The Botanist

The Botanist really isn’t my kind of place to drink. It’s shiny, polished, crisp and slightly pretentious! But that said, it is a nice place that sells decent booze and food and will definitely please some.
I went last Tuesday and the bar area was buzzing with a big group of people, but apart from that it was pretty empty.
Décor wise it is very light, with high ceilings and lots of nice ornaments, but it’s all very pristine and a bit soulless.
It does have a really nice courtyard that would be nice for the summer. But you’d have to go inside, which would put me off using it.
I’d like to give it 4 stars for what it is, but I don’t like it, so it’s a 3!

Totally cute place. Surprised no one has Unilocaled it yet. Lucky me!
So, a large party of us (eight) stopped by here for dinner together before going out for a hen do. They were gracious enough to put up with us, even though we were a bit loud. The ambiance of this place is nice. It is sort of tucked away on a side street with a nice front patio area and a sort of cozy cottage interior. Food options were good, with a rotating board of fresh seafood and optional cooking styles and sauces. There is also a more traditional menu with meat and pasta options so everyone is happy. Some of the seafood options are a bit pricy, but there is something for everyone on the menu. Portions are a tad bit small, but overall everyone was happy with the meal and wine selections. Our poor server managed to keep up with us and didnt kick us out, so that was a bonus. We were there on a Friday night and we noticed that by 9pm the front patio started getting a bit loud and full up with people drinking and smoking, but if you stick to the main restaurant area all is well. Definitely worth a visit.

Bristolians seem to relish that the old HaHa Bar died and went to Bad Slow Service Hell, and the Botanist has replaced it in what I consider to be excellent style.
There’s a choice of seating — al fresco casual, bar snacky, and plush restauranty. Twice I’ve eaten in the plush restauranty area.
First time — test evening aka Free Meal. The staff seemed a little on edge as you’d expect, but definitely chilled out towards the end of the evening. I had a dolcelatte and pear tart to start, with a hazelnut vinaigrette and spicy rocket leaves. Fillet steak next, cooked to perfection — and given one of my companions had his well done while mine was medium rare, shows that the staff are excellent with the timing. Red wine and roasted shallot sauce with the steak was delicious.
Second go, Sunday afternoon. I fancied a lighter meal and chose the chargrilled chicken salad — mainly for that same hazelnut vinaigrette from before. There were myriad veggies and fruit in the salad, all prepared one or two different ways for variety, and the textures were superb. Also, I appreciate a salad you can get a bit of everything on your fork, rather than picking bits and pieces in a pot luck stabbing session. No dessert for me but my companions has the roast lamb and pork and gave them the big thumbs up — better than the Cowshed, which is a big call!
Overall, it does seem that sauces and dressings are most definitely an area where this kitchen excels. The rest of the food is faultless, but the wine list stands out as unbalanced. I appreciate a restaurant that chooses not to go for the big names, but I’d expect to see a good dry Riesling on the list. Too heavy on the Sauvignons for me! And while the wine is clearly selected to match the food style, there are many meals that call for more Pinot Noir and at least one good old Barossa style shiraz.

A new addition to the Triangle, taking the place of Bar HaHa The Botanist has been welcomed with open arms as a venue for the maturer party-​goer trying to avoid the student assemblage that swarms Clifton!
A fantastic outdoor venue, inside offers a contemporary stylish feel but does get rather warm.
The drinks menu is extensive, offering a great selection of spirits, wines and beers. There are some great deals and offers throughout the week that are worth making the most of.
Food menu is promising, although I haven’t tested it thoroughly. Slightly disappointed at the launch party with the odd selection of food and canapés that weren’t circulated very well. Since I’ve shared a Meditterrean Mezze with two others, which was advised by the waitress as a good ‘bite to eat’ but when it arrived, it wasn’t really enough for three and the selection wasn’t executed as one would have hoped. The dips didn’t seem to be homemade and the pâté was extremely bland with the other flavours overpowered by the ricotta.
Also worth noting that on a busy night i. e Saturday restaurants drinks seem to still be served by the main bar so it can take awhile to get your order.
Suddenly realised I’m starting to sound pessimistic don’t want to be as I do think this bar is a much needed addition to the triangle and has a great atmosphere. It just wouldn’t be my first choice as a dining destination.