The Green Man - Sunday Roast Review in Bristol
Posted on: 2016-03-03
Our rating:
I've eaten my fair share of Sunday roasts at a multitude of Bristol eateries over the past few months, but the fact you get all this for £10 unquestionably ranks as one of - if not the - best value for money versions of this British classic.
The Green Man pub in Kingsdown, Bristol might be housed in a marvelous Grade II listed building, but the Sunday roasts it's currently dishing up are emphatically Grade A.
Tucked away in the middle of a residential area, The Green Man is a Dawkins Ales boozer and, from the minute you walk in, it enshrouds you in its warm, welcoming, country-pub style hug. Its traditional feel is, however, also refreshingly offset by an element of kitschy cool and retro quirk, most notably with plenty of film posters and classic old board games dotted around.
Naturally, a fair share of the pumps are allocated specifically for Dawkins Ales - six, in fact - and my pint of Bristol Blonde was in tip-top condition and slipped down a treat, while there are also plenty of ciders, wines and spirits to whet your whistle if those are your tipple.
The Green Man has already established something of a formidable reputation for its Herculean-sized and mouthwateringly delicious burger nights which run from Wednesday to Friday and are cooked by the mighty gastronomic duo Tim Peacock and Dan Beswick of The Bear Grillz, which now resides permanently at the pub.
On the Sunday me and my culinary partner in crime visited, it was evident that their roast dinners were also garnering enthusiastic word of mouth by the simple fact that every table was reserved, a few of which were already populated with animated diners fervently tucking in to their massive plates of Sunday deliciousness.
And make no mistake, massive plates they most certainly were. Meats available on our visit were topside of beef; honey, lemon and thyme leg of chicken; and nut roast.
Having heard much praise for, but being cautiously wary of, a nut roast, I decided to throw caution - and my most likely unfounded dubious gastronomic prejudices - to the wind and went for it. Two inch-thick medallions of exquisitely, perfectly spiced nut roast patties fell apart effortlessly with the touch of my knife, fusing a masterful balance of slightly dense, impeccably seasoned textures and studded with cashew nuts for an extra, flavoursome crunch.
Enthused by the sight of the fantastic feast before me, my palpitating paramour swiftly threw herself with energetic gusto into her topside of beef; large but thin slices of faultlessly cooked, slightly pink beef, packed with unctuous flavour and melting dreamily on her increasingly salivating, tantalized tongue.
Served with extremely generous portions of parsnip crisps, curly kale, broccoli, carrot and swede mash, star anise and cinnamon pickled red cabbage, heavenly roast potatoes and a textbook Yorkshire pudding, it was a belt-looseningly colossal, tastebud-exploding masterclass in precisely what the classic British Sunday roast is all about. Diverse and complimenting flavours utilizing only the best seasonal produce and packing an unforgettable culinary punch. It's what the word epic was invented for.
I've eaten my fair share of Sunday roasts at a multitude of Bristol eateries over the past few months, but the fact you get all this for £10 unquestionably ranks as one of - if not the - best value for money versions of this British classic in the city. And none of this served-on-a-board nonsense either.
Landlord Phil Sinnett - an affable, gregarious blend of publican and Captain Jack Sparrow - is hospitality personified, welcoming old and new customers with an infectiously warm enthusiasm that makes you feel as though you've been wining and dining there for years. And though they were clearly working their socks off in the kitchen, sweaty-browed Bear Grillz chefs Tim and Dan were bringing out their mouthwatering masterpieces themselves and engaging spiritedly with the punters and ensuring they were enjoying their food.
Unsurprisingly, they all were and responded in the satisfyingly affirmative with their feedback. Homey, cosy, vibrant, unpretentious and overflowing with quirky, characterful charm, The Green Man is a truly cracking community alehouse that also plates up a legendary Sunday roast that should without doubt be the next one on your list to try.
5/5
Reviewed by Jamie Caddick, with pictures from Su Anderson, for 365Bristol.com - the website where local information matters
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
