The Bistro
The Bistro, situated in Ventnor town just yards from the cascade gardens and the sea front, is run by a Husband (chef) & wife (Boss & front of house) with Charlie running back of kitchen. The restaurant with a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere, local art on the walls and plants adorning the restaurant makes it both warm and welcoming yet sophisticated. We are just 3 and stagger our reservations for the benefit of our guests.
We operate a no under 5 years old of age restaurant policy
We are a small restaurant and we simply do not have enough room for highchairs, prams or buggies. We do not have baby changing facilities or a children’s menu. As such we politely request customers not ask us to make exceptions.
Thank you.
Local ingredients
The open kitchen adds to your dining experience enabling you to see Andy the chef at work preparing and cooking your meal. Using the best of locally sourced seasonal produce and ingredients the food is cooked fresh and can be adapted to suit children or specific dietary requirements. There are daily specials, including vegetarian dishes and locally caught fish. Serving Island roasted coffee; evening meals and a traditional roast lunch on Sundays.
Starter
| Marinated olives | £6.00 |
| warm ciabatta & Bistro butter | £4.50 |
| Tempura battered tiger prawns | £12.50 |
| with a sriracha, coconut & lime mayonnaise | |
| pork & chicken farmhouse pate | £11.00 |
| with onion chutney & crostini | |
| Soup of the day | £7.50 |
| Smoked haddock & mackerel terrine | £12.50 |
| withpickled cucumber relish & crostini | |
| Bistro Banitsa | £11.50 |
| baked, layered filo pastry & feta cheese with toasted sunflower seeds & drizzled with local honey | |
| Tempura battered tenderstem broccoli | £10.50 |
| with sriracha, lime & coconut mayonnaise | |
| Fried black pudding & smoked pancetta | £10.50 |
| with salad leaves & a sweet mustard dressing | |
Main courses
| Roasted smoked paprika chicken breast | £25.50 |
| with potato rosti, roasted chorizo, pepper, courgette, aubergine & I.o.W tomatoes & grilled white asparagus | |
| Pan-fried red snapper fillet | £28.50 |
| on a tiger prawn, crayfish, green vegetable potato Thai green, coconut & coriander curry sauce, lime pickle, pachadi & naan bread | |
| Roasted lamb rump | £28.50 | |
| new potatoes, humus,olives, tenderstem broccoli, tangy tomato chutney & Briddlesford Fetter cheese | ||
| Griddled I.o.W Pave Rump Steak | £28.50 |
| with chips, salad, coleslaw and a creamy peppercorn sauce |
| Pan-fried Seabass fillet | £29.50 |
| grilled seabass fillet topped wit a crab & leek gratin served on a risotto of peas, mint, lemon, garlic & chilli | |
| Bistro summer green vegetable risotto | £24.50 |
| Arborio rice, spinach, courgette, broccoli, peas, mint & basil | |
| Vegetarian sausage, leek & cheese tart | £24.50 |
| with chips,salad, coleslaw & a tangy tomato chutney |
| Gamberi linguini or risotto | £27.00 |
| tiger prawns & crayfish with spinach, fresh tomato, chilli, garlic white wine & butter glaze with linguini or arborio rice | |
| Roasted duck breast | £28.50 |
| with roasted new potatoes, pea puree, white asparagus,tenderstem broccoli & an orange & clementine gravy with toasted almonds | |
Desserts
| Affogato | £7.50 |
| 2 scoops vanilla ice cream a double espresso coffee & biscotti | |
| Lemon sorbet | £8.50 |
| with Limoncello & biscotti | |
| Rich chocolate ice cream | £8.50 |
| with Baileys & biscotti | |
| Mango & coconut roulade | £11.50 |
| a flourless sponge filled with a passionfruit cream & mango | |
| Pistachio & strawberry cheesecake | £11.50 |
| whipped cream cheese with biscuit base, pistachio praline, fresh strawberries & a chocolate sauce | |
| Warm peach, cinnamon & marzipan strudel | £12.50 |
