I visited a zero-rated hygiene diner in Bristol featured on BBC Saturday Kitchen - and loved it

After spending the morning at Bristol Crown Court, it was a welcome relief when I was asked to travel to St Pauls’ Glens Kitchen for lunch.

The community kitchen is well-known and much-loved in these parts of the city - it even welcomed renowned chef, Michel Roux Jr and First Dates star Fred Sirieix for Christmas a couple of years back for the BBC show ‘Remarkable Places to Eat’.

Head chef Glen Crooks appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen’s Best Bites back in December, too. So you could probably imagine my surprise then when I discovered the diner had recently received a 0-star food hygiene rating from the Foods Standards Agency. A visit from Bristol World’s second-best food critic was in order.

Upon arrival, the colourful storefront was shut on this cold lunchtime but a crowd of regulars huddled around tables inside St Pauls Learning Centre. It’s also worth noting the elderly diners were dressed to the nines which is always a great sight. For some reason, an old man sporting a blazer and tie on his daily rounds around the neighbourhood brings a smile to my face.

Back to the food, and all the Caribbean classics can be found on the menu inside Glen’s - plantain, curried goat, jerk chicken, cow foot and more. I went with the Oxtail and rice which set me back £12 for a medium portion, slightly more than the other options. Admittedly, I’m not a food critic. But, I’ve some experience in eating the stuff so here are my initial thoughts on my meal at the ‘0-star food hygiene’ spot.

To begin with, no visible hairs, which is a good start. Proper portions, too - always good to see. So far, Glen’s is two for two. Now the taste test - the oxtails delivered a rich flavour. The beans, rice and side of onions and swede were also very tasty. When done right, there are few better options in Bristol than Caribbean cuisine and this was one of the best I’ve ever had.

It’s no surprise that most of the online reviews for Glen’s call the place a ‘hidden gem’, there is a sense of community which is highlighted by the kitchen’s interactions with the regulars. Glen himself often does the rounds of tables to catch up with his customers. Dare I say, you should check the place out for yourself? Although, I’m not sure I’d suggest the same for most, if not all other, restaurants with a 0-star hygiene rating.