I TRY to go the extra mile in terms of effort. For me to physically do that for this eating out review at French styled The Bunch of Grapes, of Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, I would have to walk the 20 yards to and from my accommodation to the establishment 80 times... wait, is that in yards or metres, I mean 88 times? Hang on, how many centimetres are in a yard? Never mind.

After that mentally exhausting effort I was quite ready for refuelling and this place certainly delivered.

The cosy confines of the bar/pub/restaurant, with its smart, wooden decor, are made all the more chic with jazz and blues serenading the ears of those present. The place was packed to the rafters, so much so that only seats at the bar were free.

Equally impressive was the service. I had been there six weeks previously and the waiter who had served me then remembered my exact order – impressive.

I began with a French Onion Soup with a Gruyère Croute (£6) and my comrade ordered Cheese Beignets (£5) a sort of cheese fritter ball. Presentation, tick. Taste, tick.

The gooey beignets went down a treat, with the sour cream sauce a nice touch, and my soup was sizeable but rich and warming, just as it should be.

Next up for me was a succulent Bunch Burger (£12) with a healthy kick of caramelised red onions and my fellow diner ordered the Beer Can Poussin (£14), (aka a mini chicken) glazed with apple and whole grain mustard.

His response to my question “Is it good?” was “Hell yeah it’s good.” Although he did admit it was difficult to eat without looking ungainly.

The hustling and bustling two-storey place, inspired by bistros in south west France, is one I would certainly recommend and so would the TripAdvisor community, with 26 of 31 reviews scoring as excellent and the rest very good.

Merci Bunch of Grapes, merci. The meal cost £39.20.

The Bunch of Grapes

Silver Street

Bradford on Avon

01225 938088

www.thebunchofgrapes.com

Open seven days a week from 10am-11pm (10.30pm Sunday)

RICHARD MILLS