Côte Quakers Friars — Restaurant in Bristol

This was my first time visiting a Côte and I was very impressed, firstly the resteraunt was clean, well decorated and welcoming, the staff were friendly too. For food we had for the table, some small choux cheese balls that were magnificent, very tasty with a nice crunch,

For starters a Cheese Soufflé and a Steak Tartare, The Soufflé was excellently cooked and presented, it was cheesy enough for a cheeseaholoic like myself, the mustard sauce that accompanied was warned to be quite strong but was very nice. This was my first experience also with Steak Tartare, so I have no benchmark for the dish, that being said it was tasty, and well presented with 2 slices of crunchy bread, the taste was great, and we were supplied Lea and Perrins and tabasco for taste, but as this was my first Steak Tartare I went for the original experience. For those dubious about eating raw beef, I would recommend it, the taste of the cornichons and beef was very light and delicious.

For mains we had the Confit Duck Bigrade, the duck initially looked overdone, but it was just some healthy browning, the meat was tender and extremely tasty, the bitter orange sauce was good as well as the veg in the dish, golden beetroot, fennel and mangetout. I was recommended a side with this dish so I went with the truffle fries, these were as expected. Orange sauce can often be overbearing but here it was not, it was subtle and complimented the meat well. We also had the Confit Pork Belly, beautifully cooked pork with maybe a little too much salt on the rind, sat atop some savoy cabbage, with a side of Dauphinois, this dish was well presented and tasted great, the pork was melt in the mouth.

For desert we had the Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart, this came with ice cream and 2 raspberries, I think the extras were needed because of how rich this desert it, the ice cream toned it down a little and the raspberries added a sour tang. Rich but delicious, we also had the Praline Crêpe, this came with creme fraiche and caramelised bananas, the praline was great and the flavours of the bannanas really worked with the rest of the flavours. The creme fraiche had a hint of sour and complimented everything nicely.

For all this and a few soft drinks we spent £108 which included the standard " gratuity included at 10% " We felt the price was good for the food considering we both had a starter main and a desert. Both waiters we had were nice, with one helping me with my main...

Sometimes — and I know this will offend the ‘small-plates-served-on-slates’ brigade — you just want to go somewhere nice, sit down, and have a good meal without the faff. No QR code menus, no foam, no bloke in a beard explaining the origin story of your butter. Just food. Hot. On a plate. With cutlery. Revolutionary, I know.

That’s why, on a drizzly Thursday in Bristol, I found myself slipping into Côte like you might slip into an old pair of slippers. Not sexy, not Instagrammable, not likely to send the food bloggers into a froth, but warm, familiar, and bloody dependable.

It’s like that same beach in Portugal you go to every year. Or the battered old book you re-read when the world gets too loud. Côte is the culinary equivalent of muscle memory. You know what you’re getting. You know you like it. And sometimes — especially when the alternative is limp Tesco meal deals or a cardboard wrap from Pret — that’s enough. More than enough.

I was in and out in under an hour, which for a sit-down lunch involving slow-cooked meat and an actual conversation with a human being, is almost a miracle these days. The pork belly was everything you want pork belly to be — crisp on top, yielding beneath, like the world’s best crème brûlée with a PhD in pig. Served with potatoes dauphinoise so creamy you half-expect to need a defibrillator by dessert. This was not your standard Thursday lunch. This was Thursday gone rogue.

The service? Snappy, polite, smiling. No performative theatrics, no one knelt down beside the table to introduce themselves as my “dining companion”. Just people doing a good job. Which, again, shouldn’t be exceptional, but these days it sort of is.

And the price? For less than a tank of petrol or two cocktails in London, you get fed like a minor French aristocrat. Wine, mains, service — done. You leave full, happy, unchallenged, and slightly smug that you didn’t fall into the trap of “trying somewhere new” and ending up being force-fed burnt leeks in a reclaimed shipping container.

Côte isn’t going to change your life. It won’t trend on TikTok. You won’t see it on the World’s 50 Best. But that’s the point. It’s unpretentious, consistent, French-ish comfort food done well in an age when everyone else is trying too hard.

Well done, Côte. You’re still one of my favourites. Like those slippers. Not pretty, not loud. But always,...

During our two-night stay in Bristol, we chose Côte Quakers Friars for one of our dinners—and let me tell you, we couldn’t be happier with our decision! From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed, and the experience only got better from there.

First and foremost, a huge thank you to everyone in the kitchen. Their attention to detail, especially regarding allergens, was truly impressive. One of us has celiac disease, and Côte’s extensive menu made sure we had plenty of gluten-free options to choose from.

We started with the Cheese Soufflé and Seared Scallops—both were excellent, but if we had to pick a favorite, the Cheese Soufflé would win hands down. We expected it to be heavy, but it was surprisingly light.

For mains, we went with the Confit Duck à l’Orange, Sirloin Steak Deluxe, and Côte Burger (the burger is not gluten-free). All three were flavorful, but the duck and steak were outstanding—if you’re reading this and planning a visit, I’d highly recommend those!

On the side, we ordered Crispy Confit Potatoes and Green Salad. The salad was so fresh and delicious that we all agreed—next time, everyone’s getting their own! And yes, there will be a next time for sure.

Now, let’s talk about the real stars of the night: the desserts. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying one (or all) of them! We indulged in the Passion Fruit & Lime Leaf Crème Brûlée, Crème Caramel Royal, and Chocolate Mousse—each was so divine that we couldn’t pick a favorite. In fact, we’ve already decided that next time, we’re ordering them all again!

A special shoutout to the lovely lady who greeted us at the door and the gentleman who served us—both were incredibly friendly and professional. The service was top-notch, making the entire evening even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for amazing food, excellent service, and a dining experience that’s worth every penny, Côte Quakers Friars is the place to be....