OTHER appeared without much fanfare, but this casual neighbourhood spot - nestled between a tanning salon and cycle shop in Bedminster, is quietly throwing out some of the best food in the city.
Zak and Emma are the couple behind OTHER. Emma hosts, Zak cooks. Zak, it should be noted, was head chef of legendary Bristol restaurant Casamia before it closed. That goes some way to explaining the creative, frequently changing dishes that appear before us, in a wide variety of charity shop crockery.
Inside, it’s simple and modern. Bright, colourblocked orange walls, low pendant lights and clean lines give the small space an inviting, cosy feel. There are two-tops for couples, as well as a large family table for locals feeling some community spirit. Behind a hatch, with OTHER printed over the top, Zak works his magic.
It’s a small menu: a handful of small plates, mains and sides, bolstered by scrawled specials and cocktails on a nearby blackboard. Homemade crisps are a very ‘dinner party’ way to start, but even here, OTHER has something special waiting - a lemongrass-y, sweet pepper satay, and garlic aioli to dip them in. Faultless really, perfect with a cold glass of beer or wine from the small list.
The next two small plates keep the bar high: smoked celeriac with sweet fig and lardo, and a mouthful of crispy tempura grey mullet, topped with delicate scallop and a subtle kick of harissa.
The evening’s special is, indeed, special: barbecued mackerel with a butter tandoori sauce and tempura crab cakes, lifted by fresh tomato and coriander. Then there’s char siu pork - charred and tender, served with crisp shredded cabbage. Zak’s cooking is beautiful and ingenious, with an element of surprise that makes every dish feel special.
Sides are equally impressive. Confit layered potatoes are seasoned generously with garlic salt and ancho chilli. Lemon-dressed little gem and a jammy bowl of roasted carrots with crispy onions, salsa verde and feta, are accompaniments with main character energy.
Dessert is simple. A pillowy sourdough doughnut with a caramelised, wafer-thin crust drenched in brown butter and vanilla sugar - so good it earned a mention on James Acaster’s Off Menu. Exceptional from start to finish, there’s no question of OTHER’s brilliance - this is food for people that love to eat.