San Carlo Bristol is an Italian restaurant at 44 Corn Street in the heart of the city. The refined but relaxed dining room is close to Bristol Old Vic and Queen Square, making it suitable for a business lunch, a pre-theatre meal or a longer evening celebration.
The menu travels across Italy’s regions rather than concentrating on a single local style. Handmade pasta sits alongside carefully prepared meat and seafood, with the simplicity of the cooking placing particular emphasis on the quality of the core ingredients.
The weekday lunch and dedicated theatre menus offer a shorter two or three course format. Antipasti, pasta and dishes such as chicken Milanese, salmon with Prosecco and prawns, or sea bass with spinach show how those menus retain the restaurant’s broader Italian character.
Traditional desserts, including tiramisu and gelato, provide a fitting close, while the wine and drinks selection supports both quick and celebratory visits. A weekend Sunday roast adds a British note to the otherwise Italian offering and gives regular guests a different reason to return.
Address: 44 Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1HQ, England
San Carlo City Centre Menu
Bruschette e Pane
Green Olives
from Puglia
Arancini
fried Sicilian rice balls with truffle & Grana Padano
Selection of Italian Bread
served with sundried tomato and black olive tapenade
Focaccia
Sea salt, olive oil and rosemary flatbread
Garlic Bread with Garlic and Sea Salt
Garlic Bread with Tomato
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Garlic Bread with Tomato and Cheese
Bruschetta Romana
toasted Altamura bread with chopped Sicilian Pachino tomatoes, garlic and olive oil
Antipasti
Minestrone
classic Italian vegetable soup
Chicken Caesar Salad
Starter
Chicken Caesar Salad
Main
Insalata Tricolore
avocado, beef tomato and mozzarella di bufala
Chicken Liver Pate
chicken liver pate with brandy, served with Sourdough & a Chianti dressing
Cozze all Arrabbiata
fresh mussels in a spicy tomato sauce with chilli and garlic
Cozze all Marinière
fresh mussels in a white wine, shallots, cream and parsley.
Melanzane Al Forno
A classic Sicilian dish, layers of aubergine, Grana Padano & tomato baked in the oven
Funghi Piemontese
mixed mushrooms in garlic and parsley butter in a filo pastry basket
Carpaccio di Manzo
thinly sliced raw fillet of beef with mustard and mayo dressing, Grana Padano cheese and rocket
Tartare di Tonno
fresh tuna tartare mixed with olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, wild rocket and served with Altamura crostini
Gamberoni Fritti
tempura king prawns dressed with a spicy mayonnaise
Calamari Fritti
deep fried squid with fresh chilli and tartare sauce
Burrata
Burrata from Corato in Puglia served with marinated beef tomato carpaccio & fresh basil
Burrata
Burrata from Corato in Puglia served with Panzanella with onions, celery, white wine vinegar, beef tomato, crostini & capers
Mozzarella in Carrozza
popular in Southern Italy, fried mozzarella in breadcrumbs with a basil and tomato sauce
Gamberoni Luciana
king prawns with garlic, chilli, tomato, a touch of cream and toasted Altamura bread
Starters
Capesante al Forno
roasted scallops with olive oil, garlic, chilli topped with breadcrumbs
Avocado Bernardo
avocado with prawns, scampi and lobster served with Marie Rose sauce
Gamberoni alla Diavola
tiger prawns sautéed with garlic, fresh chilli, white wine and toasted Altamura bread
Cocktail di Gamberetti
tender Norwegian prawns, crispy romaine lettuce with Marie Rose sauce, garnished with a prawn crevette
Costine di Maiale Orientale
barbecue pork ribs in our special San Carlo sauce
Salmone Affumicato
smoked salmon with shallots, Sicilian capers, lemon & Altamura bread
Frittura di Pesce Portofino
deep fried calamari, prawns, scampi and scallops served with tartare sauce and garlic chilli mayonnaise (minimum 2 people, price per person)
San Carlo Antipasto
start your meal the true Italian way! Our chef will prepare a large plate of antipasto representing the regional tastes of Italy (minimum 2 people, price per person)
Pizza
Our Pizza is made with Neapolitan flour and Sicilian tomatoes
Margherita
tomato, fior di latte and oregano
San Carlo
