The Black Bear
Ratings
- Overall
- 4.4 stars
- Food
- 4.6 stars
- Service
- 3.9 stars
- Ambience
- 4.1 stars
- Alfresco dining
- Child friendly
- Cover charge
- Disable WC
- Disabled access
- Group bookings
- Open bank holidays
- Parking
- Private dining
- Quality wine cellar
- Reservation required
- Smoking area
- Special dietry
- Veggie friendly
- WiFi
Restaurant Reviews
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Better portions now!
Rating - Overall: 3 Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambience: 3
23 Jul 2009
As I live locally I popped into the Black Bear for a beer and bite to eat. Previously I have said that the portions were too small.
On this occaision the portions were certainly improved, in fact they were very decent.
The service is welcoming in a pub style way and the menu is ever changing which is enough to keep me coming back in time after time.
The roasted red pepper and halloumi was fantasic and the trimming it came with were filling too.
Their portions for the sausages were also generous.
The quality of the food has been consistently high since the pub re-opened as the Black Bear and this visit was in keeping with the recent renaissance.
The prices were very good with the roast peppers coming in at £6-95 and the dsausages around the same price too.
Visited: July 21, 2009
What I ate: Roast Stuffed Red Peppers.This review has no responses yet
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Good but pricey for pub food
Rating - Overall: 3 Food: 4 Service: 2 Ambience: 3
12 Jun 2009
I live near the Kings Arms (as it is now) and pop in from time to time. I have eaten here twice now since it's relaunch.
Both times I have really enjoyed the food served, however, at £10 for a homemade pub burger and chips it is expensive, especially when the "chips" are homemeade chunky chips and you only get six.
Still, the presentation is good and the burger is excellent.
As an aside, a friend had the BBQ pork belly and said it was great too but with only one stip of pork and a (very) few chips, immediatly had to go to Miss Millies afterwards as he was still really hungry and was disappointed he had paid a substantial amount in the Kings Arms.
Visited: May 5, 2009
What I ate: Burger and chipsThis review has no responses yet
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Reopened - decent pub food
Rating - Overall: 3 Food: 3 Service: 2 Ambience: 3
25 Apr 2009
This place has recently reopened as the King's Arms by the people behind The Picture House. The pub has the same stylish decor as it's previous incarnation and is well decorated throughout. The new menu offers typical pub dishes - fish and chips, steak plus a few others like mussels. They have made a point of naming their head chef on the menu which indicates they are serious about delivering decent food.
I opted for the fish and chips - a sustainable cod which was really quite nice, the batter was light and crispy and the triple cooked chips were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. Although they were unseasoned and delivered in 'chip jenga' presentation. The pea puree (aka mushy peas) tasted of vibrant fresh peas.
Overall good quality pub food but not much more, however at a tenner a plate you can't complain. service was friendly but it did take around 35 minutes for the food to arrive.
Visited: April 24, 2009
What I ate: cod, triple cooked chipsThis review has no responses yet
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Great Place
Rating - Overall: 5 Food: 5 Service: 4 Ambience: 5
17 Nov 2008
Went there with some friends, all five of us had a fantastic meal, the steaks were cooked to perfection for 3 of us, and the other two, including a 13 year old enjoyed the chicken dish that they had. Service was a little slow, but then it gave us a chance to have a drink and a catch up and a really good atmosphere to boot. Although an infrequent visitor to Bristol, I will definitely be making another reservation on my next visit
Visited: November 8, 2008
What I ate: Porterhouse (Rare) Fries and plenty of red wineThis review has no responses yet
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Black Bear
Rating - Overall: 5 Food: 5 Service: 5 Ambience: 3
16 Nov 2008
Very good meal! Very helpful as dining room was fully booked but they found us a nice table on the balcony!
Waiter very friendly and gave very good service!
Excellent steak cooked to perfection - Rare!
Visited: November 15, 2008
What I ate: Porterhouse steak with baked potatoThis review has no responses yet
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Class Act!
Rating - Overall: 5 Food: 5 Service: 5 Ambience: 5
28 Oct 2008
I'm not just talking about the entertainment. When we saw that Stefan Grossman was playing at the Black Bear and we saw that they had a restaurant we thought we would make a night of it. Our dinner in the New York style steakhouse was great on many levels. the waitress was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, the food was top notch with the steaks being the stars of the table and the Key lime pie is highly recommended. We really enjoyed the relaxed but classy ambiance of the place and the set up for the concert made us feel like we were in an upmarket New Orleans blues club. It was a intimate world class event with one of the worlds greatest finger guitarists. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Black Bear and will be returning!
Visited: October 18, 2008
What I ate: new york strip, chips and keylime pieThis review has no responses yet
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Great Party! Great Food!
Rating - Overall: 5 Food: 5 Service: 5 Ambience: 5
8 Oct 2008
My best friend invited me to the Black Bear for dinner in the steakhouse and for drinks afterwards in the bar. If you had asked me what was to be expected I would never have guessed. The outside was deceptive to what was inside and I assumed it was just another pub but how wrong was I. The decor was stylish, sort of an unpretentious Goldbrick House. The candle lit restaurant was warm and relaxed and the food was delicious. I never thought a 'steakhouse' could be this good. The service was friendly and very helpful in explaining the non standard cuts of meat on offer. I had the double cut pork chop which was recommended to me and it was the best piece of pork I have ever eaten, not to mention huge!
After dinner we were going to have a couple drinks and move on but the music that the DJ was playing was fantastic as was the atmosphere of the bar so we stayed on. Overall we all had a great night!
Visited: September 27, 2008
What I ate: Pork Chop, Key Lime Mojito PieThis review has no responses yet
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Faultless Steaks
Rating - Overall: 5 Food: 5 Service: 4 Ambience: 5
7 Oct 2008
We dined at the Black Bears New York steakhouse this past Saturday night and it was fantastic! Everyone at our table had steak that was cooked just as requested and was delicious. Try the gratin potato as your choice. The service was very informative and efficient. The New York cheese cake was the best I have ever eaten. Highly recommended!
Visited: October 4, 2008
What I ate: porterhouse steak with gratin potato and saladThis review has no responses yet
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