The Bristol Trader — Restaurant in Wales

WOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED !!! We visited this place a few times last year and this year excellent service food outstanding my last review had 5 stars ,,, but visited yesterday with friends as we told them how good they were and felt so disappointed, what a let down don’t know if They have had a new chef but everything was so different from end of a July!! smaller plates less food quality of food not as good, whilst I appreciate during pandemic they may have had to curtail their menu but asked for a starter menu which is stated on the Internet and she said we are doing the sides as starters if we want how can you have mushroom sauce is a starter or an egg,? I had steak onion baguette it was very salty couldn’t eat it all a little handful of salad on the plate where is in July there was half a plate full of salad the baguette good quality and steak and onion served beautiful, my husband had corn dog chilli, and that was dry hardly any filling! Friends had scampi they said was not the best they have had either. Normally this place is so busy, I even booked a table when we arrived there was three people in there, … they have an outside sitting area for drinks and food if wanted this was also empty. Don’t know what has helped to you Bristol Trader But what a disappointment we won’t be...

Disappointed. Went in for a meal Saturday evening, the place is tidy and welcoming enough and the staff friendly. After sitting down and being left with the menus, someone came to take our order. When I was asked I was told that that item wasn’t available today, wish someone had said earlier it wasn’t available then I would have chosen something else. I was then offered after looking at the menu again something similar but it would cost extra, I agreed as I couldn’t decide on anything else. When the food arrived it was ok, but I have to say nothing special, also it was missing the sauce it should have come with, which apparently they didn’t have, I then asked someone for mustard as only mayonnaise and ketchup on the table, to be told they didn’t have that either. During the meal the staff then allowed people drinking in the bar to sit in the restaurant part, these people were laud and swearing, so much for a quiet meal. After the main course we were given the dessert menu, and we placed our orders. After my partner was given hers we waited about another 5 mins for someone to come and tell me they were out of the sauce for my dessert and would I like to reorder, at this point I was fed up and just said no. I would highly suggest thinking of eating elsewhere...

Arrived this evening at 19:45 only to be told they had finished serving food, girl wasn’t one bit interested awful reception and informed us it was the chef’s call, what an absolute joke you either serve food or you don’t. The same happened Monday night when we were later but the other girl was lovely so accommodating and actually went in to the kitchen and asked if they’d do another couple of meals and there was no issue whatsoever and another couple arrived after us and they also ordered food. Had it even been 20:00 I’d kind of understand but not at 19:45 just crazy we’ll not visit again for the same reason!

UPDATE: Gave the Bristol Trader another try tonight as the food was delicious on Monday night and we once again received the warmest welcome from Sarah she was superb from start to finish couldn’t do enough for us. She was also very apologetic for what happened the night before and informed us it wouldn’t happen again and that they’d now be serving until 20:30. Please do not hesitate to eat or drink here as already stated the food is delicious and service was top class both nights. Thanks Sarah for the service and a very enjoyable experience on...