Bordeaux Quay

Went there for the Cookery School on a teambuilding activity and learnt how to do my own pizza dough. Enjoyed the process and got to eat not only my own made pizza, but some really tasty (and spicy) pasta and iceberg lettuce with salted and toasted bread that was delicious.
Recommended!

Went to the restaurant with a group of friends to celebrate a 50^th birthday. The dinner menu is comprehensive and the waiter knowledgable regarding the contents of each dish in respect of allergens.
Unfortunately they only had 2 venison and there were 4 people in our group that wanted it. However they offered us 2 steaks in their place free of charge which was excellent.
The restaurant is large and spacious and even though we were quite a noisy group of women we did not feel as if we were too noisy for this lovely restaurant, hopefully the other diners thought the same!

I always enjoy a trip to the Bordeaux Quay Brasserie, and my most recent visit for a Sunday Brunch was very enjoyable indeed.
Very good quality food, generous portions, reasonably priced, uses local seasonal produce, fantastic harbourside location, sun-​trap seats outside, light and space inside, and deli — what’s not to love?!
Not to forget their fantastic cookery classes.
Their dessert evening class taught me how to make my ‘signature shortbread’ — A recipie which has been used every year as a Christmas present for the Grandparents, and always receives top marks.
I popped to Bordeaux Quay for a Sunday Bruch with friends, took a seat outside in the full winter sun, and enjoyed full English Breakfast and freshly squeezed OJ.
The food was the quality I have come to expect from the restaurant — fat well seasoned sausages, thick bacon, home made beans in a rich tomato sauce, golden yolked egg… and more. Delicious!
Despite the cold weather, I was snug as a bug in this sheltered sunny spot. The restaurant even have fleece blankets available to keep you extra warm.
The only grumble I have is the service charge automatically added to the bill.
Now, I get quite irritated by the practice of adding an ‘optional’ 10−12% service charge to the bill, and then highlighting the total including the service at the bottom so you feel obligated to pay, and awkward if you choose not to.
I have no issue at all in tipping good service, but find the presumption of an automatic 10%, sometimes for awful service, pretty annoying. However, it seems that now this is pretty common in restaurants…
What ticked me off about this occurance however was that the service charge was autimatically added to the bill at the point of sale card transaction, unknown to me. (I only realised it has been added when I looked at the receipt).
It particularly annoyed me because at this point in time, no service had actually been received — in order to dine outside you must pay at the bar when you place the order…
However, please don’t let this grumble affect your overall opinion of this place. It’s a great place to go, and I definatley will be returning again.

You’d be forgiven for not expecting much from an establishment on this strip, but Bordeaux Quay certainly breaks the mould of tacky bars and restaurants!
Downstairs is a café/​bar and delicatessen and up stairs is the restaurant. I’ve never actually eaten in the main restaurant as the food served in café is of a very high standard and there is always a great selection that changes frequently.
The Deli also sells a lovely selection of fresh bread, cheese, cakes and other great food. It’s a great place to buy gifts or create a food hamper.
Today I went for a tart with celeriac remoulade. I can’t remember what the tart was called but it was delicious. My mum had the fish and chips and which is a Bordeaux quay fav for her and it didn’t disappoint!

I’ve been to Bordeaux key a handful of times and along with Ronnies of Thornbury It’s my Nan’s favourite place in Bristol. Admittedly I’ve only ever been there on a Sunday and only ever sat upstairs in the more formal dining area so my review is limited to that. The downstair is home to the more casual dining, cooked form a different kitchen to the upstairs. It also contains a rather lovely deli.
The building itself is rather stunning. Set right on the waterfront in the heart of Bristols city centre it was a warehouse for the docks. They have maintained a rather industrial touch to the décor with bare concrete ceilings and exposed electrical conduit. Its contrasts perfectly to the formal table settings and feels very edgy. I’m a big fan but it may not be to everyones taste. I’m told the décor, like the food, maintains their ethos of locally sourced, natural materials, organic food and sustainability throughout.
The star of the show has to be the full length window across the whole frontage of the upstairs, as you’d expect it makes the place very light as well as offering great views across the waterfront. On a more negative note, it may also be the reason why a couple of times we’ve been there the ladies I’ve been with have been quite chilly.
The food has been always been nice, but never exceptional. The beauty of the building makes you want to like it all the more but somehow it has always been lacking something. Be it overcooked veg, cold potatoes, or another minor imperfection. There just always seems to be something to suggest they just haven’t kept their eye fully on the ball and I feel like I want to like it far more than I’m honestly able to.
I would still recommend trying it it though, and will be back myself. That’s one of the many reason why I’m her favourite grandson.
I am.
She told me.

