A Foodie Guide to Cargo & Cargo 2 at Wapping Wharf

The purveyors of the finest salt beef in Bristol, Flora and Rob have quite the loyal following from their appearances at various markets in the city, and it’s not difficult to see why upon trying one of their deli sandwiches. These doorstop sarnies and rolls are packed with salt beef, fresh salads and cheese - which they use a blowtorch to melt. After deciding to bring salt beef back to the forefront of street food, these guys haven't done too bad a job and are incredibly popular, and now they have a permanent home in which they can be found. Our tip? Try the ‘Reuben’. Deelish.

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Although occupying a slot on the roster of Cargo 2, head-honcho Alex previously earned widespread acclaim for delicious creations such as The St Werburger during his time at Rebel Roll (a sadly departed Redcliffe classic which is still sorely missed by Team Wriggle). A handmade burger slathered in cheese, doused in a sauce that was as creamy as it was sharp and encased in warm brioche guaranteed to set knees-a-trembling, The St Werburger was a legend in its own right. So much so, in fact, that it became award winning burger chef Alex's inspiration behind the burger offering at Squeezed, now taking centre stage on a minimalist menu and flanked on all sides by equally tempting patty-based-creations.

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The little sister to the iconic Brace & Browns restaurant, this is the smaller-sized, kitsch and cuter, Harbour & Browns. A restaurant with outside terrace space, the pink neon sign tells diners “all you need is love and prosecco”, and in our book, these guys aren't far wrong. The menu is a mixture of oh-so-shareable small plates (think mozzarella sticks, parmesan and truffle fries and fish bites to name a few) and larger main dishes, but you can also enjoy some stunningly cooked brunch items here too. A bright and airy restaurant with some unique little touches, this is a lovely date spot or perfect for coming along with your friends and sharing a variety of the small plates. Oh, and on Wednesdays, you can eat UNLIMITED FOOD for only £19.90. If that doesn't spark joy, we don't know what will.

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The lovely ladies at Gopal’s have found a permanent home at Cargo 2 after popping up at various venues and markets in and around Bristol. Serving vegetarian and vegan curries and sides; Heather and Mel take their inspiration from India to create dishes using the finest in West Country produce. So if you fancy a curry club with a difference - then this is certainly one to try with your mates. The Roald Dal is one of the most comforting, quick and delicious grab and go lunches available in the city, and is a regular Wriggle Team fave.

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This is the third venue for the CUPP bubble tea family, who already occupy cosy little outlets in both St.Stephen’s Street and Quakers Friars. Specialising in authentic Taiwanese bubble tea and noodles, the drinks have already made quite a name for the self in Bristol. A now legendary combo of flavoured tea, milk and chewy tapioca pearls which are shaken together to form a bubbly foam on top of the drink, there are a variety of fruity flavours to choose from, as well as coffees and loose leaf teas. When the summer sun is burning strong, there's few things as nice as grabbing an ice cold bubble tea, sitting down by the water, and dangling your legs over the harbourside as you watch the world go by.

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MeatBox, a small but perfectly formed butchery dedicated to responsibly raised, often organic, and ALWAYS free-range meat, is a cracking addition to the Cargo family. The brains behind the operation is Luke Hasell, an award-winning organic farmer devoted to offering high-welfare meat to Bristolians. The variety is incredible, including all the classic Sunday roast joints, handmade organic burgers, thick-cut, dry-aged, pasture-fed steaks, as well as some more exciting and unusual cuts, and a choice range of local charcuterie from the Mendips.

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Ahh, Pizzarova! Let us count the ways we adore thee. Now the proud owners of three beautiful venues in Bristol, Pizzarova have firmly cemented their spot in the hearts, minds and stomachs of Bristolians. If we had to pick a fave (it's like choosing a favourite child, but we managed), we'd have to say that this small but perfectly formed little crate is our number one. Sitting just before you arrive at Cargo 2, this lil spot has a generous outside seating area (which is covered for when the great British summer doesn't behave). The same format as other Pizzarova venues applies: choose your toppings and make your own perfect combination or enjoy their classic margerita. Eat in or takeaway to enjoy with some beers on the harbourside – either way, it's win-win.

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Originally situated by another foodie hub, St. Nick’s, Rosie decided to up sticks and move her glorious cheese shop down to Cargo 2. If cheese is your thing, then this is the place to visit. With over 100 cheeses on offer from the West Country and further afield, Rosie's passion for all things cheesy is evident. What originally started as a pop-up has turned into a full blown business and is the perfect fit for the community spirit down at Cargo 2.

