There’s no denying that North Street’s Curtis & Bell is hard to miss, with its bright orange exterior and decent-sized front decked area. The premises at 232 North Street that was formerly home to Cafe Sazz was transformed into this French-style patisserie in the second half of 2014: a bright and airy venue that serves some of the best pastries and cakes that Bristol has to offer.
It’s not all about cake, though: the drinks menu includes a reasonably priced selection of teas and coffees (my decaf latte was very well made indeed), along with juices, wines and beers.
If you’re after something to eat, you’ll find a variety of breakfast options, sandwiches, parfaits, ice creams and patisserie options – again, all at fairly standard Bristol prices.
Walk into Curtis & Bell and you’ll be faced with a long counter that runs almost the entire length of one side of the venue: the white, black and orange theme continuing and meshing well with the exposed brickwork behind.
What’s sure to catch your eye, though, is the range of madeleines, croissants and other ambient pastries on the counter (under glass domes rather than in the open air, I was pleased to see), as well as the chiller that features a wide range of different patisserie options – all made freshly each day and using fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
While the lemon tart was tempting and the almond cake almost made it onto my plate, I couldn’t help but be swayed by the Nutella cheesecake with a crème brûlée topping (£3.85): a generous slice with a perfectly crumbly base, a rich and smooth filling and a creamy topping flecked with fresh cream, chocolate and a shard of nut brittle. Rob Curtis – previously the pastry man at Byzantium – clearly knows his stuff.
Curtis & Bell is open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 8am till late on Thursday through Saturday and from 11am to 3pm on Sundays. Take a look at their Instagram feed for plenty of cake porn – if you’re looking for authentic, French-style patisserie from a local independent, the south of the river is the place to be.