I went with a couple of friends or Sunday lunch here today.
It’s right at the end of the water front before the square, ample seating outside and the décor on the inside is fresh, contemporary with a rustic edge.
We sat upstairs which was dead quiet, Only like 3 tables of people in there!
Not complaining though as we had stellar views of the boats and me having a slight obsession with wanting to live on a narrow boat got to stare longingly at quiet a few!
The food was amazing. Such fresh ingredients– i had the chicken which was a huge portion of not ONE but TWO chicken breasts (naughty joke there but i’ll avoid!)
They served the Goose fat potatoes and vegetables in large bowls which i love because it feels more like a family type roast then slapping it on your plate with no care. You get to pass round gigantic bowls of amazing food… The amount of food for 3 of us was insane def get your moneys worth.
For drinks i try and have a new drink every bar/​rest i go to and i had Kokomo and ginger beer… so nice!
For sweet i had the poached pears which were perfect and the ice cream was a rich but gentle compliment to it. Total cost for two courses each was £16.50, drinks on top i paid about £22…quite a lot for a sunday roast i hear you say but as a special treat or like me don’t eat roasts often it was def worth every penny.
Great place to go if you want to impress, eat your fill and have great views :)

I had a wonderful risotto. All the staff was very nice and the location is perfect! Quick and efficient service.

I had dinner there with colleagues, and I was impressed with the location (by the canal), the setting and deco, the very professional staff, to start with.
Our dinner itself was brilliant, yet not overly expensive, and my starters consisting of sliced duck meat was exquisite, very tasty.
I succombed to a «moules-​frites» main course, and while the mussels were well cooked and tasty, I have to say that the chips were not truly the french fries you’d get in Brussels, the mussel haven…
Anyway, the home-​made mayo and tartare sauces were great, and aside from the surprise of seeing my colleague getting served her ordered of a bread platter (I’d never seen that, ever before), the night was a great one.
Today I finished my other colleague’s spaghetti, which we took away at the end, and they reminded me «Go back to Bristol !»

Even using what I thought was a good offer from the website Dealcloud, this was an expensive dinner. Expensive is fine, as long as the food lives up to it, but unfortunately here it was blandly flavoured bar the over-​salting of my duck breast main and baked dab starter. A starter that with foresight I shouldn’t have eaten, as it’s overly fishy taste serves as a clue to the terrible problems I suffered the next day… The one exception to this awful meal was my partners starter, her carpaccio style sea bass and crab cakes were lovely. Other than being an incredible disappointment after much excited anticipation, the meal has left me cross with myself for not acting on my reaction to the food at the time. But who wants to have to cause a fuss birthday?

Bordeaux Quay strikes me as a place that’s shiny and classy, but wrapped up in a Jamie Oliver type of feel, which is very popular these days. The menu is very inviting, with things like asparagus soup, duck liver parfait, slow roast pork and they do sunday roasts with all the trimmings too. It is all very fresh, seasonal food that certainly delights the senses.
The endearing bit I like about Bordeaux Quay is the deli on the right of the restaurant. They sell a range of cheeses, a large selection of home baked bread, loose teas, jams, italian imports of oil and pasta, salami, free range eggs. and the list goes on! They also stock cook books, and support local artists by selling their self made cards. I would buy everything in here to stock my kitchen if the wallet allowed! One product that I found very cute was a flower pot candle with seeds. When it finished burning out, the melted wax becomes the soil for the seeds to sprout in.
For those who want to take away, their range of sandwiches from the deli are delectable; besides using sliced bread, they use foccacia’s and ciabatta’s too. Oh, and the olives here are amazing. Brasserie times and deli times differ from the restaurant times listed here, so do check the website!
This place isn’t particularly to my taste. Despite it having all the right criterias and seemingly all the right ethics, it doesn’t pull itself off as somewhere as homely as the image they are trying to portray. Instead it comes off as exclusive and rather pretentious. Maybe they need to add to their range, a big slice of humble pie.

A great place to take any friends or family that might be visiting the city, Bordeaux Quay is a gem in the slightly weathered crown of Bristol’s waterfront.
Run by the same people that own Quarter Vert on Whiteladies Road. This is a restaurant the Bristol can be proud of. Deli, cooking school, wine bar and restaurant, this place is amazing not only for foodies but also for environmentally conscious diners. As well as using organic and local produce where possible, even the cellar is chilled using water from the neighbouring harbour!
I have eaten here a couple of times and while not exactly cheap it is lovely for special occasions. The huge building gives a sense of openness and although we were aware of the kitchen and waiting staff we had plenty of room to relax. The starters and desserts are divine and not too expensive but the main courses are amazing — pricey but plentiful. As I’m not a great meat lover its great to dine somewhere that has put as much thought and preparation into veggie and fish dishes as they do with meat dishes.

Okay, this place was not what I expected at all — but in a good way. I went out for lunch here with a friend expecting a standard restaurant, but the place has so much more on offer than we originally thought!
It’s a pretty cool design in a converted warehouse, and in a great location on the harbourside! This place is not only a restaurant, but also a wine bar, bar, brasserie, tasty deli and a bakery — and to add to this, unusually there is also a cooking school here, so if you’re looking for somewhere to enhance your cooking or just for a bit of fun look into this!
The best thing about Bordeaux Quay is their use of local produce, their menu changes quite a lot too to suit the different seasons of local foods. The price range is slightly on the higher side, but then you do get great quality for your money so it’s probably worth it in my opinion. It might also be useful to note that they have a good range of organic meals on offer.

