Last week, Arch and I ventured up to Backyard in Bristol to have a chicken feast. You might remember my earlier discussion of their soft openings and menu before they opened so we couldn’t wait to try them out.
The first (slightly obvious) thing to note is that you have to be in the mood for chicken. Whilst they offer a few salads and vegan options, the menu is heavily directed to chicken fiends and I would advise against dining there if you weren’t in the mood for all kinds of poultry dishes.
The Atmosphere
First things first, the restaurant. This quirky and colourful space is spacious and welcoming and the staff were very relaxed in allowing us to choose our table. The innovative iPad ordering system, which I briefly touched on in my previous post, was an awesome and unique feature that we loved.
From the comfort of your table, you can swipe through the menu and see pictures of the food, read descriptions and call for a server if you need help. It’s great because you don’t have to wait for service, you can just order as much or as little as you like, whenever you like. So if you fancy ordering starters and drinks, go for it. If you want to request a whole feast all at once, no one’s stopping you! Or if you’ve just turned up for their 2 for £10 cocktails, order as many drinks as you like. It’s very relaxed and means you can enjoy your conversation with minimal interruptions.
The Food
There was a lot of choice on the menu. From burgers and chicken wings to fries and salads, there is definitely a lot to digest from the menu alone! We had a proper feast, keen to try as much as we could, and we were particularly taken by the avocado fries (whoever thought of this was a genius!), the Kung Pao chicken wings (the sauce is incredible) and the house fries (covered in a special Backyard rub).
We also tried the Garlic Buttermilk Buns which were yummy but seemed to be missing some sort of kick or seasoning that I feel like they would benefit from. The Cheese Royal burger was also tasty but had a tiny piece of chicken inside which meant when we halved it one of us had hardly any meat!
One of the most surprising (but amazing) features was the 2 for £10 cocktails. You can choose from the specific selection available but the mojitos were incredible – so much so that we ordered 8! I would happily come to Backyard for cocktails alone.
The pricing seemed alright on the whole. Some things were better value than others (a whole chicken, for instance, was £16.50) but it all seemed to balance out. In terms of dessert, the only option is the Frozen Rainbow Yoghurt, which comes as a blend of whichever two flavours you choose. I had strawberry and cotton candy which was delicious but I would like to see more choice for a sweet end to the meal.
Overall, the meal was enjoyable but I still think they have a little bit more work to do in terms of flavour and fluidity within the restaurant – they have only been open a month so it’s to be expected that there will be time to iron out any issues. The staff were very friendly and helpful, especially our server Roberto, and made the experience more enjoyable. They have the foundation for a great and unique restaurant and the menu is definitely experimental and exciting. I would be happy to return in the future.
The Girl In The Window 