We tried Bristol’s new Spanish tapas restaurant which is also serving a burger worth travelling for

New Gloucester Road venue Bomba is the first joint venture from chef Jose Quesada and Ali Damion, who have spent years working in different restaurants including the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel on College Green.

They bring plenty of experience to their debut restaurant, which occupies the site where Bomboloni was before.

Previously an Italian restaurant, the new owners brought in Bristol artist Nina Raines to give the place a Spanish look including a vibrant and colourful mural depicting Mediterranean vegetables, bottles of wine and olives.

Specialising in small plates and cocktails, the menu at Bomba is concise which allows chef Jose to focus on using quality ingredients from suppliers such as Bristol-based Spanish specialists Mevalco.

As well as offering plenty for vegans and vegetarians, they also have a gluten-free menu.

The menu is, of course, Spanish-inspired with some classic tapas dishes and also some original ideas that work well as a small plate.

As well as expertly made cocktails, there is  selection of Bristol-made drink offerings from breweries Arbor and Left Handed Giant, cider from Bristol Cider and gin from Bristol Dry Gin and Psychopomp.

On a rainy Saturday lunchtime, Bomba was doing a brisk trade with local families and groups of friends.

I started with the trio of croquetas (£8) - three plump parcels stuffed with different fillings although you can stick with one flavour if you like.

There was a rich and meaty jamon Iberico croqueta, a spicy gambas pil pil with prawns and garlic in the mix, and a creamy and fragrant spinach and pine nut version.

A fresh and light tuna tartare (£11) was beautifully presented, the finely chopped raw fish and avocado was mixed with a lively soy, lime and chilli dressing and topped with a raw egg yolk. Crisp olive oil crostini were the perfect vehicle to carry some of the tartare although the two small slices didn’t stretch very far so maybe a couple more would finish the job.

A perfectly cooked piece of really fresh hake (£9.50) was teamed with salt-encrusted Padron peppers, pine nuts and a fiery romesco sauce. 

But the highlight of the meal for me had to be a smaller snack-size dish which is apparently already proving a best-seller at Bomba.

The black pudding and Pedro Ximenez mini burger (£5.50) with Manchego, fig jam, caramelised onion in a brioche bun was even better than its description suggests, the hot slices of black pudding and the sweetness of the fig jam, onion and brioche was countered by the saltiness of the cheese. 

I was sorely tempted to order another as soon as I finished it but went for a dessert of peanut parfait (£6) salted caramel and sugar peanuts that was essentially a posh cheffy version of a Snickers bar - it was sensational.

Bomba is a brilliant new addition to the Gloucester Road restaurant scene and should prove an instant hit with the locals but it’s also worth travelling across town for, maybe for a festive meal.

Bomba’s Christmas ‘sharing’ menu launches later this month (from November 22) and it looks a steal at £25 per person, which includes the croquetas, the hake and that must-have mini burger. 

Bomba, 225 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NR. Tel: 0117 4311833.