The Rummer Hotel
All Saints Lane, Bristol, Avon BS1 1JH
t: 0117 929 0111
therummer.net | @therummer | www.facebook.com/TheRummerHotel

The Rummer Hotel (now just a bar and restaurant) has sat on my ‘to – try’ list for far too long. I’ve enjoyed coffees, cocktails and wine there but had never tried their food. A Sunday shopping trip a few weeks ago presented the perfect opportunity to give them a go.

As anyone who has enjoyed drinks at The Rummer will know, the atmosphere is divine. Sophisticated and elegant without being stuffy or overly formal. A wood fire burns in the fireplace and there’s a nice mix of sofas, tables and high tables and stools, giving drinkers and diners the freedom of choice. Everything was just nicely chilled out. We were able to sit back and relax, enjoying the soft jazz in the background, the food, wine and company.

Whilst we were very tempted by the starters – which included a home made leek and potato soup as well as fish and meat options, we decided to head straight for the main course and both ordered the beef.

To wash down our food we ordered a bottle of french white. Something light enough to stop us falling into a complete food coma after our meal but sturdy enough to stand up to the beef.

The food when it arrived was fabulous, both in looks and in flavour. The beef was very pink, had a great taste and was very tender. The vegetables were seasonal and interesting. Roasted beetroot and kale both made an appearance. It’s refreshing to not just have the standard carrots and broccoli I cook at home. For me, eating out is about having something different!

The yorkshire pudding really stole the show for me, large and puffed up, clearly homemade, looking and tasting great. Potatoes were crispy on the outside and fluffy in the centre and the gravy was not only rich and flavoursome but came in a separate gravy boat so you could be as generous or frugal with your gravy as you wished!

By the time we finished I was way too full for a dessert of my own, my boyfriend on the other hand found he still had room and ordered a jaffa chocolate mousse (with an extra spoon for me!) A dark chocolate mousse flavoured with scotch whiskey, topped with a mandarin jelly. This tasted wonderful. Just enough whiskey for the flavour to come through without it overpowering the chocolate, the mandarin jelly cut through the other rich flavours with fresh and zingy citrus tones.

So all in all a delightful roast, home cooked with care and attention. Service, presentation, atmosphere and food were all wonderful and the prices were reasonable too; main courses were £10.50 each and there’s a three course fixed menu on Sundays for just £17.50. It’s hard to think of anywhere else in Bristol where you can get such a well cooked roast, in such an elegant setting for the same price. A fabulous lunch – I can’t fault it.