Bath Life

Restaurant reviews

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Given Bath’s varied restaurant scene, there’s little point going further afield in order to dine. Make an exception for Café Maitreya, says Vicky Green. “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 105

Published May 12 

 

Raphael
Gascoyne House
Upper Borough Walls
Bath
tel: 01225 480042

www.raphaelrestaurant.co.uk

Lunch at the site of an old Café Rouge had Nicola Cunningham favourably impressed with its replacement. 

OUR  VERDICT
A great little place that serves something for everyone, where you can eat well and not too expensively

Opening Hours: Lunch, 12-3pm; dinner, 5.30-10pm daily

We visited: Thursday lunchtime

Prices: Set lunch, £10.95 two courses; pre-theatre supper from 5.30-7pm £13.95 two courses; à la carte starters from £4.50, mains from £9.50

Vegetarian choice: not huge

Children: welcome

Disabled access: yes, but loos upstairs

Total covers: 45 approximately

Service charge: only for groups of six or more

Reviewed Issue 104

Published April 25

  

The Dining Room,

Whatley Manor

Easton Grey, Malmesbury SN16 ORB

tel: 01666 822888

www.whatleymanor.co.uk

Laura Rowe basks in the splendour of the newly refurbished Dining Room at  Whatley Manor in Malmesbury.

OUR  VERDICT

The new look Dining Room at the wonderful Whatley Manor effortlessly complements its Michelin-starred cuisine. The staff know their stuff, the courses keep on coming, and the food is faultless. For a gastronomic experience hard to match the Dining Room is certainly worth a visit.

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 7-10pm (Booking for non-residents is essential)

We visited: A Wednesday night

Prices: £65pp for the three course à la carte tasting menu; £80 for seven course tasting menu

Vegetarian choice: One intelligently and inventively designed dish per course

Children: No – this is an adult zone

Disabled access: Difficult

Total covers: 40

Service: Staff were impeccably presented, thoroughly knowledgable and reassuringly attentive

Reviewed Issue 103

Published April 11

 

 

Bramleys,

25 Claverton Buildings,

Widcombe, Bath

tel: 01225 338007

www.bramleysbath.co.uk

OUR  VERDICT: 

In which Kate Authers enjoys a midweek candlelit dinner for two at Widcombe’s latest eatery . “The apple-iness of Bramleys is imaginative
and surprising...After just one bite he declared it one of the nicest steaks he’s ever eaten”

This ‘modern British’ restaurant effortlessly combines a stylish and imaginative décor with simple, superbly cooked food, served by friendly staff. Be sure to book, as it seems we’re not the only ones who have discovered the delights of Bramleys.

Opening Hours: Lunch Tues-Fri 12pm-2.30pm; dinner Tues-Sat 6pm-10pm
We visited: Tuesday evening

Prices: Starters £5-£6.85; mains £11.75-£15.50; puddings/cheese £6-£7

Service style: friendly but very efficient

Vegetarian choice: Two starters, two mains

Disabled access: Tables at ground-floor level

What else do I need to know? Bramleys offers a children’s menu as well as a separate light lunch and sandwich menu

Reviewed Issue 102

Published March 28

 

 

 

Same Same But Different

Bartlett Street, Bath

tel: 01225 466856 

 

 

 

OUR  VERDICT:

Café society is alive and well at this characterful little eatery on Bartlett Street – long a favourite of the Bath Life editorial team. “It’s a place that manages to be a lot of things to a lot of different people ”

Famously attractive, very helpful staff preside over this little corner of Bath café society; ideal for anything from a quick coffee with the paper to light snacks to a full meal. The tapas are generous and colourful, and ideal for sharing with friends for a quick lunch or more leisurely dinner

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 10am-5pm

We visited: Thursday lunchtime

Prices: Tapas £4-£5 each; one makes a snack, two or three a filling meal; sandwiches, soups, salads and pastas also available

Service style: Very sweet staff manage to keep things moving even when the place is packed.

Vegetarian choice: Good

Disabled access: Restaurant at ground level, loos downstairs

Kids? Yep; sometimes it’s pushchair central

Reviewed Issue 101

Published March 14

 

 

The Circus

34 Brock Street

Bath

tel: 01225 466020

 

www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk

 

 

  

Triumphantly reopened as a café and restaurant, this ‘refined rustic’ eatery has a good chance of becoming your favourite new local, as Deri Robins discovers.

