I've seen Six by Nico advertised everywhere, and when a contact - who works in hospitality and demands a lot from restaurants - raved about it on LinkedIn, I was sold.
Six by Nico is a chain of restaurants around the UK, who's "thing" is that they serve a 6 course tasting menu. The menu runs for a few weeks before it moves on to a completely different theme, which means if you like it, you can go back again another day for a completely different experience. We went when it was the Fish and Chips theme, and they're currently advertising their "Six Wonders of the World" which has an escape room twist (but do check how much of an escape room it really is and how much is just clever wording).
I hadn't been out for a "posh" meal for a really long time and so was really excited! We arrived at the spot in Bristol, just near Cabot's Circus, and it wasn't in the grand building I'd assumed it was in, but it was still one of the nicest interiors I've been in in a restaurant.
You book onto a sitting - lunch, 5pm or 8pm - and we arrived promptly at 5pm as I was worried if we were late they'd not let us in or something. But I needn't have worried as people drifted in for ages after us - and I mean ages, I think someone was about 45 minutes "late" for the 5pm sitting. But being prompt did mean we had the place to ourselves so I could take some photos.
I'd say the interior was Mediteranean inspired - slightly Italian, slightly Greek, but very classical yet also mid-Century?! Can it be all those things? I felt it was really well put together so that it could suit a variety of menu themes - we were having fish and chips and it didn't seem odd next to olive trees and beautiful murals!
What's the dress code at Six by Nico?
I properly dressed up - black shoulderless dress, heels and dangly earrings. And I didn't feel overdressed. But there were people there in I'd say really casual clothes and they didn't look out of place either. So it's pretty much whatever you want, but I'd say smart-casual upwards.
Service
I guess I was expecting something extra special from the service - and whilst everyone was nice, it didn't totally blow me away. Our waitress seemed a little nervous, and some of the team had a kinda not-all-that-bothered, slightly too cool for school vibe.
The person who showed us to our seats asked if we'd like some prosecco and I said no initially because I didn't want to spend any more money - but I said it was because one of us was driving. They then said they were going to give us a free glass because it was my birthday - and I said oh, OK then, 1 glass before food would probably be fine! Some one from the bar then brought us one glass of prosecco and one of non-alcoholic prosecco - which was really thoughtful but also a bit of an odd assumption / something we hadn't really clarified. Personally, I would have asked us if one glass of each would suit. But still, a couple of free drinks was very much appreciated.
How is the food at Six by Nico?
The food at Six by Nico was brilliant. There's not a lot of point in me going into the details of what we ate because the fish and chip menu has finished now, but it was all really delicious, beautifully presented, fantastically flavourful and really - in my novice opinion - really good food. And that's what you want from a restaurant isn't it?! It was also imaginative and our deep fried mars bar did not resemble a deep fried mars bar in anyway (which was a good thing). Each course had an explanation as to what it was and why it was included and it all flowed in good time from the kitchen. If either of us left our table to go to the bathroom, no food came whilst we were away but was brought over as soon as we were back at our seat (so that's credit to the waiting staff).
Upsells
So the interior was beautiful, the service was good overall, the food was lovely - but you can probably sense a "but" coming. And that was just the upsells.
"Six" courses by Nico - except when you get there they try and sell you an extra one, for £10 each. And an extra part of one of the existing courses, for another £10 each. And some nibbles before the first course arrives... there was sourdough and something else and I wasn't sure if it was £10 for each or £10 total but I think it was each. I'd already not opted for the accompanying wine or cocktails (although I think the table opposite us had both).
We'd paid - I think - £44 each. The wine would have been an additional £30 each and/or the cocktails an additional £40 each. Checking the website now, they give prices for the extra food options, but I really don't think they were there when we booked which did make them a surprise when we arrived - and one that you're smacked in the face with as soon as you sit down. That was the issue really - I'm not sure quite how else they could have done it, as I appreciate they want to draw attention to it, but suddenly it just felt like a major upsell and completely took the shine off of a special experience as you were made to feel like you were the poor relation choosing the cheaper option at this glamorous place you'd been really looking forward to. But maybe if you went there knowing that - as you do now - it wouldn't have been so bad.
There is also a service charge. Of course there is. I think it was 12%. They also have their own charity - which sounds really genuinely brilliant - but they say how they've raised a LOT of money (over a million I think), yet they add £2 per person to your bill unless you ask them not to... and no one's going to ask NOT to give money to a worthwhile charity so that again just felt like a little in poor taste... they brag about how much money they've raised yet they do it by asking you to OPT OUT of a donation... so they aren't really giving anything as a company, they're just taking more, passing it on, and basking in the glory.
So our £88 meal, by the time we had still and sparkling water and a service charge came to well over £100, without any of the extras. It also costs over £10 to park in Bristol - just another cost to have in mind.
Overall, beautiful place, great food, just be prepared for it to cost a bit.
The thoughts and views expressed in this blog post are the author’s own and not that of Activibees.com or it's operators.
