Restaurant Tasting Area

In recent years, Bristol and the surrounding area have experienced a food and drink revolution. Restaurants have played an important part in this culinary renaissance.

The 6 local restaurants selected will offer sample-sized tastings of three of their signature dishes at a fraction of their normal restaurant price. It’s an opportunity to take a mini tour of some of the best local restaurant cuisine before you book and commit to the full dining experience.

The restaurants we have already confirmed are Hotel du Vin, One30, Budokan, One Stop Thali Cafe and the Thistle Hotel.

Hotel Du Vin
Located in the heart of Bristol's energetic business district, Hotel du Vin & Bistro provides an oasis of calm and tranquillity, a retreat for leisure visitors and the cream of the crop of the business world. The hotel is recognised as a venue where guests are surprised by a level of staff knowledge and service far exceeding their expectations with a food and beverage offering worthy of the finest establishments, often described as "great value and sophisticated without the unnecessary frills".

The Bistro is complimented by three private Function Rooms that offer a highly distinctive, stylish and exclusive atmosphere for all kind of private dining and events.
The hotel's 40 bedrooms have all been designed with guest comfort and luxury at the forefront of the experience. With unforgettable walk-in Monsoon-like showers, roll-top Victorian bath tubs, exclusive take-away toiletries, Egyptian cotton linen, fluffy towelled robes and flat screen TVs, the rooms provide a perfect excuse to stay after dinner.
The combination of city centre location, refurbishment and restoration of a classic building, total commitment to staff development and guest satisfaction have ensured that Hotel du Vin has remained at the forefront of Bristol's vibrant dining and hotel scene.

one30
One30 serves modern Spanish tapas dishes in a friendly and comfortable setting in Bohemian Montpelier. The food is reminiscent of the tapas bars in Barcelona and it is rated in the Which Good Food Guide as one of the top seven restaurants in Bristol. The bar has a great atmosphere and there is also an outside seating area for the summer.
There is a full cocktail list with some innovative concoctions along with an extensive selection of shots, spirits, sherries and wines. The drinks list showcases some of the top Spanish producers of wine alongside some good-value house selections.
Head chef, Johnny Evans is one of the best young chefs in Bristol and under the stewardship of Chris Wicks he serves tasty and well presented food. Everything is made fresh on the premises.
One30 can be booked for private parties and is an ideal venue for an early evening drink on the way home or a late-night session with friends. There is always some great music playing and the staff are knowledgeable and accommodating hosts.

The One Stop Thali Cafe
Inspired by their love of travel and food, childhood friends Sidharth Sharma and Jim Pizer set up their first restaurant in 1999. India, with its vibrant and chaotic nature, became their obsession and inspiration. They were joined a few years later by head chef Sam Hackett. The trio set out to recreate the vibrant, disjointed chaos that India thrives on, and which gives it such a rich and distinctive flavour.
They first tested out their wares at summer music festivals and their great success lead them to open the first restaurant in the bohemian Montpelier area of Bristol. Now after ten years and thousands of miles of travel, always on the look out for new recipes, the boys run three restaurants as well the festival catering. Each venue has its own feel and identity but strives to serve the community its part of.
'Thali' simply refers to the special stainless steel plate that the meal is served on. They use two different thali dishes; the one for the South Indian Thali is made up of little metal bowls and the one with molded compartments is for the North Indian thali.
The beauty of serving Thali's is that they can concentrate on producing a few dishes well; they use the best possible ingredients, which are fresh and free from GM foods, additives or preservatives.

Tyrell's at the Thistle Hotel
Executive Chef George Opondo 29, was born in Kenya and moved to England in 2001 to further his career at the world renowned Savoy Hotel, London. George was mentored by master chefs Georg Fuchs and Anton Edelmann where he progressed to the level of sous chef in 2005. His first executive chef role was at the Thistle Hotel Brands Hatch where he made an immediate impact by achieving 2 AA rosettes within his first month.
Following this success, in January 2008, he attained promotion to the executive chef role at the Thistle Grand Hotel, Bristol where he was again awarded 2 AA rosettes. George's team includes two experienced senior sous chef's, Paul Nigigi formally head pastry chef at the Savoy and Summit who has been a dedicated employee at The Grand for over 2 years.

The menu at Tyrell's Restaurant uses only the finest local seasonal ingredients to produce contemporary English dishes for example, Gloucester old spot pork loin, oven roasted and served with Savoy cabbage, pancetta potato cake and a calvados jus.

Budokan
With its ever-growing range of exciting, fresh, authentic Asian dishes originating from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, budokan is still, after eight years, Bristol's leading Asian restaurant, with a maximum five-star award from Venue and The Times voting it the UK's top pan-Asian restaurant. If it's a real taste of Asia you're after, budokan's got it - with its long, busy, banquet-style tables, informal atmosphere and large street-facing windows. Friendly staff can help you choose from the extensive menu - a spicy Thai curry or crunchy stir fry, wholesome broth or zingy soup (not to mention the handmade sushi). All dishes, boasting unbeatable value for money, are freshly made to order.

For a swift lunch or early-evening dinner with a difference, choose the award-winning Rapid Refuel (sushi, side-dish, main, all for just £7.50), eating your way around the tastiest corners of Asia. The drinks, too, offer tastes from all corners of the continent, with beers from India, Japan and Thailand, and changing guest drinks including a great organic lager from Germany. There are sensibly priced, well-chosen wines and lots of soft drinks (organic fruit juices, 'botanically brewed' ginger beer, dandelion & burdock).
Perfect for parties and family outings, Budokan also offer a takeaway service with deliciously different south-east Asian cuisine. For the real Asian experience though, nothing beats eating in the restaurant, where the atmosphere flavours the food almost as much as the chillies and lemongrass do. Flag down a tuk-tuk, hit the strip and get yourself down to Budokan!