Jack the Falafel: ‘Possibly the best jackfruit curry in Bristol’ – cafe review

It’s a bold proclamation to say you serve the best jackfruit curry, but the team at Jack the Falafel are confident they can deliver.

“Here, you must try before you decide,” says co-owner and chef Naveed Amani, handing a teaspoon and a small saucer of curry over the counter.

The steaming hot jackfruit curry is rich and warming with a slight spice and meaty texture. Based on the first teaspoon alone, this is definitely up there among the best in Bristol.

Deep metal trays behind the counter contain two alternative curries – chickpea curry and Thai green curry – each of which are sampled before the decision is made to opt for a combination of jackfruit and chickpea.

Despite the name, Naveed steers us towards the curry over the falafel options on offer and, after trying the goods on offer, it’s not a hard sell.

A fitting location this close to bonfire night, this new vegan venture has opened in a former fireworks shop on Gloucester Road and is bustling with lunchtime trade – no mean feat considering the strength of the competition in the area.

Tables in the cafe might be filling up fast but Naveed offers the same attentive welcome to each customer that approaches the counter.

An engineer by trade, Naveed and co-founder Agata Kaniecka opened the new cafe in October offering a selection of mostly vegan lunch meals, including falafel with a variety of salads, burritos, curries, hot drinks and fresh juices.

There is also an array of plastic-free goods for sale, from coconut bowls to ingredients such as olive oil and saffron, with a focus on sustainability maintained throughout the business.

Green plants adorn the window sills and wood panelling and local artwork give the café a homely feel, although a bit of background music and softer lighting would have added to the atmosphere.

Outside, a carved wooden swing takes pride of place on the pavement and an ornamental bike plant holder sets a cycle-theme that continues throughout in the form of bike decorations and a stool with pedals and a chain. Disappointingly, the latter doesn’t actually work as a cycling stool, which might have added a whole new meaning to lunch on the go.

The curries (£9.49 for two curries in one bowl and £8.49 for one) are served in coconut bowls that prove deceptively deep. A generous portion of curry sits on a bed of delicately sweet saffron rice and salad, with a hot flatbread that is crisp and fresh with enough substance to soak up the rich flavours.

The curry-filled coconut bowl is deceptively deep – photo by Meg Houghton-Gilmour

The jackfruit is like pulled pork in consistency, with notes of caramelised onions in a lightly spiced sauce, while the chickpea curry with organic tofu is a dish that celebrates the earthiness of the humble chickpea in a hearty, wholesome and uncomplicated medley.

The salad soon gets a bit too oily and soggy in the steaming bowl but overall, the meal is the perfect winter-warmer packed full of healthy ingredients that is a satisfyingly good lunch.

The zesty apple, cinnamon and ginger juice (£2.50) is a refreshing accompaniment that offers a good kick.

Keen to try the latest falafel offering in town, I order a falafel in flatbread to go (£5.99). Full of fresh flavours, the quality of the flatbread holds its own well and is an ideal lunch-to-go option. The homemade falafels are tasty, uncomplicated and wholesome but it is the curries that stand out as the stars of the show.

Head to this latest vegan offering for a warm welcome and quite possibly the best jackfruit curry in Bristol.

Jack the Falafel is serving vegan fare in a former fireworks shop – photo by Ellie Pipe

Jack the Falafel, 42 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AR
www.instagram.com/jack_the_falafel/

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