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The Bistro
The Bistro, situated in Ventnor town just yards from the cascade gardens and the sea front, is a small, family friendly restaurant with a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere that is both warm and welcoming yet sophisticated.
We operate a no under 5 years old of age restaurant policy
Unfortunately as we are a small restaurant we simply do not have enough room for highchairs, prams or buggies. We do not have baby changing facilities or a children’s menu. As such we politely request customers not ask us to make exceptions.
Thank you.
Local ingredients
The open kitchen adds to your dining experience enabling you to see Andy the chef at work preparing and cooking your meal. Using the best of locally sourced seasonal produce and ingredients the food is cooked fresh and can be adapted to suit children or specific dietary requirements. There are daily specials, including vegetarian dishes and locally caught fish. Serving Island roasted coffee; brunch, light lunches, main and evening meals and a traditional roast lunch on Sundays.
Starter
Marinated olives | £4.50 |
warm focaccia bread | £3.50 |
with Bistro butter |
Salt & pepper fried calamari | £9.50 |
with a cucumber, dill & caper remoulade |
Smoked haddock & Mackerel rilette | £10.00 |
with horseradish creme fraiche & focaccia crostini |
Black pudding & smoked pancetta pate | £9.00 |
with Bistro picallili & crostini |
Soup of the day | £6.50 |
Baked feta cheese banitsa | £9.00 |
drizzled with ventnor honey, toasted pine kernels & rocket |
Baked goats' cheese tart | £9.50 |
with tangy tomato chutney & rocket salad |
Tempura battered brocolli, courgette & mushroom | 9.00 |
with cumin spiced yoghurt & toasted sesame seeds |
Main courses
Slow roasted duck leg confit | £24.50 |
with blackberry, rosemary & port sauce, roasted new potatoes, fine beans, creamed celeriac & toasted sunflower seeds. |
Jeked chicken fillet | £23.50 |
with tenderstem broccoli, Jamaican coleslaw, pineapple salsa & sweet potato fries |
Roasted Mediterranean vegetable tart | £22.50 | |
with new potatoes in basil batter fine beans & Bistro salad |
Griddled 10oz Isle of Wight pave rump steak | £29.00 |
with chips, Bistro salad & a wild mushroom & sherry cream sauce |
Pan-fried Seabass fillet | £28.50 |
on a risotto of Mediterraneamvegetables king prawns & mussels in a rich tomato, chilli, garlic & basil sauce |
Tempura battered red mullet fillets | £26.50 |
with wakame sesame seaweed, cucumber & crayfish salad & sweet potato fries |
Roasted lamb rump | £25.50 |
with creamed celeriac, tenderstem broccoli, tomato chutney, feta cheese & Bistro gravy |
Mushroom, leek & tarragon risotto | £22.50 |
Arborio rice, leeks, portobello mushrooms, garlic, white wine, fried enoki mushrooms, vegan parmesan & rocket |
Desserts
Affogato | £7.50 |
2 scoops vanilla ice cream a double espresso coffee & biscotti |
Lemon sorbet | £6.00 |
with Limoncello & biscotti |
Chocolate sorbet sorbet | £6.50 |
with Baileys & biscotti |
Lemon & raspberry roulade | £9.00 |
with white chocolate & raspberry ice cream |
Ricotta, pistachio & honey cheesecake | £9.00 |
with wild berry ice cream |
Warm apricot, cinnamon & marzipan strudel | £10.00 |
with vanilla seed ice cream. Add a 50ml glass of our recommended dessert wine £3.00 |
Poached & glazed meringue | £8.50 |
with creme anglaise, praline & toasted almonds |
Selection of ice creams & sorbets | |
1/2/3 scoops |
Isle of Wight cheese board | £11.50 |
a selection of Isle of wight cheeses, onion chutney & biscuits Add a 50ml glass of Ruby reserve port £5.00 |
Breakfast / brunch
Bistro breakfast | £12.00 |
locally made pork sausage, bacon, mushrooms, IoW tomato, black pudding, toast & local egg cooked to your liking |
Bistro vegetarian breakfast | £11.00 |
sausages, mushrooms, IoW tomato, spinach, fried potatoes, toast & local egg cooked to your liking |
Island smoked salmon or smoked bacon & scrambled local eggs | £9.00/£8.50 |
wholemeal toast |
Poached island egg Florentine | £11 |
toasted muffin, spinach, hollandaise sauce |
Poached island eggs Benedict | £11 |
toasted muffin, ham & hollandaise sauce |
Poached island egg Royale | £11 |
toasted muffin, smoke salmon, hollandaise sauce |
Toasted crumpets | |
