We try the new Vietnamese food at a historic Bristol pub - it's unlike any other pub grub we've had before

The Hanoi Social has opened at the Robin Hood on St Michael’s Hill, which BristolWorld revealed last month was saved from being turned flats.

It’s an exciting time for the 183-year-old pub under its new owners, and the new food offering is a fantastic addition.

I visited the pub in the early afternoon, where it was already filling up with people from the nearby university and hospital.

There, I met chef Dennis 'Denny' Veazey and adorable pub dog Mango, who he rescued from Vietnam and brought back home with him.

The 32-year-old told me how the menu is inspired by his time spent in Vietnam, learning about the culture and food - but dog meat is very much off the menu here!

The signature dish is the bánh mì sandwich, which Denny could buy as cheap as 62p from his local bánh mì lady in Vietnam.

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At the Robin Hood, the sandwiches cost £8-£9, with filling options including char siu pork belly, steamed lemongrass chicken and Chinese tofu mock duck for the vegans.

I went for the bánh mi ‘Cam Ha’ - named after the district in Vietnam that Denny lived in and fell in love with during his time there.

The double char siu pork belly sandwich came served with fresh herbs, pickles, cucumber, homemade Vietnamese mayo and umami rich sauce.

The bread, baked fresh daily, had a distinct crispy texture, and each bite was like being transported to Vietnam.

The pub also serves sides such as salt & pepper squid (£7) - crispy deep fried cubes of squid tossed in salt and pepper - and sriracha fries (£6) - skin-on fries tossed with holy basil, herbs, crispy onions and sriracha mayor.

The sides I tried were spicy, full of flavour and just as filling as the bánh mi sandwich. There’s also these special clippers to eat the chips with, which helps bring the authentic Vietnamese experience.

You can’t go wrong with pub food like pizza, chips and chicken wings - but what the Robin Hood is offering is something completely different, and the deliciousness of it makes it worthwhile.

The Hanoi Social is open from 5-9pm, Tuesday to Saturday, but Denny is also now looking at serving food for the Monday Comedy Nights just launched.

There’s also talk of launching Vietnamese-style roasts on a Sunday. After my experience, I would certainly be back if they did.

The Robin Hood, 56 St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8DX