The River Grille is the flagship restaurant at The Bristol Hotel, sitting in a rather splendid location on Bristol's Harbourside and offering beautiful riverside views. This sophisticated, modern restaurant celebrates British cuisine, albeit with a contemporary slant, and champions local produce specifically across an often-changing seasonal British menu. Steaks are also a highlight, with the grill featuring prominently on the menu.
Inside The River Grille is bright and spacious, with a relaxed but elegant atmosphere that suits it well to all sorts of occasions. A glass ceiling allows plenty of natural light into the restaurant throughout the day, and the river-facing wall is also entirely glass, meaning that there are plenty of seats in the house that boasts lovely harbour views. The restaurant also hosts live piano and jazz from Friday to Sunday, so guests can book lunch or dinner with some live music accompaniment.
The menu changes regularly, but always features a wide array of seasonal British produce. At the time of writing you'll find dishes such as pan-seared scallops with pea puree and pancetta crisps, buffalo milk burrata with Isle of Wight tomatoes, and fresh linguine with Devon crab on the menu. There's also a section of dishes from the Josper grill, including grass fed Black Angus steaks, market fish and burgers.
On the drinks front, you can expect a compact selection of classic cocktails, as well as a hefty spirits menu and an extensive wine list that visits the old and new worlds. Plus of course, teas, coffees and other hot beverages.
The River Grille is also where you'll find the hotel's afternoon tea service, which is served from Thursday to Saturday in the main dining room and includes a selection of classic sandwiches, scones and miniature cakes.