Berwick Lodge

We went to Berwick Lodge for a late Valentine's Day Sunday lunch. The food was delicious and the staff very courteous. The dining room was quite loud, though the atmosphere was good. That horseradish sauce was so strong we joked it needed a health warning, but it certainly cleared your nose! The chocolate tart was delicious too.

We both chose the tasting menu for dinner on Tuesday to celebrate my mother's 87th birthday, and she had the matching wines. The food was exquisite. The staff were fabulous and attentive to the details, and they made us feel welcome and cared for. We felt like willing victims of luxury! We highly recommend this restaurant.

The staff were all very nice, and the scones were superb, but the afternoon tea was a bit of a letdown for the price: £36, or £46 with bubbles. The sandwiches were plain and really basic, with hardly any meat. The other bits were okay, just a bit meh. I love a good tea and have tried everything from local cafes to the Ritz, but this one didn't match its price or the venue. It was a Christmas present for my mum, and she was underwhelmed too. A bit of a shame, because the location is lovely and the restaurant decor is very nice.

For my wife's 40th birthday, I wanted somewhere a little more upmarket where we could dress up a bit without it feeling strictly formal. This was just right. The place is beautiful, with an elegant, well-decorated restaurant, and the food was spot on: delicious, well cooked, and good-sized portions. There was a choice of tasting menu, a la carte, or brasserie menu, and you could mix the options if you fancied different dishes. We didn't feel rushed, and the staff were lovely, welcoming us and looking after us really well. They all wished my wife a happy birthday, and the chef even put a birthday message on her dessert. I'd recommend dining here; it was a nice change from the usual places in Bristol.