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An independent craft beer bottle shop in the beating heart of Wapping Wharf's Cargo 2 development with speciality, quality and affordability at their core. Providing a careful balance of accessible Bristolian favourites (think Wiper & True, Moor, Lost & Grounded etc) in the fridges and a whole wall of rarer, eclectic treats to take away, for take-home Growlers (and a choice of fantastic keg beers to fill them with) and an altogether more rewarding visit to Spike Island you should most definitely look for the Beer Necessities, the simple Beer Necessities.

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Bringing a little seaside action to proceedings down at Cargo is Salt & Malt. The second venue for this establishment (the original based out at Chew Valley), sees Josh Eggleton bringing his award winning gluten free fish and chips alongside seafood specials to the harbourside. You can sit outside and soak up the sun or take away with you to enjoy by the water's edge. In keeping with Josh’s ethos for sustainability, all of the catches here are locally sourced, meaning you know exactly where your fish has come from. This family-friendly restaurant is perfect for weekends with the little ones.

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Shall we just utter the words Thatchers sorbet and leave it at that? Yes, you can actually order that at Oliver’s. Freshly made ice-cream and sorbets are made on site here using quality ingredients sourced straight from the West country. Not afraid to push the boat out or experiment, the flavours at Oliver’s change regularly meaning that regulars can always find something new, and if you're not sure what you want, then you're allowed to sample as many as you like before plumping for your faves. The menu includes some beauties such as cookies & cream, Madagascan vanilla, salted caramel and pistachio, but you just want to get down there for the Thatchers now, don't you?

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Thought you couldn't get authentic Greek souvlaki and gyros in Bristol? Well not anymore because the Athenian is bringing it’s ‘A’ game, literally. Formed by 2 Londoners who originate from the island, this street food business took off and allowed them to spread their wings to Bristol. Choose from 3 different meats (or have them all if you wish) and you'll get them packed into a wrap with fresh salad, homemade sauces and fries. Don't be fooled into thinking the wraps won't fill you up either; the portions are generous with the meat being of high quality. Not feeling a wrap? Then you can also order salad boxes to eat in or takeaway in their modest container. Greek gods and goddesses assemble.

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This is the fancy pants resident of Cargo 2. An 18 seater fine-dining restaurant, in which the aim of the game is to serve up quality food using the best ingredients possible. The dinner menu (of which there is also a vegetarian version) is a stunning five course tasting option for a staggeringly reasonable £35. In our book, this really is excellent value considering the regularly changing seasonal menu typically includes courses such as Iberico pork cheek croqueta, melon pickle, mustard mayonnaise and Mojama, passionfruit, sesame, nori, ‘Grow Bristol’ daikon shoots, crisp noodles. Sounds awesome right? With a hand selected and carefully curated drinks menu as an accompaniment to all that perfectly pitched food, this one is perfect for special occasions or when you fancy a real treat.

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Cargo Cantina has been the word on many Bristolian’s lips since opening its doors. From the guys that brought us Bravas, Cargo Cantina has been a labour of love and hard work, which even included the entire team taking a trip over to Mexico in order to pick up tips and make the restaurant as authentic as possible. It's safe to say, they haven't failed, although the Wriggle squad are jealous of the trip. This fun and relaxed establishment serves up ice cold beers, frozen margaritas and cocktails made from 100% agave tequila and mezcal. Tacos are super reasonably priced for the quality of the ingredients, and the perfectly flavoured, filling options include Ox Cheek. Well, you can't really argue with that can you?

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Wander through Cargo 2 down at Wapping Wharf, and you'll stumble upon the cosy, colourful, and creative little culinary treasure trove that is Bandook Kitchen. An intimate, rustic space that's bursting with life, Bandook Kitchen's modern take on Indian cookery has made a giant, tasty and unforgettable splash since bursting onto the Bristol food scene in the summer of 2017. Bandook Kitchen's raison d'être is creating deliciously fresh and exciting food that fuses traditional Indian street food dishes with modern twists and original creations. Pleasingly named dishes such as 'Grandma's Curry' – a daily-changing 'home-style' special curry – sit alongside the quirky sounding 'Chicken Lollipop', and there's plenty of mouthwatering options for veggies, fish-eaters and meat-eaters alike.

