It's the weekend. It's payday. Or perhaps there's no real excuse other than you just don't fancy cooking.
When hunger strikes, sometimes there's nothing better than an indulgent takeaway and fortunately for us, there are plenty of options to choose from here in Bristol.
Whether it's Indian, Chinese, fish and chips or something slightly more exotic you're after, there's a wealth of choice in every corner of Bristol with plenty of place to tickle your taste buds.
READ MORE How North Street evolved from eighties 'ghetto' into cultural hub
To help you make your mind up when it comes to ordering your next takeaway, Bristol Live food writers Robin Murray and Mark Taylor have named five of their favourite restaurants that offer collection and delivery, broken up into a range of different cuisines.
And remember that by ordering from one of the places below, you'll be supporting an independent business when they need it most, after a year and a half of untold disruption.
Pizzas
Bosco Pizzeria
Inspired by the stylish pizzerias of New York City as much as Naples, Bosco specialises in wood-fired pizzas using high quality Italian ingredients.
Best-sellers at these two Clifton sites include the Bosco Carne (veal meatball, tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, coppa, prosciutto di Parma and Parmesan) and the tomato-less Queen Green with its topping of spinach, pesto, pine nuts, fior di latte mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan).
There’s even a trio of smaller pizzas for kids including the Baby Bosco.
96 Whiteladies Road and 29 Regent Street, Clifton / boscopizzeria.co.uk
Laura’s Pizzas
Run by a former City of Bristol College student who went on to work in restaurants in both the UK and US, this delivery-only business is regarded as one of the city’s hidden pizza gems.
The hand stretched, Neapolitan-style pizzas are made with a 24 hour slow fermented dough, San Marzano tomatoes and premium grade Fior di Latte Mozzarella.
As well as imported Italian meats, toppings include herbs grown by Laura at home. There’s no shop but they deliver between 5pm and 9pm, Wednesday to Saturday.
La Campagnuola
Run by the same family since 1980, this stalwart of the Bristol restaurant scene is currently only open for takeaways, which is certainly good news for locals who form an orderly (and socially distanced) queue to collect their pizzas.
There are 14 pizzas to choose from, and gluten-free versions are also available. Popular choices include the fiery Etna (tomato sauce, Fior di Latte mozzarella, n’duja, salami, garlic and chilli) and the San Leone with its topping of king prawns, squid, mussels, anchovies and garlic.
9 Zetland Road, Redland / lacampagnuola.co.uk
Dough Heads
Based at the excellent Bristol Spirit bar on Whitehall Road, Dough Heads fires up the pizza oven between Thursday and Saturday, from 5pm to 8.30pm and pre-orders can be made up to a week in advance.
The 12-inch sourdough pizzas are Neapolitan in style and options include Smoky Anchovy, European Hot and Tartiflette.
Order a side of house-smoked olives or fresh pickled anchovies but make sure you also leave some space for the churros with dark chocolate dip for pudding.
86 Whitehall Road, Redfield / doughheads.co.uk
Pizzarova
What started out as a mobile business working out of the back of a converted Land Rover Defender is now one of Bristol’s most successful restaurant chains.
Available to eat in, but also to takeaway, the sourdough pizzas are light and with faultless crusts. Italian in inspiration, the flour used comes from Shipton Mill in the Cotswolds and the Fior di Latte mozzarella is made on a family farm in Glastonbury. Try the Margherita Deluxe with its mozzarella pearls, chilli flakes and Parmesan.
4 Park Street, 289 Gloucester Road and Museum Street, Wapping Wharf / pizzarova.com
Burgers
Oowee
‘Deliciously Dirty’ is the maxim at Oowee’s Bedminster branch and it’s hard to argue with that when you look at the range of decadent beef, chicken or vegan burgers on offer.
The beef used is from British rare-breed cows and the meat is dry-aged for at least 28 days for maximum flavour.
Stand-out items on the extensive menu include the Peanut Butter Bacon Jelly burger (double steak patty, melted peanut butter and American cheese, house made bacon jelly, dry-cured crispy bacon and iceberg lettuce).
202 North Street, Bedminster / ooweediner.com
Danny’s Burgers
Finalists in the 2021 National Burger Awards, Danny’s Burgers pops up every Friday and Saturday evening at the Fierce and Noble Brewery in the heart of St Werburgh’s.
Available to eat in or takeaway - accompanied, perhaps, by beers brewed on site - the menu is concise, with five choices, from the classic Cheese Burger to the Big Mac Bootleg (double aged beef, Big Mac sauce, onion, triple American cheese, dill pickles, iceberg lettuce in a toasted and steamed triple tier bun).
25 Mina Road, St Werburgh’s / facebook.com/dannysburgersbristol/
Asado
Meaning ‘barbecue’ in Spanish, Asado lives up to its name by cooking good quality meat over a wood-fired grill.
