Spanish & Portuguese

Bristol

A COZINHA
40 Alfred Place, High Kingsdown, BS2 8HD
Tel: 0117 944 3060
Cosy, intimate, independent restaurant with a homely feel. Fabulously authentic Portuguese cuisine is conjured up in an open kitchen, while the premises’ Mediterranean brightness evokes the warm south in a commendably unhurried atmosphere. The menu changes constantly, depending on the fresh produce available, but a wonderfully warm welcome always awaits: come for the evening, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish. Chef/owner Ian Macfarlane cooks everything himself and his care and dedication shines through. The pricing policy is simple: just a set price for one, two or three courses (including bread and olives) and there are no hidden extras. Menu S: salt cod, sweet pepper & chick pea salad; panfried chorizo, cherry tomato, spinach and red onion. M: melange of fresh fish & seafood, steamed in white wine and coriander with pork and chorizo, served in traditional copper cataplana; rich lamb dish with peppers, potatoes and vegetables braised in wine; warming pork & bean casserole with potato, onion, garlic, black pudding. P: rich orange & almond roulade; dark chocolate torte topped with crushed amaretti biscuits Price SD: 2 £21.75, 3 £27 Wine list Large selection. HW £14.75 btl, 3.95 gls Open Tue-Sat 7pm-late (last orders for food Tue-Thur 8.30pm, Fri-Sat 9.30pm), Sun 12noon-3.30pm (prior bookings only). Well-behaved children over 14 welcome. Disabled access possible, but access to toilets difficult. Credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s). Whole restaurant available for private hire, up to 40, but not usually Fri & Sat.

EL PUERTO
57 Prince St, BS1 4QH
Tel: 0117 925 6014, web: www.el-puerto.co.uk
Vibrant and authentic stylish contemporary tapas bar with about 50 different dishes to choose from, and interesting art on the walls to rest your eyes on when you need a break from the menu. ‘El Puerto’s ability to do the simple things well sets it high above other, overpriced tapas-type restaurants,’ said Venue’s resident flamenco-dancing grazer. ‘Tasty, filling, excellent value-for-money tapas, with enough diversity to keep the veggies, meaties and even those funny piscetarian people satisfied. The atmosphere bristled with vitality, with just the right amount of hustle to make the place feel lively and exciting without ever becoming annoying or obtrusive.’ We’re expecting him to move into El Puerto any day now, especially seeing as there’s a small range of sturdier dishes (steak, sea bass, chicken skewers) available too, for those with a very hearty appetite. Live flamenco every Sun from 7.30pm. Menu Vast tapas selection inc grilled sardines; king prawns with wine & tomato sauce; spicy potatoes; aubergine fritters; chorizo; olives; spanish hams; croquetas; manchego cheese; albondigas; paella; tortilla; calamares; vegetable stew. P: crema catalan; mango pancakes Price ALC: tapas from £2.95-£4.95. Set main meals £9.95-£12.50 Wine list Extensive bar selection, excellent Spanish wines. HW from £12.50 btl, £3.50 gls Open Daily 12noon-12midnight. Children welcome, menu easily adaptable. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties/groups welcome - call in adv.

EL RINCON
298 North Street, Southville, BS3 1JU
Tel: 0117 939 3457, web: www.elrincon.gb.com
Bristol’s only tapas bar and language academy. Owner David has been importing Spanish goodies for a few years now and has a phenomenal selection of wines from the 27 different regions of the country, as well as the best chorizos, cheeses and other delicacies. Kitchen knocks out some gloriously authentic tapas, and then there are regular live music nights, monthly wine tastings and a whole host of other events to keep everybody happy. The Spanish Sunday Lunch is a family-friendly, seemingly endless table of nibbling delights that will leave you as happy as a gringo gets. Menu Huge range of traditional tapas: patatas bravas, calamari, albondigas (meatballs); croquetas, etc Price £4 each Wine list Extensive, Spanish selection. House wine £14 btl, £3.50 gls Open Tue-Thur 9am-3pm/6-10pm; Fri-Sun 9am-10pm.

