When Manouche Bakery & Bistro opened its doors in St Julian’s earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. With the craft bakery section of the eatery opening first, the delicate pastries and sweet confections called out to be tasted, and the refined décor of the outlet itself, reminiscent of old-world bakeries and bistros, drew me in further – I do love a stylish setting.

Impressed by the sweet side of things, I had high hopes for the bistro, and upon finally having the opportunity to sample the food, my expectations were not only met, but exceeded!

Here, the talented team of chefs present a variety of seasonal dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which they carefully pair with a beautiful selection of French wines. The focus is on cooking authentic dishes and elevating them with the same delicate attention to detail one finds in their sweet offerings, making for a truly memorable dining experience.

With the weather getting steadily cooler, my dining companion and I headed over to Manouche Bakery & Bistro for Sunday lunch, eager to sample their recently launched Sunday Roast. What better way to celebrate great culinary traditions, after all?

After a friendly welcome by the staff, we were shown to our table, and wasted no time before poring over the menu. As we struggled to make up our minds, a delectable bread board was placed between us to whet our appetite, and boy, did it do the job! As is to be expected, the selection of rolls at Manouche are much more than a simple case of a Mediterranean tradition we’ve become accustomed to at run-of-the-mill restaurants. Handcrafted on site at the bakery, the bread here is divine – the focaccia particularly delicious – and serves as a fantastic omen of things to come.

For starters, I opted to start with a light option of burrata and artichoke, making sure to leave more than enough room for the main event. The dish was deceptively complex, with an array of flavours which complemented each other beautifully. The mushrooms, burrata and artichoke are perhaps the most obvious stars of the show, but it’s all the elements together that make it exceptional.

Over on the other side of the table, my dining companion was eager to tuck into his choice of chicken liver parfait. This dish, once again, features a fantastic layering of tastes and textures – the creamy parfait topped with a sweet sauce, juicy fruit, dried cherry tomatoes and crunchy fried onions. They all blended seamlessly to create a dish that was interesting, tasty and rich.

And then it was time for the roast. It came well recommended and well, we weren’t disappointed. Generally offering a choice between roast pork belly and a fillet of Chateaubriand, on this day, the beef speciality was a tender striploin, which was cooked perfectly and displayed a lovely pink colour throughout. The meat was juicy and flavourful, enhanced by a crunchy roast top.

It was served with a rich dark gravy, which went wonderfully with the Yorkshire pudding – both of which give the dish that homely taste and feel of a traditional roast lunch. Served alongside the star ingredients were a good selection of veggies with an interesting additional of fennel, as well as a side of moreish crispy roast potatoes.

Suitably stuffed and feeling very pleased with ourselves, the only shame is that we couldn’t find any room for dessert! All in all, the team at Manouche Bakery & Bistro has outdone themselves, serving up a homely and authentic Sunday Roast experience – so if you’re partial to a good Yorkshire pud, I’d certainly recommend giving theirs a try!