From homely Italian restaurants and bustling Greek cafes to everything in between, Gloucester's packed with fabulous foodie destinations where you can share dishes and enjoy a few drinks with friends.
Be it the lofty, warehouse-sized joints around Gloucester Docks, trendy tapas venues or the hip little ramen spots, there’s something for all tastes — SoGlos rounds up some of our favourite places to get the gang together for a bite to eat.
Meet friends at Dr Foster
Overlooking Gloucester Docks, this modern and welcoming pub offers a range of options for groups of hungry friends.
With something suiting even the pickiest of eaters, peruse Dr Foster's diverse menu featuring brunch dishes like Foster’s Baked Eggs with yogurt, nduja sausage crumb, dukkah and sourdough; and tempting evening meals like the classic chicken, thyme and leek pie, served with A Rule of Tum’s famous buttered mash potato; as well as its locally sourced Hereford 'over coal' steaks, cooked in a bertha oven. Veggie and vegan options are also available.
Meet friends at Daikoku Ramen
Whether you’re after sesame, miso or Hakata noodles, there’s a delicious bowl waiting for you at Daikoku Ramen at Gloucester Food Dock.
The first Asian restaurant to join the city's bustling community of independent food and drink businesses, tuck in to a menu of pork, chicken and vegan ramen bowls, gyoza and rice bowls, too, made with ingredients sourced locally and from Japan itself.
Meet friends at Trattoria Settebello
If it’s pasta or pizza you’re after or one of the meat and seafood signature dishes that’s made Italian food famous, you’re bound to find something you fancy at the family-run Trattoria Settebello at Gloucester Quays.
With pizza ovens imported from Naples and menus influenced by the seasons, diners can expect a real taste of Italy within the cosy restaurant, or out on the terrace overlooking the docks. The metre-long metro pizza is a speciality, encouraging friends and family to eat together. Buon appetito!
Meet friends at The BBQ Society
Nestled away on Morelands Trading Estate in Gloucester, The BBQ Society is a barbecue-centric restaurant, ideal for meat-lovers, serving up a range of burgers, hot dogs and smoked meats using locally sourced Gloucestershire beef and pedigree Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.
Try its sizzling Pulled Pork Burger with smoky pulled pork, Monterey Jack cheese, barbecue sauce and sweet gherkins; or the Maple Bacon with chicken thighs and bacon drenched in sticky maple syrup and baconnaise sauce. Gluten free and vegan options are available too.
Meet friends at Soul n' Seoul
A colourful home serving up sizzling Korean dishes, Soul n' Seoul on Westgate Street offers a wide range of authentic dishes catering to any cravings you've got.
Tuck in to everything from soothing miyeok-guk, also known as birthday soup; the iconic bibimbap, made up of rice, egg, strips of meat and iconic fermented pepper paste; as well as bulgogli featuring beef or chicken marinated in a signature sauce; Korean fried chicken with crispy chicken wings coated in Korean sauce; kimchi fried rice; and more.
Meet friends at Greek on the Docks
If a holiday in the Mediterranean isn’t on the horizon, Greek on the Docks will help you and your friends fill the dolmade-shaped hole in your heart.
Serving up authentic cuisine singing the flavours of Greece, generous portions, with alfresco seating and fabulous Gloucester Docks views, too, menu highlights span tzatziki with pitta bread; dolmadakia stuffed vine leaves; baked feta cheese from Epirus; rich moussaka; a hearty stifado beef stew; and a classic Greek salad.
Meet friends at Elote
Take your tastebuds on a journey to Mexico with fresh flavours of Elote at Gloucester Food Dock, drawn from an admiration for the people and culture after chef Lewis Spencer's travels through the region.
The menu features dishes created from ingredients sourced directly from Mexican grocers, including fresh en salada, Tacqueria and Mexican 'elote’ street corn. From citrus-cured fish to a daily brunch, Elote serves up true authenticity within a welcomingly designed aesthetic — a great environment for catching up with friends.
Meet friends at Sebz
Dine on Portuguese and Mediterranean food in a relaxed environment at Sebz on Northgate Street, serving up a lunchtime tapas selection as well as an a la carte menu in the evening.
Mix and match tempting plates with pals with the venue boasting an extensive menu of meat, seafood and vegetable tapas which allows foodie guests to sample as many dishes as they like for a set price.
Meet friends at Bella Mia @ No.1
Serving up Neapolitan pizzas and speakeasy cocktails, Bella Mia @ No.1at Gloucester Food Dock is a brilliant option for friends looking to catch up over cocktails and pizzas with crunchy bases, slathered with gourmet Italian ingredients.
From a hearty meat feast, barbecue chicken or Proscuitto di Parma, to vegan garlic mushroom, Margherita di Bufala, or goat's cheese and red onion chutney, there's plenty to choose from — and hidden behind Bella Mia Pizza @ No.1 is Green Door @ No. 1, Gloucester’s very own 1920s speakeasy cocktail bar, a unique spot to chat the night away.
Meet friends at Chuck
Sink your teeth into a slice of Americana with Chuck Burger at Gloucester Docks — a sustainable meat offering with burgers from older animals which are nearing the natural end of their lives.
Opt for the signature Chuck and Cheese beef burgers to the Miss Piggy pulled pork with double beef; Mexican-themed chicken burgers; and a range of vegan burgers including the Bandito black bean patty, plant-based No Clucking Katsu and Jack The Fruit. Top it off with an ice cold beer.
Meet friends at Spago
While it’s known for its sweet and savoury crepes, Spago in Gloucester also celebrates all things Spanish with its tapas and nibbles menu.
Share authentic dishes like gambas, patatas bravas and padron peppers and sip on Italian wines, Spanish beer, prosecco and more — all while catching up on life with close friends.
Meet friends at Aroma Indian Restaurant
Sometimes you just can't beat a curry. For many, curry houses are synonymous with meeting up with friends and loved ones for birthdays and get-togethers, sharing stories, food and the mutual appreciation of the above.
The award-winning Aroma Indian on Southgate Street offers an authentic menu prepared by a team of regional specialist chefs from different parts of India, each producing their own specialities. Highlights include kozhi chettinad made out of 18 varieties of spices; malabar lamb curry; and traditional madras fish curry.
