OPENS MARCH 2020
Following the success of his two Bristol restaurants, Casamia and Paco Tapas, Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias is planning a third opening in the city, aptly named The 3rd.
Other than its name and location – the former Pi Shop site on Lower Guinea Street where Peter’s two existing restaurants are situated – all that’s known about the new restaurant at this stage is that it’s set to include a bar area and a chef’s table, and will serve coffee and pastries during the day.
Without speculating too much on what might be in store for diners at The 3rd, it’s fair to say that whatever the concept, it’s likely to draw the crowds (us included). Back in 2006, Peter and his late brother Jonray transformed their parents’ local Italian, Casamia, into one of the most respected restaurants in the country and have banked a stack of awards since, including SquareMeal’s Best UK Restaurant award in 2018. Peter has also enjoyed success with Bristol restaurant Paco Tapas and Decimo in London so it’s clear he knows a thing or two about running a successful restaurant.
The chef’s decision to open a third restaurant in Bristol instead of a second in London might come as a surprise to some, since he expressed a desire to open a branch of Paco Tapas in the capital during his interview with SquareMeal in 2018. That said, he also shared his hopes that Bristol would become a “gastronomic powerhouse like Copenhagen”.
It’s unclear whether the prices at The 3rd will be more in line with those at Paco Tapas – around the £40-per-person mark – or at Casamia, which operates a pre-paid ticketing system for a tasting menu-only offering to the tune of £110 per person. We’re inclined to go with the former, but we shall see. More details to follow as and when we have them.