Ian Waller enjoys lunch with a business guest at one of Bath’s friendliest venues
I first discovered Bardacious on a family outing and loved it straight away. It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you feel welcome, with a light, spacious interior, friendly staff, great food and some of the best cocktails in Bath. This time, though, I was back for something a little different — a business lunch with a client — and I was curious to see if Bardacious could deliver in that setting too.
I arrived a little early and made the most of the calm atmosphere to catch up on emails over a cup of tea. The WiFi was spot on, which makes it an easy choice if you need a spot to work before meeting someone.
While chatting with the waiter, I learned that Bardacious is a popular lunchtime stop for parents with prams, thanks to the generous space and the fact that kids eat for free all day, every day — a great touch for families.
When my guest arrived, he immediately commented on the airy feel of the place. We settled in with a non-alcoholic lager each and looked through the menu. Our waiter suggested going for four to six dishes between us and sharing, which turned out to be a great idea.
We ordered sesame tuna crudo, birria quesadilla, pork carnitas, aubergine halloumi, confit duck, a pan-fried picanha steak and Bardacious fries. The dishes arrived one by one as they were freshly prepared, which gave us time to talk business in between.
Everything we tried was delicious — fresh, full of flavour and more filling than it looked at first glance. Some dishes were a little messy (definitely a ‘napkin at the ready’ moment) but it didn’t take away from how much we enjoyed them.
What really stood out was the service. Our waiter struck just the right balance, keeping an eye on us without interrupting, topping up drinks and clearing plates as we went. It made the whole experience relaxed and easy, which is exactly what you want whether you’re catching up with friends, feeding the family or, in my case, talking business.
Bardacious feels like it works on every level — somewhere you can happily bring the kids, enjoy a cocktail with friends or impress a client over lunch. I’ll definitely be back again soon, and next time I think I’ll make it an evening visit to try more of those cocktails.