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Once upon a time there were three brothers. A rugby player, a ship broker and a cabinet maker. The three brothers loved eating meat, especially pork and would continually talk about food, have great food competitions and even fight over food. One day they were having a heated debate about their favourite roast pork and sausages yet none could agree on the best. The debate became so tense they decided to solve the problem by creating their own porky delights which would one day become the best and most delicious in the whole land and BOOM, the Jolly Hog was born. PIGSTY was the Jolly Hog boys' first permanent (and stylish) space. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a focus on great tasting and local produce; it's your chance to see how these folks aren't telling any porkies when it comes to crack(l)ing food.

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Welcome to the world famous Bristol Cider Shop! Okay maybe not world famous, but famous across Bristol and in the world of cider at least! As the name suggests, these cheerful chappies are specialists in that most Bristolian of drinks: cider, and its pear-based little sister, perry. Joining the foodie-revolution over in Wapping Wharf, the Bristol Cider Shop gang are serving the finest array of ciders to drink on-the-spot, or take away and enjoy for later.

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Jay Raynor loved it, we love it, Bristol loves it. Box-E is turning heads and taking reservations. "Fine dining in a shipping container?" we hear you all cry. Yes indeed, dear reader. As part of the Cargo development at Wapping Wharf, Tess and Elliot owners, chefs and FOH at Box-E are serving British classical cooking at very reasonable prices. With only fourteen seats plus four at the ace kitchen counter, you would do well to get your bookings for lunch and dinner in quick, especially now those pesky Londoners know about this place. Look out for a little seating out on the decking on sunny days, too! Menu wise expect to find fine food and relaxed service. Think modern, European dining with a farm to fork eye on proceedings. Oh, and don't forget to order the panna cotta. It's famous for a reason.

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Our friends John and Chris from Small Street Espresso have gloriously spread their wings (and broadened their menu) for this new venture in Wapping Wharf. Super slick cake-stacked Espresso bar by day. Craft beers, Coffee cocktails and Organic wine in the evening, along with a smattering of the choicest charcuterie boards and some glorious sandwiches. And one hell of a view. Team Wriggle cannot stop drinking the cold brew negronis, too, so we'll probably see you down there.

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Woky Ko is owned by Masterchef finalist Larkin Cen who, like most right-minded people, have decided Bristol is the place to be. This venue down at Wapping Wharf was Larkin's first restaurant, and cemented his place on the UK's best food scene. Grab an outside table, order one of everything and watch the people go by as you scoff your East Asian delicacies within eye shot of the kitchen. That's dinner and a show!

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Bertha's has officially changed the face of Bristol's pizza scene forever. The Guardian named this pizzeria as one of the top-ten outside of London, and just one bite of sourdough crust served hot from Bertha herself proves it a worthy accolade. Let us explain. The steel wood fired oven is called Bertha, first fired up in a Sheffield back garden. Her owners soon wanted a change of direction; a vocation not a chore. They sat there sharing the food they’d cooked with friends and the answer stared back: pizza. Great pizza is simple. Good ingredients on good bread. It’s accessible; the best pizza in the world is affordable to the masses. We love that. It’s a showcase for ingredients. They want to be part of the community, to partner with local suppliers. This isn’t about buzzwords or trends. It matters. Provenance matters. Quality matters. Our sanity matters. They found the best way to keep the fire in their bellies and passion for their work is to team up with the best local producers and change the menu with the seasons. Fast forward several years, countless cindered, failed attempts and they've travelled the world, learned from some of the best in the US and put their waistbands on the line to sample all - and I mean all - that Naples had to offer. At the heart of these pizzas is the dough. And at the heart of our dough is their sourdough starter or 'mother'. It’s a symbiotic mix of wild yeast, bacteria (think good bacteria) and enzymes. The long ferment gives the natural enzymes time to do their work. The gluten chains are broken down further and you’re left with something which is both delicious and easy to digest. If you’re going to leave your crusts please do so discreetly; the team don’t want to witness them being thrown away.

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Wild Beer is a cracking brewery in Shepton Mallet that makes some truly bonkers beers. These guys are the experimental chefs of the brewing world, chucking everything from champagne yeast, lobster and mushrooms into their brews and seeing what happens. Most of the time it’s pure magic. After opening their flagship bar in Cheltenham they turned their attention to the new Wapping Wharf builds and were one of the very first units to open. The space itself is a bright and airy bar with bench seating, encouraging people to share space, a semi-open kitchen and a huge choice of beers to choose from (tasting before buying is highly recommended). When the sun is shining, get yourself installed in their extensive outdoor area. Come for tasty food and beers, and stay for harbourside sunsets and more beers.

