Expected little, got less

Rating - Overall: 2  Food: 2  Service: 2  Ambience: 2

Hanneke2000
Rookie Reviewer
Member since May 11
Rating: 0

2 May 2011

We went here with a group of about 15 people on a Saturday night, quite a large group, admittedly, but whether you're with one group or 15 separate people, that shouldn't change the service in my opinion. I had never heard anything particularly good about the Severnshed, so my expectations weren't high to begin with, but the evening certainly confirmed my low expectations.

The Severnshed is a place that can't make up its mind whether it's a bar or a restaurant and consequently does neither well. We spent about 45 minutes in the bar waiting for everyone to arrive, and that is what it felt like: a waiting room rather than bar. I can imagine that on a nice day, it might be nice to sit outside on the waterfront for a few drinks (I'm trying to find positives), and being the designated driver, I liked that they had a selection of mocktails.

As for the atmosphere of the place, the bar's music was too loud for the restaurant. There was a lot of waiting staff scurrying about, but in a chaotic way, which did not help to create a relaxed atmosphere. As far as I could see, none of them were really looking around to see if there was anyone in need of anything and I thought they all looked rather disinterested, not a lot of smiles.

There was one lady, who I assume was the manager, who stood with her arms crossed surveying the restaurant, looking somewhat like a displeased school headmistress. I felt particularly sorry for one couple who were sat underneath the bar's coffee machine that regularly and loudly spewed steam for cappucinos. I did quite like the boat shed decor.

The food was utterly disappointing. There wasn't particularly much on the menu that captured my interest, a lot of it sounded more like lunch dishes. I wanted one of the specials, but when I ordered, it turned out they were out of monkfish. The person next to me wanted the beef carpaccio for a starter, but they'd run out of that, too.

The person next to me went for skewered tiger prawns as a starter, but the tiger prawns had shrunk considerably, more to king prawn size, as HonestEater said. I ended up ordering a peri peri half chicken with cole slaw, which was alright, but definitely not spectacular. Nando's does more and better for less.

The person next to me ordered the lamb loin and got a very empty looking plate with the lamb loin stacked on a couple of carrots and he said it wasn't particularly hot either.

My partner had cod fillet wrapped in pancetta served on mussels and clams in the shell in a creamy sauce. The pancetta had been crisped to within an inch of its life, making the cod that was wrapped in it bone dry, and the creamy sauce was bland and watery. The waitress only asked us if we wanted another drink when she first took our order.

The only thing that looked quite decent were the fire sticks some people in our group ordered, but I didn't ask anyone what they thought of them. They're a house specialty according to the menu.

Overall I thought it was poor quality food, disinterested service, in a prime location, but totally overpriced (12.5% "discretionary" surcharge!). Perhaps it is better at lunch time, but I'm not going to find out.

Visited: April 30, 2011
What I ate: Half peri peri chicken

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Avoid this place

Rating - Overall: 1  Food: 1  Service: 1  Ambience: 2

HonestEater
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Mar 10
Rating: 0

3 Jan 2011

Servernshed has changed hands. What was once a good independent restaurant that served great fish is now part of the Coal chain. Our Tiger Prawns in lime and chilli were King Prawns with bottled chilli sauce. The Tuna steak was not fresh and cooked til dry. Haddock overcooked.

The service was unfriendly and poor. We did have have nice wine.

There are too many restaurants in Bristol of a high quality to suffer the poor quality of food here. Avoid it.

Visited: January 2, 2011

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A pleasant experience

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 4  Service: 4  Ambience: 4

MrsB
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 2

26 Apr 2009

Had a lovely meal here. Atmosphere was great (although my husband thought the music was a little on the loud side) and the waiting staff were attentive despite being incredibly busy. Food was tasty and well presented, and just enough for you to feel pleasantly full. Cost-wise it's a little on the expensive side but I would still definitely visit here again in the near future.

Visited: April 25, 2009
What I ate: Charcuterie platter, monkfish & tiger prawn curry, mint chocolat

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A Little Tired

Rating - Overall: 3  Food: 2  Service: 3  Ambience: 4

Stoogio
Foodie
Member since Mar 09
Rating: 0

1 Apr 2009

Gone down the pan in recent years, I think. Remember going there soon after it first opened & it was pretty dear (for them days!) but the quality of ingredients was very good, mostly organic as I recall. Now, it is still pretty dear & the quality is pretty shoddy.

Had the set lunch at £9 on my last visit & my friend and I were very disappointed. Service was slow even though there were plenty of staff, they spent most of the time having a chat & fiddling around with the cutlery. Mackerel pate starter was OK but two tiny bite sized pieces of over cooked toast didn't go far & pate far too overpowering to eat on its own. The pasta, which was supposed to be sundried tomato & olive, was seriously dry & not seasoned - saw some microscopic black & red flecks on it, very unpleasant to eat.

Still, lovely location & great to sit on the terrace with a bottle of wine on a summers evening but the food is not great.

Visited: February 15, 2009

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What a Disappointment!

