Newly awarded a Bib Gourmand, Ragu has joined its sister restaurant COR on the Michelin Guide. In just a short time since opening, the cosy, container-sized restaurant in Wapping Wharf, Bristol, has racked up an impressive list of awards, earning recognition both locally and nationally.

The Italian-inspired menu weaves in all the ingredients you’d hope to see – artichokes, olives, pasta, fresh fish – to create comforting yet refined dishes. With each visit, we’ve been blown away by both the food and the team. A special mention goes to Mia, the restaurant manager, who clearly knows her stuff and brings a fun, welcoming vibe to the space.

The visit I’m writing about here was on a packed Saturday night. Our table of 3 people was at 9pm (a testament to just how popular this place is) yet the energy was still buzzing.

We kickstarted things as always, with an aperitif! A Negroni Caffé (made with Bristol based Gin company Psychopomp and a coffee infused Campari) and a refreshing Montenegro Spritz.

Then started a flow of dishes which as they appeared on the table, each one topped the last. Soft focaccia with airy whipped bottarga butter, melt in your mouth Spianata Romana and the moreish Roman Artichoke fritti served with punchy aioli.

A favourite was the tropea onion, caprino fresco from Piedmont, brown butter, grape mus. The warm caramelised onion was paired with a tangy goats cheese which was softened by the sweet grape glaze. Great ingredients brought together for a delicious dish.

At this point we ordered a bottle of the house white, as recommended. The Saveroni 2024 Trebbiano is a crowd pleaser. A light, dry wine that complimented the dishes without overpowering anything.

Something more adventurous (for Bobby) was the chalk stream trout crudo, blood orange, leccino olive, oregano. Melt in your mouth, balanced and fresh.

A dish we added on last minute, and didn’t regret at all, was the friggitelli peppers, agrodolce, stracciatella, tomato compote, pangrattato. This served as a bit of a palette cleanser for our final two savoury dishes which were rich in flavour.

Now, for the two showstoppers! Starting with the Ox cheek ravioli, vino rosso, taleggio. When we ordered this, we knew it was going to be one to remember. The depth of the sauce worked magically with the lightness of the fresh pasta and the creaminess of the mild taleggio cheese.

The fettuccine, Calabrian ragu of cuttlefish, salsa verde and pangrattato was unexpectedly a favourite dish. Something we’ve not tried before – the salsa verde cut through the ragu and brought all the elements together.

And as if we weren’t full already, we ordered dessert! A beautiful contradiction of hot and cold with the vanilla semifreddo and warm poached pear and grapes Grappa di Moscato. Followed by a spoonful each of the iconic pistachio pannacotta and mose olive oil.

The evening was bookended with a digestif of refreshingly ice cold, smooth limoncello. We left the evening feeling full (admittedly quite tipsy) and certain to return with every future special occasion and family member who visits us!

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