Restaurant offers to keep Christmas spirit flowing
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Tis the season to be jolly. While the recession is forcing people to watch the scarce pennies, Bristol restaurants are gearing up with some special offers to persuade people to keep on spending. Here are the latest offers from some of the city’s best-known eateries.
Harvey Nichols
Not known for its low prices, their Christmas lunch and dinner menu is surprisingly inexpensive – from £18 for two courses including a glass of quality bubbly.
Starters include seared mackeral, butternut and goats cheese souffle or wild boar rillettes. Mains are not your average selection, including slow-cooked pigs cheeks, grilled fillet of brill, confit leg of mallard or potato and kale gnocchi for vegetarians.
Finish with roast fig tart, Christmas pudding or chocolate truffle cake – or be a big kid and go for jelly and ice cream (passion fruit jely and coconut ice cream, no less).
Harvey Nichols, Quakers Friars, Bristol
To book: 0117 916 8888
Glassboat
The floating restaurant is offering a Christmas morning-till-night selection. The decadent start to the day is a full English Champagne Breakfast (£17.50 per person Mon – Fri 7am – 9.30am), while the Christmas Lunch party includes two courses at £20 per person or three courses at £25 per person, and Christmas Dinner at three courses for £30 per person.
Starters include lightly spiced parsnip soup with coriander and cashews, confit duck and chicken terrine with cranberry and thyme chutney and roasted pear, and treacle cured salmon with beetroot & pink peppercorn dressing.
Roast crown of turkey, chestnut puree, truffle, pancetta stuffing and gravy will undoubtedly be first choice for the main course. Alderwood cheddar, wild rice & sultana strudel with apple, walnut and rocket salad; whole roasted sea bass, tomato, squid, saffron stew; or slow cooked venison, maple and rosemary roasted root vegetables are tempting too.
And finally, take your pick from Bailey’s and coffee cheesecake, sticky date pudding, English cheese plate, blueberry pancake or pumpkin and white chocolate tart, all served with a cafetière of coffee or tea.
Glassboat, Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB.
To book: 0117 929 0704; restaurant@glassboat.co.uk
Spyglass
The temperature may be plummeting, but Spyglass promises that with added insulation and heating, the boat and quayside dining areas will be warm and toasty.
The seasonal menu of winter warmers also aims to bring a little comfort and joy, and worth checking out for groups of friends looking for an informal and affordable celebration.
Choose from a £15 per head party menu or a set menu of mulled wine/winter Pimms, starter, main, dessert & coffee/tea for £20 per person.
Spyglass Welsh Back Bristol BS1 4SB.
To book: 0117 927 7050; manager@spyglass.org.uk
Clifton Lido
No turkey, no trimmings, just tasty European and Middle Eastern fare at Clifton’s Lido.
Healthy and freshly sourced mains include wood roast mackerel, vegetable mezze, confit duck salad and butternut squash ravioli.
Parties of nine or less are invited to choose from the day’s menu, while parties of 10 or more can enjoy the Lido’s sharing menu with all the dishes in the centre of the table for everyone to enjoy. Two courses (starter and main) are £20 and three courses are £25.
Lido, Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BJ.
To book: 0117 9339533; events@lidobristol.com
Zizzis
Zizzis in Cabot Circus is a useful spot for some post-shopping nourishment. And at Christmas, you can still afford to stop off there – their three-course festive menu is starts from just £15.95 per person.
Choose from mains including their devlish Pizza Diavola with green and red chillies, or Ravioli Di Capra (goat’s cheese and spinach ravioli), among others. The slightly more expensive £19.95pp menu includes Pollo Prosciutto and Linguine Gamberi (with tiger prawns), while a glass of bubbly Prosecco should get you in the festive spirit.
Zizzis, 84B Glass House, Cabot Circus, Bristol, Avon, BS1 3BX
To book: 0117 929 1066
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