Gas and Co Bristol food review

Posted on: 2014-08-12

Our rating:

Gas and Co is another addition to the Bristol's dude food craze, and a meat-eaters' mecca whose passion for sensationally cooked tucker is matched only by its amazingly generous portions and easy-going, laid back, fun atmosphere.


 

By owner Nick Mifsud's own admission, Gas & Co in Bristol has gone through something of a turbulent few months.

A quick perusal of a few customer forums reveals several rather scathing comments about the quality of the food and the service. But Nick's taken everything on board, invested a lot of time and money, worked his way through a handful of chefs and bar staff and transformed it with gusto and zeal into an American-style diner that's now something really quite special.

**Gas & Co has now closed down and is being replaced by a sports bar**

The best things do indeed come to those who wait and Nick's patience and determination – and support from a new and enthusiastic team – has paid off. In other words, it's safe to say such negative comments will well and truly be a thing of the past.

Much has been made of Gas & Co's similarity to Grillstock because it serves burgers, pulled pork, hot dogs and ribs, but it's now big and confident enough to stand on its own and set itself apart from the other dude food contenders. 

It's a huge diner which sits on the site previously occupied by the cocktail bars Henry Africa's and Sasparilla, and is sprawled over two floors.  It's also open all day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It's a funky looking place too, with an exposed brick wall by the stairs, a gargantuan sign saying "Ribs" made of shining lightbulbs, enamel gas station signs dotted around, shelves of vintage American motor oil cans, wipe-clean Formic tables embellished with pop art graphics, and red leather banquettes and booths.

The laminated menu's an impressive selection of burgers, hot dogs, steaks, and Man vs Food style combos – I changed my mind as least five times before I ordered – and you can  partly see the food being cooked on the imported American smokers by the fervent chefs thorough the semi-open kitchen. 

For starters I went for grilled mushroom with smoked blue cheese, an impressively sized and deliciously juicy flat mushroom enhanced by the intense, rich cheese and slices of sweet red and yellow peppers. It came with a generous salad crammed with olives, beetroot and smothered in a light, delicious vinaigrette. 

My partner ordered chicken wings from the smoker, ten small but perfectly cooked, fiery chicken wings with a selection of medium to hot sauces and an accompanying mango sauce that worked unexpectedly well and for which she developed an almost erotic taste.

For the main course I opted for The Mighty G burger, an eye-poppingly humungous mountain of burger (made in-house using 100% prime mince beef and smoked brisket), pulled pork, smoked back bacon, cheese, mushrooms and jalapenos. The meat was perfectly cooked and unctuous and the thick cut chips (served in a cute mini frying basket) were a great contrast of a deliciously crunchy outside and beautifully fluffy inside.

Gas and Co - Mighty G Burger!

Gas and Co - 65 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2LYMy partner went for the half chicken and half rack of baby rack ribs, served with thick cut chips, home-made 'slaw and beans - and it was a sight to behold. An impressive slab of sticky ribs that had been well marinated in the sweet and spicy sauce, and chicken that had been faultlessly cooked so it retained its flavour while being tender and moist.

It's impossible to eat this kind of sensationally hearty fare without getting sauce smothered round your mouth and half of it down your top, but she demolished it with gusto and the occasional groan of appreciative approval and made impressively short work of it all. 

We also ordered an onion ring stack – sensationally large rings of onion coated in light, crispy and delicious batter – and two chilli, garlic and parsley butter smothered corn on the cobs, but our eyes were indubitably bigger than our bellies. I had to loosen my belt a notch or two by the time I chomped down on my final mouthful of burger. 

My partner whetted her whistle with one of the two-for-one cocktails, and I washed it all down with an awesome chocolate milkshake that was thick, creamy and flecked with chocolate chips.  Other beverages include Heineken, Amstel and Symonds cider, and a selection of drinks in the fridge including Anchor Steam, Innis & Gunn and Brew Dog.

It's another addition to the city's dude food craze, and a meat-eaters' mecca whose passion for sensationally cooked tucker is matched only by its amazingly generous portions and easy-going, laid back, fun atmosphere.  

And no, it hasn't got anything to do with Bristol Rovers.

5/5

Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol and pictures courtesy of Sammy Blake.

 

Gas and Co Bristol - Tel. 0117 9739106Gas & Co, 65 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2LY

Tel. 0117 973 9106

Web. www.gasandco.co.uk

Email. gasandco@outlook.com

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Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.