tomato, fior di latte, Parma ham, rocket, Grana Padano shavings
Quattro Stagioni
tomato, fior di latte, mushrooms, artichokes and sweet peppers
Burrata
tomato, fior di latte, vegetarian ‘nduja, roasted tomatoes, whole burrata and basil pesto
Diavola
tomato, fior di latte, spicy Calabrian sausage, onions and chilli
Pollo e Rosmarino
tomato, fior di latte, chicken, mushrooms and rosemary
Calzone Pollo
folded pizza with chicken, garlic, spinach and fior di latte topped with tomato sauce
Calzone Salsiccia Piccante
folded pizza with spicy sausage, tomato, fior di latte and chilli
Pasta
Gluten free pasta is available upon request
Risotto Gamberi & Asparagi
Classic Risotto with king prawns, Argentinian prawn & asparagus in a mascarpone cream
Tagliolini Crab
Tagliolini pasta with handpicked crab in a creamy sauce with tomato & saffron
Penne Arrabbiata
Short tubes of pasta in a spicy tomato sauce with chilli and garlic
Zitoni Toscanini
Long pasta tubes, favourite of the great Maestro Toscanini, made with Tuscan spiced sausage, extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and pecorino cheese
Rigatoni alla Norma
the most popular pasta dish in Southern Italy, with aubergine, tomato, basil and garlic, topped with pecorino cheese
Spaghetti Puttanesca
olives and capers in a rich tomato sauce
Tagliatelle Bolognese
original Bologna recipe with slow cooked beef ragú
Spaghetti Carbonara
pancetta, egg yolk, Grana Padano cheese and cream
Penne Pollo e Gamberetti
penne pasta in a creamy sauce with chicken, baby prawns and parsley
Pappardelle all’Anatra
long ribbon egg pasta with slow cooked duck ragú
Tortellini Panna e Prosciutto
fresh pasta filled with spinach and ricotta in a ham and cream sauce, petit pois and Grana Padano cheese
Tagliatelle Montecarlo
tagliatelle with monkfish and lobster bisque
Spaghetti Gamberoni Piccanti
thin spaghetti with king prawns, hot chilli, anchovies, capers, olives, fresh parsley and San Marzano tomato
Our Famous Spaghetti Frutti di Mare
with clams, mussels, prawns, garlic and tomato
Lasagne Emiliane
Fresh layers of pasta with slow cooked bolognese sauce, baked with béchamel, mozzarella and Grana Padano cheese
Mafaldine con Ragú di Manzo
short wavy pasta with slow cooked beef ragú
Ravioli all'Astice
ravioli filled with lobster and crab meat in a light creamy and pink peppercorn sauce with baby prawns
Ravioli Tartufo
handmade ravioli filled with pecorino cheese and truffle, with a cream, Grana Padano and truffle oil sauce, topped with truffle
Penne Salmone
penne with smoked salmon and peas with tomato and cream
Tagliolini all’Aragosta
San Carlo’s most famous pasta dish with lobster, brandy, tomato, peas and a touch of cream
Risotto San Carlo
Carnaroli rice with porcini mushrooms, cream and white wine wrapped in Parma ham
Pipette Piccanti
pipe pasta with vodka, in a creamy & spicy tomato sauce with chives
Carne
Meat
Suprema di Pollo Principessa
pan-fried chicken breast with white wine, mushrooms and cream, garnished with asparagus
Pollo Milanese
flattened chicken breast in breadcrumbs pan-fried, served with rocket and Pachino tomato
Pollo Diavola
pan-fried chicken breast with spicy ‘nduja Calabrian sausage, fresh sausage and tomato
Classic Saltimbocca alla Romana
sliced veal with Parma ham, cooked in white wine, sage and butter
Scaloppa alla Milanese
classic veal escalope pan-fried in breadcrumbs
Scaloppine Signor Sassi
veal cooked in cream, brandy, mustard seeds and mushrooms
Agnello Toscana
Lamb cutlets with Barolo red wine, rosemary and sunblushed tomato
Filetto al Pepe Verde
8oz/227g fillet steak with a brandy and green peppercorn sauce
Tournedo Rossini
8oz/227g fillet steak, crouton based topped with paté and Madeira wine sauce
Filetto al Tartufo
8oz/227g fillet steak wrapped in Parma ham with creamy black truffle sauce
Macelleria
Grill
San Carlo Mixed Grill
steak, lamb cutlet, chicken breast and Tuscan sausage. Charcoal grilled
Sirloin Steak
8oz/227g aged 28 days, served with garlic butter or béarnaise sauce
Rib-Eye Steak
12oz/340g aged 28 days, served with garlic butter or béarnaise sauce
Fillet Steak
8oz/227g aged 28 days, served with garlic butter or béarnaise sauce
Tagliata Di Filetto Di Manzo
8oz/227g fillet steak sliced and served with fresh Italian dressing
