Eat & drink in Bristol
Restaurants, pubs, cafés, bakeries, Sunday roasts and date-night picks.
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…
Crave, Upper Belgrave Road: 'A testament to the fact that you can enjoy something while knowing objectively that it isn’t that good'
There are two ways to approach a restaurant review. You can do your research, find out who the chef is, look at the menu in advance, see if anyone else has been that you know and trust. Or you can go in blind. Both have their merits. In a city as small as Bristol, going in blind…
Bristol Food & Drink: June
Here we are in the first proper flushes of summer, and it’s a festival-tastic month ahead! Let me know over on Instagram what you think you’ll go along to, I love being nosey! News St Nick’s Tours have now launched a Bristol Chocolate Tour to take in some of Bristol’s chocolate…
Where to eat in June
Thought it was summer? Ha. You, like everyone else, were lulled into a false sense of security and your punishment is a week of rain. Nevermind. Cheer yourself up by planning the month’s eating — there’s plenty to choose from including a birthday party, an international pop-up,…
Zena's Bistro, West Street: It would be Sicily not to
Zena’s Bistro often flies under the radar, tucked away as it is on West Street. But every now and then, I hear someone professing their love for lunching there. Shining a light on such joyful, unexpected places with no big marketing budget or PR team is one of the primary…
May Digest: Bristol food and drink news
It’s certainly been a busy month for The Bristol Sauce. Following our investigation ‘The True Cost of Influencing’ we’ve had an influx of new subscribers. If that’s you — welcome! At the end of every month we publish a digest of all the food and drink news from Bristol in the…
The True Cost of Influencing: Part Three
I hadn’t intended to publish a third part to this series — parts one and two were lengthy enough as is. But these articles have incited very passionate conversation; one that clearly needs to be had. As I mentioned in part two, it is good practice in journalism to offer people…
The True Cost of Influencing: Part Two
In part one of The True Cost of Influencing, I set up a fake restaurant to gain an insight into how influencers work online. You can read it here. In part two, I set out to investigate what influence they have in the real world and the extent to which some of their practices are…
Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles, Park Street: 'Comfort food for the student masses'
The Bristol Sauce has gained a lot of new subscribers in the last few days — was it something we published? — and I want to offer a warm welcome to our new readers. Part two of the True Cost of Influencing will be published at 4pm on Monday, but meanwhile here’s a restaurant…
The True Cost of Influencing: Part One
A note from Meg: I’ve been working on this piece since last September, which is the longest I’ve ever spent writing an article. Influencers are frequently in the news, and there’s almost as many opinion pieces about them as there are content creators themselves. In recent…
What is The Bristol Sauce?
The Bristol Sauce is a food publication for anyone that eats out in Bristol or the surrounding area. Our writers visit restaurants anonymously, pay for everything in full, and we never use AI in our writing. No advertising, no gifted meals, no shortcuts. We are funded entirely…
Parallel by Pasture, Cardiff: 'Certainly wouldn’t embarrass us on the world stage'
I’m delighted to report that my community proofreading experiment is currently underway and going very well, and as such we will be publishing part one of a new investigation on Monday at 4pm. Set your watches. To keep us entertained in the meantime, PXandTarts recounts a rather…
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.
Where to eat in May
There’s always good eating to be had in Bristol, but this month is looking extra delicious. We’ve gone out on a limb and listed not one, not two but three one-off events we think are deserving of your attention. There’s also an enticing pop-up, a classic that has just been…
Bristol Food & Drink: May
It’s bank holiday month, and the gateway to summer! Here are just a few of the exciting things you can do throughout May in Bristol, from beer trails to special dinners, and even a real ale and sea shanty festival… If you find this guides useful, you can set up a subscription or…
April Digest: Bristol food and drink news
Afternoon Saucers! I need your help with something. In May, I am going to be publishing a big, two-parter investigation. It’s particularly meaty, and I am looking for a few volunteers who might read it before it goes out to the general public. I’m looking for people who are keen…
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.
Brother Thai, Stokes Croft: 'Familiar, but impressive all over again'
It seemed only fitting that we should invite Jonathan Swain over the bridge to review Brother Thai, as the man has been doing a stellar job of writing about Cardiff’s food scene for 13 years on his blog Plate Licked Clean and thus would be able to tell in a heartbeat if the…
Bristol's 30 Best Bakeries, Part One
Bristol residents know that if you go to a gig and see Big Jeff in the crowd, you are in the right place to witness some excellent music. Similarly, if you go to a bakery and see Ishita DasGupta in the queue, you are in line for some superb pastries. Astoundingly, Ishita manages…
Poco Tapas, Jamaica Street: 'For all its undeniable history, seems a little old hat'
You’ve had two PXandTarts reviews in two weeks, you lucky lucky people. Poco Tapas is by no means a new restaurant, but it is an interesting one, and I’ve had a few people say to me recently that they thought it worth revisiting — so I sent PXandTarts off on a quest. As ever,…
A Bone to Pick: Bristol's harbourside needs a 180
We’ve had an influx of new subscribers over the weekend, which I think may be in some small part due to a shout out from Jay Rayner in the Financial Times. If that’s you — welcome! You are now part of a growing community of the most informed eaters in Bristol. We publish two…
Castle Inn, Castle Combe: 'Ideally the only time I want yeast mentioned over Valentine’s dinner'
While our priority at The Bristol Sauce is obviously restaurants in Bristol, it would be a shame not to once in a while share some of the many excellent eateries we have within a short radius. As such, I tend to consider anywhere within an hour’s drive of Bristol fair game and I…
Where to eat in April
This month’s where to eat features some cracking events and recommendations; including three Michelin stars (sort of), a fallow Glastonbury and a chance to try pigeon tacos. Become a paying Saucer to read our full curated list of where to eat in Bristol this month, with a…
Afghan Restaurant, Stapleton Road: 'A jewel in the rough'
I adore reading Jason’s writing — it’s so evocative. Restaurants like the one below will likely never be lauded in glossy magazines, national lists or guidebooks, but that does not mean they shouldn’t be celebrated. In fact, I see it as even more of a reason to write about them,…
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.