| with vanilla seed ice cream. Add a 50ml glass of our recommended dessert wine £3.00 | |
| Poached & glazed meringue | £10.00 |
| with creme anglaise, cherry compote & toasted almonds | |
| Selection of ice creams & sorbets | |
| 1/2/3 scoops | |
| Selection of local cheeses | £12.50 |
| a selection of Isle of wight cheeses, Bistro chutney & biscuits Add a 50ml glass of Ruby reserve port £5.50 | |
Sides
| Chips | £4.00 |
| roasted new potatoes | £4.50 |
| Side salad | £5.00 |
| Vegetables | £5.50 |
| New potatoes | £3.50 |
| Sweet potato fries | £5.00 |
Our wine list
Choose from our great selection of wines & organic winesWhite wines
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Custoza DOC | £4.75 | £6.75 | £8.75 | £26.00 |
| Cantina del Carda - Veneto, Italy | ||||
| From a little known DOC, this fresh, harmonious white is a blend of Garganega, Trebbianella & Cartese | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Pinot Grigio | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.00 | £27.00 |
| Torre del Vescovi - Veneto, Italy | ||||
| What Pinot grigio should taste like, complex floral notes give way to a dry, fresh and velvety palate | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Viognier | £5.50 | £7.75 | £9.75 | £29.00 |
| Les Argelieres - Pays d'Oc, France | ||||
| A delightfully refined blend of this very popular cariety, showing delicate white peach on the nose and palate. | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Sauvignon Blanc | £6.75 | £9.75 | £12.75 | £37.00 |
| Signature series, Ant Moore - Marlborough, New Zealand | ||||
| Legendary winemaker Ant Moore moved from Aus to NZ in 2002 and has built a reputation as one of Marlborough's finest | ||||
| Bottle | |
| Vernaccia di San Gimignano | £28.00 |
| Borgo alla Terra, Geografico - Toscana, Italy | |
| A delightful little find from the heart of Tuscany, this is fresh, fruity and well structured |
| Bottle | |
| Fiano/Greco | £39.00 |
| A Mano - Puglia, Italy | |
| Fiano & Greco grapes picked 'A Mano' by hand, this wine displays aromas of ripe pear & orange blossom. |
| Bottle | |
| Gavi di Gavi | £41.00 |
| Mille951, Produttori del Gavi, Piemonte, Italy | |
| Produttori di Gavi overlooks the old fortress and has been making wine for over 65 years. |
| Bottle | |
| Albarino | £43.00 |
| Lauretus - Rias Baixas, Spain | |
| A traditional method sparkler from an exclusively handpicked harvest of Mauzac & Chardonnay |
| Bottle | |
| Old Vines Swartland White Blend | £60.00 |
| Mullineux Signature - Swartland, S Africa | |
| One of the most lauded wineries in South Africa. A blend of 6 varieties, aged for 11 months in French oak. |
| Bottle | |
| Meursault | £110.00 |
| Domaine Michelot - Burgundy, France | |
| Domaine Michelot has been in the family for six generations. Typically rich, fat & golden Meursault |
Rosé wines
| 125ml | 0 | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Chiaretto di Bardolino | £4.75 | 175ml="£6.75 | £8.75 | £26.00 |
| Cantina del Garda - Veneto, Italy | ||||
| From the shores of lake Garda in Northern Italy, this pretty, rose tinted wine has fresh red fruit flavours | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Pink Zinfandel | £4.75 | £6.75 | £8.75 | £26.00 |
| Alpino - Puglia, Italy | ||||
| Delightfully salmon pink in colour, with a fresh bouquet of strawberries and ripe summer fruits on the nose | ||||
| 125ml | 0 | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Cotes de Provence Rose | £6025 | 175ml="£8.75 | £10.75 | £32.00 |
| Provence, France | ||||
| A beautifully made Provence, named after the amount of sunshine hours hours the vineyard recieve each vintage | ||||
Dessert wines
| 125ml | |
| Moscatel de Grano Menudo | £6.50 |
