Restaurants / Reviews
Il Bacaro – restaurant review
The former university refectory (now Brown’s) on Queen’s Road may be modeled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice but until the arrival of Il Bacaro on Welsh Back, Bristol has not been treated to the city’s cuisine.
Il Bacaro serves a selection of Venetian cicchetti, otherwise known as Italian tapas, alongside daily steak and fresh fish specials
It replaces Cherry Duck and much of its decor, shiny wooden floors and distressed tables and chairs, is virtually identical – no accident since a few of the old staff have started up this new restaurant.
is needed now More than ever
On a recent Saturday lunchtime, an attentive waiter with a Northern Irish accent didn’t quite have his work cut out.
There was only one other table of two in the restaurant, sitting on the picnic table outside with a view over the Floating Harbour to the final former dockside warehouse yet to be redeveloped, currently swathed in scaffolding.
Although only a few hundred yards off the beaten track, Il Bacaro’s location is a tricky one to make work. But the former Cherry Duck team must know that fact having worked in this building before so they clearly have confidence in this new venture.
The confidence is well-founded in the food. Some highlights of our lunch menu were the delicately cooked pork belly, beetroot and goat’s cheese arancini, and lightly chargrilled smoked chicken thigh.
And it’s good value as well. A lunch deal costs £10 for very well-made bread, olives, two cicchetti, and either chips or salad.
Until Christmas, Il Bacaro is officially a pop-up. After the festivities, a decision will be made on its future.
First impressions are good in this difficult-to-work location. Now all this new restaurant needs is customers.
Il Bacaro, 3 Queen Quay, Welsh Back, Bristol , BS1 4SL
0117 329 2910