south wales echo food & drink awards 2012

February 2012

TAKEAWAYS ✙ ITALIAN ✙ INDIAN ✙ CHIP SHOPS ✙ COFFEE BARS ✙ ORIENTAL ✙ AND MORE

2 South Wales Echo February, 2012

GENERAL RESTAURANTS

Laguna Kitchen and BarPark Plaza Hotel, Greyfriars Road, CardiffCF10 3AL 029 2011 1103www.lagunakitchenandbar.com

It’s hard for a hotel to create a true destinationrestaurant but the Park Plaza has succeeded thanks toa combination of first class food, highly professionaland friendly service and a stylish and comfortableinterior.

It’s difficult to find fault with the Laguna where thesubtle lighting gives it the feeling of a discreet and modernprivate club and tables are generously spaced.

The food was among the best we ate. A jerusalem artichokerisotto (£5.50) was very rich, creamy and moreish while speckravioli was silky and glistening with olives and artichoke hearts(£5.50). Sea bass came with a creamy crab risotto (£16) and asucculent chicken breast was presented with a rich, wildmushroom and tarragon sauce (£11). It’s the sort of food thatmakes you want to wipe the plate clean and it’s well priced, too.

READER OFFER: Free use of the Laguna health and spa facilitieswhen you buy an afternoon tea: See page 24 for terms andconditions

Bully’s5 Romilly Crescent, Canton,Cardiff CF11 9NP029 2022 1905Walking into Bully’s, lastyear’s winner of the title,is a bit like entering arather upmarketsecondhand shop. Booksare piled up and there isa bizarre collection ofartefacts ranging fromempty wine bottles and menusfrom restaurants visited by theowners to an old riding hat andWelsh rugby caps.

The decor is informal but thefood is taken seriously and the

service is highly personal and enthusiastic.The sophisticated menu, which changes

monthly and has wines chosen to match eachdish, included an enjoyable crab cake withcucumber, mussels and saffron bisque (£8.50)and an imaginative dish of chicken servedwith a chestnut tarte tatin, caramelised salsify

and clapshot (£16).This is a restaurant serving good food with

personality and professionalism.

Huddarts69 High Street, CowbridgeCF71 7AF 01446 774645The food at Huddarts looks so pretty on theplate, it almost seems a shame to disturb it.

But the well judged flavoursand spot-on cooking makes itsdestruction worthwhile inthis quaint restaurantwhich has becomesomething of aCowbridge institutionover the last 16 years.

The decor istraditional and rathersafe, with tapestry on thewalls and chairs but the food isalways fresh and vibrant.

Expect delicious nibbles withthe menu and interesting wayswith the vegetables.

Roast quail was perfectlytender, filled with apricot stuffing and servedwith apple and parsnip puree (£6.95) while asupreme of guinea fowl was perfectlypartnered with an orange and Cointreau sauceand sweet potato and carrot cake (£15.95).Very competitively priced for the quality offood.

Illtud’s 216Prospect House, ChurchStreet, Llantwit MajorCF61 1SB 01446 793800With its 16th century walls, high ceilings hung

with tapestries, candlelightand sparkling glassware,this restaurant has thefeel of a baronial hall.

In fact, it is a formermalt house and thecombination of itshistoric character and thebright modern art hung onthe walls makes a visit feellike a real occasion.

The £12.50 two course menu isremarkable value and the a lacarte well priced. A chestnutand parsnip soup with wildcranberries (£4.50) was unusual andflavoursome while potted shrimps with crabmeat (£7.25) was a generous, fresh tastingportion served with crisp watercress and twodistinct dressings.

Porchetta, slow roast pork loin, (£12.75) waswonderfully tender, stuffed with apricots andprunes and served with a cider and carawayjus which tasted of rich meat juices. Perfectlycooked mushroom risotto was turned into afeast with a pile of fresh asparagus and roastcherry tomatoes on the vine (£11.75).

This is a restaurant with a lovely atmosphereand delicious food which deserves to be betterknown.

READER OFFER: FREE bottle of house winewhen two people order from the main menu:See page 24.

Ba Rooba97-99 Wyeverne Road,Cathays, Cardiff CF14 2BG029 2037 3528This cosy little restaurant in the heart ofstudentland was packed the night wevisited but despite that, the servicewas really personal and efficientand the atmosphere lively with1950s music. Strippedfloorboards, bare wood tablesand deep red walls give theplace a casual, comfortable air.