The raw materials may be local but the flavourings are more South American so expect plenty of heat and spice in dishes like the El Dorado (oak grilled dry-aged beef patty with West Country cheese, spicy chorizo and habanero stew, ketchup and lettuce).
Those with even larger appetites can also order sides of smoked beef croquetas and habanero hot wings with blue cheese drizzle.
90 Colston Street / asadobristol.com
Milk Bun
One of Bristol’s newest burger venues, Milk Bun, has certainly gained a strong local following since it launched.
Matthew Demichele’s first Bristol opening has become an instant hit thanks to the towering burgers and their Instagrammability.
Meat from Whiteladies Road butchers Ruby & White and milk buns made fresh on-site each morning, these are Premier League patties. Go for a Pablo - a milk bun packed with 30-day aged beef blend, chilli jam, American cheese, double bacon, peanut butter and pink pickled onions.
25 The Mall, Clifton / bronxburgerco.co.uk
Squeezed
A former National Burger Awards winner - where owner Alex Hayes was crowned Burger Chef of the Year - Squeezed is officially one of the city’s best burger joints.
Single burgers to try at this shipping container takeaway include the Reverse Cowgirl (beef patty, smoked bacon, cheese, peanut chipotle BBQ, charred scallion sour cream, tomato and lettuce) but you can also double up and go for the Ee Chee Wa Maa! (double beef patty, cheese, salsa verde, Worcestershire aioli, cucumber and chilli pickles, lettuce).
Cargo, Gaol Ferry Steps, Wapping Wharf / bristolsqueezed.co.uk
Fish and chips
ClockTower
At ClockTower you can expect to find top quality produce cooked with care and skill, with a glowing reputation built through hard work and dedication.
It serves everything you would expect from your local chip shop with plenty of specials on offer at great prices.
More information can be found on Clocktower Fish Bar's website.
84 Regent St, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8HU / www.clocktowerfishbar.co.uk
Henbury Fryer
Last year Henbury Fryer was recognised in the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) Fish & Chip Quality Award, just a year after it was named one of the UK's top 60 fish and chip shops at the 2018 National Fish and Chip Awards.
The award identifies fish and chip outlets that serve the highest quality fish and chips following a thorough assessment of the premises, equipment, working practices, hygiene standards and management controls, along with the quality and taste of cooked fish and chips.
Henbury Fryer is takeaway only. Call it on 0117 959 2288 for more information.
135 Crow Ln, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7DS / www.ubereats.com/gb/store/the-henbury-fryer/VdWVTAS4S7GyXJfhQjLsLA
Salt & Malt
With sites at Wapping Wharf and Chew Valley, award-winning Salt & Malt is seen by many as the best place in Bristol to get fish and chips and with good reason.
Headed up by Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton the entire menu is gluten free, making it a coeliac hotspot, and all its ingredients are sustainably-sourced from the South West.
Cargo 2, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WD / wappingwharf.co.uk/salt-malt-1/
Bishopston Fish Bar
You only need to take a look at the awards Bishopston Fish Bar has won over the years to realise how highly it's regarded.
Most recently it was the only chippie in Bristol to be named as one of the UK's best in Fry Magazine's prestigious annual awards.
Bishopston Fish Bar is takeaway only. Call it on 0117 307 9390 for more information.
264 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8PB / bishopstonfishbar.co.uk/
Clifton Village Fish Bar
Clifton Village Fish Bar was one of the six chippies in Bristol to win Good Food Awards' 2020 Good Chippy Awards in November 2019.
Owner Marco has been involved in the fish and chip industry his whole life, since helping his father after school and at weekends since the age of eight, and that experience is apparent in the food.
You can order from Clifton Village Fish Bar on Deliveroo, as well as takeaway.
4 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BP / www.cliftonvillagefishbar.co.uk/
Indian
Urban Tandoor
This Small Street restaurant is certainly no stranger to such praise, having won more than 10 awards since opening in 2014.
Some of its previous wins include Best Asian Healthy Eating Restaurant and Best Asian Restaurant in the South West, while its head chef Dhanasekaran Durai was named one of the best in the industry in 2018.
It's loved for its exceptional food and first-rate service.
13 Small St, Bristol BS1 1DE / https://urban-tandoor.com/
Indian Rassasy
This unique Indian restaurant only opened in 2018 but has managed to climb up the rankings and be voted the best restaurant in Bristol for takeaways.
Its serves delicious North and South Indian starters such as tandoori, nigella king prawns and haryali chicken tikka as well as plenty of vegetarian options.
275 Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4SF / www.indianrassasy.com
Coronation Curry House
It might not look like the most attractive of restaurants from the outside, but Coronation Curry House is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover.
It serves a range of traditional and more adventurous curries all served at reasonable prices, with top notch service guaranteed.
The Coronation Road curry house offers both delivery and collection for those who aren't dining in.
190 Coronation Rd, Southville, Bristol BS3 1RF / www.coronationcurryhouse.co.uk
Joy Raj
Tucked away on Clifton's Regent Street, the popular curry house prides itself on having a classic menu consisting of traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes.