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This small, elegant and very, very pretty restaurant serves up beautifully well thought out small plates with a heavy leaning on seasonal fruit and veg. Here you can dine on exquisite dishes of beetroots, mushrooms, hispi cabbage and fine cheeses alongside carefully selected meat and fish dishes. Whether you're popping in for an intimate date night or a group knees-up that's a little bit special, there will be something that appeals to everyone here.

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The team that brought you Biblos, Bristol's most beloved purveyors of wraps, are cooking up a saucy storm down at Wapping Wharf with glorious, sunshine filled Caribbean dishes. Whilst staying true to their roots with their Middle Eastern meaty and veggie wraps, the team have really upped the ante down at Cargo, with big hearty dishes which are marinated, seasoned and packed with excellent flavour (King Prawn Gumbo, Jerry Belly Pork Chickpea, Aubergine and Caramelised Sweet Potato Gumbo to name a few).

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The Juice Box may be small (this svelte little operation fits into one of the more petite shipping containers down at Wapping Wharf), but the team are on a mighty mission. Their goal? To help busy people (that's me and thee, Wriggler) fit all the vitamins, minerals, and other healthy bits that our mums used to bang on about into our oh-so-hectic schedules. Alright, so it's a pretty admirable plan, but how the flippin' Nora do the Juice Box manage to execute that?! The answer is simple: these guys pack as much fresh, delicious, and downright good for you fruit and veg as they can into their freshly squeezed juices, meaning all you have to worry about is finding the time to sip on a quick bottle of juice. Now, that doesn't sound too taxing, does it? If you're not keen on juices (although frankly, we've got to ask you why, since the JB's are so darn tasty) then fear not; this healthy little haven also make a mean smoothie – perfect for filling a small hole at any time of the day. Feeling particularly hungry? The luxuriously topped smoothie bowls come particularly recommended – we're particularly smitten with the cacao and almond butter number – ideal for a healthy lunchtime feed. It's not all fruit and veg though; these guys also knock up a mean flat white if you need an extra bit of rocket fuel to get you going in the morning.

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Assembly Bakery are one of our favourite bakeries in the city. Born and raised in the Old Market Assembly, they cut the apron strings back in 2017, flying the nest and getting their own place a couple of doors down. Things went so well in their new pad that they've also expanded into that great culinary Mecca, Wapping Wharf, with a lovely little shipping container to call their own. The bread itself at Assembly Bakery is simply some of the finest around. With sourdough that'll make you groan with delight, the team also craft some of the most exquisite croissants, sausage rolls, and sweet treats on the block. What's more, the Assembly team favour the slower, purer methods that are at the centre of traditional, artisan baking, and are all-too-often excluded from modern narratives around food. Combined with organic, local ingredients, these slow baking methods create a far superior product that tastes tangibly better for you, and far more delicious. Assembly Bakery, we salute you!

Read more about Assembly Bakery @ Wapping Wharf

Seven Lucky Gods are all about Japanese fusion dishes and delicious cocktails. Inspired by the izakaya bars of Tokyo, you'll find all kinds of treats there: from made to order sushi to perfectly flavour-packed bento boxes or banging Japanese tapas, you'll find something that tickles your fancy. Freshly open at Cargo 2 in Wapping Wharf, Seven Lucky Gods also feature a splendid roof terrace, making it the perfect spot to sip on one of their cocktail creations, mixed up with original flavours and just the right amount of booziness... What more do you need?

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The more the merrier! The new addition to the family – Woky Ko: Kaiju – is here to rule Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf with their delicious Japanese dishes. Head over to Kaiju, situated on the level above Meatbox & Squeezed, where you can expect a tasty fish & meat yakitori skewer dishes, perfectly cooked on traditional Japanese robata grills. Kaiju is lead by the amazing new head chef, John Watson, who taps into his past experience of running his restaurant to create marvellous dishes for you to indulge in. Grab a seat on the terrace and take in the beautiful scenery Wapping Wharf has to offer while enjoying your yummy dish.

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Gambas, sister restaurant to Bristol institution Bravas, is bringing Spanish culture to Wapping Wharf. Gambas is a seafood-focused, Spanish-inspired tapas bar and terrace with a gorgeous and breathtaking view over Bristol's sparking harbourside. At Gambas, you can expect great fresh seafood, flavourful tapas, refreshing starters that complements their all Spanish wine list, and of course lots of fun! Their menu is made up of signature and popular dishes enjoyed on their trips to Spain. So rest assured, you'll be dining on some temptingly delicious plates.

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