The Bridge Cafe at Avon Gorge Hotel

With a view looking across the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge (which turns 150 next week, fact fans), and a stunning terrace overlooking the Avon Gorge that people flock to in droves, The Avon Gorge Hotel’s stylish Bridge Cafe is celebrating winter with a brand new menu.

Despite it being a busy Saturday night in the crowded bar part of the Hotel, in the restaurant area diners are afforded a peaceful and stylish ambience to enjoy a tasty three-course dinner, with a menu filled with dishes inspired by French and British classics… with a few twists.

While we deliberated over the menu, I sipped a very elegant glass of pinot grigio, while my husband had a good old fashioned beer. And then for starters, he chose the Five Spiced Duck and Duck Liver Terrine (£6.95), while I kept things simple with the homemade bread, oils and butter (£1.50). The duck terrine was served with plum chutney, celaria remoulade and brioche, and presented beautifully. And while a starter of bread might seem dull to some, those people clearly haven’t tried this bread! Which is deliciously moist, fresh and beautifully simple. Just as bread should be.

For our main courses, I chose the Homemade 8oz Beef Burger with Hand-Cut Chips (£11.95), and my husband picked the Chargrilled West Country 8oz Sirloin Steak with Bearnaise Sauce and Hand-Cut Chips (£19.95). While a beef heavy table, remember this was divided between two people! The burger was juicy and thick, with just the right balance of lettuce and tomato to complement the meat. And although I’m not personally a fan of thick-cut chunky chips, these were very light and fluffy inside.

After all that, we were feeling pretty full, but found room to share the sorbet, with a scoop each of the lemon, mango and raspberry. Each was fresh and had tiny chunks of fruit in, which was a nice touch, and the raspberry in particular - although offering a bit of a bite - was a really nice way to round off a meal. But if you’re choosing the sorbet and torn between which flavour, I’d strongly advise a scoop of each as they set each other off perfectly.

We loved the fact so much of the menu is homemade on the site, and that much of the menu assures us the ingredients are local, so diners can be reassured of the provenance of their meals and of the low food miles. You can certainly taste the quality.

The Bridge Cafe is open daily for everything from tea and cake to a three-course dinner. For more information and to check out the menu, visit the website.