Contemporary French restaurant, Lapin has become the latest Bristol restaurant to be featured in The Good Food Guide, following a surge of support from the city’s diners. Having first opened its doors at Wapping Wharf back in April, Lapin has been quick to get the attention of the Guide’s inspectors, with the review stating, “Judging by our inbox, Bristolians are delighted by the arrival of this welcoming French bistro from the team behind Totterdown favourite BANK.”
Following a raft of positive reviews since its launch, including some high praise from The Guardian’s restaurant critic, Grace Dent – who called Lapin “a steel box that’s been turned into a tiny slice of France” with a “menu that could thaw the iciest of hearts” – this latest review has been earned through a swell of public nominations from Lapin’s visitors, before a rigorous assessment from The Good Food Guide’s anonymous inspectors.
Run by restaurateur, Dan O’Regan, and executive chef, Jack Briggs-Horan, Lapin was rated as ‘GOOD’ overall. The restaurant was assessed as ‘VERY GOOD’ for Warmth, and ‘GOOD’ for Uniqueness, Deliciousness and Strength of Recommendation, earning its place among an esteemed list of independent establishments in The Good Food Guide.
Within the review, the inspector makes note of Lapin’s regular menu being “full of French classics ranging from rillettes with cornichons to roast duck bigarade (à l’orange)”, while also acknowledging how “When the kitchen occasionally goes off piste with, say, a soufflé Suissesse with Gruyère and a Marmite (yes, Marmite!) cream, the result is surprisingly delicious.” Further notes include how “Every wine on the exclusively French list is offered by the glass, with knowledgeable staff on hand” and the good value “prix-fixe menus and accompanying wine flights”.
Dan O’Regan, owner and founder of Lapin, commented: “This is a landmark moment for any new restaurant, so our team should be incredibly proud. Getting into The Good Food Guide is special and can’t be taken for granted by any restaurateur. You need to delight your customers day-in-day-out, to achieve enough nominations to put you on the Guide’s radar, so we really get to feel the love from our diners here. But you also need to be on your game at any given moment, should an anonymous inspector come through the door. We really enjoy what we do at Lapin – celebrating classical French cookery, while allowing ourselves to put the rulebook down from time-to-time – and we couldn’t be happier that others do too.”
Lapin is open Tuesday & Wednesday from 5.30pm to 10pm, Thursday to Saturday from 12pm to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. Diners can book via www.lapinbristol.co.uk.
