British food might not be the best in the world. It might not have the technicality of French cuisine, the freshness of Italian or the spicy kick of Indian. But it does offer a comfort few others can compete with. And the king of comfort food? Well, that has to be roast dinner; so amazing we Brits have dedicated every Sunday lunch to it. Maybe more than most, we love Sunday roasts in Bristol.
Roasties, Yorkshire pudding and stuffing are inarguable staples in our eyes. But whether you add cauliflower cheese, parsnips, peas or even Brussel sprouts, well that’s up to you. It’s the ideal family and friend get-together however you have it (perfect for Mother’s Day on March 19). And luckily there are some remarkable roast dinners around town to choose from. That’s why we’ve rounded up the very best Sunday roasts in Bristol.
1. The Bank Tavern
The most legendary of Sunday roasts in Bristol, The Bank Tavern is so popular on a Sunday it has a headline-worthy waitlist. Booking is necessary at this small venue, but don’t let that dissuade you. This award-winning Sunday roast is well worth waiting for!
Served from noon, roasts are plentiful and sourced locally from suppliers in and around Bristol. Choose from 30-day dry-aged rare topside of beef, slow cooked pork belly, honey & rosemary roasted leg, or vegetable and lentil loaf. All come with a Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, parsnip puree and creamy leek. Though this may well have changed by the time you get a table.
8 John St, Bristol BS1 2HR
2. Bar 44
Bar 44 has caught our eye recently for its alternative Sunday roasts in Bristol. The tapas restaurant in Clifton blends British and Spanish cuisine with its sharing roast, served with all the trimmings. Designed for two, choose between a picanha of Hereford beef with horseradish aioli or slow-roasted pork belly with apple sauce. Sides include chorizo Yorkshire puddings, Manchego cauliflower cheese, and Jamon fat roast potatoes. Plus much more. Looking for a veggie roast? Bar 44 also offers a celeriac steak with plenty of veggies sides to split.
18-20 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HG
3. The Christmas Steps
This iconic pub at the bottom of its namesake, The Christmas Steps, has bags of choice for your next roast dinner in Bristol. Everything is served with roast potatoes, parsnip puree, roasted seasonal veg, braised red cabbage, greens and gravy. A Yorkshire pudding costs extra though, as does a side serving of cauliflower cheese for two.
But the mains are the true stars in this traditional boozer. Meat lovers can choose from beef silverside or cider-brined chicken supreme. While veggies can order the portobello mushroom and stilton wellington or, the vegan Sunday roast, a quinoa seed roast.
2 Christmas Steps, Bristol BS1 5BS
4. The Grace
The Grace adds a little sophistication to Gloucester Road. Its award-winning Sunday roasts are no different. The rare roast rump of beef, with braised ox cheek is the jewel in The Grace’s crown. But both the roast chicken and pork belly come with a pig-in-blanket. Making it a difficult choice. For vegetarians, The Grace has a date, hazelnut and cashew nut roast available, served with mushroom gravy. All roasts come with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding.
197 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BG
5. The Gallimaufry
On the same street as The Grace, you’ll find the distinctively different The Gallimaufry.
This vibrant and colourful establishment pub, known for quirky décor and eclectic nightly music, also does a stonkingly good Sunday roast in Bristol. It’s vegan roast dinner is comprised of a roasted squash, mushroom, pinto bean and walnut roast with a cauliflower gratin. While vegetarians may prefer the beetroot, lentil pate, pesto & goats cheese puff pastry wellington.
Don’t worry meat eaters, you have a choice of pork belly, chicken and top rump of beef & slow cooked brisket. Everything comes with herb roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy. While the Sunday menu is served between 12 and 5pm, music starts at 9pm. So hang around for a pint or two afterwards!
26-28 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AL
6. The Kensington Arms
The Kensington Arms offers a proper dining experience when it comes to Sunday lunch. With a full three-course menu available. To start, choose anything from game fagots to smoked mackerel pate to roasted carrot soup. While for mains you have a choice of medium rare rump of Hereford beef; 12-hour brined, slow roasted pork belly; field mushroom, squash, Cornish cheddar, hazelnut and prune loaf; and overnight shoulder of Lamb with spinach and apricot stuffing.
Everything is served with buttered greens, broccoli and leek cheese, braised red cabbage, bashed carrot and suede, sherry glazed beetroot, roast potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding. When it comes to dessert we’ve got our eye only on the Sticky Ale pudding!
35-37 Stanley Rd, Redland, Bristol BS6 6NP
7. Pasture
If beef is your forte, then we kind of expect a great cut from your Sunday roast. And that’s exactly what you get at the steakhouse Pasture. You can order pork belly, lamb shoulder and nut roast (which are all independently brilliant), but come on. Everyone is coming here for the beautiful rump of beef roasted over wild cherry wood and served perfectly pink. All roast dinners are served with roast potatoes, spinach gratin, greens, celeriac puree, Yorkshire puddings and bottomless gravy!
2 Portwall Ln, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6NB
8. The Spotted Cow
Nothing has made us more homesick than the recent roast dinner we had in Bedminster. Sunday lunch at The Spotted Cow simply tastes the way a good home-cooked meal should. Items overflowing on the plate, huge amounts of flavour and gravy, and a simplicity often missed in other Sunday roasts in Bristol.
Choose between beef sirloin, chicken breast, pork loin, lamb leg, a mushroom and stilton wellington or a celeriac, courgette and walnut bake. All Sunday roasts come with potatoes, squash puree, braised red cabbage, seasonal vegetables and gravy. For a pescetarian Sunday lunch, The Spotted Cow also offers a Brixham gurnard fillet with crab arancini, braised fennel and crab bisque, or whole devilled mackerel, with Bombay potatoes and baby spinach.
139 North St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 1EZ