This is not our latest review of Spyglass, read Becci’s Spyglass revisited here.
Spyglass on Welshback
Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB
t: 0117 9277050
w: www.spyglassbristol.co.uk
A casual business lunch on a Friday – some teammates and I decided to discuss upcoming projects at work over a boozey lunch and some nice food. Not wanting anything too formal we opted for the Spyglass on Welshback – the barbeque boat, what could be more appealing than some scrummy food straight off the barbie washed down with a couple of beers.
We arrived and were sat down promptly and handed some menus. The restaurant was cold – really cold in fact for one of the few sunny afternoons in June, the fleecy blankets (just 1 per table) which were provided in case you got cold were not novelty but necessity!
Service was slow – too slow for a restaurant which was less than half full with four staff visible on the restaurant floor. When the waitress came to take our order, she didn’t mention or give us any information on the lunchtime offer advertised on the billboard outside (we had to read it through the window of the restaurant). Between us we ordered a portion of lamb koftas and here of the lunchtime specials: a mixed grill, Mediterranean bean salad and sardines with couscous
The wait on the meals was okay – not as long as the wait for our orders. I think its fair to say that everyone felt somewhat disappointed with the lunchtime specials, my sardines were dry shrivelled and somewhat flavourless, the cous cous was nice enough but fairly bland.
The Mediterranean salad looked fairly nice, however only half of it was eaten – it too was lacking somewhat in flavour. The mixed grill looked fairy meagre, the meat over cooked and dry – not the juicy succulent servings you would hope for from a barbequed mixed grill. I think it was fair to say that the chips were the best thing about all three meals.
Neil’s lamb koftas (he’d ordered them before and knew they were good) stole the show. They looked and smelled great and the portion size was much more generous than those of us who ordered off the lunchtime special.
All in all it was disappointing. I’ve eaten there before about a year ago and can remember being underwhelmed then also. A real shame as the barbeque factor is novel and would make for a really interesting dining experience – if done better. Not somewhere I would recommend or hurry back to.
That’s a real shame – I’ve not yet made it to Spyglass but have heard great things from others! They were publicising a new wood-fired pizza oven a few months back which I was keen to try, can’t see anything about it on their website, though!
Em
I have had enjoyable meals at the Spyglass, but the last couple have been thoroughly disappointing, and it’s off my list until I hear reports its improved. The last time I was there, the service was slow, the “tomato and red onion salad” was literally just a sliced beef tomato and a few bits of onion and basil (for £4.95!), and the fries were cold and stale. I complained about the fries and got… a slightly warmer, but still stale bowl. To be honest, even Nando’s does a better job of the kind of food the Spyglass does.
Hi Alex – thanks for leaving a comment.
It was a real let down, its such a cool concept the whole barbeque boat thing I think is a really good idea. Shame that food and service weren’t up to scratch
Thanks, Gem x
thanks Em, might still be worth a go but probably if you’ve got a voucher / special offer on. I think there are better places to try though unfortunately
Gem x
Went to the Spyglass on Thursday 16th and Sunday 19th this month. Really disappointing food and service. Real let down as it was my favourite place to go last summer. I don’t know whats happened but they need to up there game!
Hi Faye thanks for the comment, maybe a couple of lost customers and disappointed reviews will be enough to get them to shape things up again!
thanks again for leaving a comment, Gem x
I’ve never had great service at the Spyglass.
It got worse everytime I’ve been
I don’t want to be disappointed by it but I am
Hi Lucy – thank you for the comment.
Know what you mean, the feedback seems to be that everyone really wants to like it, almost like we’re all willing them to do better. Whenever I have a bad dining experience always end up hoping that I might have just been unlucky and that other diners have had lovely food and service. Sadly with the Spyglass this doesnt seem to be the case. As I’m sure you can see from lots of comments on this post already several of our readers have also been disappointed. :-(
Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
Gem x