I'm breaking a few of my usual rules for this restaurant because my experience there was so unique…read moreand enchanting. Normally, I shy away from reviewing Italian restaurants, since I do not usually feel qualified to judge them fairly. Secondly, I have never before given a 5-Star review to an establishment based on a single visit. But, Al Fresco definitely deserves the highest marks. I even went through the trouble of creating their Yelp profile and filling in all the necessary information. Here's the scenario: My travel buddy and I were on our way back to San Francisco, after having traipsed all through the West Country, Dover, Calais, Paris and back to Bristol. In the entire holiday, she and I never had a decent Italian meal. She is quite the connoisseur, unlike myself. Even while in Paris, she was less than impressed. On our last evening in the "Sceptered Isle", set in a silver sea, she wanted good Italian food and Al Fresco happened to be the closest place to our hotel. After having come from Paris and Amsterdam, we did not have high hopes heading out to this hidden little bistro in a sleepy suburb of Bristol. But, when we arrived, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. The manager (ironically named "Fats") leads us to the bar to wait for a table. We're immediately plied with beverages, as if we were old friends who had come calling all of a sudden. Our table was set and while we're looking over the menu, the scents of Tuscan and Milanese cooking have us properly ravenous. The Calamari Fritti came out with the most delicate, flakey coating and the generous rings of squid beneath the crunch batter were soft and flavourful (not rubbery like a lorry tyre, as they usually are in other places). The salad starter was a dazzling array of colours and flavours, with a massive block of goat cheese set atop it. I am not exaggerating (see the pic), the bloody thing was the size of a hockey puck. Then, my lovely travel buddy's lasagna arrived and it made her eyes roll back into her head, with delight. I opted for a seafood linguine that had mussels, prawns the size of crayfish and a light sauce that did not overpower the delicate taste of the seafood. Afterwards, a knowledgeable waiter patiently explained to us the names and etymology of all the Italian desserts. I never knew that "Tiramisu", loosely translates to "Pull me up". We decided on trying the Affogato (meaning "drowned") and it was pronounced to be the best the best affogato my friend has ever had. The ice cream was drowned in espresso and finished off with a generous shot of amaretto. Another lively waiter named Aldo brought us shots of grappa with cream to finish off the lovely meal. It was, hands down, the best service and food we've had in two weeks of traveling through the UK and Europe. Fats, the manager, arranged for our transport back to the hotel. Later, cuddling in bed with my travel buddy, she and I giggled and could not help but wonder if it had all been some wonderful hallucination that we had jointly participated in. Only the receipt from the restaurant provided any evidence, the next morning. There were no leftovers to bring back to the hotel; it was all so delicious that we devoured every bite while we were there.

The most welcoming restaurant I've ever been too, with great food and staff who work exceptionally…read morehard but are always in good spirits! Best Italian in the south west!

Great find! Tasty…read morefood, quick and attentive service, and quite reasonable prices. Plus, it's a treat sit above the water and enjoy the gorgeous evening. For less than £20, I had a delicious supper of spaghetti carbonara and some tomatoes and burrata salad. Fantastic! Thanks for a nice visit during my time in Bristol!

Lasagna was spot on, so delicious. The olives were a hit as well. Service was excellent and…read morehighly recommended this Italian restaurant when in Bristol. The location and the atmosphere is lovely as well. Located right on the river able to watch rowers and the birds made it a treat.

We had dinner in Bath along the Avon River. We had a late lunch so weren't very hungry. I only…read moregot a tagliatelle Bolognese. It was very delicious, so I finished it all. The staff were all very accommodating and nice.

Beautiful location even in the winter! Can't image how this place looks in summer. The way to get…read moreto the restaurant is to walk down a spiral staircase next to the old bridge. It is by the river. Excellent, simple Italian dishes. It reminds me of Florence. Not a lot of guests for lunch on a Tuesday in the low tourist season. But service was adequate and friendly - British. Would like to return during summer and check out the dinner scene.

Arrived at 930pm (they close at 10) no reservation. Hoping they would seat us. They were gracious…read moreand welcoming. We were seated quickly. Pastas and salads for dinner tonight. Pasta is prepared with care. Very flavorful Wonderful service and experience all around.

This was some of the best Italian food I had while in the UK. This is in the heart of bath and is…read moreeasily walkable. The ambiance of the restaurant is very intimate it would be a great place for couples or a group of friends. The service was amazing the workers were very attentive and assured we were satisfied from the start to the end of the meal. The signature cocktails were delicious and had a heavy pour. The food itself had quite big portions and was absolutely delicious. We got a couple appetizers which were delicious along with complimentary bread service. For desert we split a tiramisu which was okay. The desert highlight though was the sorbet which was absolutely scrumptious and super refreshing.

Good pizza, friendly service. Although there is a big sign on the outside saying "free meals for…read morekids under 10", we had to pay about 6 £ for each kids-meal.

Really good food. Really nice wine. Catered fantastically well for our family group of 15.read more

Recently moved to the area and picked up pizzas from here on our first night in our new home. They…read morewere ready in 20 minutes, tasted great, and were a reasonable price for the size! We're in danger of becoming regulars!

Great to see an authentic Italian Restaurant in Storehouse, very well presented and some very good…read morechoicess on the menu. Tried the real Italian Lavazza coffee during lunchtime and looks the real deal!

A great find! We stopped for a late lunch and had the risotto gorgonzola and the branzino. Both…read morewere great. For dessert we shared the tiramisu and a cappuccino, both of which were excellent.

Excellent all around. Amazing Italian food everything fresh and tasty. The focaccia bread was best…read moreI've had. Also had pasta dish and the Panna cotta was spot on.

I was overJOYA when I found this Italian restaurant on Yelp while in Bath visiting the Jane Austen…read moreCentre. I haven't eaten all day and was definitely in no mood for British fare since a hot plate of spaghetti bolognese just sounds so much more delectable, washed down with a big glass of wine. I'm happy to report that this cute restaurant served just that and I hope they continue to do well for years to come.

Everything we ordered was excellent. For me personally the lasagne was one of the best I've had. If…read moreI'm ever back here it'll be my first choice.

Quaint restaurant with exceptional service. We had the lasagna and pizza. Both were very good. I…read morehad the crème bulee. Highly recommend going here for lunch or dinner. Quiet atmosphere.