I have opened up my inbox to pitches. If you consider yourself the next Anthony Bourdain or Grace Dent, please get in touch. BUT please be…
Mon Plaisir, Clevedon: 'A bite so perfect that, if it had been my last on earth, I’d have swanned smugly off to the afterlife'
I think this review will make you laugh — it’s very well written. It’s possibly PXandTarts’ best yet. If it does bring you entertainment, mirth, merriment and you think, ‘if I saw PXandTarts in the pub, I’d buy him a drink’, please consider supporting our work for £4.50 a month…
The 26 best gluten-free restaurants in Bristol
Unless you’re someone that can’t eat gluten, you probably don’t care about which restaurants in Bristol are suitable for coeliacs, in which case fine — this isn’t for you. I accidentally pissed off the coeliacs — a militant and vocal group — earlier this year when I published a…
Sam's Master Grill, Cheltenham Road: 'Maybe one to avoid on your birthday if you’re of a nervous disposition'
I’ll admit, I was a little saddened to see Sam’s Master Grill had moved and in the process lost its kitsch waterfalls and plastic garland decor, but Phil’s review has restored my faith. It seems the food is as good as ever, and now with more seats and more staff — a greater…
Country pubs near Bristol
Here it is, the most requested guide I’ve done so far! People have asked me to write a list of country pubs near Bristol for years, and after visiting a fair few of these and also getting a handful of extra recommendations, here are some of my top picks. Let me know if there are…
Where to eat in July
Recently a few people have fed back to me that they’ve booked and enjoyed events from the monthly Where to eat round-ups, which makes me beam from ear to ear. This month, we’ve got several big celebrations, a supper club and a tomato party, of course. Become a paying Saucer to…
Chilli Family Noodles, Bath: 'Are Marco Pierre White's gems still worth heeding?'
I love writing and editing this publication, I really do. It takes me about two to three days a week to write, edit, promote it and research for future articles. That’s half the working week for me. I tend to fit it around other work that pays more — in the evenings, at…
June Digest: Bristol food and drink news
With the news this morning that Keir Starmer has resigned as Prime Minister, and the increasing likelihood that Andy Burnham is set to become our new leader, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for the hospitality industry. Burnham has backed calls to cut VAT for…
The St Michael’s Hill Pub Crawl
I realise that what started as a genuine intention to get people to enjoy the sights and spectacles of Bristol has instead turned in to a series of rather irresponsible pub crawl posts. Oh well, if Bristol does one thing better than most places in the UK it’s provide an amazing…
Ardito's Kitchen, The Royal Oak: 'So rich in flavour and warm spices you’d think the cow itself had been raised on molé quesadillas'
150 people now pay for this newsletter, and over 2,000 people read it. I find that genuinely remarkable, and I want you to know what it means: every paying Saucer covers the cost of a writer going to a restaurant and telling you honestly what they think — no gift, no freebie, no…
A Bone To Pick: Gimme Shelter
A Bone To Pick is our monthly(ish) column that gives you the chance to have a rant about something rubbing you up the wrong way in Bristol’s food scene. Previous examples have included There’s No Good Breakfast in Bristol and Bristol’s Harbourside Needs a 180. Horrified by…
Sonny Stores at Psychopomp: 'Could easily become a prime spot'
Happy Thursday Saucers. This week takes us up, or preferably down, St Michael’s Hill in search of good drinking and good eating. Don’t know your guindillas from your robiola? Fear not — PXandTarts is here to guide you, if you can make it through the various football references.…
Bristol's 30 Best Bakeries, Part Two
Ishita, Bristol’s most informed pastry procurer, is back for part two of her comprehensive guide to Bristol’s bakeries. If you missed part one, you can read it here. You can also follow Ishita on Instagram for regular updates on her baked-goods adventures around Bristol. A…
Bristol's best beer gardens for a sun-soaked summer
Discover the best beer gardens in Bristol for a perfect summer experience. Unwind at these top outdoor venues with scenic views, great food and refreshing drinks. Make the most of the sunny days in Bristol's lively pub scene.
A guide to the best brunch in Bristol
A local's ultimate guide. Perfect spots for weekend gatherings, stylish treats, indulgent breakfasts and mid-morning cures.
Bristol's top shelf: a guide to the city's finest cocktail bars
Discover Bristol's vibrant cocktail scene as we explore hidden gems, unique concoctions and atmospheric lounges that elevate the city's nightlife to new heights.
Bristol's vegan delights: exploring the city's best plant-based eateries
Discover Bristol's best vegan restaurants and cafés, from mouth-watering plant-based burgers to delicious brunch spots. Uncover the city's thriving vegan food scene in our comprehensive guide.
The best burger in Bristol: a tasty tour of the city's top patties
Discover Bristol's best burgers, including National Burger Awards finalists Fattso and Squeezed, plus local favourites Asado, Milk Bun, and more. Satisfy your cravings with our ultimate guide.
Street food in Bristol: the ultimate guide
Handy info on a variety of food markets, their locations and opening hours, as well as an up-to-date look at some of the best food stalls.