BANK Bristol

Bars, British, International, Modern European·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of BANK Bristol

Silver Award

Sitting on the corner of the traffic-logged Wells road, BANK is perhaps an unlikely location for a buzzy live-fire restaurant. The grand exterior makes a nice contrast to the modern interior, which is paired back, with brushed wooden tables and floors, white walls and black panelling.

Warm lighting and an equally warm welcome make it a nice place to be on a wet Wednesday evening. The restaurant takes a while to fill up – but by the time we’re on our second glass of light, fresh Verdejo, most of the tables around us are full.

The menu is designed to be shared, with snacks, small and large plates to choose between. Indecisive diners needn’t worry, the full selection of small plates is available for £49 (at the time of writing).

We opt for a selection of small and large plates. These come out gradually – silky grilled leeks with a crispy leek bhaji arrives with Atlantic prawns and gem lettuce. These are followed by green beans and chicken thigh yakitori. The plates are alive with colour and texture, and their live-fire cooking approach is evident in the subtle smoke and char laced through the food.

Seasonal ingredients are brought to life with clever flavour combinations and flashes of real brilliance – the confit fennel on the charred green beans is silky, rich and flavourful, and the cheddar and Marmite foam on the potato side was remarkable.

Large sharing plates include miso roasted delica pumpkin and a wonderfully tender monkfish with a Jerusalem artichoke puree with caramel undertones, perfectly offset with salty pancetta XO.

The menu is littered with gluten-free and vegan options, but the staff need a little more training on allergens to make diners feel at ease. Dessert restored any uncertainty – a burnt honey panna cotta and a baklava mille feuille are elegant and perfectly portioned.

BANK is a place to go to indulge – bring an appetite and a few companions and try as much of their exciting menu as you can.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Bars, British, International, Modern European
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Romantic, Unique
Awards
SquareMeal UK Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Special Features
Dog friendly, Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Most of the column inches go to restaurants north of the river in Bristol, but there's plenty of excitement and good food to be had if you head south of the river too. BANK is an independent neighbourhood restaurant right in the heart of Totterdown, specialising in live fire cooking and a contemporary sharing menu. 

Housed in a grand old building (once Lloyds Bank, hence the name), BANK's minimal aesthetic and clean lines are very easy on the eye. The old bank has large windows going all the way around the building, which fills the restaurant with natural light and gives an airy, spacious feel.

The food at BANK is focused on highlighting the very best produce it can source while maintaining a strict commitment to the seasons. All its food is cooked over a live wood fire and is designed to be shared with your nearest and dearest.The menu takes inspiration from far and wide, and changes regularly, but examples of dishes you might expect to find include a Korean barbecued quail with miso celeriac remoulade, smoked beef brisket with carrot, yoghurt and Chipotle chilli, and soft shell crab with gnocchi Parisienne and Dorset crab ragu. If you're struggling to choose, you can order everything on the menu - perfect for 3-4 people - and finish off with a chocolate and almond delice, or a burnt Basque cheesecake with whisky lemon curd. You'll also find a wealth of vegan and gluten-free options available.

There's a compact wine list too, as well as house cocktails like Mint Eastwood (coconut, rum, sugar snap and mint syrup, acid blend, absinthe), and Cherry Halliwell (tequila, strawberry, cherry and cinnamon syrup, acid, Aperitivo Co! Turin, and soda). 


FAQs

Do I need to book?

Booking is advised, you can book via the link above.

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Meet the team
BANK Bristol

Dan O'Regan

Founder

Powered by a fascination for the complexities of coffee and backed by a career in coffee consultancy, Dan O'Regan's passion for evolved to cover all aspects of food and drink. Aside from the exceptional brews on the menu, O’Regan’s expertise extends to all aspects of BANK; fostering outstanding service and an authentic and transformative dining experience at every level.

BANK Bristol

Jack Briggs-Horan

Head Chef

With nearly two decades of culinary experience, Jack Briggs-Horan honed his craft in esteemed Bristol restaurants such as The Bird in Hand, Glassboat, and The Ox. As the head chef and co-owner of BANK, his menus demonstrate a distinctive approach to live-fire cooking, crafting contemporary sharing menus that reflect his global influences. Briggs-Horan’s dedication to exceptional seasonal ingredients is evident in every dish, contributing to BANK's reputation as one of Bristol's most dynamic dining destinations.


Events

FreeKasae Fraser at BANK
Supper clubs
Kasae Fraser at BANK

23 Oct 2024

We're excited to have Masterchef The Professional Finalist, Kasae Fraser joining us for another incredible evening of fire cooking. Taking inspiration from her roots in Australia, we've worked together to create an incredible menu that showcases the type of cooking that Kasae is best known for.


Please note this is a set menu with no variations. The evening will be focussed around communal dining so you may be sharing a table with other guests. For this event, we're unfortunately unable to offer a refund should you need to cancel.

More Details

Location

107 Wells Road, Totterdown, Bristol, BS4 2BS

0117 452 7536 0117 452 7536

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri 12:00-14:30
Sat 12:00-14:30
Sun 12:00-19:00
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue 18:00-22:00
Wed 18:00-22:00
Thu 18:00-22:00
Fri 17:00-22:00
Sat 17:00-22:00
Sun Closed

Reviews

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5 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

ceri M

16 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Delicious food, nice atmosphere

Lovely fresh ingredients resulting in a delicious and healthy leisurely lunch with friends. 

ceri M

16 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Delicious food, nice atmosphere

Lovely fresh ingredients resulting in a delicious and healthy leisurely lunch with friends. 

ceri M

16 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 4
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Delicious food, nice atmosphere

Lovely fresh ingredients resulting in a delicious and healthy leisurely lunch with friends. 

Roger F

04 April 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Gold Star

Superb. Really quite exceptional.  My initial apprehension quickly dissipated as the professional, quietly competent Manager\Waitress gave us an overview of their menu.
There are some excellent inspired and creative skills at work in this Kitchen.  If you're tired with cliched menus and want to give your taste buds a thrill, this place and it's imaginative innovative very tasty dishes should be on your 'must go' list of the best of Bristols eateries.  

Kristina S

29 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

The best restaurant in Bristol! 

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