It may have only opened in January, but  you already need to book in advance  to make sure of a table. The Circus combines style with affordability,  and offers simply presented, top-quality food served by personable young staff – everything, in short, that you need from your favourite local

Opening Hours: 10am-midnight Mon-Sat. Elevenses served until midday; afternoon tea 3-5pm. Last orders for dinner 10pm

We visited: Tuesday evening

Prices: Starters £5-£6.50; mains £9-12; puddings/cheese £3.50

Cuisine: ‘refined British rustic’

Service style: Friendly and professional Vegetarian choice: One starter, one main

Disabled access: Tables at ground-floor level

What else do I need to know? You can pop in any time of day just for a coffee and snack

Reviewed Issue 99

Published Feb 15 

 

 

                                         Yen Sushi

11-12 Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ

tel: 01225 333313

For a city with such a thriving and varied food scene it was only a matter of time before a sushi bar arrived. Laura Rowe went to sample Yen Sushi’s fare

Located on the charming Bartlett Street, Yen Sushi is a welcome addition to Bath’s foodie scene. Inviting, inclusive and fresh – the sushi, sashimi and Japanese delicacies here will satisfy both aficionados and timid beginners alike. And, if this wasn’t all, it is quite possibly one of the most reasonably-priced restaurants in Bath.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday; lunch 12pm - 3pm; dinner 5.30pm - 10.30pm

We visited: Thursday lunchtime

Prices: Plates are colour-coded according to price; from £1.50 - £4 (very reasonable), set menus range from £5.50 - £30

Cuisine: Traditional sushi and sashimi along with other Japanese classics

Service style: Charming and informed

Vegetarian choice: A few, but predominantly fish based sushi

Disabled access: Yes, but no disabled toilets

Reviewed Issue 99

Published Feb 15 

 

White Hart
Widcombe Hill
Bath BA2 6AA
Tel: 01225 338053

Fed up of the winter blues, Laura Rowe ventured out of the city centre to enjoy a midweek supper at Widcombe’s White Hart.

Now established as a gastropub, the White Hart in Widcombe is fast gaining a reputation as a top foodie destination. While on our trip we felt a couple of items on the British/ Mediterranean-inspired menu needed a little refinement, the atmosphere in this trendy pub is unsurpassable and well worth the venture out of the city centre.

“It was only a Wednesday evening and yet there was a steady flow of enviably chic locals”

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm (lunch 12-2pm and dinner 6-10pm), Sun 12-4pm (lunch 12-2pm)

We visited: On a wet Wednesday evening

Vegetarian choice: One dish per course

Prices: Tapas from £3, starters from £5, main courses from £10.80 to £13.90 and puds are £6 each

Service style: Laid-back and chilled out

Wine list: Wonderful array of reasonable wines and bubbles as well as a choice of finer bottles

Do they welcome children? Well-behaved ones before 8.30pm

Disabled access: There is no ramp as such but there are very few steps

Reviewed Issue 98

Published Feb 1

 

  

 

The Pear Tree Inn

Top Lane, Whitley,

Melksham

Tel: 01225 709131

www.thepeartreeinn.com

Bored with sterile gastropubs? Deri Robins suggests a trip to Melksham, where The Pear Tree offers fine dining in traditional surroundings.

 

 

 

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday midday-2.30pm, 6.30-9.30pm; Sunday midday-3pm, 7-9pm

We visited: Saturday evening

Prices: A la carte starters £5.50-£8.50, mains £11.95-£19.50, puddings £5.95

Cuisine: Classic with an imaginative twist

Service style: Efficient and friendly

Vegetarian choice: Good

Disabled access: Dining rooms on ground floor; a few shallow steps from the bar

Reviewed Issue 97.

Published Jan 18. 

 

The Real Italian Pizza Co.

16 York Sreet

Bath

Tel: 01225 330121

Probably the best pizza we’ve ever eaten, in a stylish and relaxed, friendly family atmosphere.

 

 

 

Opening hours: 11am-11pm Mon-Sun 

We visited: Tuesday evening

Vegetarian choice: There is a vast choice of vegetarian options available 

Prices: Starters £3.55-£10.95; mains £5.95-9.95; desserts £4.95

Children: Smaller pizzas are available

Service charge: Not included

Disabled access: There is a step outside up to the main entrance

Total covers: 75 over two floors

What else do I need to know? Sit downstairs if you want to see the magnificent pizza oven and the chef in action. They are also open for takeaway.

Reviewed Issue 96.

Published Jan 4. 

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