Bristol - Bravas

I've wandered past Bravas on Cotham Hill many a time now, and yet have always strolled past without a second glance. For some reason, it always looked too grown-up, and tapas always seemed to be more student friendly at Las Iguanas, round the corner. Until today. It's a buzzy bar/restaurant with an authentic spanish feel, all of which you can get the gist of by just peering in. But oh boy, the food was good.

We each had a lime and juniper berry G&T, which looked terribly pretty with lime rind curls and juniper berries in amongst the ice, but alas, I have no photo. In fact, I have only one photo of the meal, as I was enjoying it far too much to get my phone out. The one photo I have is of the grilled lamb with this hazelnut and parsley sauce, which was just great.

However, the dishes that absolutely stole the show and which, if you do go, you must get, are the fried aubergine with molasses, and the Iberico pork. The aubergine came cut up like little frites and had this sweet honey and molasses sauce all over it, which was peculiar, but amazing. Oh, but the pork. The waiter had warned us it would be good - something to do with a different curing and cooking process etc - we ended up ordering another plate.

It did all slightly add up and so was on the expensive side, but we figured that if we hadn't got drinks, and had chosen fewer dishes, it would have been just perfect.

J