Graze, Bar and Chophouse, Bristol - Review

Posted on: 2017-03-29

Our rating:

I haven’t had as good of a lunch since moving to Bristol and it really is somewhere that you can bring anyone at anytime.

If you are looking for a restaurant in Bristol that has seasonal, fresh, delicious food and a menu that could satisfy anybody’s taste buds, you really can’t do any better than Graze.

Graze - A lovely atmosphere and busy lunch service

Settled beautifully on the corner of Queens Square, many people have told me how exquisite the overall experience is at Graze and I couldn’t resist heading on down to sample some of their great meat dishes and some of their even better craft beers. Being a massive carnivore and someone who adores craft beers, this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me and a friend to head on down for an after work bite to eat.

 

First impressions of Graze were that of an immaculately laid out restaurant, with lovely seating arrangements and an open pass, which is something I prefer in a restaurant as you can see how hard these chefs work and how fresh the food is. Having been shown to our seats by very friendly and welcoming staff, we both began to drool over Graze’s new spring / summer menu.

 

My friend pointed out that for a Thursday lunch service the restaurant was very busy and filled with a very diverse range of customer. Ranging from people having a working lunch to couples enjoying the spring weather and some great food. This, in my book, is always a good sign of a quality restaurant.

 

We ordered a pint of Bath Ales craft beers, which are a great drink to have with any of the meat dishes. I went for the Special Pale Ale and my friend went for the Blackbeerd. It then came to ordering our starters. I decided upon the river Fowey mussels served in a white wine and cream sauce along with bread. The other option had to be the BBQ pork ribs, which were topped with bacon bits and crispy onions.

Graze - Special Pale Ale & Blackbeerd

When it comes to mussels I can be a bit picky. I find sometimes I’m cheated with small mussels and a very salty sauce to accompany them. This, however, was not one of these occasions. The mussels were the biggest and most flavoursome I have ever eaten and the accompanying sauce was so delicious I could have had it separately as a soup! The bread was warm and you could tell it was freshly made and a great little addition to wipe up the sauce and left over onions.

Graze - River Fowey mussels served in a white wine and cream sauce along with bread

My friend said to me that his ribs were perfect. Falling off the bone and with a BBQ sauce that was both sweet and tangy. He also pointed out that the bacon bits and crispy onions added great texture to the ribs and made them that extra bit special.

Graze - BBQ ribs

After a great start to our meal it came to the mains. The herb-crusted lamb rump served with ratte potatoes and spring vegetables for me, and for my friend, the 16oz T-bone steak with tripled cooked chips and peppercorn sauce from the specials menu.

 

The lamb was cooked beautifully! Pink in the middle and the herb crust added a salty element to the meat. However, for me the ratte potatoes and spring vegetables really were the best part of the dish. Cooked to perfection with the right amount of crunch, you could tell that they were fresh and seasonal; they made it the perfect spring dish.

Graze - Herb-crusted Lamb Rump

The T-bone steak was ordered medium, and again, cooked to with absolute precision. I have sampled many steaks in Bristol, and this, to me, was definitely one of the best. It was incredible value for money and the way in which they rendered the fat was impressive by any chef’s standards. The triple cooked chips and sauce were both very tasty, but the steak stole the show.

Graze - 16oz T-bone steak

This was an incredible taste experience at Graze. My friend and me did ponder over the dessert menu, but for the first time in a long time, I honestly couldn’t find room for it. They did have an extensive menu of what appeared to be great desserts, so it’s something you really should try.

 

My overall thoughts on Graze were that it is truly excellent. I haven’t had as good of a lunch since moving to Bristol and it really is somewhere that you can bring anyone at anytime. The price was competitive and I was happy to pay for the great food and service. I can imagine it won’t be long before I’m skiving off work and heading to Graze for a ‘working lunch’.

Graze - Great food, atmosphere and service means we will both be back.

Food - 5

Value - 4

Atmosphere - 5

Service - 4

You really should pop in and visit the guys at 63 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4JZ. You can also call them on 0117 927 6706, visit their website at bathales.com or connect the guys on Facebook or Twitter. 


Article by:

Matt Dailly

Matt, originally from Belfast, has only lived in Bristol for a year now and is studying Media & Journalism at UWE. He wants to concentrate his writing and media skills in Bristol's culinary culture, delving into what fine feasts the city has to offer and where the best places to go for food really are. Along with an aspiration to interview some of the influential people shaping Bristol and some who are simply passing through, Matt really is trying to make Bristol his new home! For any other info check out his Facebook or Twitter.