Caper & Cure is a neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar in the heart of Stokes Croft. It serves hearty, seasonal dishes with European wines that don’t need a lot of work. Since it opened in 2019, it has quickly become one of Bristol’s most popular places to eat. People love the laid-back vibe and the way they think about food and wine.
Giles Coram started the restaurant, which has 40 seats. Head chef Matty Grove and his team make comforting, seasonal dishes using only the best British ingredients. In addition to what the kitchen has to offer, sommelier Holly Purnell-Swan puts together a carefully chosen list of low-intervention wines from all over Europe, mixing well-known names with up-and-coming producers.
The menu is guided by the seasons, working closely with small producers across the South West, including Hugo’s Greengrocer, Conscious Foods, and local cheesemonger L’Affinage. Head chef Matty Grove’s (formerly Menu Gordon Jones and Green Park Tavern) skill combined with personal creativity shines bright in Caper & Cure’s menu, which follows a classic format of snacks, starters, mains and dessert.
Guests can start with favoured classic Maldon oysters dressed in mignonette and comforting unique bites of Caerphilly and shallot crumpet, combining a nostalgic treasure topped with a slightly lemony milky cheese that melts beautifully into the warm sockets of the crumpet.
Small plates include barbecued anchovies with lemon aioli; lamb cutlets, panisse and green sauce; or crab and crayfish butter spooned over house bread — a perfect balance of hearty cream lifted by light bites of crab.
Larger dishes include Dartmoor venison with ratte potatoes and cavolo nero; monkfish paired with Coco de Paimpol and friggitelli peppers; a 8oz sirloin with frites and sauce Diane; or whole turbot with Cornish new potatoes, brown shrimp and caper butter.
To finish, a Parisien custard tart brightened by redcurrant compote, or a dark ruby hue chocolate mousse with peanut praline, and choux buns filled with lemon and white chocolate ganache.
House-made ice creams and sorbets are available — from toasted almond to plum, lemon yoghurt or chocolate fudge.
Guests are guided through a concise wine list by the knowledgeable team, lead by sommelier Holly Purnell-Swan, with many bottles from small low-intervention European producers and local suppliers. The wine list represents regions which hold personal significance to the team, bottles such as Xibalba, Les Gragnotes Corbiers (which the bottleshop imports) and Rotling from Kent.
The restaurant’s charm lies in its detail: suspended vintage bulbs creating a softly lit dining room and an inviting bar that reflects the hospitality of being in someone’s home. Four bar-top window seats at the front of the restaurant are available for those who would like to visit for a glass of wine and a snack.
A large blackboard with weekly specials, wine cabinets and small bistro tables add a touch of elegance, and feel like the restaurant is convivial yet relaxed, a space to enjoy a light lunch for two or a long dinner with friends.
With the kitchen on the lower ground floor, a skylight offers a direct view into the kitchen, and a long mirror along the stairwell wall at the back of the dining room subtly reflects the team at work.
The team is central to the restaurant — from a warm interaction offered by Restaurant Manager Scott Williams, Holly or Giles to the skill of Matty and his chefs. Even the artwork comes from the team’s own talent; the distinctive posters of past and future events are displayed — created in-house by Shelbie Coleman, whose illustrations have become part of the restaurant’s artwork.
Defined by its locals, Caper & Cure regularly hosts events at the restaurant — bringing the community together through collaborations with exciting suppliers, restaurants, and chefs from the surrounding areas. From one-off evenings with restaurants including Root, or chef Seldon Curry to special menus for days like Beaujolais Nouveau.
Celebrating the industry through events, Caper & Cure is passionate about creating unique experiences and genuine connections within their community, both old and new — whether in the restaurant or at their sister venue next door, Carmen Street Wine Bar & Bottleshop.