The kitchen must have been

■ Roast beef nicoise saladfrom Laguna Kitchen and Bar

From poshnosh to asandwich atlunchtime,we’ve visitedvenues to suitall occasions...

IT’S what you have been waiting for– our comprehensive guide to someof the best places to eat and drinkin South Wales. Eating out is one of

the nation’s best-loved activities and thestandard of food is higher than ever. So ifit’s an expensive meal at a posh restaur-ant, a takeaway on a Friday night, a sand-wich at lunchtime or a family meal, we’vevisited venues to suit all occasions.

We asked for your help in findingworthy winners of the South Wales EchoFood and Drink Awards 2011, and weweren’t disappointed with yoursuggestions. We were inundated withrecommendations of your favourite placesto eat out, including luxurious restaurants,takeaways, chip shops, coffee shops andpubs.

The contest was divided into 11categories: general restaurant of the year;Italian; Indian; Oriental; family; foodpub/bar; local pub; takeaway; fish andchip shop; coffee shop and sandwich barof the year. Our judges had the pleasureof sampling food at more than 150nominated venues, all of which have beenreviewed in this supplement. They havevisited, tasted and deliberated and todaywe can reveal who the winners are.Standards were extremely high and as ourjudge in the Indian category said: “If anyone of them was on my doorstep, theywould become regular haunts because inall honesty there is not one restaurant Iwould not recommend you to try.”

The quality and high standard of coffeeshops, meant that this was one of themost difficult categories to judge too asmany of them could have claimed topspot. As with all awards, there canunfortunately only be one winner in eachcategory. But, as is evident from ourjudges’ reviews, many of the runners upare also well worth visiting. So sit back,relax and read our comprehensive guideto some of the hottest places in SouthWales to eat and drink. Then all you haveto do is decide where to go for your nextmeal out!

Don’t missyour Echopull-outevery

Saturday forfood reviewson all of our

favouriteeateries

HuddartsRESTAURANT

‘For a unique taste in Fine Cuisine,whatever your occasion’

Winner of

Restaurant of the year 2002/2004 and 2008

Nominated for restaurant of the year 2005, 2006, 2007,and 2011

69 High Street,Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7AF

For Reservations

Tel: 01446 774645

3February, 2012 South Wales Echo

under pressure but every one of our disheswas perfectly cooked. Tender scallops wereserved with a delicious Pernod and creamsauce (£7.25) while a salmon fillet (£11.50) wasenlivened with a pink peppercorn and tomatosauce. Hake, too, was cooked just right andcame with a delicate garlic and cream saucewith mussels and prawns (£12.75). Greatcrunchy sautéed potatoes, generous vegetablesand an altogether enjoyable experience.

Caesar’s ArmsCardiff RoadCreigiau CF15 9NL029 2089 0486www.caesarsarms.co.uk

They’ve found a formula that works at thistraditional country inn-style restaurant whereyou choose your raw ingredients from a vastchilled counter of fresh looking fish, seafoodand meat. Quality ingredients are cookedsimply but with precision and served up withbaked potatoes or great crunchy chips.

The decor may be a little old fashioned butthe food is wholesome and delicious, turnedout from an open plan kitchen area. Hugescallops (£8.95) were so succulent it almostseemed a crime to have them in a creamsauce, tasty as it was, and hake was beautifullycooked in a flavoursome Barbados sauce(£18.70). Good steaks too (plain ribeye £17.95)make this an ideal choice for fussy familiesand plain eaters as well as the moreadventurous, although it is not a cheap option.

ffreshWales Millennium CentreBute Place, Cardiff BayCF10 5AL029 2063 6465www.wmc.org.uk

With its partnership with Michelin-starredchef Shaun Hill and Wales the True Taste –champions of Welsh produce – this is arestaurant which showcases a fresh take onlocal ingredients.

The large, light-filled restaurant overlooksthe mix of old and new buildings in the bayand its modern interior is reflected in itscontemporary and well presented cuisine.

Roast figs were wrapped in Carmarthen hamand stuffed with Perl Las cheese (£6.25), aninteresting and tasty take on an Italian classic,while pea mousse with minted salsa and peashoots (£5.50) was wonderfully fresh and light.

Taffy Apple cider braised pork belly (£14.95)was flavour-packed comfort food with a realtaste of toffee apple.

Mushroom stuffed chicken was served with ared pepper piperade (£14.25) given a realpunch with chorizo. A restaurant befitting thisimpressive building.

