Nestled in the middle of Bristol’s heart, between the fantastic central library and the brand spanking Harbourside developments, is a restaurant with a menu so diverse on a day to day basis you would be forgiven for thinking the chef was Michelin starred. With themed and gourmet evenings, it’s natural to assume that Bristol has sired a new soon-to-be celebrity chef. On closer inspection, The City Restaurant - The City of Bristol College’s restaurant - is the breeding ground for many a great chef; a training ground for all our aspiring chefs, maître-de and front of house staff.

The setting is contemporary and modern, with high ceilings and a sense of occasion. You are fully briefed that the staff are trainees but I have had a great deal slower service in some of the city’s most exclusive restaurants; to my mind the service was punctual, friendly and professional.

The set lunchtime menu was a three course delight. I personally chose a fabulous scallop dish with a pea puree and bacon, served with the flair and presentation of top class restaurant. Bristol is obviously training up the next class of top class chefs; fabulous! For my main course I opted for a delicious roast breast of duck, cooked perfectly (my partner had some mouth-watering salmon), followed by an incredible pecan pie. It was all cooked by the college’s studying chefs and was utterly delicious. The best news was that it was all for a staggeringly cheap £7.50! Yes, £7.50!! An absolutely scrumptious steal.

It’s fantastic that the City of Bristol have the means to train their catering staff in an entirely real environment so that their chefs and front of house staff already have significant experience under their belts before they head out to find work. A 3-year catering qualification is a solid foundation in the restaurant trade and one which all-aspiring top class chefs would massively benefit from. The students are learning from the very best, from the kitchen to the front of house; the teaching staff have taught at the city’s very best restaurants and bring with them a wealth of considerable experience to impart to their students. If the food we tasted was anything to go by, these trainee chefs are ready to take the city by storm.

Lunch:
Two course £5.95
Three course £7.50
Thursday Gourmet Lunch £9.95 (three courses, cooked by NVQ Level 3)

Dinner:
3 courses and coffee from £19.95
Look out for special gourmet and themed evenings throughout the year

Loyalty card available - come for lunch five times and get you’re sixth lunch free

To reserve your table call 0117 312 5000 or email cityrestaurantcg@cityofbristol.ac.uk

www.cityofbristol.ac.uk