It’s informal despite its accolades and you can even bring your dogThe artichoke and goats cheese (Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)

Of all the romantic words being uttered among the couples dining at Cor, my husband’s hushed contribution was surely up there: “Do you think it’s acceptable if I lick the plate?”

I imagine that would be frowned upon in a place of this standard, but it would be justified given the impossibly delicious starter that had just been devoured. This was our first date in some time since becoming parents, so our ‘posh setting’ etiquette was possibly a bit rusty – it’s been a while since I’ve seen napkins and side plates on the table instead of crayons and toddler crumbs.

Cor in Bedminster has been on our must-visit list since it was added to the Michelin guide in 2023, when inspectors described it as “somewhere between a Mediterranean restaurant and a tapas bar, with shelves bursting with cookery books and wine”. It’s taken years for us to finally get there but that description still rung true as we stepped in, excited for lunch.

We had reserved and were glad of it, as it was already filling up just eight minutes after opening at 12pm. There were spaces at the counters along the windows though, which are set aside for walk-ins if you don’t mind a backless chair and being nosed at by passers-by on North Street outside.

The setting is cosy without being cramped, with crisp white walls and tables accented by earthy-toned ornaments. Jars of preserved fruits, wine bottles with funky labels and neat stacks of cookery books offer pops of colour on shelves running along the length of one wall, behind a small but well-stocked bar area.

The eye-catching building that is home to Michelin-rated Cor(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)

Despite its upmarket feel, the atmosphere felt happily informal – the restaurant is dog-friendly and there were two well-behaved canine companions within my eyeline, with staff thoughtfully offering them each a bowl of water. We were informed of the specials of the day and given a swift run-through of the menu options, which consisted of sharing plates or the three-course ‘menu de jour’.

The sharing plates ranged from £10.90 to £27.90 in price, but at £30 the three-course set menu felt far more affordable and still looked tempting. There were two dishes to choose between for each course, and we overheard one couple ordering one of each to share, which would be a nice way to taste a bit of everything.

Cor in Bedminster(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)

I get too territorial when sharing food so we stuck to ordering our own, which turned out to be the same except the starter – artichokes, goats cheese, olive salsa and pistachio for my husband and cannellini beans, lemon beurre blanc, smoked caviar and panko crumbs for me, although I was torn between the two.

As we waited for course number one I sipped on a fig leaf and lime soda (£4.90), which was divine despite the lack of alcohol and made a refreshing change from the usual mocktails I’m bored of seeing on menus. We also tried the drinks special, a punchy cider made just down the road in Chew Magna, but both agreed the soft drink was the unexpected favourite.

Food arrived soon after, prettily presented and the ideal portion size for a starter. Mine was incredibly well balanced, offering a comforting mouthful of creamy beans, crunchy breadcrumbs and a subtle hint of fish from the caviar. I was pleased with my choice – until I tried some of the artichoke.

The phrase ‘flavour explosion’ makes me cringe but there is no better way to describe it. The combination of ingredients and textures was heavenly, hence the plate-licking comment. Maybe we should have splashed out on the £6 bread and butter to mop up the leftover oil, to savour every last bit.

Our mains were venison, roast beetroot, tximitxurri (or chimichurri) and salad leaves. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had venison so I’m no expert, but it seemed like it was cooked to perfection. The meat itself had quite a subtle flavour, with a surprise hit of spice and fennel seed. Paired with the rich beetroot and zingy dressing it was very tasty, though not quite as memorable as its predecessor.

The venison and beetroot at Cor(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)

The same could not be said for dessert. We both chose the Tonka bean crème caramel and I’m so glad we did, because I would have been gutted to share half of it. It arrived in all its wobbly beige glory, with no pointless sprig of mint or dusting of icing sugar that a less confident chef might have been tempted to add.

I wish I could relive the first mouthful over and over. It was astonishingly good, with the perfect texture and flecks of sea salt adding a tiny crunch and brief relief from the sweetness of the sauce. It was the stand-out dish and I’m not even a big dessert fan usually.

The incredible dessert at Cor(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)

For £30 this menu must be one of the best-value food experiences in Bristol – you can barely get a couple of Dominoes pizzas these days for the same amount. Just get there quickly before it gets a Michelin star and goes all posh.

Cor, 81 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 1ES