The Fig TreeThe EsplanadePenarth CF64 3AU029 2070 2512www.thefigtreepenarth.co.uk

In summer, you can sit outside for lovely seaviews from this attractive restaurant onPenarth esplanade. There is great use of Welshproduce, lots of imaginative choices forvegetarians and an interesting beer menu.

A Teifi cheese fritter with tomato and chillijam (£5) made a great change from the

usual brie and cranberry and arancini ofbutternut squash and sage (£5) was

perfectly presented but a littlebland.

Bouillabaisse (£14.50) was packedwith flavour and the fish andseafood perfectly cooked. Plump

mussels were full of the taste of the sea.Unusually, it was served with a bowl ofvegetables on the side. An aged sirloin wassucculent, flavourful and came with good fatchips (£18.50).

Garçon!Upper 9, Mermaid QuayCardiff CF10 5B2029 2049 0990From the long mirrored walls, marble-toppedtables and cafe chairs to the black puddingimported straight from France, this is arestaurant with a real continental flavour.

The food is well cooked and tastesauthentically French while the staff are chattyand welcoming. The strongly flavoured blackpudding partnered scallops and cauliflowerpuree in an attractively presented starter(£8.95) while a meaty ham hock, duck andchicken terrine was served with a tasty grapechutney and light brioche (£7.25).

Well judged sea bass was served with adelicious chive veloute, although we could findno trace of the advertised crab (£17.95) and adecent fillet of Welsh black beef with Frenchfries was equally well cooked, exactly asrequested (£24.95) but expensive. Drinks, too,can lift the bill with house wine £15.95 and a250ml glass of bordeaux £8.90.

Junction 28Station Approach, BassalegNewport NP10 8LD01633 891891This popular white-washed restaurantalongside a former railway station is a bit of amish mash of styles, from its large comfylounge filled with what looks like conservatoryfurniture to a dining area that has been madeto look like an old fashioned railway carriage.

What is consistent is the quality and value ofits food and cheerful service which makes itpopular for family celebrations.

A three course set menu priced at £16.95before 7pm and £19.95 afterwards isexceptional value for the standard of food andthe ambitious a la carte menu with optionsincluding veal, pigeon and venison is ideal fora special occasion. Caramelised scallops fromthe more expensive menu were sweet andsucculent, served daintily on sautéed courgetteslices, carrot puree and saffron hollandaise(£8.50). A slightly overcooked piece of garlicroasted halibut fillet was served with tinypeppers filled with Mediterranean vegetables,pancetta wrapped asparagus and a basilvinaigrette (£17). With grilled steaks andhomely dishes such as a rich liver oncaramelised onion mash, there really issomething to suit everyone.

Mezza Luna159 City Road, CardiffCF24 3BQ029 2047 2772www.mezzalunacardiff.co.uk

With exotic scenes painted on the wallstrompe-l’œil fashion and a belly dancer whoperforms twice a week, this friendly restaurantserving Moroccan and Lebanese dishes is agood place for an evening out with adifference.

Lovely, smiley staff serve up tasty, homelyfood. Highlights of our mezze (£12.95 for two)were herby rice stuffed vine leaves and roastaubergine puree enlivened with lemon juice.

A generous portion of chicken shawerma(£11.95) was delicately spiced and had a realtaste of home cooking. You can try atraditional tagine or barbecue where you canwatch your meat being cooked in an openoven and you can eat two courses for £10.95from Sunday through to Thursday.

Mulberry Street48 High Street,Llandaff, Cardiff029 2056 4646Iconic pictures of New York, home of theoriginal Mulberry St, adorn the walls of thispopular restaurant with its red and greywalls in the heart of Llandaff.

The imaginative menu is ideal for thosewith smaller appetites as you can order allthe dishes in tapas-style portions or stick to atraditional starter/main course format.

Service was professional but the food wasrather hit and miss. Best dish of the nightwas lamb rump served with a deep, richredcurrant jus and decadently delicioussweet potato dauphinoise and well worth the£6.75 for a generously sized starter portion.

A pea and mint risotto (£11.50) was nicelycooked and fresh tasting but the laverbreadcakes (£5.95) were bland and over crunchyand the tempting sounding sticky lemon andhoney chicken (£13.50) didn’t have a lot offlesh on the bones and was overcooked.

Village Kitchenand Bar25 Merthyr RoadWhitchurchCardiff CF14 1DA029 2062 4000It is easy to forgive mistakes in a busykitchen, what is less easy to forgive is poorservice.

