Ian Waller and his family enjoy an evening meal out in Bath
Bath is spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out, with restaurants, cafés and diners seemingly around every corner. Even so, we always enjoy the chance to try somewhere new, particularly when the whole family is coming along.
On a recent balmy summer’s evening, my wife and I headed to Brasserie Beau with our two teenage children for a family meal out.
The restaurant is part of Hotel Indigo Bath and is understandably popular with visitors staying at the hotel. However, it is open to everyone, making it another welcome option for Bath families looking for somewhere special to eat in the city centre.
Our first impression was a warm and friendly one. Brasserie Beau is larger than it initially appears, with a main dining area accompanied by several smaller side rooms, a bar and outdoor seating. This gives the restaurant plenty of character, with different spaces for everything from drinks and informal meals to family celebrations.
We began with a suitably varied selection of drinks. I opted for a local beer, while my wife chose an espresso martini, and a Kentucky Tea cocktail for our daughter. There is also good choice of non-alcoholic cocktails, an ever-more popular option these days.
My wife declared the espresso martini the best she had ever tasted, while the Kentucky Tea was also very well received.
To begin, we ordered homemade bread with whipped salted butter and a portion of house-marinated olives. The bread was excellent, while even the butter made an impression, piped into a wonderfully elegant and slightly funky swirl. The olives had a delicious spicy kick and were quickly polished off.
Our starters included the poached salmon and chargrilled corn salad, and the beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese mousse, dill and pea shoots. Both were excellent. The flavours were gentle and carefully balanced rather than overpowering, making them a very positive indication of what was to come.
Throughout the meal, our waiter Adam was friendly, patient and knowledgeable. With four people considering different parts of the menu, his calm advice was appreciated and added considerably to the experience. Good food matters, of course, but charming and attentive service can make an enjoyable meal feel particularly memorable.
For the main courses, my wife’s sea bass – the fish of the day – was perfectly cooked and full of flavour, accompanied by a side of green beans and fries. It was a beautifully prepared dish that allowed the fish itself to remain the star.
The beer-battered haddock and chips was also extremely good. Sometimes it is the classics that work best and this was fish and chips just about as good as it could be: crisp batter, well-cooked fish and all the familiar accompaniments done properly.
The Grilled Native Lobster divided opinion slightly more. The flavour was very good, but the presentation felt a little uninspired compared with some of the other dishes. It also benefited from ordering something green on the side. Nevertheless, the lobster itself was enjoyable, with the addition of fresh lemon helping to bring out the flavour.
Around us, the restaurant was filling with the voices and accents of visitors from across the globe. It was a lovely reminder of the international appeal of Bath and of how fortunate we are to have such an extraordinary city on our doorstep.
There was still room for pudding – although, in our family, there is nearly always room for pudding.
My daughter chose the apple and cherry crumble with vanilla custard and declared it the best crumble she had ever tasted. This did not go down particularly well with her mum, who prides herself on producing a superb homemade version, but it was certainly high praise for the Brasserie Beau kitchen.
The tropical Eton mess, served with mango sorbet and meringue, was very sweet but provided an enjoyable final burst of sugar at the end of the meal.
The hazelnut and coffee crème brûlée was the only real disappointment. It looked appealing but lacked the depth of flavour we had expected, particularly after so many strong dishes earlier in the evening.
That small reservation aside, Brasserie Beau provided a very satisfying family meal out. The setting is attractive without feeling overly formal, the menu offers plenty of choice and the service from Adam was excellent.
For families with older children and teenagers who appreciate being able to choose between familiar favourites and something a little more adventurous, Brasserie Beau is well worth considering.
