Fish

Bristol

FISHERS
35 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4BX
Tel: 0117 974 7044, web: www.fishers-restaurant.com
Informal, friendly little fish restaurant in the heart of Clifton Village (with an equally popular sister site in Oxford) which has continued to increase in reputation since its 2001 launch. Delightful, imaginative and classic menu options revolve around seasonal availability and sustainability. The very freshest catches of the day are delivered daily to the kitchen from around the coast, and if you ever experience an oyster urge, this is the place to go. At the other end of a very grand scale, the fish & chips (haddock, served with mushy peas and gherkins) are excellent. Fishers is a keen supporter of the RNLI. Menu S: deep-fried somerset brie with red-onion marmalade; smoked salmon salad with caper & cucumber dressing. M: canadian lobster thermidor with dressed leaves and chips or new potatoes; kedgeree (lightly curried rice with smoked haddock and prawns). P: pineapple & stem ginger sponge pudding with creme anglaise; vaspretto (vanilla ice-cream soaked in amaretto and espresso coffee) Price ALC: from £4.95/from £9.50/from £4.25. SL: 2 £8.50. Good light lunch and early dining offers (check website for details) Wine list New and old world, from £12.95 btl, £3.50 gls Open Lunch: Mon-Sun 12noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Sun-Mon 6-10pm, Tue-Sat 6-10.30pm (booking advisable). Children welcome, smaller portions, highchairs. Disabled access, but not to toilets. Major credit cards (not Amex). Parties of 20+ welcome - phone in adv.

LOCH FYNE
Queen Charlotte St, Welsh Back, BS1 4HQ
Tel: 0117 930 7160, web: www.lochfyne.com
This top-notch chain specialises in fresh fish and shellfish (Loch Fyne smoked salmon and oysters are world-famous) and reliable, sustainable sourcing – an ethos which really impressed our reviewer. The mussels are grown on ropes out of contact with the sea bed (so they’re grit-free), the salmon comes from accredited organic farms, and no fish are sourced from deep-sea trawlers, making for a conscience-free meal. Even the menus are printed on 100% recycled paper. There are always a couple of meat and vegetarian options, while blackboard specials boast lots of fresh, imaginative treats and catches of the day. Prices are competitive because the company supplies itself, cutting out the middleman and guaranteeing that all-important source, while well-informed, friendly staff add to the overall high standards. Check out their website for the latest offer – the Dine with Wine (two courses from set menu plus glass of wine for £12, Mon-Sat 12noon till early eve) was still available as we went to press. Menu S: panfried squid with tomato & balsamic dressing; loch fyne oysters. M: grilled whole sea bass with rosemary & herb butter and new potatoes; glen fyne loin of lamb with mint and capers. P: creme brulee; sorbet Price ALC: from £5.50/from £10/from £4. SL: regularly updated – call or check website for details Wine list Extensive selection from £12 btl, £3 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-10pm, Sat 9am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-10pm. Some children’s items on menu. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Groups/parties welcome - call in adv.

Bath

FISHWORKS
6 Green St, BA1 2JY
Tel: 01225 448707, fishmonger: 01225 447794, web: www.fishworks.co.uk
The original incarnation of the nationally renowned seafood cafe-restaurant and fishmonger, now sadly no longer under the auspices of celebrity chef Mitch Tonks: the chain recently went into administration before being taken over by a ‘leading UK entrepreneur’, leading to the sad loss of both the Bristol branch and the Bath cookery school. But at the time of going to press, few changes have been brought about under the new ownership in the Bath restaurant, which is still hugely popular and features dining rooms both upstairs and down, and a heated decking area that seats up to 16 people out back. The fishmonger continues to flourish, too. Menu S: fish soup with rouille, gruyere and croutons; crab cakes with sweet chilli dipping sauce. M: swordfish milanese (swordfish seasoned in breadcrumbs and panfried with baked fennel); fish stew with thyme, saffron and garlic. P: fresh lemon tart; creme brulee Price ALC: from £4.95/from £12/£4.90 Wine list Extensive. HW from £15.95 btl Open Restaurant: Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Fishmonger: Mon-Sun 10am-8pm. Children welcome. Disabled access - call in adv. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+ welcome.

LOCH FYNE
24 Milsom St, BA1 1DG
Tel: 01225 750120, web: www.lochfyne.com
Superb, stylish fish-based franchise - see Bristol listing for full details. The Bath branch also opens for breakfast, including a smashing full English and the most glorious smoked kippers to be found this side of the Scottish border. Menu/Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7.30-10am, Sat-Sun 8-10am. Lunch/dinner: Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Some children’s items on menu. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Groups of up to 15 can be seated together.

ONEFISHTWOFISH
10a North Parade, BA2 4AL
Tel: 01225 330236, web: www.onefishtwofishbath.co.uk
Stone floors, barrel-vaulted ceilings, rough-hewn white brick walls and charming atmospherics: it’s easy to forget that we’re merely Bath weirside, not right on some Mediterranean dock, at this family-run fish restaurant. Neither flash nor fusty, the bright but intimate ambience offers all-comer appeal, while menus - though thoroughly modern in terms of sourcing and sustainability (paramount in a fish-based venture) - offer instantly recognisable classics among the sort of flourishes that keep fashionista attention levels up (including a nifty ‘no fish’ selection). ‘This gorgeous little fish bistro sets the kind of standards that those who seek to inveigle themselves with the city’s foodie cognoscenti would be wise to take notice of,’ said one of Venue’s trout-faced reviewers. ‘No crumb is left unturned when it comes to ensuring satiation.’ Menu S: devon crabmeat cocktail with coriander, lime and ginger, mint & cucumber raita and pomegranate seeds; salmon (homecured gravadlax and highland smoked) with wasabi pannacotta and peppered pink grapefruit. M: bouillabaisse (mixed fish stew) in tomato & saffron broth topped with garlic roquefort croutons; jamaican jerk spiced marlin loin on sweet potato & green chilli cake with coconut & coriander sauce and lime marmalade. P: gin & tonic jelly with lemon sorbet and watermelon granite; sweet carrot & crystalised ginger cheesecake with bramble pressé Price ALC: from £5.50/from approx £13/£6 Wine list Extensive and thoughtful. HW approx £12.95 btl. Well-stocked bar Open Tue-Sun 6-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled access – call in adv. Major credit cards (not Amex). Parties – call in adv.

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