After an hour and 10 minutes waiting forour starters, and a reminder to our waitress,our main courses were finally brought to us,minus the starters we had ordered.

Too hungry to wait any longer we ate ourmeals – nicely cooked salmon in seafoodsauce (£12.90) and a not totally successfulpairing of crispy seabass (£11.75) served onsalad with tomatoes and feta cheese – butwere surprised that we received not a wordof apology for the mix up.

We were even more surprised to find thatwe then appeared to be studiously ignoredfor the rest of the evening, despite tablesaround us being offered desserts and coffee.

We finally gave up and left without beingasked if we wanted either.

The WaterlooHotel & Bistro113 Alexandra RoadPill, Newport NP20 2JG01633 264 266www.thewaterloohotel.co.uk

Spectacular is the only word for the interiorof this historic docklands pub reborn as abistro.

It is Grade II listed and the gold andturquoise Victorian tiled bar must be one ofthe finest in Wales.

Original metal advertising hoardings adornthe walls alongside stuffed animal heads.When Newport Docks were at their height,the bar would have 100 pints lined up on itat the end of each shift.

Now it’s a gastropub, locals queue up forthe like of tasty scallops with black puddingand celeriac puree (£7.75) and Cajun andhoney glazed duck with ginger and pak choi(£14.75), tender and with a good balance ofsweetness and spice. A black pudding,gammon and chorizo salad with a portion ofbig fat chips on the side (£12.75) would havekept even a docker satisfied.

■ Welsh Black Beef steak servedwith salad, veg and new potatoesat Caesar’s Arms

Indian restaurants: Pages 4, 5 & 6


Mowgli’s151 Crwys Road, CardiffCF24 4NH 029 2034 4511I’ve found the dish of my dreams – SumandarKil Khazana (£12.95) – monkfish cookedin a light mustard and curry leaf saucewith coconut milk. The menu instantlyappeals; there’s plenty ofinvention and differentmeats and shellfish to try.

The ostrich starter –Anokha Tikka (£5.50) –is quirky, and has atexture and taste notdissimilar from venison.And the spicy crab cake (£5.50)starter was superb, coconutand chillies quickly kicking inbehind the sweet crab meat.

A duck main course in a tandoorisauce (£11.95) was a tad heavy for mytaste but went down well with the Spanishred wine (£10.95). Food presentation is firstclass, there are nice touches such asfish-shaped dishes, and service issuperb.

Mowgli’s is simply laid out,quite minimal in appearanceand lets the food do all thetalking.

It is easy to see why it hasquickly established a strongfollowing in a part of townwhere competition is fierce.

READER OFFER: 25% off yourfood bill: See page 24 for terms andconditions

Mint & Mustard134 Whitchurch Road, CardiffCF14 3LZ 029 2038 3222The Nandu (£8.50) – soft-shelled crab – was anexceptional starter, it raised thebar to new heights, andwas beautifully cookedand presented with ataste to match.

It was, to be fair,given a good run bythe scallops in atomato and basilsauce (£7), themelt-in-your mouthSyrian beef (£11.50) maincourse and superb sharptiger prawns (£12.95) in achilli and tamarind sauce.

Attention to detail is firstclass, the presentation isoutstanding and service was mostly friendlyand informative.

The atmosphere in this modern glass-frontedrestaurant, which attracts all ages, is alwayslively with a good buzz. This is an exceptionalrestaurant.

INDIAN RESTAURANTS

■ Mowglis ownerZaman Ahmed, far left,and chef Nurul Ahmed,and some of theirdishes. Above, theShagor Jhinga and right,Lamb ShankPICTURE: Richard Swingler ©

Takeaway Offer: Buy 2 or more dishes get 1 free !For online order log on to

www.kasturirestaurant.co.ukwww.kasturicurry.co.uk

Tel: 029 20233511

Kasturi Mega Deal £13.95Anything from the range of menu, e.g. starter, main meal, rice, nan, sidedish. includes all seafood

5 Course Kasturi Special Meal £9.95Starter, main meal, side dish, rice or nan. Excludes all seafood

3 Course Kasturi Specail Meal £7.95Starter, main meal, rice or nan. Excludes all seafood

Save money and bring your own wine and beer when dining in !

