Ian Waller and his family enjoy a return visit to Bar + Block Bath
This wasn’t our first visit to Bar + Block in Bath – in fact, with a family evening meal and a couple of breakfast having previously been enjoyed there, we knew pretty much what to expect from our latest visit.
So why go back again? Well, the whole family enjoyed our previous evening visit, the food and service had been excellent, and we’d been told about some new additions to the menu for the Autumn. So off we went, booked in for a table for five at 5pm on a Friday evening.
You can find Bar + Block in Bath just along from the Odeon cinema, with a spacious, modern interior, a funky booths which are just perfect for a family. Being regular-ish customers, we knew what Bar + Block do well, and that is steak. However, before we got to that, there were the Olives (£3.25) and Crispy Gnocchi Bites (£3.25) to enjoy, plus an Asian Crispy Beef starter for me because I was a bit on the peckish side. The boys meanwhile both had Veggie Sticks with tzatziki from the Young + Hungry menu (£6.50 for a main, dessert, drink and the veggie sticks).
Coincidentally our waiter, Lucy, had also served us on our last visit, which was great for us as she – along with all of the team we’ve met at Bar + Block – was superb – friendly, knowledgable and great with the children.
With the starters delivered and drinks – wine for my wife and I, Pepsis all around for the children – we played a couple of games we’d brought with us and chatted about exactly what gnocchi was. The starters were fine, which is about right for basic starters, with my Asian beef being both generously proportioned and flavoursome.
Of course the highlight of a meal out is so often the main course and ours promised to do the job. While the boys chose the Beefburger and fries, and Grilled Chicken Salad (with the salad replaced by chips), my daughter went for an 8oz ribeye (£16.50), my wife the all new vegan Thai Green Curry (£9.95) and me another new addition, the Surf & Turf (£23.95), made up of an 8oz sirlion and a lobster tail.
Really we should have stuck to what we knew worked, and that was the steaks, which were, as ever, perfectly cooked and wonderfully tasty. The children and
I were certainly all very happy, with the accompanying triple cooked chunky chips and halloumi fries (another new item on the menu) proving popular all around.
Top marks to Lucy again here for her suggestion of the Argentine malbec to accompany my steak – it was a perfect choice.
Unfortunately, when it came to the Thai Green Curry, this really wasn’t up to the same standard and will be one to avoid on future visits.
Did we have puddings? Of course we did – it was a family meal treat out! This meant ice cream for the boys, Sticky Toffee Pudding (£5.95) for my daughter, Salted Toffee Apple Crumble (£5.95) – another new menu item – for my wife, and Lemon & Clementine Cheesecake (£5.95) for me. The best comment was probably made by the clean plates all around – enough said really.
We really enjoy Bar + Block – it’s that classic combination of good food (as long as you stay off the vegan curry!), excellent service, a good atmosphere and setting, and decent prices. And being right next door to the cinema, it makes for a perfect meal and a film night out.