Ten restaurants in Bristol have been honoured at this year’s esteemed AA Rosette Awards, which took place on Tuesday (February 28).
The awards celebrate “culinary excellence” and “successful cooking at different levels across the UK” with a selection of establishments across the UK being recognised for their food. The rosettes are determined by AA’s team of inspectors who judge each restaurant on its quality of service, cooking, produce and flavours.
The AA states that “about 10% of restaurants nationwide are of a standard that is worthy of one Rosette and above.” Each kitchen can earn up to five Rosettes though no restaurant in Bristol has earned more than two. To achieve one Rosette the restaurant must have “standards that stand out in their local area.” A diner with two Rosettes is described as an “excellent restaurant that aims for and achieves higher standards and better consistency. Greater precision is apparent in the cooking, and there will be obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients.”
Here are the 10 Bristol restaurants to receive an AA Rosette Award and what inspectors had to say about them.
1. The Star and Dove, Totterdown
“The Star and Dove offers pleasing modern vintage styling in a traditional Victorian city pub. The pub ambience is retained in one half where locals enjoy a pint with friends, while the stylish restaurant on the other side provides a selection of top quality dishes utilising local and seasonal produce to its best."
2. The Bird in Hand, Long Ashton
“The Bird in Hand is a cosy, traditional pub in Long Ashton, just a stone’s throw from Bristol. It’s full of rustic English charm with a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere and a slightly unexpected twist – thanks to owner Liz’s South African heritage. Think bobotie croquettes, for example, or lamb and red wine potjeikos."
3. Paco Tapas, Habourside
Bang on the waterfront in a great location, Paco Tapas is a brilliant place to eat fantastically authentic Andalusian tapas. Menus change daily and much of the high quality produce used in the dishes comes direct from the region, while fish and seafood comes up from Cornwall. The wine list is almost entirely Spanish with a very good sherry selection.
4. Berwick Lodge, Almondsbury
"The Victorian gent who built this manor house back in the 1890s picked a good spot, surrounded by 18 acres of gardens and woodland. The smart boutique restaurant, Hattua, is the perfect setting for creative modern dishes which look as good as they taste.”