If you're in any way immersed in Bristol's foodie scene, Clifton's Bar 44 will be on your radar. Their Spanish Sunday roast platters have been the focus of my Instagram feed every weekend for the past few months and I've had very serious food envy.
Bar 44 was founded by two brothers in 2002 and since have grown organically into one of the leading Spanish hospitality companies in Britain, with restaurants in Cowbridge, Penarth, Cardiff and Bristol. Their Sunday roast platter is inspired by Spanish style tapas and offers a range of traditional Sunday roast items for sharing between two people.
There are three options available - 35-day dry aged picanha of Hereford beef, overnight roasted lamb shoulder or a vegetarian option with a celeriac steak. It's difficult to get a booking at Bar 44 for the popular Sunday special so when I saw a free table, I didn't hesitate to grab a seat.
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I didn't need to look at the menu either, the incredible Instagram food pictures are etched into my brain and I was after exactly that. On arriving, the staff were friendly and let me pick out my preferred table. I settled for an option with a window seat, which was perfect for a sunny afternoon.
After we were seated, the waiter talked through the menu and how the platters worked - explaining there are two main meat options that come with the same sides. The sides although served in tapas style are similar to that of a regular roast however some have a Spanish twist.
For £38 (serving two), the 35-day dry aged picanha of Hereford beef comes with Chorizo Yorkshire pudding, Jamón fat roast bravas potatoes with rosemary, garlic and thyme, Manchego cauliflower cheese, Hispi cabbage with jamón butter, roast carrots with honey and thyme and red wine gravy.
The food was quick to arrive, despite evidently being made fresh and came on various plates. There were individual plates also, so you can serve yourself up a roast from all the pickings.
I made sure to try some of everything and ate until I was ready to burst. The Yorkshire pudding was perfectly made with an excellent texture, not too crispy and not too soggy.
Although not usually a standout dish, I have to give an honourable mention to the red wine gravy which was absolutely delicious. I'd buy it by the bottle.
The cauliflower cheese was also delicious - the sauce was thick, creamy and incredibly cheesy. The honey roasted carrots were exceptional and the roast potatoes were also nice, although not as memorable as the other sides.
However, shocking to me was the disappointment I felt with the beef. Despite picanha joints being known for being especially tender, my offering was undeniable chewy.
I was surprised by how fatty the beef appeared when it was presented and my concern continued when I struggled to cut through a piece. I gave the benefit of the doubt and proceeded to eat a few pieces but it was honestly too chewy to enjoy.
I have read so many reviews of Bar 44's Sunday offerings and haven't seen any similar complaints and so I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that this was a one-off, which is sad as I was extremely excited to pay a visit to bar 44.
As disappointing as the beef was, I do think I'd return with the hopes that it was just a fluke; especially as the rest of the offerings were so good. For the price, I think the value for money is great too as it works out at £19 per person which is relatively standard for a highly-rated roast in Bristol.