In 2019 it was shortlisted as a finalist at the English Curry Awards, alongside the highly-rated and aforementioned Urban Tandoor.
31 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HR / www.joyraj.co.uk
Asian
The Mayflower
The family-run Mayflower is seen by many discerning foodies as the place to go when it comes to Cantonese cuisine.
Having opened just off King Square in the early '90s, it later moved to a new home next to Bristol Bus & Coach Station in Haymarket Walk, where it remains today.
With a somewhat dated exterior and simple decor inside it's hardly the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant in Bristol, but that is by no means a reflection on the quality of its food.
The menu features a wide range of traditional Chinese classics which are cooked by experienced chefs and served at reasonable prices.
1a, 5a Haymarket Walk, Bristol BS1 3LN / www.mayflowerbristol.com
Woky Ko
With four sites in Bristol, Woky Ko has gone on to become one of Bristol's best-loved restaurant chains since first opening in 2017.
It's headed up by former Masterchef finalist Larkin Cen, who has won awards for his group of restaurants, including best Asian restaurant in 2018 at the Bristol Good Food Awards.
Its Queens Road restaurant operates as its delivery hub, while customers can also choose to click and collect using the Woky Ko app.
Options on the menu include noodle dishes, katsu curry and small plates.
7 - 9 Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1QE / www.wokyko.com
Rock Salt
Rock Salt offers both traditional Indian and Chinese dishes, alongside an impressive range of cocktails.
It's a joint venture between Harris Massey, previously of Dishoom in London, and former Dhamaka chef Kedar Subedi.
The diverse menu features a wide range of Chinese favourites, including sweet and sour chicken, szechuan pork and spring rolls.
34 Cotham Hill, Redland, Bristol BS6 6LA / www.rocksaltbristol.co.uk
Suyuan
Suyuan serves vegetarian, home cooked Chinese dishes with mains including the gan guo hua cai - sauliflower stir fried with dry chilli, garlic & soya sauce - and the lu shun you you - stir fried asparagus with green & red chillies and roasted cashew nuts.
It also serves a wide range of starters, dumplings and other popular Chinese delicacies.
Grove Ave, Bristol BS1 4LU / www.suyuan.co.uk
Chili Daddy
Chilli Daddy is something of a Bristol institution, with a restaurant on Baldwin Street, a permanent market stall in St Nicholas Market and a travelling market stall.
You can expect huge portions of classic Chinese dishes at reasonable prices, with dumplings, spring rolls, noodle hotpots and more all on the menu.
45-47 Baldwin St, Bristol BS1 1RA / www.chillidaddy.com
Vegan
Purezza
Purezza opened in Bristol in September, after building up a solid reputation with sites in Brighton and London.
The fast-growing brand has a number of prestigious awards to its name, including National Pizza of the Year in the UK and Vegan Restaurant of the Year, both in 2018, as well as being prize winners in the World Pizza Championships 2019.
The vegan pizza specialists are known for crafting their own plant-based mozzarella and a unique sourdough base made with organic wholegrain flours.
79-81 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AS / purezza.co.uk/locations/bristol/
Eat a Pitta
When you're after a delicious, healthy and filling meal on the cheap, Eat a Pitta is one of the best options in Bristol.
Its falafel boxes are packed to the brim with goodness and the large option is so big most people manage to get two separate portions from it.
The brand recently added a new site to its ever-growing portfolio, taking over the former Boston Tea Party café in Clifton Village.
Various locations / www.eatapitta.co.uk/
Om Burger
Om Burger - a vegan offshoot from the same team behind the highly-rated Burger Theory - serves a delicious range of plant-based burgers.
As well as impressive burgers it also offers breakfast options and side dishes including dirty fries, alongside fresh juice, craft beers, slushies and more.
Produce is sourced locally and no plastic packaging is used.
54 Stokes Croft, St Paul's, Bristol BS1 3QU / www.omburger.co.uk
Koocha
If you were to ask a large group of vegans what their favourite restaurant in Bristol is, Koocha would likely be a common answer.
The mezze bar has built up such a strong following for its Persian and Middle Eastern food, in fact, that many meat eaters also rank it among their favourite places to eat in the city.
In May the restaurant moved to a new-and-improved site on Cheltenham Road, allowing it to add more dishes to the menu.
203B Cheltenham Rd, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5QX / koochamezzebar.com/
Fi Real
Fi Real is one of the most popular restaurants among Bristol's vegan community and for good reason.
Headed up by lifelong vegans and vegetarians Marie and William, the couple created Fi Real to show locals a taste of their sumptuous home cooking - bringing tofu, yam and okra to life with their fiery jerk sauce and dreamily creamy coconut milk bases.
Popular dishes include the Ital Stew, Jamaican Curry Chunks and Jerk Tofu.
57 West Street, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0BZ / www.fireal.co.uk/
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