Restaurants / Reviews
Fi Real, Old Market: ‘Healthy and soulful comfort food’ – restaurant review
I must confess I have been to this vegan Caribbean restaurant before. In fact, I’ve been with the very same friend as the one with me on this visit.
But more than two years had elapsed since that first visit to Fi Real on West Street in Old Market and I was excited to relive what I remembered as a delicious experience.
The interior of Fi Real is vibrantly decorated.
And a unique experience too, as there are very few Caribbean restaurants with more than a couple of vegan offerings.
is needed now More than ever
On arrival, the place was so packed out we thought we had stumbled upon a private gathering.
But having lingered, waiting for somebody to either turn us away or seat us, we slipped into a table in the corner. Surprisingly, the menu had changed very little from the time we visited last.
The menu had changed very little over the years so clearly it was working for them.
My friend ordered the jerk tofu and spicy kale (£9) and I went for the peppered strips, cooked in coriander brown stew gravy with carrots, sweet peppers and butterbeans (£9).
To accompany our mains, we went for an absolute staple – rice and peas (£2.50) – with two servings of fried dumplings (£3) and two San Pellengrinos (£2.50 ea).
The restaurant was full of lively chatter and giggling children that bounced off the energy of the colourfully painted place.
While a crowded restaurant often means an extended waiting time for service and food, we were served within ten minutes of placing our order…although our bowl of dumplings went walkabouts until we tracked it down.
The jerk tofu was exactly how we remembered it: tender tofu in a crisp coating with a light, fruity sauce with a spicy kick to it.
A sauce that could have been a little more generously applied.
The kale, soft, salty and juicy – unlike any attempt at kale I’ve ever had before- was described by my friend as “healthy, soulful, comfort food”.
A heart selection of items for a very moderate price.
The opposite turned out to be true for my dish.
The pepper strips in gravy were rich to say the least.
Unlike my friend’s, mine had gone past the point of indulgent, with the richness and saltiness of the sauce sitting heavily.
The rice and peas were short of all flavour, unfortunately, and I ended up using them to attempt to soak up the gravy.
While I laboured through my food, I watched on as my friend tucked into the meal I wish I had chosen instead.
Fi Real, 57 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0BZ
www.fireal.co.uk
This article is taken from the July/August 2025 Bristol24/7 magazine
All photos: Hannah Massoudi
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