Rating - Overall: 2  Food: 2  Service: 3  Ambience: 3

goodkid82
Foodie
Member since Feb 09
Rating: 1

8 Mar 2009

I have been to the Severnshed three times in the past year. The first time I went was with my partner and his parents. It was a warm evening in the summer and we sat outside. There was a lovely view and we were on the river. Our waiter was impeccable and very helpful. I had the duck and noodles with hoisin to start. The duck was tasty but the noodles were dry. It could've used a bit more sauce just to at least moisten it. I had the fish and chips for a main, which was very nice. For dessert, I had the bitter chocolate marquis and blueberry compote, which was delicious. The next time I went to Severnshed, we opted for the set early dinner, which was ok. We had the chocolate and blueberry dessert again and it was just not the same as the first time I had it. I just went to the Severnshed today for Sunday lunch and it was horrible. Firstly, my food was cold. Secondly, the roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding were burnt! The Yorkshire pudding was stodgy and soggy. Thirdly, the veggies were underdone and very hard. Our waitress did not speak English, which made ordering difficult. And she kept pushing us to order drinks, bread, extras, etc. The shed mess was very tasty. The vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce is worth the mention. The evening ambience (especially outside) is nice with the soft lighting but the inside is very clinical and sterile (especially during the day). Overall, I am so disappointed with the food (although the puddings are nice) and service at Severnshed that I will not be returning ever again.

Visited: March 8, 2009
What I ate: duck & noodles with hoisin, fish and chips, chocolate marquis an

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Great value lunch menu

Rating - Overall: 3  Food: 3  Service: 3  Ambience: 3

iainpb
Gastronome
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 3

7 Mar 2009

With a few hours to spare on a Saturday we were lured in by the £5 lunch menu but opted finally for the 2 courses + drink for just £9.25 special lunch menu. The special lunch menu includes a reasonable selection of starters and mains and comes served with a soft drink, a house wine or a Peroni.

The breaded brie starter was nicely creamy served with a fruit and cinnamon compote which i was initially sceptical of but in fact turned out to work quite well. The small piece of flat dry bread served with it was somewhat uninspiring and added little to the dish.

The belly of pork was not as soft as it could have been but was nice served on a bed of bubble and squeak which had strong individual vegetable flavours. The red wine jus added some much needed moisture but tasted little of red wine.

The house white included in the deal was perfectly pleasant and complemented the pork nicely. Service was friendly and efficient and the £9.25 lunch represents genuinely good value for money.

Visited: March 7, 2009
What I ate: breaded brie with fruit compote, pork belly with bubble and sque

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Pretty Setting - Great Food

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 4  Service: 3  Ambience: 5

KatieKoo
Connoisseur
Member since Jan 09
Rating: 2

5 Jan 2009

Visited here with some friends for an early evening meal (after a heavy day's shopping!!) Restaurant was freezing cold, but the nice wine warmed me up :o) Food was tasty but service was a bit lacking- took ages to get drinks and had to ask a few times for the waitress to bring them and then she forgot one of them so had to wait even longer for that. We got our starters before we had our drinks!!

Great menu with lunchtime/early evening offers!

Food was tasty and there is a good selection. I would go back!! (with a cardigan!!)

Visited: July 23, 2008
What I ate: Hallumi cheese, Fish and Chips - YUM!

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Dinner with Friends

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: —  Service: —  Ambience: —

andydonut01
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Jan 09
Rating: 0

4 Jan 2009

A cracking little place to meet up with great food and even better cocktails. The location and atmosphere make it a great date or celebration venue.

Visited: April 13, 2008

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Quick meal

Rating - Overall: 3  Food: 4  Service: 2  Ambience: 3

charlotte24
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Dec 08
Rating: 1

16 Dec 2008

I went for a quick evening meal early on a sunday evening, we only had main courses and desserts. The service was average with our waitress not understand a great deal of english, the food was above average but only just. My shock came with the size of the portion of sticky toffee pudding!! it was enought to feed a family of 4. I felt overfaced to say the least.

Visited: November 23, 2008
What I ate: Goats cheese main and sticky toffee mountain dessert

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Worth a visit

Rating - Overall: 3  Food: 3  Service: 3  Ambience: 4

Thediner
Gastronome
Member since Oct 08
Rating: 2

27 Oct 2008

Been here a few times, I like the restaurant it has a nice feel to it and great cocktails from the bar.

Food is pretty decent nice menu with some good dishes.

This place is the kind of place you have a good meal but is easily forgettable try next door :)

Visited: April 4, 2008

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Magic mezze

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 4  Service: 4  Ambience: 4

sinky
Foodie
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 2

22 Sep 2008

A visit for a celebratory lunch, sat on the deck area overlooking the waterfront on a sunny day, it sets the tone for a lovely time. Choosing from a selection of 'light bites' from caesar salad, charcuterie platter and various mezze, the food was good and comes with a well dressed salad. The only thing missing from the fish mezze was some bread so I ordered seperately but the mezze content of smoked salmon, poached trout and rollmop herrings was quite lovely. Good attentive service, very enjoyable.

Visited: September 22, 2008
What I ate: Fish mezze

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Great place for a good lunch!

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 4  Service: 4  Ambience: 4

RWhite08
Connoisseur
Member since Jul 08
Rating: 3

14 Jul 2008

I took a friend visiting Bristol to Severnshed and decided on the basis of our lunch, they loved the entire city. Our waiter was good humoured and attentive, we sat right on the water, and enjoyed a brilliant lunch (Lunchtime special). I've never visited in the evening but it's a must for lunch!

Visited: April 17, 2007

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Friday Lunch Club

Rating - Overall: 3  Food: 3  Service: 3  Ambience: 3

MrDee
Foodie
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 1

26 May 2008

Severnshed is a regular venue for Statler & Wardorfs Friday Lunch Club (Aqua and Hotel du Vin also). We've been turning up here for years for reliable food and a bottle of Sancerre. Certainly a restaurant to be visited if you've not been. Shame they are no longer accepting Invitation Diners cards otherwise we'd be there more often. A good safe bet...

Visited: May 2, 2008

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