Mmm, edible treasure!
I love the phrase “hidden gem”; it makes me think of pirate ships and fairy treasures and all sorts of other romantic things.
Bristol is full of such concealed riches, not least a huge selection of restaurants, bistros, tea shops, bars and other eateries, many of which are tucked away up back alleys and known only to a handful of loyal regulars.
I’d give you some examples but my knowledge is woefully lacking; despite the seven years I have lived in this great city I rarely eat anywhere more exciting than Wagamama or Pizza Express.
That is all about to change, however, thanks to a friend who suggested that we go out to eat once a month with no agenda but to try somewhere new.
So my question is this: what hidden gems have you discovered that we can add to our list of places to try?
I’ll be reviewing each new discovery here on the blog, so do check back, and let me know what kind of information is important to you when choosing a restaurant.
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Dragon Kiss, Bristol
Dragon Kiss, 71-73 Whiteladies Road, 01179 731081
We started our quest on Whiteladies Road in Clifton on Saturday and, after wandering about perusing menus for a few minutes, eventually decided on Dragon Kiss, which serves a range of food from across Asia.
My first impression was that the place was dead; we almost didn’t go in because we couldn’t see anyone inside, and it was only through hands cupped over the glass front that we noticed movement at the back.
Even once we were seated there were less than half a dozen tables filled, but those diners who were around were all Japanese or Chinese – a good sign for an Oriental restaurant I always think – and when the food arrived our choice proved a good one.
The generous plate of Pad Thai I chose contained just the right mix of succulent shrimps, beautifully flavoured pork, noodles cooked to perfection and a pile of crushed peanuts served to one side, allowing me to decide how much I wanted to add.
I washed it all down with a cold Japanese Asahi beer, a favourite of mine, ordered from a drinks list as varied in country of origin as the food menu.
My friend had the vegetarian Pad Thai which was good – although she nabbed one of my shrimps, so I think she might have had a touch of food envy – and a couple of diet cokes, which brought the total bill to a very reasonable £20.
In all, it was a lovely lunch, even if the atmosphere could have been a bit livelier. The décor is a strangely attractive fusion of American diner and Hong Kong bar, and the layout is cleverly done to divide the enormous space into more intimate segments.
I imagine that it’s the kind of place which comes to life once the sun goes down, and I’d like to come again at night and start the evening with cocktails.