Gallybagger cheddar cheese & marmite £5.00 or butter & jam £4.50 |
Vegetarian sausages | £10.00 |
served on bubble & squeak & roasted heritage tomatoes |
Light lunches
Bistro’s soup of the day | £8.00 |
warm focaccia bread |
Omelette of mushrooms & Gallybagger chedder cheese | £11.50 |
with salad |
Omelette of crayfish, spring onion, sesame seeds & sweet chilli | £11.50 |
with salad |
Prawn risotto | £17.50 |
with tiger prawns, crayfish, tomato sauce, garlic , chilli & basil |
Wild mushroom & parmesan risotto | £14.50 |
with garlic, toasted pine kernels & rocket |
Fritto misto | £14.50 |
tempura battered prawns & salt & pepper squid with celeriac & fennel remoulade & sweet potato fries |
Antipasto | £12.50 |
Parma ham, olives, mozzarella & warm focaccia |
Soup lunch platter | £14.50 |
soup of the day, filled focaccia of your choice & chips |
Sides
Chips | £4.00 |
sweet potato fries | £4.00 |
Side salad | £4.00 |
Vegetables | £4.00 |
New potatoes | £4.00 |
Marinated olives | £4.50 |
warm focaccia/ Bistro butter | £3.50 |
Filled rosemary focaccia
with salad garnish & coleslaw ( add a handful of chips for £1.50)
I.o.W. brie, onion chutney & rocket | £9.50 |
IoW smoked salmon& celeriac remoulade | £9.50 |
Parma ham, mozzarella, tomato & pesto | £9.50 |
Crayfish & sweet chilli mayonnaise | £9.50 |
Our wine list
Choose from our great selection of wines & organic winesWhite wines
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Custoza DOC | £3.75 | £5.50 | £7.00 | £20.00 |
Cantina del Carda - Veneto, Italy | ||||
From a little known DOC, this fresh, harmonious white is a blend of Garganega, Trebbianella & Cartese |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Viognier | £4.75 | £6.75 | £8.75 | £25.00 |
Les Argelieres - Pays d'Oc, France | ||||
A delightfully refined blend of this very popular cariety, showing delicate white peach on the nose and palate. |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Off Dry Riesling | £6.00 | £8.50 | £11.75 | £33.00 |
OD, Plan BI - Great Southern, Australia | ||||
A fabulous off dry Riesling. at only 11% abv, this is a lovely tipple, characterised by vibrant aromatics and zesty acidity. |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Sauvignon Blanc | £6.25 | £8.75 | £11.50 | £34.00 |
Signature series, Ant Moore - Marlborough, New Zealand | ||||
Legendary winemaker Ant Moore moved from Aus to NZ in 2002 and has built a reputation as one of Marlborough's finest |
Bottle | |
Pinot Grigio | £24.00 |
Tarre del Vescovi - Veneto, Italy | |
What Pinot Grigio should taste like. Complex floral notes give way to a dry, fresh and velvety palate. |
Bottle | |
Fiano/Greco | £32.00 |
A Mano - Puglia, Italy | |
Fiano & Greco grapes picked 'A Mano' by hand, this wine displays aromas of ripe pear & orange blossom. |
Bottle | |
Albarino | £35.00 |
Lauretus - Rias Baixas, Spain | |
A traditional method sparkler from an exclusively handpicked harvest of Mauzac & Chardonnay |
Bottle | |
Old Vines Swartland White Blend | £55.00 |
Mullineux Signature - Swartland, S Africa | |
One of the most lauded wineries in South Africa. A blend of 6 varieties, aged for 11 months in French oak. |
Bottle | |
Meursault | £95.00 |
Domaine Michelot - Burgundy, France | |
Domaine Michelot has been in the family for six generations. Typically rich, fat & golden Meursault |
Rosé wines
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Chiaretto di Bardolino | £3.75 | £5.50 | £7.00 | £20.00 |
Cantina del Garda - Veneto, Italy | ||||
From the shores of lake Garda in Northern Italy, this pretty, rose tinted wine has fresh red fruit flavours |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Pink Zinfandel | £4.00 | £5.75 | £7.50 | £21.00 |
Alpino - Puglia, Italy | ||||
Delightfully salmon pink in colour, with a fresh bouquet of strawberries and ripe summer fruits on the nose |
Bottle | |
Studio Rose | £36.00 |
Chateau Miraval - Provence, France. | |
Studio is the second wine from Chateau Miraval, the famous French Riviera winery owned by Brad Pitt |
Dessert wines
125ml | |
Moscatel de Setubal | £6.00 |
Alambre, JM Fonseca - Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal. | |
A rich and honeyed fortified wine made with Muscat grown on the Setubal peninsula in Southern Portugal |
125ml | |
Show Liqueur Muscat | £10.00 |
De Bortoli - NSW, Australia | |
