Bristol stalwart, Spyglass, the bar and restaurant based in the city’s floating harbour at Welsh Back, is celebrating its 10th year with a makeover. Now open again, serving a new BBQ-based menu created by executive chef Freddy Bird (who also oversees menus at the Lido and Glassboat restaurants), Spyglass will be welcoming diners throughout the Summer, with winter closure pencilled in for the end of September.
The menu is based around BBQ, much of which is prepared on the new rotisserie grill, and with features such as a crab tank and ice-cream display, and salads prepared in the open counter kitchen, the experience is designed to be an interactive one. Sharing is encouraged with dishes such as sticky garlic chicken wings, and the selection of interesting salads including spicy chopped salad. Main courses – under the headings of Burgers & Steaks, Fish, and Shells & Bones – include a signature Spyglass burger (£8.50), a 28-day aged rib-eye steak (£19.50) or whole Devon crab (£13.50) and are served with French fries and a green salad. The menu ends with crowd-pleasers such as Banana Split and Knickerbocker Glory, or a selection of Freddy’s home made ice-creams, including an innovative homage to another Bristol classic, Harvey’s Bristol Cream.
As with the Lido restaurant and Glassboat, all chicken is free-range, and all fish and shellfish from sustainable sources, as well as from the South West, where possible.
An approachable drinks list has been put together, with choices under the headings of ‘nice’ or ‘gert lush’ available by the tumbler or carafe. Pitchers of cocktails are available and Sangria is on tap – ideal for enjoying on warm days, particularly if tables are still available under the trees on the dockside, where Spyglass has a large al-fresco terrace.
Spyglass offers relaxed drinking and dining with two spacious, airy dining areas. An open ‘forge’ fireplace takes centre-stage, and a new bar offers counter-top dining. There’s plenty of seating for groups of all sizes, and larger parties can even take over one or both of the dining rooms. The terrace offers al fresco seating in the sunshine.
Reservations are taken for tables of 8 or more, these can be made on 0117 927 7050, or by visiting www.spyglass.co.uk. Opening times: Monday – Sunday, from midday until late. Kitchen open midday – 4pm daily, also 5-10pm Monday – Thursday, 5.30 -10.30pm Friday & Saturday.
Find Spyglass on the Bristol Bites Directory…
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