Another star player in Bristol's exciting Cargo2 development on Wapping Wharf, Gambas is owned and run by Kieran and Imogen Waite - the husband-and-wife team behind tapas restaurant Bravas on Cotham Hill. Anyone familiar with Bravas will know what to expect here - authentic tapas that makes the most of fantastic West Country produce.
More specifically, Gambas takes direct inspiration from Kieran and Imogen's trips to the central market in Valencia - as a result there's more of a focus on fish and seafood (particularly prawns, hence the name) than there is at Bravas, which is more of an all-rounder. The menu is tightly-focused, and it changes regularly. It starts with smaller snacks and bites, like olives with juniper, bay and pink pepper, boquerones, and smoked sardines. Guests can then assemble a meal of small plates from different menu sections - dishes cooked on the plancha, fried dishes, prawn dishes and an assortment of classic tapas plates including Russian salad and tortilla with aioli.
Naturally, prawn dishes are the star of the show here. There's a dish of Angola red prawns with saffron rice and manchego, as well as salt-grilled red prawns - a Bravas favourite - and tortita de camarones - a shrimp fritter from Andalusia.
There's a small selection of desserts available too, and what better to enjoy your meal with than a glass of sherry! Gambas serves a wide range of sherries by the glass from dry fino to sweeter, raisin-y olorosos and Pedro Ximenez. There's vermouth too - another Spanish favourite - and of course, wines by the glass too.