LA TASCA
Unit SU83A, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0845 129 7623
Clifton Heights, Triangle West, BS8 1EJ Tel: 0117 925 9933
8-10 Colston Ave, BS1 4ST Tel: 0845 126 2974, web: www.latasca.co.uk
Imagine you’re overlooking a sun-drenched Iberian hillside, nibbling on tapas and sipping on glass after glass of Spanish wine… Find warm surroundings, rustic cookware and bright prints and posters. The perfect environment to enjoy homecooked dishes made with fresh ingredients courtesy of La Tasca’s talented chefs. Check website for dining offers. Menu S: tapas include patatas bravas; mushroom croquettes with garlic mayonnaise; manchego cheese; jamon serrano; fresh anchovies; tortilla; croquettes of chicken with garlic mayonnaise; chorizo; pork spare ribs; albondigas a la jardinera; deep-fried squid, tuna, whitebait and king prawn. M: vegetarian or seafood paella (minimum two people). P: creme catalana; spanish orange tart; seville & orange cheesecake Price Tapas from £2.95/vegetarian, meat or Valencia paella £19.95 (for two to share)/desserts from £2.95. SL: call for offers/details/student discounts/Sun lunch Wine list Good range of wine, sangria, Euro-beers. HW £12.95 btl, £3.45 gls Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Children welcome, own menu, highchairs. Check individual restaurants for disabled access. Major credit cards (not Diner’s). Parties of 20+ welcome.

NANDO’S
Unit SU82, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 3763 876
49 Park St, BS1 5NT Tel: 0117 929 9263, hotline: 0800 975 8181
Unit 208, Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5UR Tel: 0117 959 0146, hotline: 0800 975 8181
Web: www.nandos.co.uk
The Portuguese theme is writ large here – albeit in a fast food/franchise way - with Portuguese decor and Portuguese/Brazilian music playing away in the background. The kitchens are open-plan, so you can see your food (everything from burgers and big, share-all, teen-pleasing platters to lots of chicken, salads, steaks) being prepared. Whether you’re dining in, taking away or picking up a recipe to create your own spicy dish, Nando’s famous peri-peri chicken is a definite taste-bud tingler. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Menu S: hummus with peri-peri drizzle; cherry bell pepper. M: flame-grilled portuguese peri-peri chicken and two regular sidelines; chicken breast in pitta and regular sideline. P: coconut tart; toffee cheesecake Price ALC: from £2.95/from £4.75/from £1.30. Two-for-one deals, party menus, etc - call or visit website for updates Wine list HW approx £11 btl Open Cabot Circus: Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm. Park St: Sun-Thur 12noon-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight. Cribbs Causeway: Mon-Fri 11am-9.30pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Disabled access to Cabot Circus via lift. Parties welcome.

Bath

LA FLAMENCA
12a North Parade, BA2 4AL
Tel: 01225 463626, web: www.la-flamenca.com
A proper, authentic Spanish experience from long-established masters of the art, offering an expansive, extensive but incredibly inexpensive range of tapas alongside Spanish a la carte dishes in an intimate yet bright and breezy caved vault environment. White walls, stone floors, clever lighting and a very friendly welcome throughout make for a thoroughly Mediterranean atmosphere. Needless to say, the tapas are tip-top and the restaurant dishes are entirely authentic, with dishes prepared from only the freshest ingredients (many specially imported direct from Spain). Live music, flamenco dancing and salsa lessons (call or visit website for details/events) add to the overall olé. Menu Daily changing tapas range inc chacinas ibericas; queso manchego; pork casserole with wine, onion and green pepper; panfried cod; deep-fried monkfish/calamari; tortilla; chorizo; garlic chicken; braised mixed vegetables. M: paella, spanish casseroles. P: puff pastry with fresh custard and vanilla sauce; flambeed bananas with grenadine Price Tapas from £3.95/ALC mains from approx £6/from approx £3.80 Wine list Extensive, inc specially selected Spanish wines & sherries. HW from approx £12.95 btl, £3.25 gls Open Mon 5.30pm-11pm, Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5.30pm-12 midnight, Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-3pm & 5.30pm-12midnight. Restaurant: ALC Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6.30pm-12midnight (last orders 10.30pm). Tapas: Daily 12noon-11pm. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+ catered for, call to arrange menus.

LA TASCA
36 Broad St, BA1 5LP
Tel: 01225 466477, web: www.latasca.co.uk
Funky, popular Spanish-style tapas bar and restaurant. Menu/Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Children welcome, own menu, highchairs. Disabled access possible (one step off street) & access to women’s toilets. Major credit cards (not Diner’s). Parties of 20+ welcome.

NANDO’S
Kingsmead Leisure Development, 5-10 James St West, BA1 2DT
Tel: 01225 789901, web: www.nandos.co.uk
See Bristol listing for full details. Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight. Children welcome, children’s dishes, highchairs. Disabled access with lift & toilet. Most credit cards. Parties of 20+ welcome.

Eating Out West - Bristol and Bath's best restaurant guide, including extra sections on Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Shops, Takeaways, Wine Merchants, Caterers, Dining Clubs and Cookery Schools. To order your copy ring 0117 942 8491. Only £4.95. Yum.