Reviews

The Glassboat - Sunday Roast Review

Posted on: 2016-02-03

I have often marvelled at the location; its strong reputation and the undeniable glamour of this floating restaurant with windows on all sides affording a romantic view of swans gliding across the water under Bristol Bridge.

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Located on the floating harbour at the very heart of the city, and having been an integral part of Bristol diners’ lives for nearly 30 years, the Glassboat restaurant enjoys a unique setting with fabulous views of the city, harbourside and Bristol Bridge...

This iconic and enduring eatery, a sister establishment to Clifton’s Lido, offers all day dining seven days a week with a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner menus on offer, all inspired by the very best of British and French cuisine. 

Having regularly strolled past this converted barge, I have often marvelled at the location; its strong reputation and the undeniable glamour of this floating restaurant with windows on all sides affording a romantic view of swans gliding across the water under Bristol Bridge. Many times I have vowed that I would venture in and today I finally had the chance as we headed there to sample the Sunday lunch menu. In a city where almost every restaurant and pub has a Sunday roast on offer I had high hopes of something just a little bit different from this renowned establishment, and the Glassboat certainly did not disappoint. 

Ordering from a set menu which is regularly updated and priced at £12 for one course, £16.50 for two and £21.00 for the full three courses, we were able to choose from 4-5 options for starter main and dessert and soon realised that this was a Sunday lunch menu with a difference. The time honoured roast was there in all its glory but was joined by some imaginative alternatives including pan fried hake and white onion tart. 

Eschewing a starter in the hope of leaving room for dessert we skipped straight to the main course. My friend opted for the traditional roast, comprising perfectly cooked - neither too rare nor overdone - beef, delightfully fluffy roast potatoes with a suitably crunchy exterior and a Yorkshire pudding that was ‘just like Mum makes’ - high praise indeed! Served with creamy cauliflower cheese and delicately spiced red cabbage, this was the perfect example of a roast dinner.

I kicked off with something a little different in the form of coq au vin. Two on the bone chicken thighs, potatoes, bacon and shallots cooked to melt in the mouth perfection in a rich red wine sauce. Filling, hearty and imaginatively put together food, this was the perfect dish to enjoy on a cold, drizzly winter’s day. 

Thankfully we found that we had just enough room for pudding. My friend’s choice of dark chocolate mousse with chocolate crumb was a sublimely creamy concoction. Decadent and chocolatey without being too rich, this was the perfect way to round off her meal. My red wine poached pear and vanilla rice pudding was a piece of art in a bowl. Beautifully presented and fabulously executed, a mixture of spices and textures combined to provide a glorious tasting dessert with a piquant burst of flavour. 

The Glassboat is the perfect place to have a quiet Sunday lunch. The high glass windows and natural, stripped-bare interior provide a space that is airy, bright and decidedly less formal that I’d expected from this ‘posh’ restaurant. The staff were warm and polite, attentive to our needs but never obtrusive. 

We experienced a very pleasant couple of hours in this beautiful and quirky restaurant, soaking up the atmosphere and revelling in the location as well as enjoying some first class food. A visit to the Glassboat is a must for anyone dining out in Bristol. 

5/5

Reviewed by Sarah-Jane Howard for 365Bristol - The leading events and entertainment website for the city

The Glassboat is located at: Welsh Back, Bristol, BS1 4SB

For further info please head over to www.glassboat.co.uk, their Facebook page or Twitter.

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