Wondering what the premises that is currently boarded up with black boards between Costa and Rise on the Triangle will be when it opens? Wonder no more, as Bristol will be gaining another new steak restaurant in the form of CAU.
With Steak Of The Art and The Ox both having opened relatively recently in the city, it’s good to see more and more places dedicated to great steaks on the scene. Previously the only real option was The Cowshed, but now diners hungry for a slab of beef have more choice than ever.
CAU currently has resturants in Cambridge, Guildford, Blackheath and Amsterdam, with another new venue opening in Tunbridge Wells this February. It is the more wallet-friendly younger sibling of high-end steak chain Gaucho, and came to life in 2011 with the opening of the Guildford restaurant. Their aim is to capture the spirit of Buenos Aires in their restaurants, wanting to replicate the city’s “vitality, passion and sense of fun”.
The menu looks pretty good too. Small plates such as salt & pepper squid or Yerba-smoked beef can be ordered as a starter or tapas-style to share as a main, with burgers, sandwiches and “big plates” also available as main courses. Their real focus, however, is their steaks – all of which are served with chips or salad, and larger cuts than those listed on the menu are available on request.
Choose from classic cuts such as rump or rib-eye, or be more adventurous and choose the lomito, tapa de cuadril or the asado de chorizo – a sirloin steak in a churrasco marinade of smoked paprika, chilli flakes, garlic and parsley. Additional sides are also available (I love the sound of the truffled macaroni cheese!), along with intriguing desserts such as their corn flake ice cream sundae.
Prices seem pretty reasonable for a steak restaurant, and their other venues appear to have pretty decent reviews on TripAdvisor. We’re looking forward to trying it for ourselves…