I'm not sure about you, but on payday day I like to celebrate the momentous occasion by having dinner somewhere I have never eaten before. This month it was the turn of The Rummer Hotel in Bristol. I have been for drinks here a few times and I was looking forward to trying their food.
We had booked a table for 830, which is a mistake on a Tuesday night! We entered the Rummer down one of the passageways of St Nicholas Market which was like a scene from a Dickens novel in the fading light with a chill in the air from the late September evening. This was in stark contrast to the warmth and glow of the restaurant. However, I did feel a sense of emptiness as we were the only people who were about to eat. And there was only two other tables having a drink. Is this normal for a Tuesday?, we asked. "we were full from 6-8" the waiter explained. So obviously it is an after work destination.
The food arrived promptly, I had a Salad of Mackerel with pickled Ginger. The dish was fresh and vibrant, however the decorative reduced balsamic was heavily used and did over power the delicate Mackerel. The main course was delicious, I opted for the Lamb with polenta cake, mushrooms and capers. I was intrigued to try the combination of the Lamb and capers. It worked... Well. The dish was rich yet had a freshness from the acidic capers and the Lamb was cooked to perfection. The addition of the earthy mushrooms complemented the other areas of the dish.
The meal was great, however I always get slightly paranoid when there is no one eating in the restaurant, so I would recommend trying The Rummer but make sure you book before 830!
Bon Apetit!