Bordeaux Quay, alongside the Watershed cinema is — regrettably — one of the few genuinely quality establishments to grace Bristol’s waterfront redevelopment. Personal opinion granted, as hoardes of revellers seem to enjoy themselves of a Saturday night in one of the many tacky bars and clubs but if vodbull and hen parties aren’t your thing, then it’s a welcome enclave of taste.
And oh, what taste. I’ve never tried the informal brasserie downstairs but the upstairs (more expensive and more ‘fine dinining’) restaurant is truly glorious. Beautifully constructed food, an ever-​changing menu with pretty right-​on policies about buying locally sourced and organic, along with unintrusive yet pleasing décor make for a perfect example of modern British cooking.

When I first moved to Bristol I thought to myself «I want to find myself a drinking hole near the harbour». For months I tried and tested the absolutely awful offerings the harbourside has — Chicagos and Pitcher and the Piano to name the worst contenders. Luckily, during my quest to find somewhere half descent I came across Bordeaux Quay.
With beautiful views, a chilled atmosphere and friendly service BQ is one of my favourite places to eat in Bristol. The prices are high but the food is delicious (as is the wine) so I’m always willing to pay the hefty bill. Great for relaxed meals with friends or romantic evenings with your partner — it’s reliable, special and completely organic!

Located at the end of the harbour side pubs and bars, for a few years I just assumed this place was one of the pikey meat market franchises it shares the waters edge with, not so.
Bourduex Quay is a delightful restaurant offering the good people of Bristol locally sourced, seasonal produce, cooked to perfection. The prices are more than a little high in comparison to other restaurants, but I would go as far as to say it is worth every penny.
The deli downstairs is very popular during the week with suits and young professionals and if you are one of the aforementioned I would certainly recommend a working lunch here any time. Particularly if it’s on expenses.

BQ, as those in the know call it, is an ambitious feat. It’s a high end restaurant in one of the old sheds that line the waterfront here, with not only a restaurant, but a deli, bar, and bakery on sight. They aim to do a lot more than just serve food here — there’s a strong environmental commitment and educational activities too.
They proudly tell you about their commitment to locally sourced food, although that doesn’t stop them buying Dijon mustard or good Italian wines. I shouldn’t pick holes. It’s all very worthy, and refreshing to see that a restaurant with a commitment to environmentalism doesn’t have to be an organic only vegan outfit.
The people of Bristol seem to like to treat themselves, and Bordeaux Quay does a brisk trade. Fortunately the space is appropriate for this, with the high ceilings and big windows meaning it never feels claustrophobic.

This is a little oasis at the end of the stag/​hen night strip of brash clubs on the waterfront. There is a deli and brasserie downstairs and a more formal restaurant upstairs.
The brasserie is a big industrial space — the buzz is continuous but not echoey. It manages to feel much smaller once you’re engrossed in the seasonal organic menu. Good solid European and British cuisine with enough on the plate to get you through to the dessert without feeling stuffed. If you want cheese — oh boy does the manager love his cheese! The deli shop attached holds a wide variety that can be dipped into in the evening as well.
The staff are very cheerful and you are not rushed. I’ve not tried the upstairs restaurant, and not felt the need to, as the brasserie is so comfortable to eat in. Highly recommended for groups of friends for a long dinner with lots of wine and laughter.
Booking recommended as although it is big it is normally full.

A petit slice of France sits on Bristol’s waterfront, in the form of Bordeaux Quay. Brain-​child of gastronomer and environmentalist Barny Haughton, everything served is organic and sourced fresh from local producers, including delicious lean meats, shellfish, veg and Very Interesting cheeses. They make all bread products in their bakery (take a still-​warm walnut loaf home with you if they have any left!). We sampled pork belly with the crunchiest crackling and most silky mash, intensely dark lamb tagine and cous-​cous, plump apricots and rhubarb and ginger syllabub with shortbread that was so short it was almost pure butter. With in-​house cookery school, you too can learn to cook this well (perhaps!) The pricier main restaurant takes bookings, whereas the just-​as-​lovely cheaper brasserie does not.

I was fascinated by the web reviews and sites that talked about the organic food, local sourcing, and food pairings that Bordeaux Quay specialized in. So when the boss asked me to organize dinner for a dozen business partners & such, including a Senior VP, I jumped at the chance to try BQ. And I was not disappointed.
It’s pricey and fancy and has lovely service (all good, especially since I wasn’t footing the bill!). The food was luscious and the VP was pleased with the wine list. Our large group pretty much took over the front corner of the restaurant, and had several wait staff dedicated to our water refilling and plate clearing needs. The décor was minimalist and modern, and our group seemed to enjoy themselves.
Give it a try, or for a less expensive option, try the Bistro on the ground floor.
(Oh, and keep in mind that this dinner took place in October of 2007)