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| - Our first visit to Bristol Yard was on May 18. My first impression made me a bit nervous--we arrived close to 6:00 pm (the restaurant was scheduled to open at 5:00 pm) and the door was still locked, as the kitchens weren't done getting ready for dinner service--but as they're still working out the kinks, it wasn't a big deal. We took a nice walk around the block and the dining room was almost full by the time we got back. The service was quite good considering that nearly every table was full and there were a number of people waiting for takeout--the one server manages the room really well. We ordered the veggie and chicken tikka masala pies, and all four of the sides--mushy peas, mash, chips, and salad. Everything was absolutely delicious--especially the veggie tikka, which has got this great sweet/savory thing going on with the squash and curry--and clearly prepared with care. We also wolfed down a banoffee pie, which turned out to be a deconstructed verrine of graham crumbs, bananas, toffee, and whipped cream--so good.
Bristol Yard also scores in terms of the room and the atmosphere. The dining room is light and bright, and strikes a good balance between being clean and modern (it's mostly black and white, with some wood) and welcoming. The banquettes are very comfortable, and although the tables are close together, it's not awkward--I actually quite liked the fact that it encouraged strangers to chat across tables, and being able to smell all of the delicious things that everyone else had ordered only made me want to return sooner.
There are certainly still kinks to be worked out--the kitchen ran out of quite a few items as we were eating, and the service did get markedly slower and more frazzled as the room filled up and the evening progressed--but The Bristol Yard is exactly our kind of place. I can't wait to go back for brunch--and to try the veggie bangers.
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