Koocha Mezze Bar Restaurant

Koocha Mezze Bar is a fully vegan restaurant in Bristol, England, that began operating in 2018. The venue focuses on plant-based food inspired by Iranian and Middle Eastern cooking, and its menu is built around the use of vegan ingredients. Its main concept is to offer meat-free dishes and animal-product-free meals in the form of mezze and shareable plates.

A significant part of the menu is made up of dishes influenced by Persian, Turkish, and other Middle Eastern cuisines. Items such as hummus, beetroot borani, spiced cauliflower, za’atar carrots, za’atar bread, falafel, and various legume- and vegetable-based dishes appear on the menu. Some dishes are plant-based versions of familiar Middle Eastern foods, such as vegan shawarma and seitan-based doner.

The restaurant’s menu is structured mainly for ordering several small dishes and sharing them between people. Alongside the small plates, there are options for breakfast and lunch, main dishes, sides, and desserts. One of the sharing menu options includes olives, two small dishes, two large dishes, and two side plates. This ordering style means the meal is arranged around a range of plates rather than a single main dish for each person.

Among the more filling main dishes are options such as vegan shish kebab, Turkish shawarma, saffron and tahini skewers, and seitan-based dishes. Saffron rice, grilled vegetables, hummus, Shirazi salad, and different dips are used throughout the menu. Ingredients and seasonings such as saffron, tahini, pomegranate, sumac, cumin, paprika, garlic, and fresh herbs appear in many dishes, showing the menu’s connection to Iranian and Middle Eastern cooking.

The drinks section includes Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails and mocktails, signature gin and tonics, beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. The business is therefore not limited to food service alone, and the space is also designed for dining, drinks, and social gatherings.

In the dessert section, items such as baklava, pomegranate and saffron cheesecake, and chocolate brownie are listed. Some desserts are made with ingredients such as pistachio, walnut, rosewater, and saffron, which match the overall character of the menu.

The restaurant also states that it focuses on local sourcing and sustainable practices, and that many of its dishes are prepared in-house. The management has referred to family roots in Iranian cooking and noted that some recipes were passed down through earlier generations and adapted for a modern vegan menu.

The restaurant operates from midday to evening throughout the week, with different hours on different days. The website also offers table reservations and food ordering. In addition, a limited number of Sunday roast dishes are available on Sundays alongside the main menu.

Overall, Koocha Mezze Bar is a Bristol restaurant with a clear focus on fully vegan food, using Iranian and Middle Eastern influences and serving dishes mainly as mezze, small plates, and sharing meals.