You have to give it to Bar + Block, they know how to look after families. We’ve visited the Bath restaurant on James Street West (next to Premier Inn) a couple of times before, and were back on this occasion to try out the new Autumn menu. Booked in for a 5.30pm Saturday dinner, we were greeted warmly, led past several other table with families enjoying their meals and coincidentally sat at the very same table that we’d had last time.
The younger children in our group were immediately given activity sheets to keep them happy while out super friendly waitress, Ella, took out orders for drinks and handed over the menus.
So far, so much the same as plenty of other chain restaurants. The big difference with Bar + Block was in the small things that matter to families and that Ella dealt with so well. So when the friend of your youngest only wanted a plain baked potato and butter, no problem, that was ordered. And when our oldest decided that instead of a main meal, she fancied a selection of side dishes, that was no problem either.
Even when the two youngsters left their seats to make a temporary den at the end of table by the window, the waitress simply smiled and handed them their drinks there. Small things, but they matter.
When it comes to the food, Bar + Block is very much a steakhouse – so not a lot at all for vegetarians and with a majority of the menu predictably based around steaks. Still, there were a few chicken and fish options, plus a couple of pasta dishes on the kids’ menu.
When the food arrived and the youngsters took their seats back at the table, we were very happy indeed with our choices. My medium rare 12oz spiral cut ribeye (£28.50) was perfectly prepared and served with chunky chips, samphire and a mushroom, red wine and pancetta sauce. OK, the sauce was nothing special, but the rest was superb. Elsewhere, my elder son described his charcoaled chicken (£15.50), chunky chips and charcoaled corn on the cob as “perfectly prepared chicken”, while my youngest made short work of his 8oz ribeye (£20.50) (he’s a growing lad) and his friend loved her plain baked potato.
Have you ever noticed that no matter how full you are after the main course, somehow the puddings still prove too tempting? Two Eton mess sundaes (£6 each), one triple chocolate brownie (£6.50) and one chocolate churros sundae (£6) later, and we were comparing notes on the meals – we were very happy – debating the choice between chunky chips and French fries, and debating when we be a good time for a return visit for breakfast!
A family meal out is often made a success by those small things that Bar + Block does so well. Add in good food, excellent service and enough puddings to keep us all smiling, and this visit was a definite success.
Find out more about Bar + Block in Bath by clicking here.