The popular brand GAIL's opened its second Bristol bakery at Whiteladies Road a couple of weeks ago (February 21). But is it worth the hype?

With a third venue due to open in May, we were curious to see what made this brand so popular, so we decided to visit for lunch, and it was bustling with life!

A small queue formed outside of the former Dobbies store, newly adorned with 'GAIL's' signs, a red canopy and matching red tables and chairs outside.

placeholder image — With a third GAIL’s due to open in May, we were curious to see what made this brand so popular, so we decided to visit for lunch, and it was bustling with life! A small queue formed outside of the former Dobbies store on Whiteladies Road, newly adorned with 'GAIL's' signs, a red canopy and matching red tables and chairs outside. | BristolWorld

Inside, shelves were stacked with fresh loaves of artisan bread, biscuits, spreads and other pantry products.

The drink menu behind the till had very fine print, which meant we often had to ask for help to read the options.

The glass cabinet by the till was filled with rows of mouth-watering sandwiches, pastries and cakes.

Having a hard time picking just one product, my partner and I decided to indulge in a shared cheeky feast.

Inside, shelves were stacked with fresh loaves of artisan bread, biscuits, spreads and other pantry products. The drink menu behind the till had very fine print, which meant we often had to ask for help to read the options. | BristolWorld

We opted for a delicious-looking Parmesan Chicken Sandwich (£7.70), a Mozzarella Focaccia (£7.20), and a daily soup of Cauliflower and Artichoke with a focaccia slice and croutons (£7), a cappuccino (£4.10) and Iced Chai Latte (£4.40) with oat milk (40p).

Upon recommendation, we also ordered a Barley, Chocolate and Hazelnut Cookie (£3.60) and a Berry Brioche (£4.90) for dessert.

The venue was very busy and we were lucky to secure a table.

The cappuccino was average whilst the iced chai latte was quite milky, earthy and sweet with cinnamon undertones.

The soup was thick and creamy but not too heavy and paired well with the soft, moist focaccia and crunchy croutons. The cauliflower stuck out with a slightly sour undertone that I didn't enjoy too much.

The glass cabinet by the till was filled with rows of mouth-watering sandwiches, pastries and cakes. Having a hard time picking just one product, my partner and I decided to indulge in a shared cheeky feast. | BristolWorld

The bread of the Mozzarella Focaccia was soft and smooth but the creamy cheese lacked flavour and didn't add much aside of texture. Overall, the pesto provided most of the taste to the sandwich, but I felt it could have used with some more pesto.

The Parmesan Chicken Sandwich was the biggest highlight of the meal.

The chicken was tender and bursting with flavour. It blended well with the juicy tomato, lettuce and cucumber and had a slight spicy kick.

As for dessert, the cookie was chewy with a soft middle and some crunchy parts. It was not overly sweet and had some dark earthy tones that offered a good contrast to the lightness of the meal.

We opted for a delicious-looking Parmesan Chicken Sandwich (£7.70), a Mozzarella Focaccia (£7.20), and a daily soup of Cauliflower and Artichoke with a focaccia slice and croutons (£7), a cappuccino (£4.10) and Iced Chai Latte (£4.40) with oat milk (40p). Upon recommendation, we also ordered a Barley, Chocolate and Hazelnut Cookie (£3.60) and a Berry Brioche (£4.90) for dessert. | BristolWorld

In contrast, the Berry Brioche was very soft and tender. The creamy custard was not overpowering, allowing the juicy berries to stand out just enough, but not too much.

Overall, the food was rather 'safe', everything tasted good but it didn't particularly stand out. The parmesan chicken sandwich felt like a fresh breath of air in comparison with the other items, but at a £7.70 price tag, it was definitely a treat.

GAIL's felt like a safe - and expensive - option for a café day out with options to cater for everyone, regardless of age. Considering the price tags, I don't think I will be returning any time soon.