| Goya Clasico, Camilo Castila- Navara, Spain. | |
| Late harvest moscatel fermented & fortified sweet before being aged in wooden casks for 2 years |
| 125ml | |
| Show Liqueur Muscat | £11.00 |
| De Bortoli - NSW, Australia | |
| Aged for 8 years in oak barrels, this is an intensely rich and luscious wine full of aromas, dates toffee & caramel |
Red wines
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Merlot | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.00 | £27.00 |
| Casa Lunardi - Veneto - Italy | ||||
| A fruity example of Merlot, perfectly balanced, juicy and well structured with cherry, plum and balsamic notes. | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Rioja Tempranillo | £5.50 | £7.75 | £9.75 | £29.00 |
| Manzanos-Rioja,Spain | ||||
| Aged for six months in French and American oak, producing a mellow, rounded wine with hints of spice, liquorice & chocolate | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| High Altitude Malbec | £7.00 | £10.00 | £13.25 | £38.00 |
| Estate, Dona Paula - Valle de Uco, Argentina | ||||
| Estate grown grapes, cultivated at high altitudes where cool temperatures allow them to ripen slowly | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Nero d'Avola/Frappato | £6.75 | £9.25 | £12.00 | £36.00 |
| U..Passiento, Baglio Gibellina - Sicilia, Italy | ||||
| 70% Nero d'Avola & 30% Frappato. The Nero grapes partially dry on the vines to concentrate flavours. | ||||
| 125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle | |
| Pinot Noir | £6.25 | £8.75 | £11.25 | £33.00 |
| Cote de Danube - Bulgaria | ||||
| A vibrant pinot noir from Chateau Burgozone- soft, juicy and easy drinking | ||||
| Bottle | |
| Mercury Rouge VieillesVignes | £70.00 |
| Chateau Phillipe le Hardi - Burgundy, France | |
| A single vineyard Pinot Noir showing a perfumed nose of cherry and bright, lifted fruit on the palate. |
| Bottle | |
| Chateauneuf du Pape | £90.00 |
| Les Sinards, Famille Perrin - Rhone, France | |
| A baby Chateau de Beaucastel - grapes for this wine are sourced from the young vines at the chateau. |
Champagne / sparkling
| Bottle | |
| Alcohol Free Sparkling | £25.00 |
| Single Estate, Pale Fox - Veneto, Italy | |
| A blend of Pinot Grigio & Prosecco grapes, used to make a classic wine before removing the alcohol |
| 125ml | Bottle | |
| Blanc de Blancs Brut | £8.00 | £36.00 |
| Methode Cap Classique, Laborie | ||
| Champagne method fizz from one SA's oldest producers, offering exceptional quality and complexity. | ||
| Bottle | |
| Brut Rose | £36.00 |
| Methode Cap Classique, Laborie | |
| Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Pinotage are expertly blended to produce an elegant wine with a soft and fine mousse |
| 375mlbottle | Bottle | |
| Brut Tradition | £45.00 | £70.00 |
| Gardet - Champagne< France | ||
| Established in 1895 by Charles Gardet in Epernay, The house owns around 7ha of premier cru vineyards. | ||
Opening times
You Book-We Cook Booking is essential especially during the quiet out of season times & during the current economic crisis as we only order fresh food for the bookings we have.Bistro opening times Summer 2026
YOU BOOK, WE COOK
We are a small husband and wife team, with just Andy cooking in the kitchen, Jane front of house and Charlie washing up.
Booking ahead is always advisable.
| AM | PM | |
| Monday | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed | Open 17.30 – 22.00 |
| Wednesday | Closed | Open 17.30 – 22.00 |
| Thursday | Closed | Open 17.30 – 22.00 |
| Friday | Closed | Open 17.30 – 22.00 |
| Saturday | Closed | Open 17.30 – 22.00 |
| Sunday | Open 12-4.00 | Closed |
Get in touch
We're here to helpFor any questions or bookings, you can contact us by phone or email