Aged for 8 years in oak barrels, this is an intensely rich and luscious wine full of aromas, dates toffee & caramel |
125ml | |
Batrytis Semillon | £16.00 |
Noble One, De Bortoli - NSW Australia | |
One of the worlds finest dessert wines, this is an Australian icon - honeyed pear, scented vanilla and subtle spice. |
Red wines
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Pais Red | £4.00 | £5.75 | £7.50 | £21.00 |
Aroma - Valle Maule, Chile | ||||
A good example of a modern Pais with light colour. Perfumed with cherries and has a light , juicy palate. |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Merlot | £4.50 | £6.50 | £8.50 | £23.00 |
Casa Lunardi - Veneto - Italy | ||||
A fruity example of Merlot, perfectly balanced, juicy and well structured with cherry, plum and balsamic notes. |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
Durif | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.25 | £27.00 |
Vat 1, Deen Vat Series, De Bartoli - Riverina, Australia | ||||
Deen De Bartoli was one of the first to grow Durif (Petite Syrah) in the Riverina. This dark, full bodied beast. |
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
High Altitude Malbec | £6.00 | £8.50 | £11.25 | £33.00 |
Estate, Dona Paula - Valle de Uco, Argentina | ||||
Estate grown grapes, cultivated at high altitudes where cool temperatures allow them to ripen slowly |
Bottle | |
Nero d'Avola/Frappato | £30.00 |
U..Passiento, Baglio Gibellina - Sicilia, Italy | |
70% Nero d'Avola & 30% Frappato. The Nero grapes partially dry on the vines to concentrate flavours. |
Bottle | |
Rioja Crianza | £31.00 |
Marques de Reiosa - Rioja, Spain | |
Quite full bodied with structure, the ripe fruit flavours marry with a hint of toast from the oak aging. |
Bottle | |
Syrah | £39.00 |
Painted Wolf - Swartland, S Africa | |
Producing delicious wines and investing in African wild dog conservation - there are just 6600 left in the wild. |
Bottle | |
Mercury Rouge VieillesVignes | £65.00 |
Chateau Phillipe le Hardi - Burgundy, France | |
A single vineyard Pinot Noir showing a perfumed nose of cherry and bright, lifted fruit on the palate. |
Bottle | |
Chateauneuf du Pape | £90.00 |
Les Sinards, Famille Perrin - Rhone, France | |
A baby Chateau de Beaucastel - grapes for this wine are sourced from the young vines at the chateau. |
Champagne / sparkling
125ml | Bottle | |
Blanquette de Limoux | £7.50 | £34.50 |
Cuvee Francoise - Limoux, France | ||
A traditional method sparkler from a handpicked harvest of Mauzac & Chardonnay |
Bottle | |
Alcohol Free Sparkling | £25.00 |
Single Estate, Pale Fox - Veneto, Italy | |
A blend of Pinot Grigio & Prosecco grapes, used to make a classic wine before removing the alcohol |
Bottle | |
Single Estate Prosecco DOCG | £45.00 |
Valle delle Volpi, Pale Fox - Asolo, Italy | |
James Suckling recently awarded Pale Fox 93 points, placing it as the best Prosecco in the world. |
Bottle | |
Single Estate Rose Prosecco DOCG | £50.00 |
Valle delle Volpi, Pale Fox - Asolo, Italy | |
A sumptuous blend of Clera and Pinot Noir that creates a pale sparkling wine reminiscent of strawberries. |
Bottle | |
Classic Cuvee Brut | £60.00 |
Rathfinny Wine Estate - Sussex, England | |
Since 2010, Rathfinny has come to be recognised as one of England's best producers of sparkling wine. |
375mlbottle | Bottle | |
Brut Tradition | £45.00 | £70.00 |
Gardet - Champagne< France | ||
Established in 1895 by Charles Gardet in Epernay, The house owns around 7ha of premier cru vineyards. |
Opening times
You Book-We Cook Booking is essential especially during the quiet out of season times & during the current economic crisis as we only order fresh food for the bookings we have.Kitchen opening Times Spring 2024
YOU BOOK-WE COOK
Booking essential especially during the quiet out of season times & during the current economic crisis as we only order fresh food for the bookings we have.
(Restaurant closes 15.00 Friday & Saturday lunch/ Sunday lunch 16.00/ Evenings 22.30)
AM | PM | |
Monday | Closed | Closed |
Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
Wednesday | Closed | Open 18.00-21.00 |
Thursday | Closed | Open 18.00-21.00 |
Friday | Open 11-14.00 | Open 18.00-21.00 |
Saturday | Open 10-14.00 | Open 18.00-21.00 |
Sunday | Open 12-15.00 | Closed |