Ethical and sustainable are certainly buzzwords in the food and drink industry these days, but some restaurants often only pay the concepts lip service. Not so Poco, which weighs its rubbish every day and then recycles or up-cycles 90 percent of it, with the ultimate aim of producing no waste.
Poco’s commitment to the environment doesn’t stop there – the majority of ingredients are sourced from the UK, most of the vegetables come from community farms in the Bristol area, and only fish caught in Lyme Bay and graded by the Marine Conservation Society is served.
Thanks to this commitment, the awards cabinet is bulging, but none of this would matter a jot if the food weren’t up to scratch. Thankfully, it is – and is served in a restaurant that provides some of the best people-watching potential in town.
The tapas-style food here is best for sharing, with plenty of vegetarian and even gluten-free options. Try the salad leaves from the Severn Project social enterprise, made in polytunnels on the site designated to be the future Bristol Arena near Temple Meads; the kimchi and crispy pork (£4.90); or the saddleback chorizo and mutton merguez in red wine (£5.90). Soak up the leftovers with some delicious sourdough from Hart’s Bakery, and don’t leave without trying the delicious Peruvian chocolate pot with Chantilly cream (£5.50).