I’d visited Bia Bistrot back in 2013 and had a rather underwhelming time. After a trip to the westernmost reaches of the city, featuring a breakfast visit to Naihas, I stopped in to give it a fresh go.

I was joined on this venture by Kevin, who had previously quested to Burger Meats Bun.

As with the previous visit, it was to their lunchtime set menu that our attention was drawn. Kevin opened with the beetroot and rocket salad while I stuck to familiar territory with their soup of the day, cream of vegetable. Kevin followed with the gnocchi with squash, while I chose the fishcakes.

Starters were promptly with us, delivered by the cheery and attentive waiting staff, who were all very welcoming, throughout. My soup was quite similar to the one I’d tried on my previous visit, but was entirely more satisfying with a great deal more body and flavour to the dish. Kevin was happy with his well-seasoned salad.

My fishcakes were a good dish served with simple potatoes and tartare sauce. I recognised Kevin’s gnochhi dish as the one I’d tried previously. Again, it looked cooked to a much better standard.

I was glad to see the place shown to much better advantage. Dishes were smartly prepared and represented pretty good value at £9.50 for two courses.

So overall, Bia Bistrot is doing solidly good work and looks to be a reliable local bistro. It feels like it’s ploughing a pretty safe furrow, but it seems to find considerable favour with local diners. You should give it a try, next time you’re in the neighbourhood.

Scores
Blythe scores Bia Bistrot
3.5/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for service
3.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 14.5/20

Today’s questers were: Kevin, Blythe

We ate: beetroot salad, cream of vegetable soup, fishcakes and garlic potatoes, gnocchi with butternut squash

We drank: sparkly water

We wore: tweed, stripes

Total bill: £22