Bristol, Italian Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: It’s not fancy (wood banquettes and orange school chairs), but this small new Redcliffe Italian turns out “wonderful” fresh stuffed pasta – a USP in this country – that’s full of “interesting seasonal flavours”. The owners, behind Pasta Loco, are fast building a local empire, having opened a deli/café, La Sorella, two doors down from the premises in May 2019, followed by trattoria Bianchi in the old Bell’s Diner (RIP).

2021 Review: Bar Buvette (RIP) has been taken over by (chef) Cosmo and (ex-lawyer, nowadays front of house) Lily Sterck, who met at Bristol Uni and whose CVs include well-known London restaurants, St John and Luca. Local press reports say it’s agreeable, white painted looks and short menu of straightforward Mediterranean-influenced cooking (including pasta, charcuterie and ice cream made on the premises) make it one of the best local openings of last year.

“Always up to a high standard” and “buzzing at weekends” – the Brizzle branch of Carlo Distefano’s glossy national group has long been a consistent performer with “great food, and excellent decor”.

2021 Review: Taking over the Montpelier premises that for over 40 years housed the much-loved Bell’s Diner (RIP), this summer-2019 Italian yearling is from the team behind local hits Pasta Loco, Pasta Ripiena, and La Sorella. Top Tip – very competitively priced lunch deal.

This much-loved neighbourhood restaurant on the border between Westbury Park and Henleaze recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, with the founders having come a long way since their days as floorlayers; their “very pleasant” Italian food can now also be consumed on the heated, covered and fairy-lit terrace spawned during Covid times.