Caribbean Croft - Bristol Food Review
Posted on: 2017-04-20
Our rating:
Stokes Croft has seen a lot of recent arrivals, and one of these is Caribbean Croft, run by Katrina and Pete with a menu made up of family recipes handed down by granny Ms Cat.
I visited for a weekday lunch, and again on a Thursday evening, to check out the different atmosphere from day to night time. During the day, Caribbean Croft is quieter and calmer. On the day I visited there was a mix of diners, including two groups with young children. With reggae playing quietly in the background, the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed.
Most of the menu is the same whatever time you visit, with the addition of some smaller ‘Brunch/Lunch’ dishes available until 4pm. My friend Hayley chose the £11 ‘Jerk Chicken Fillet’ which is served with salad, “Croft-slaw” and rice’n’peas. I chose the £11 Curried Goat, which is ‘delicious curried goat with scallion, onions and carrots’ with rice’n’peas. You can choose white rice if you prefer. We shared a portion of £1.50 Fried Festival, which are Festival dumplings; kind of half way between a doughnut and a bread roll, deep fried. For pudding, we shared a portion of Ginger’n’Vanilla cheesecake which is £4.50.
In the evening, the music is louder and the atmosphere is more high-energy. We visited on a Thursday before Good Friday, and people were in the mood to get their weekend started. There is lots of talking and laughter from the groups in the bar area, many enjoying cocktails. I loved the friendly buzz in the evening, and the location is perfect for stopping by for a few cocktails or to try some of the speciality rums on offer. As you move into the restaurant, the good atmosphere continues, but it’s a little quieter so you can still chat easily with your fellow diners.
I visited with my husband Simon, and he chose the same dish as Hayley, and I was very tempted to have the goat again, but I wanted to try some of the other tasty offerings and so I went for the £8.50 slow-cooked Jerk Chicken Leg, and added an extra piece of chicken for £3. We had Festivals again, and also chose to share a starter of £4.60 Stamp’n’Go which are ‘fried saltfish fritters, served with red onion, scallion, scotch bonnet, thyme and lemon’. For dessert, I had the Passion Fruit Crème Brulee, and Simon had the Mango Bread’n’Butter pudding both costing £4.50.
Both Simon and Hayley loved their chargrilled chicken, describing it as succulent and tasty; with the jerk spice giving a good kick but not too hot. My curried goat and slow-cooked chicken both shared the same balance; spicy and moreish but not too hot. The festivals were a perfect addition to mop up the sauce with all of the savoury dishes. Simon and I loved the Stamp’n’Go which was really rich and flavourful. Saltfish fritters can vary quite bit from place to place; these were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, much like a fishcake. The veg that comes with the fritter is really spicy which I enjoyed.
To go with my pudding, I ordered a single measure of ‘Premium’ Rum Angostura 1919 which is £4 (£7 for a double). I am not much of a drinker, but I was drawn by the promise of the ‘aroma of cocoa, molasses, caramel and vanilla’, and while I must admit that my rum-palate is very much uneducated, it was clear that this is a cut above anything you’d want to top up with coke or ginger beer.
The portions are really generous. You certainly won’t go away hungry! Hayley and I were feeling pretty full, so we shared a pudding. The cheesecake was really delicious. I loved the inclusion of ginger cake. The cheesecake part was really creamy and had a wonderful texture. Simon described his bread and butter pudding as being really hearty. I’d never tried hot mango before, and it was a really nice addition. I had the passion fruit crème brulee. I order crème brulee quite often, and I can safely say that this is one of the best I’ve ever had. The portion size was perfect, the passion fruit flavour was spot on, and the texture was perfect. Even if the rest of the food wasn’t as good as it is, I would go back just for that crème brulee!
I honestly can’t find fault with any part of my dining experience at Caribbean Croft. The staff are lovely, the food is fab and it’s excellent value; what more could you possibly ask for?
Food - 5
Value - 5
Atmosphere - 5
Service - 5
For more info please visit caribbeancroft.co.uk and check them out on Facebook and Twitter. Address: 30 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QD.
.jpg "365Bristol.com")
Article by:
Sarah is a writer and blogger, as well as running workshops and teaching. Her passions are food and travel, and you can follow her on Instagram at YesStarling and find her website at www.yesstarling.com .
