Located in Bristol’s city centre The Ox Bristol offers a mysterious experience. With just a small logo featured above the door it’s not until you walk downstairs and enter the intimate, seductively lit restaurant that you are aware of what you’re in for. The decor has a vintage vibe, but there is a definite air of sophistication and it feels like the perfect place to impress your guests. The room has wood panelling with carved detailing, the ceiling is a striking red, and there are impressive antique chandeliers providing soft light overhead, the interiors certainly provide a talking point and can only be described as wonderfully intriguing.
To begin our evening we started with two glasses of Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut Champagne. A delicious champagne with a zesty apple kick, very refreshing.
We started with the charcuterie for two, The Ox’s meat board, included a generous helping of Iberico salami, cecina, pork and pistachio terrine, rabbit rillettes, pickled garlic, plum chutney, and chilli mustard. This was a superb selection of meats and condiments, a fun and enjoyable way to share a starter, the pickled garlic is a must.
“The perfect place to impress your guests.”
For our main course we opted for the 30oz bone in the rib steak for two, served with triple cooked chips, green peppercorn sauce, leeks, and cabbage. This was a huge cut but had clearly been handled by a skilled chef, it was cooked just as we specified. The texture was tender and smooth, with a mouthwatering, moist and full-flavoured taste. We were impressed from the first mouthful and it just seemed to get better the more we ate.
Unfortunately we over indulged and had to pass on their tempting dessert menu. There are some very enticing options however, so we will be sure to save a little room next time. Our chosen wine for the evening was a bottle of 2012, Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon, California. A wine with exceptional balance of dark fruits, chocolate, complete with a little spice.
Bristol isn’t short of interesting and restaurants. However, The Ox offers something a little different in the way of sophistication and mystery along with an interesting and well-executed menu.
The Bill: £87 per head
