KIBOU Japanese Restaurant & Bar - Clifton — Restaurant in Bristol

Headline: The food for the most part was pretty good, service was good but let down by the way they handled (or lack of) the indecent (4 year old and broken glass in mouth) we had.

The incident: we (3 adults, 2 children, 1 baby) were all eating away and mid meal we hear a glass breaking at the table. We look around to find a drinking glass had shattered when my 4 year old daughter was drinking from it. We look up to see pieces of glass been her lips and a cut on her cheek with blood dripping out. Soon after a staff came and took the parts of the broken glass that we picked out of my daughter's hand away. After removing the glass from between her lips and seeing to the cut, the waitress comes over and ask if my daughter was ok. I was busy attending to daughter and wife said "I'm sure she's fine" the waitress left. I don't know if they looked over at any point but we had to ask the staff for a plaster for the cut on her cheek. Once daughter settled down I was about to sit her back down but was surprised to see broken glass still at the table and water from broken glass still on the table. There was no effort made by staff to clear the glass, check if any shattered glass contaminated the food on table or proactively offering first aid. Over all very poorly handled by staff. This could of been prevented by not giving young children thin fragile glasses to use.

The food: Takoyaki - on the whole was cooked well, if a little too crunchy (but I liked the crunch) but missing some umami. Dashi used could be a little stronger in flavour Fried pumpkin - cooked and seasoned well, would of preferred if it was a little thicker Yellow tail sashimi - fresh but the flavour was lacking. Maybe poor cut of fish or poor grade of fish Mackerel sashimi - good Scallop sashimi - good & fresh Seared salmon - nice flavours but could of been seared at a slightly higher temp Spider roll - generally nice but the soft shell crab was on the skinny side Chicken katsu - cooked well and the curry was not too heavy. Chicken was cooked well. Ikura nigiri - the ikura was a bit too gloopy and clumped Ramen - the noodles was not separated when cooking and clumped together (like the way pasta does after draining and not rinsing). Sent it back and second bowl the noodles were bit over cooked. Avoid the ramen, better ramen can be found in Bristol!

Conclusion: if they handled the incident I'd give a 4 * but due to lack of handling the incident it's a one star. Just shows good it's not just about the food/ service. Would we go again? Yes but would bring our own cups for...

The food here is absolutely amazing unfortunately my whole experience was completely let down by the poor service. I came on a Friday night so understandably the restaurant was full and the waiting staff were busy, however when we were sat down it took 10/15 minutes to have our drink order taken so we ordered food, cocktails and water at the same time, after pouring us all a water each our water bottle was empty. Our sushi platter and sides arrived before our cocktails and we were left without a drink for about 15 minutes it was really hard to get the waiting staffs attention to ask for more water. When our cocktails arrived the waitress knocked a couple of the drinks, which went all over my friends leg, my bag and scarf, I appreciate mistakes happen and sometimes it can’t be helped, she apologised, said our drinks will be taken off, asked if my bag was okay I replied no and she said the manager will come and speak with us. The manager came and dropped food on our table however never checked in, throughout the whole meal no one checked in on our meals or to see if we needed any other drinks as soon as a platter was put on the table the staff quickly walked off before we had a chance to ask for anything, we also put every empty plate on the edge of the table to make it easier for the staff to clear, however the table wasn’t cleared at all throughout the whole course of the meal, by the time we finished eating we only had our first cocktail because it was so hard to get the waiting staffs attention, when I asked for the bill it took 20 minutes to bring it across and the same waitress went to the table next to us 3 times after I asked for the bill to the point I had to ask for a second time. The drinks were still on the bill so I went to speak to the manager and also mentioned the service that we received, her response was “let me take the drinks off the bill for you” no apology or empathy for the terrible service, she then came to our table with the amended bill and said if I were to take my bag to a laundry service I can come in with the receipt and get the money back, I tried to explain it’s not so much the bag however the contents of the bag inside are wet and damaged, she said again to drop in a receipt and clearly wasn’t “hearing me”. It’s such a shame because the food was amazing however really let down by the service, Ive worked in hospitality for 12 years running restaurants across the country and would never ever have my customers treated the way in which we were, very...

Stepping into KIBOU Japanese restaurant in Clifton is like stepping into a vivid daydream conjured by the most inspired of culinary minds. It is, quite simply, now firmly my favourite place in Bristol. The food is very, very good. No, scratch that. The food is so delectable it borders on divine.

Start with the soft shell crab tempura. Imagine a crustacean cloaked in the lightest, crispiest batter, as if it’s been kissed by angels before landing on your plate. Then there are the duck bao buns. Oh, the bao buns! Soft, pillowy clouds encasing rich, succulent duck that melts in the mouth. The pumpkin croquettes deserve a standing ovation all on their own: golden, crispy exteriors giving way to sweet, creamy interiors that taste like autumn in a bite. The list goes on, each dish a revelation, each bite a marvel.

The stock options like sashimi and sushi are perfect. Perfect. It almost feels redundant to mention them, so flawlessly do they execute these staples. Fresh, vibrant slices of fish that sing with the clean, unadulterated flavour of the sea. Rolls that balance texture and taste with a precision that borders on obsessive.

Next, let’s talk about the venue. Beautiful. Creative. Cool. Friendly. It’s a space that doesn’t just invite you in; it wraps you in a warm, stylish embrace and makes you never want to leave. Perfectly located in trendy Clifton Village, KIBOU feels like the beating heart of this vibrant community. The décor is a masterclass in modern aesthetics with a touch of Japanese elegance. It’s the kind of place where every detail has been thought out, every corner has a story to tell.

The clientele? Refreshingly elegant. In an age where casual has become the norm, people actually dress up to come here. It’s as if KIBOU casts a spell, making everyone want to rise to the occasion, to match the restaurant’s own sophisticated charm. This, especially in Bristol, is nothing short of a miracle.

The cocktails are good and interesting, each one a delightful concoction that complements the food perfectly. The service is efficient, and let’s face it, a well-oiled machine. Staff glide about with a grace and competence that’s almost balletic.

I’m struggling to find an issue. Really, I am. Ah, there it is: it’s hard to get a table. But perhaps that’s not a flaw so much as a testament to KIBOU’s brilliance. It’s a place so exceptional that everyone wants a piece of...