Eating in a department store might not immediately seem overly appealing for a fine dining experience but stick with us here. Harvey Nichols’ Restaurant is well regarded by Bristol locals as being a high-end eatery worth spending your time at, and we’re inclined to agree.
Located on the top floor of Bristol’s boutique store, with commanding views of Quakers Friars, the Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a light lunch, an indulgent afternoon tea or a sumptuous dinner. Executive Chef Louise McCrimmon and her team have won a host of top honours over the years, including Chef of the Year in the Bristol Good Food Awards, an AA Notable Wine List Award and two coveted AA Rosettes thanks to their menu of ever-changing seasonal specials.
Set menus see three courses offered from a reasonable £23 and read like a lesson in appealing to the masses. Begin with a smoked haddock fishcake with cucumber and dill sauce or a parsnip soup accompanied by apple crisps and curry butter. For mains you might be presented with choices of things like pork escalope covered in a lemon, caper and parsley beurre noisette and hispie cabbage or seared fillet of hake with braised baby gem lettuce and an anchovy and watercress mayonnaise.
Pudding deserves its own special mention thanks to creations like a sticky marmalade pudding and a chocolate pot with salted caramel and caramelised brioche. If they’re not enough to convince you to visit, we don’t know what is.
Access to the Restaurant after store hours is via the express lift situated at the Penn Street entrance and will bring you into the warm, inviting space. Interiors are a mix of rich creams and browns with gold accents which add to the high-end, yet relaxed feel. Knowledgeable, efficient service seals the deal for a pleasant evening out with friends or family.