Botanist Bristol — Restaurant in Bristol

Overall Meh. Chose The Botanist believing it to be linked to its London namesake. If it is, then it' s a pale shadow, having the look, but without the high-end execution. Won't be going again. 2 issues.

Food: (it was late Sunday lunchtime) 3 out of 5 mains were off, meaning 4 out of 5 of us ordered the same. When it came, (Pork belly), it featured one of the largest Yorkshire puddings, and smallest portions of pork belly I've ever seen. Crackling was crackly, but strangely tasteless. (How is that even possible!?). The menu's generous-sounding promise of "bottomless gravy" translated into an uphill struggle to find, then wrangle out of the sparse waiting staff, thimble-sized ramekins of the stuff.

Service: What upset me most was the venue's insistence on a house rule not to permit older teenagers without I/d to have alcohol with their meal even when bought by their parent. This is not the law - it's just a house rule; and, for a family lunch on a Sunday afternoon, insisting on it rather spoiled a birthday celebration. I'd brought my 17 and 19 year old boys in for the elders' birthday lunch, and bought both of them a pint with their meal. When I handed my 17 year old his pint, the duty manager literally came and took it away again, citing the house rule. Again, this is not the law - which allows a parent to buy a pint for a 17 year old with a meal - it was an internal rule. I respect house rules, but this one (and its somewhat tin-earned application) rather rules the Bristol Botanist out for family celebrations like ours.

So overall - strangely "mean"-feeling hospitality. At every turn and in every dimension, an absence of warmth and generosity.

In interest of fairness and balance, the Interior design was very smart, and they accepted and were kind to our...

We visited this evening at 9pm and I’m not sure whether our experience was due to the time and closure being at 11 but we experienced a not so great late evening dinner. There was no one at the door to greet or seat us, we were seated fast (after going and waiting at the bar). There was a large group of people huddled at the bar making it difficult to even get seated. There seemed to be one waitress to about 6 tables, we waited about 20 minutes to have a drinks order taken, we had decided on our food so ordered all at once, after drinks were ordered they took a while to come out and other tables around us had complained to the waitress about the wait on drinks which had us concerned. The food soon followed and was… ok… the squid was remarkable, as were the prawns, the scallops, dumpling and sticky chicken seemed to be either over cooked or rushed. We were not checked on once and weren’t asked if we’d like another drink. We asked for the bill as we were still eating and asked for the card machine to be bought over whenever it could, the bill came out fine then waited 20 minutes to pay the bill, so we gave up and stood at the waitress counter (we had seen multiple people do this throughout our dinner) and it took another 10 minutes for the waitress who we asked for the card machine to come out and she came out with her bag and coat on ready to go… I understand finishing a shift but at least finish what...

I recently visited The Botanist in Bristol for dinner, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! From the moment we walked into the stylish, vibrant venue on Berkeley Square, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, blending modern charm with a cozy, country pub feel. The outdoor seating area was a lovely touch, perfect for enjoying the evening.

The food was absolutely outstanding—every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. I opted for the Pan-Fried Seabass Fillet, which was cooked to perfection, and my friend raved about the Maple Glazed Pork Belly. The cocktails were a highlight, with a unique floral twist that made them stand out. Generous portions and a great selection of drinks made the experience even better.

What truly elevated our night was our waitress, Ffion. She was an absolute gem, friendly, attentive, and full of energy. Ffion went out of her way to make us feel welcome, checking in with a genuine smile and offering great recommendations from the menu. Her warmth and enthusiasm made the evening so memorable, and it’s clear she loves what she does. Service like hers is rare and truly made our visit special. The Botanist Bristol is a must-visit for anyone looking for delicious food, a lively atmosphere, and top-notch service. Thanks to Ffion and the team, we’ll...