At the end of one of Bristol’s most picturesque streets and next to a beautiful Victorian shopping arcade, the Primrose Cafe & Bistro is one of my favourite spots in Clifton Village. It is a cafe by day and restaurant by night, and does both roles with aplomb.
Until last night I had only ever frequented Primrose Cafe during the day when it is still a cafe. If you can find a seat outside, it is a fabulous place for people watching and stopping friends as they walk past.
Their tables and chairs spill right out onto the pavement, some slightly precarious thanks to the uneven surface, but this all adds up to the charm. When the sun is shining, seemingly a rarity in Bristol during August, the best spots are under their large blue canopy, watching the world go by.
Inside, the large piece of wood at the bar is rumoured to have once been the rudder of a yacht which went down in the Caribbean. The owners clung to it, were washed up on a shore three days later, and then decided to use it to launch their new business venture in sunny Clifton.
There is not a huge amount of space on the ground floor, but there is an upstairs section and during the evening in the summer months, the bistro spreads into the outside area by the entrance to the Clifton Arcade, which if you haven’t been yet is well worth an explore during the day – full of shops selling everything from wools to old vinyl records.
As it was not the warmest of summer nights, my uncle Hugh, aunty Bridget, cousin Jeremy and I sat inside, still under the golden stars which decorate the aquamarine ceiling. Tasty sour dough bread was served free of charge, and as an extra treat there was also an amuse-bouche served soon after our order was taken, a first for me in a Bristol restaurant. Our treat was a creamy vegetable soup served in an espresso glass.
Mussels with cider cream and tarragon continued the creamy theme, served in a thick creamy sauce. Replacing the espresso glass was a finger bowl which proved very necessary after hungrily digging into the fleshy mussels.
For my main course, I chose chanterelle risotto with peas and tarragon which was presented beautifully and tasted just as good. I do not tend to eat risotto very often, but when it is as tasty as it was here, I always think I should order it more.
To finish my three course table d’hote menu (£18.95), I had gratin of strawberries with elderflower sorbet. The strawberries were served surprisingly hot, a novel sensation, and the very opposite of the sharp elderflower sorbet.
Brilliant cafe by day, brilliant bistro by night, the Primrose Cafe is an absolute delight.
Primrose Cafe & Bistro, 1 Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Avenue, Clifton. 0117 946 6577.
