The River Grille

4.1

187 Reviews

£26 to £40

Contemporary European

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:30 PM

Experiences are available.

Romantic
Good for special occasions
Innovative

With its lofty dimensions, exquisite wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the Harbourside, The River Grille is one of Bristol’s most elegant dining venues – famed for its superb steaks, vibrant ambience and unique setting.

And with musical entertainment in the form of live piano on Friday evenings and Sunday lunchtimes, it is easy to see why The River Grille is among the best restaurants in Bristol.

The River Grille’s menus showcase the finest seasonal ingredients, locally sourced and simply but deliciously prepared. Highlights include fresh fish and seafood – with specials that include the catch of the day from the nearby fishing port of Brixham – and deliciously tender steaks made from 28 day aged West Country beef, all expertly barbecued on a Josper grill.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
Contemporary European, British, Afternoon Tea
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:00 am Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Wed–Sun 12:30 pm–4:30 pm Sat, Sun 7:30 am–11:00 am
Phone number
0117 900 7844
Website
https://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-bristol-hotel/dining
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Pawel Mikolajczewski

Location
Prince Street, Narrow Key, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Neighborhood
Bristol
Parking details
The cost of the NCP car park next door to The River Grille is discounted to 50% for our diners, or £5, depending on which is cheaper.
Public transit
<br />
Entertainment
The River Grille boasts a traditional, modern to classical pianist every Friday night, Saturday we have a Jazz trio or duo and again on Sunday Lunchtimes we have a talented and lively modern pianist.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, High Tea, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Afternoon Tea
£25.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Relax and take in the sights of the Harbourside as you savour our Afternoon Tea in the chic modern setting of The River Grille restaurant. Served on gorgeous crockery, our traditional scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam, miniature cakes, and finger sandwiches are sure to delight.
Sunday Lunch
£29.00 per person
Multiple dates available
With its lofty dimensions, exquisite wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the Harbourside, The River Grille is one of Bristol’s most elegant dining venues – famed for its superb steaks, vibrant ambience and unique setting.

What 187 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1

4.1 based on all time ratings

4.1Food
4.1Service
4.1Ambience
3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

187 Reviews

PB
PennyB
Bristol
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 6, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
My sister and I love to come here when we meet up in Bristol. The menu is varied and all choices are good. The service is excellent and discreet. Sometimes, if we are lucky, there is a pianist. A lucky find and a good place to sit and watch people outside.
Is this helpful?
BJ
BigJohn
Cambridge
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Nice setting overlooking riverfront - friendly staff and pleasing atmosphere - good starters, but we had seafood main courses which despite good quality core ingredients could have been better - sauces didn't quite hit the mark. Otherwise very good.
Is this helpful?
CB
CathyB
Bristol
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Went for a Sunday Carvery, we were first to be served, the plates were cold and good tepid. We did mention this to staff on departure. Very disappointing as always had a good experience in the past.
Is this helpful?
JT
JmhTW1
London
19 reviews
2.0
19 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2018
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Nice location with huge windows to watch the world go by. Sadly a bit of building work outside, but nothing the restaurant could control. Service was mostly good. Unfortunately my fillet steak was rather over cooked and I was given an end piece which was falling apart (stringy and tough), rather than 1 decent piece of meat. If I’m going to pay £25 for 6oz of meat it needs to be a good cut, and cooked to order (medium rare not medium well). Replaced without question, but when the new steak had been cooked my mum had finished her main course. Not ideal, no offer of a coffee etc to compensate. Not likely to return.
Is this helpful?
D
Disappointing
Manchester
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely wonderful Well worth a visit Had an amazing time Xxxx
Is this helpful?
CM
CarlM
Bristol
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 8, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I ordered seafood skillet and honestly was worth every penny absolutely delicious dish.
Is this helpful?
GS
GaryS
Bristol
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
On arrival, kept waiting a bit to be seated, felt that staff could of acknowledged us at least ! Once seated things improved ( other than miserable looking waiter pushing my mothers seat back under the table when she was up on her feet talking-she is disabled! Which I thought was rude!) apart from that food was beautiful, lad on carvers was cheerful and accommodating and the waitresses and manager was outstanding. Very good overall, will recommend...will be back!! 👍🏼
Is this helpful?
AC
AnneC
Bristol
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very nice atmosphere and attentive service. The wine and the scallops starter were lovely. The veggie main course was interesting and tasty but not special, I would go for fish next time. Also had a children's menu which had to be requested from the server. I don't know if they had accessible toilets but the entrance was flat. Watch out for cobblestones in the harbour but that's not a reflection on the Grille House of course.
Is this helpful?
Y
Yeti
Bristol
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 18, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant is a must, they have never given us a bad experience, 3rd visit always spot on. Staff are very attentive and polite.
Is this helpful?
H
Hyacynth
Bristol
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
It was ok over all. The starters were superb, really good. The main courses were amazingly ordinary and disappointing. My steak was a medium rare fillet. It was accurately medium rare but strangely dry , almost as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp and it had very little flavour. I had a lemon meringue pie where meringue was wet and sloppy and the pastry was as if ready cooked from a supermarket. My companion had a slow cooked lamb shank which is usually an easy winner but again it was dry with a sauce which had been poured over it and then congealed. . A slow cooked lamb shank usually has the wonderful juices in which it has slowly come to fruition. The food came with minimal vegetables . Side dishes were ostentatiously expensive. As is the whole menu. We paid £180 for three people including the tip. Enough for a bargain weekend away somewhere. As a family we have dined in some amazing restaurants and understand the costs involved at times and pay willingly when the experience is special. But the whole way through this meal it was short of great. The waiters were friendly and attentive but far too eager to top up your wine glass. It became a nuisance and a pressure. Half a glass does not need topping up to the brim. To top things off for me I went to the ladies at 10.35 at the end of our meal . There is only one toilet for the whole restaurant. There was a cleaning person in the loo. spraying the most toxic and pungent fumes. Having entered this airless cubicle, two lungs full of Izal or what ever chemical obliterated all memory of the meal and the wine. At 10.35? The inference also being that I was not required on the premises any longer. The Maitr d' was charming and as friendly and helpful as he could be. 5 stars for him! The situation was lovely and we had a table by the window. However the experience did not in any measure add up to the lush advertisement online and was very very expensive at the price.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The River Grille is rated 4.1 stars by 187 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:30 PM

Experiences are available.

Prince Street, Narrow Key, Bristol, BS1 4QF

Additional information

Neighborhood
Bristol
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:00 am Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Wed–Sun 12:30 pm–4:30 pm Sat, Sun 7:30 am–11:00 am
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
Contemporary European, British, Afternoon Tea
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
The cost of the NCP car park next door to The River Grille is discounted to 50% for our diners, or £5, depending on which is cheaper.
Public transit
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Pawel Mikolajczewski
Entertainment
The River Grille boasts a traditional, modern to classical pianist every Friday night, Saturday we have a Jazz trio or duo and again on Sunday Lunchtimes we have a talented and lively modern pianist.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, High Tea, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-bristol-hotel/dining
Phone number
0117 900 7844

The River Grille

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

Afternoon Tea

Sunday Lunch

Menu

What 187 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is The River Grille restaurant rated?

Is The River Grille currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information