We visit the Keynsham cafe and bar with generous portions, sensible prices and plenty of deals

There’s suddenly a lot more choice in Keynsham on a wet and windy Tuesday evening than there used to be.

Trying to find somewhere with a spare table, we walked past several restaurants packed with diners enjoying pre-Christmas meals.

Busiest of the lot seemed to be Bonzo Lounge, which is actually where we had hoped to eat, but there was no room at the inn this particular Christmas week. We’ll be back to try Bonzo in the new year.

And so we wandered down the High Street and tried our luck at Mokka, which was busy but still had a few unbooked tables.

Until last year, this prominent corner building was a branch of HSBC bank, but it opened as Mokka in March. 

For the past nine months, it has been one of Keynsham’s busiest places, especially during the day when it serves cooked breakfasts and a range of lunchtime options.

In the evening, it moves up several gears with a huge (over 30 options) small plates menu, a choice of burgers and several main courses.

It’s the same successful concept as this family-run business has enjoyed in its Downend Mokka, where I enjoyed an excellent breakfast recently.

In some ways, it’s ironic that Bonza Lounge and Mokka are currently two of the main players in Keynsham as there are striking similarities between the two. I’m sure the Mokka owners must have been inspired by the phenomenally successful Loungers concept originally. And why not, it’s tried and tested.

On Tuesday night, Mokka runs a popular £25 for two burgers deal, and we were tempted by it, as we were the £16.50 for three small plates offer, but we went down a more traditional route with a small plate as a starter and a main dish.

Served in a bowl, gambas pil pil (£5.95) comprised six decent size king prawns swimming in a pool of garlic butter with a hint of chilli and lemon juice. We also shared a plate of mixed olives (Gordal and Kalamata) with some silky hummus and ‘rustic’ bread (£5.95).

To follow, Moroccan chicken curry (£13.95) looked more like chicken korma and it was as mildly spiced as that entry-level Indian favourite but there were more fragrant Middle Eastern spices in the mix, crunchy pieces of pepper, onion, carrot, almond flakes and apricot and dates providing sweetness. The curry was served with a steaming dome of spicy, buttery rice.

The ‘starving’ teenager across the table went for the BBQ breaded cheesy chicken (£14.95) with skin-on fries and salad - a generous plate of food for the price with two large pieces of chicken in crisp breadcrumbs and drizzled with tangy BBQ sauce. But even with her huge appetite, she was defeated by the dish due to the pile of chips and mountain of salad.

We shared dessert of churros (£6.75) - four crisp and greaseless twists of deep-fried dough dusted with plenty of cinnamon sugar and served with a warm and moreish dark chocolate dipping sauce.

By the time we left Mokka, all the empty tables had filled up and the place was humming with laughter and festive jollity.

Families with kids, couples and large groups gearing up for a big night - it’s one of those venues that fits the bill for everybody and Keynsham is lucky to have it.

Mokka, 34 High Street, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1DQ.