We explore a cool café and place to stay.
Food
If you aren't slightly amused by the witty word play of Bang in Wells, then I suggest you go elsewhere, as the funky interiors and quirky seasonal menu probably aren't for you either.
The joyous menu offered so many mouth-watering choices I wasn't sure what to go for, the buttermilk pancakes with a winter berry compote? The grilled goats' cheese on granary toast with a honey glazed beetroot and cherry tomato salad? Oh, or the hummus and falafel wrap? After an agonising discussion we succumbed to three dishes (sadly none are listed above) to share between the two of us.
First up, the homemade soup of the day – pea and mint - was just right the consistency, smooth and fresh with the mint delicately balanced with the pea.
The generous serving of bread that accompanied was chunky and firm with a whole-wheat tinge. It was extremely moreish when dipped in the soup, and just lovely.
Next we selected the garlic prawns served in a ramekin with granary toast and mixed salad, akin to a warm version of potted shrimp, the salad was fresh and colourful and the toast plentiful and crunchy. A simple and enjoyable lunch – one my nanny would've approved of!
Our final choice was the veggie burger with pesto mayo served in a brioche bun with tomato, lettuce and pickled gherkin. Served on its own there were options to add bacon or hash browns to go with it. Now I don't know about you but hash browns with a burger didn't sit right with me. I love hash browns but I want them with a fry up, not on the side of a burger. If I had just ordered this as a solo dish I would've been a little disappointed because it didn't feel like a full meal, and I'd have been left hungry.
The burger itself had a classic vegetable patty flavour but was quite mushy, and while that's expected from a lot of veggie burgers this was made worse by the soft brioche roll encasing it.
Together it was nothing but claggy, lacking textural contrast or crunch. We took some of the burger patty and paired it with the granary toast and it was instantly better, the burger was clearly homemade and full of goodness it's just a shame it wasn't paired with a different bun – with a ciabatta for instance it would've been really delicious. I liked the addition of the gherkins and the pesto mayo worked well, it's just a shame it missed the mark with the bun choice and accompaniments as it was nearly all there!
Drink
A good range of the typical offerings, though I must say the coffee was excellent and they provided a jug of water for the table. Oh, and there's alcohol!
Ambiance
Larger than I expected inside, I really liked the off-centre décor and there was a lovely big garden outside which looked fantastic and would definitely be a great place to sit in summer. The atmosphere was great. There are nice rooms you can stay in too.
Value
Our three meals and drinks came to £29. The dishes' individual values are good (not one was more than £10) and sensibly priced but think next time I would be a bit savvier i.e. not order three meals (and maybe go for the hash browns?!)
Loos
There are three doors. One says 'female', the other 'male' and the third 'anyone'. A really great touch, I love an anyone toilet!
Location
Up towards The Globe in Wells, it's central and easy to walk to – perfect after a cold winter walk!
Service
We were offered a hot water bottle because it was so cold outside. The staff were happy to advise on ordering and the food came pretty quickly.
Highlight
Probably the quality and quantity of the bread with the soup – nice bread can make or break a meal.
In summary
The Bang is a cool place to be. The interior and overall ambiance is great, the food was mostly good too and if you are looking for a quick and simple bite to eat or a place to wile away the afternoon it's a great choice. All in all our experience was pretty banging (get it?!)
This is an independent review
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