The Olive Shed — Restaurant in Bristol

Welcome to a really mixed review. First off I want to caveat this review by saying, I'm not sure how typical this night was foe the restaurant , but I can only review what I can review... So arrived and was greater by a lovely and enthusiastic waitress and the place was absolutely buzzing inside, out side were a few spare tables but again lots going ok Food looked and smelt amazing as we went to be seated upstairs all good so far. We then were meet with a I'm sorry but and a list of three or four things on the menu were off. One of which was prawns which every table seemed to have on our way in, clearly a popular dish but alas at 7:30 we were to late already, disappointing but hey it happens... We ordered a selection of food and made a star eith the bread that come over, 4 church's of forcatchia and a couple of slices of some kind of utility loaf, some old with a small amount of balsamic added to it- I say small amount as there was not enough oil and balsamic to deal with the small amount of bread, oh well maybe just we are eating to much dip? Took ages for the next bits of tapas to come which when they did we started to feel a little cheated ! Now the calamari was really good, fresh light batter not over cooked and whole squid not just rings - nice. (5 star for that) The lamb kebabs (3 very small 1 inch ish peaces) for £10 was shocking - could have went to the local kebab house and got better and more for less. But it's the place right and the experiance. Wrong. The tomato and whipped feta - more like a runny emotion was missing ingredients - no sunndried tomatoes as discribed and then we were told the anchovies we orded had be run out, however other larger groups who order st the same time got there's! . By now we had been spoken to by the manager who apologised and explained the fridges had broke and they were short on food, seems like they were trying to eek out what they had at the expense of quality. £8 for less than 2 tomaotes chopped on a plate and not even a spoon of feta ! As a good will they brought us a "on the house squid" how much of that can one really eat (two of the same dish) but a nice touch. At the same time the platter of meats turned up. 6 slices if salami 2 of palma halm some crisp things ad a pice tag of £16 - photo attached. By now I kicked in to grumpy complaint mode, to my surprise the manager agreed with me and even referenced if he would have got that in spain(where he was from) he would have been complaining. We were told it was the owner pinching profits and that he and the chef had been trying to do the best with what they had etc etc how true i cant say but I can only take stories as I find them but it seems that when staff open up like this, they are as fed up as the customers. I also heard another table of four complaining about the food similar to myself but being British they didn't want to make to much of a fuss. To the managers credit, he did discount some of the dishes, that he agreed were poor but in honesty the meal should have been on the house, it was that poor value. I'm sure those who didn't have food run out on them were really happy that night as for us. It ruined a romantic dinner for a special birthday. Left an expensive "I have been taken for a ride here" taste in the mouth and deep upset that staff who want to do a good thing, are feeling pressed by owners- several other waiting staff we spoke to said the same thing independent of each other.

My message to the owners, don't reflect this review on your staff but use their talents, they have lots, as we discovered chatting with them, to improve the quality which you should be known for, there are lots of good small eatery close by. My worry is if the quality goes you will be out of business fast, which would be a shame. More than happy to come back as a mystery dinner and be proved wrong on this one, and always happy to change a...

We went to the Olive Shed on Sunday 29th June 2014. I'd been there before and shared a seafood Platter with my friend last year - we had prawns, mussels, squid, anchovies, crab, white fish and other bits and it was great -it came with bread, lots of delicious tastes, lots of food for two hungry people loved it - cost about £20 for the platter - excellent value for money. This time three of us ordered the seafood platter to share and there was only a tiny soft shell crab, six anchovies, a piece of cod and a small pepper stuffed with mackerel. The board it was served on was small and the space between the meagre portions and very poor selection was filled with a miserable handful of salad. there were three very small pieces of bread with it. I thought it was a rip off - where had the lovely mixed platter gone? I felt very disappointed. It was tasty but definitely not value for money at all. we had to order extra bread and were still hungry, yet we'd paid over £50 (including drinks) and were not full. I wont be eating there again. We felt ripped off and unhappy. We should have gone to a pub instead. Such a shame for a formally good eatery to scrimp on portions and alienate former customers. And when did it become ok to serve drinks in a washed out jam jar? the lip on it was thick, not made for mouths but for lids. This may be a trendy idea - obviously someone there thought it would be cool but its not. Glasses are easier to drink from and not that expensive. When I said that I wanted a glass instead of a jam jar the waiter smirked and gave me a look as if to say that I was boring, 'get with the fashion you uncool person'. If I dont want to drink from a thick lipped jam jar, I shouldn't have to put up with bad attitude from the staff. Not the sort of service I expect at all. What happened to accommodating customers? Not...

My partner and I first found this place in autumn two years ago. They didn't have any tables available inside so we sat outside - they provided us with blankets. It was so lovely! I had pheasant as I'd never tried it before and it was so tender and tasty. Their chef also liked to mix drinks so invented a hot cocktail for my partner which was brilliant. I swore to go back.

Sadly, upon returning, I wasn't so impressed. They've set up an ugly marquee next to it which spoils your view - such a shame as it's a really beautiful setting and a cute little building. Oh, there's also ample parking nearby (next to the SS Great Britain).

The food was just ok this time. I ordered steak but it came cooked very unevenly - medium one end and basically raw at the other. They also tell you it doesn't really come with anything so we ordered chips (not cheap) but in fact it came with a large sweet potato croquette and whole grilled tomato with pancetta wrapped around it. Very tasty but rendered the chips to be a little too much. The chips also came out well after our meal so we'd almost finished by the time they arrived. Not sure what happened there.

Two courses, one side and one round of cider for two people set me back £80. For that I really think they could do a lot better.

Oh and they also stick a 'discretionary' 10% onto the end of your bill. I always tip anyway but I found that...