I was in Bristol for a blogging mini conference. At the end of that conference on Saturday, went out for dinner on my own . I was tired but didn’t want to eat at the hotel, nice though it was – it seems so lame to have hotel food. I was near the Harbourside, the concierge tells me that there are several restaurants just across the road..so off I went.

Crossing the bridge, I saw Bordeaux Quay, unfortunately they had no free tables except outside but it was nippy and I did not fancy catching cold. Besides one of the conference delegates, a German guy,  told me he ate there the night before and was not impressed.  Za Za Bazaar loomed in front of me and I was intrigued. I am not a fan of buffet but this place looked big ( I later learnt that it is reputed to be the biggest restaurant in the UK) and I thought “at least there is choice”.

        The food was divided into 5 continents but I didn’t think I would be able to eat from all 5. I had Singapore fried vermicelli, some dim sum, dosa, satay and fajitas and jelly and creme brulee for desserts.

The noodles were not bad, the dim sum were so so, the mussels were tasteless, the dosa was great but not the sea food filling, however the dall curry was just how it should be. I thought the fajitas were not how I remember fajitas to be but the Malaysian satay was tender, not dry. Not sure about the jelly flavour (was it rose flavoured?) and the creme brulee could do with more ‘brulee’ topping.

I think the redeeming factor is that there are chefs cooking to order, my Singapore noodles were not greasy but the vermicelli still had the ‘springiness’ and were not limp as they can be if they had been left. I was tempted by the pho but thought I had had enough. I certainly did not fancy the sushis or any if the Italian specialties. I loved the dosa maker. Olives,  tabouleh, cous cous and salad stuff looked good too.

It was also the place for people watching. There seem to be a hen night/s, birthday parties, and people bumping into each other. Many queues. and much noise!

Za Za Bazaar Harbourside, Canon’s Road, Bristol about £18