Pollo Marinato
flattened chicken breast, with caper, butter and lemon sauce
Tomahawk
1.2kg large bone-in steak with a big rich flavour to match
Chateaubriand
18oz/510g front cut best of fillet, served with béarnaise sauce
Contorni
Side orders
Zucchine Fritte
fried courgette sticks
Patate Fritte
french fries
Patate Fritte with fresh truffle and Grana Padano
french fries with fresh truffle and Grana Padano
Piselli con Pancetta
peas with onions, pancetta and a touch of cream
Fagiolini
french beans with shallots and butter
Patate Arrosto
Patate Arrosto
Patate Arrosto with bacon, onion and rosemary
Patate Arrosto with bacon, onion and rosemary
Spinaci
sautéed spinach with garlic oil and chilli
Tenderstem Broccoli
with garlic and chilli
Insalata di Avocado
avocado with beef tomatoes and red onion in a pomegranate dressing
Insalata di Pomodori Siciliani e Cipolla
tomato, red onion, oregano and olive oil
Rucola e Grana Padano
rocket and Grana salad
Specials
For the best selection of fresh fish and shellfish in the city
Lemon Sole with Clams and Asparagus
pan-fried lemon sole with sautéed clams and green asparagus
Coda di Rospo “Aurora”
fresh monkfish in garlic, white wine, cream and cherry tomato sauce
Tonno e Lenticchie
charcoal grilled yellowfin tuna served with tomato lentils
Capesante San Carlo
scallops with white wine, garlic, lemon and breadcrumbs
North Pacific Halibut
served grilled
North Pacific Halibut with lobster sauce
served grilled with lobster sauce
Seafood Mixed Grill
a selection of different grilled fish and shellfish
Branzino al Sale
whole sea bass baked in sea salt casing, keeping the fish beautifully moist enhancing its flavours, flambéed with a glass of grappa – please allow 20 minutes to cook
Mixed Roasted Shellfish
grilled giant prawn, langoustine, Argentinian prawns, scallop, mussels and clams with garlic butter – served in a large copper pan
Sogliola
grilled Dover sole served off the bone, finished with gremolada dressing
Aragosta Thermidor
lobster thermidor (English mustard, tarragon, Parmesan cheese and cream finished under the grill
Branzino Grigliato
charcoal grilled whole sea bass
Gambero Gigante e Capesante
giant prawn and scallops cooked in a classic Thermidor sauce
Salmone Prosecco e Gamberetti
pan-fried salmon cooked with Norwegian prawns and Prosecco sauce
Aragosta Grigliata
grilled lobster served plain
Aragosta Grigliata with garlic butter
grilled lobster served with garlic butter
Dolci
desserts
Panna Cotta Amarena
Panna cotta with Amarena cherry in syrup
Lemon Tart
Crisp pastry crust with a smooth & tangy lemon cream
Arancia Di Cioccolato
Orange-shaped chocolate shell with milk chocolate mousse, orange cremeux and chocolate jaconde. £2 from every sale goes to the local Maggie’s charity
Celebration Mini Birthday Cake
Delicate sponge layered with velvety vanilla cream and a scattering of rich chocolate drops, encased in a smooth chocolate shell.
Mantecato Alla Nocciola
Soft hazelnut ice cream with crushed Ferrero Rocher and chocolate sauce (2 people) Our signature soft ice cream, try it! You won’t be disappointed.
Torta Caprese
Almond and chocolate cakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Meringata alle Fragole
Our amazing meringue cake with strawberries
Millefoglie
crisp and delicate puff pastry layered with Chantilly cream
Torta Pistacchio
Sicilian pistachio cake
Torta Setteveli
chocolate and hazelnut cake
Tiramisu
Traditional Tiramisu
Crème Brûlée
traditional crème brûlée
Cheesecake
classic baked vanilla cheesecake
Dolci San Carlo
a selection of mini bites (2 people)
Desserts
Selection of Ice Creams and Sorbets
choice of 3 scoops. Strawberry (128 kcal), vanilla (133 kcal), chocolate (137 kcal), hazelnut (162 kcal), pistachio (159 kcal) (kcal per scoop)
Affogato
vanilla ice cream with espresso
Coppa San Carlo
Ice cream served with hot chocolate and Italian biscuit
San Carlo Special
Chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla ice cream with warm Nutella sauce (2 people)
Coppa di Fragole
vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries served with whipped cream and a touch of meringue biscuits. Enjoy this sweet with a complimentary glass of Moscato D’Asti