In the former home of Zazu’s Kitchen on Southville’s North Street, you’ll now find The Malago: an independent bar and restaurant which “celebrates Bristol’s independent producers, showcasing the finest aspects of the natural and industrial heartland of Bristol”.
Run by brother and sister team John (front of house) and Helly (chef), The Malago opened its doors for the first time on May 26th, serving brunch, lunch and dinner with a menu that’s described as British, with a European influence.
Low food mileage is important to the team, with ingredients coming from local suppliers such the Severn Project and Bristol Beer Factory. And the food? Well, looking at the menu, the brunch options are fairly traditional, while a short lunch menu includes a blue cheese rarebit, the Malago burger and more.
In the evenings, start with the likes of crab beignets with pickled mussels and saffron cream or pigeon breast with truffled risotto and chestnut mushroom, before moving on to a dish such as pork tenderloin with a quail scotch egg, potato and leek terrine, charred tenderstem and spring onion.
Mains are priced from around £12 to £17, and there’s a kids’ menu on offer too…although with most of it consisting of sausage and chips, fish fingers and chips and cheeseburger and fries, it’s not particularly inspiring.
To find out more about The Malago, visit their website.