Review: Roman Baths Kitchen's Festive Menu

As Roman Baths Kitchen get ready to unveil their tempting Festive Menu, we were given the chance to come in and sample it before it's officially released! This is what we thought...

With undeniably the finest location in Bath, with views across to the Roman Baths the aptly named Roman Baths Kitchen - or RBKs as us locals know it - is always a busy buzzy place! Locals and tourists alike trust this beautiful Georgian venue to serve breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a sneaky post work drink! The lunchtime we visited was no exception.

The team here always produce a warm welcome and typically one of the efficient and radiant managers, James, was on hand to guide us to a wonderful booth seat, with views across to the buskers warming up on their impending Christmas markets acts for starting this week.

A cold day outside we instantly alluded to the warm wafts of delicious food leaving the kitchen and also drawn by the large chiller rammed with Champagne ready for the week ahead.

Menus in hand we ordered quickly, as we were on a tight work schedule. Service is always friendly and efficient here which suits working lunches. If you have a need for privacy there are several private rooms, one with your own bar and one with your own wine chiller, available again with wondrous views of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths.

To start, my dining companion ordered a delightful Goats Cheese Bruschetta with Sweet Peppers and Sweeter Tomatoes. Served warm it was perfect for the weather and she chose to accompany it with a glass of dry white wine recommend to us by our Spanish server.

Always enjoying a little spice I opted for the Salt and Pepper Squid, which was fantastically cooked in the way we all look for: crisp but soft. Totally delicious with a little spice.

Complimentary water for the table here is always refilled, which is nice for someone like me whom dodges quickly between meetings with a questionably high caffeine consumption! (I did of course have a wonderful fresh coffee later though, not being able to resist!)

Well settled into a private booth by now we relaxed and did a bit of out-the-window people watching and chit chatting, feeling very relaxed as our mains arrived.

My friend had a very generous Pearl Barley Wild Mushroom and Leak Risotto drizzled with a light Truffle Oil. The presentation was simple and sophisticated. The flavours subtle and sublime!

A locally-sourced hand cut Sirloin steak nicely seared with a fabulously garlic butter for me. Served with a perfect bucket of hand cut chips and a tomato salad. I was now wondering if we would ever get close to a dessert... After polishing off the lot we of course opted for 'just a look'. 

Drawn to the Dark Chocolate Creme Brûlée with Berry Compote and Cardamom Shortbread - nice take on a classic, we decided to share, ordering some fresh ground coffee at the same time.

A short while later, two spoons in hand we devoured the luscious, dark, silky-smooth textures cut into by the slightly sharp compote and warm shortbread. This was, we agreed, the finest end to a meal in some considerable time!

Festive menu in hand sporting such winter warming items such as Spiced Butternut Squash Soup, Braised Brisket of Beef with Truffle Mash and Spiced Apple Crumble, we left with the same warm adulations into the cold Bath air vowing to return very soon!