KasturiAuthentic Indian Cuisine

Let us change yourperception ofIndian Dining

151 Crwys Road, Cardiff. CF24 4NH

20% OFF NORMAL MENU

With this voucher. (Does not apply to other offers)

Tel: 029 2034 3705 WWW.MOWGLIS.CO.UK

BANQUET NIGHT EVERYWEDNESDAY EVENING(Anything from the menu range eg starter,main meal, rice, naan/side dish, dessertor coffee to finish, includes all sea food.£12.95ppWe welcome you to try our new inspirational

Spicy Dishes as well as our tasty original ones.A real taste of India in a modern, sophisticated

and relaxed atmosphere.

157 - 159 Albany Rd, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3NTPlease call for more information -

Tel: 029 2048 5757 / 029 2048 5959www.empirerestaurant.co.uk

empireat the forefront of the very best in

Indian Cuisine

OPENING TIMES: Lunch 12pm-2.30pm every day except Friday’s,Evenings Mon-Sun 6pm til midnight

Finalist in the Echo 2011 Food and DrinkAwards


More Indian restaurants: Page 6

Balti Empire157-159 AlbanyRoad, CardiffCF24 3NT029 2048 5757What a great littlefind this is. A lovely,intimate, modern andwell lit restaurant witha menu that spoils youfor choice with dishesthat shout “try me”.

The spicy fish cake starter(£3.50) was delicious, as wasthe king prawn chad puri(£3.90).

The Empire special – stuffed chicken (£7.90)– was just what it said on the tin, special,while the king prawn Nawabi Bahar (£10.90)with aubergine and coriander was a delight.

Presentation was superb, service attentiveand it was good value for money.

MokshOcean Building, Bute CrescentCardiff Bay CF10 5AY029 2049 8120The first impression of Moksh is “wow”. Greatstyling, dark wood surrounds but well lit, TVscreen and music but not overpowering. Thesecond impression is the menu – original andinnovative dishes that make you spoilt forchoice.

And then comes thepresentation, when againthe originality stands out– my lamb gosht (£13)was served in a sealerkilner jar whichcontained themedium lamb currywith mince, spaghettiand fried egg. Thestarters were exceptional,notably the Moksh three-wayfish dish (£7) – soft shelledcrab, crab cake with corianderand mint sea jelly bubbles,and fish Amritsari in a currymayo. All were beautifully subtle tastes.

Not far behind were the prawns in aromatic,mild curry sauce stuffed into miniatureYorkshire puddings (£6). It is hugelyimpressive, a special occasion restaurant ofexceptional quality.

Kasturi129 Crwys Road, CardiffCF24 2NG029 2023 3511Good value, good food,first class service.

The Machee bhuna(£7.50) fish dish wassuperb, chunks ofboneless white fish notoverpowered by the mildsauce.

Another top dish was theAchari chicken (£7.50) –ginger, lemon zest andhomemade pickle giving a realkick to the meat. Garlic kingprawns (£4.90) were beautifully presented as astarter, as was the Haryali chicken tikka(£3.50) in spinach leaves – don’t be put off bythe vivid green colour, the taste is whatmatters.

The food is first class and well priced. It doesnot have a drinks licence, but you can takeyour own.

A special mention for the service – genuinelywarm and helpful, it made you want to return.

Balti Cuisine103-105 Woodville RoadCardiff CF24 4DY029 2022 8863If you sit in the heart of student land then youhave to make that work to your advantage andthe Balti Cuisine does just that.

It’s a busy, modern full-length glass-fronted restaurant, confident in its appearanceand its delivery of very well priced food.

While price is exceptional – naan and riceare included in the price of many dishes –quality is not sacrificed. The quails (£9.50) in adry sauce disappointed, purely because of thelack of meat on the bone, but the coriandermurgi lamb (£8.50) was a plus, the lambtender and complemented by the mediumspices in a yoghurt sauce. Minced lamb andspices wrapped in pastry (£2.95) was thestand-out starter. In a full sitting service wasslow, but the restaurant has a good buzz.

Bokhara BrasseriePen-y-fai, Bridgend CF31 4NG01656 720212This Indian restaurant inside the CourtColman hotel sits out in the countryside a fewmiles north of Bridgend and has won manyawards. On a midweek night it was almost full,which came as much as a surprise to the staffas to me, and as a result service was slow. Butthe food was excellent, the tandoori fish(£5.25) and well-spiced chargrilled lamb chop(£5.25) starters particularly impressive, whilethe main course of minced lamb with peasinfused with garlic and ginger (£10.95) was anotable success, as were the prawns masala(£10.95). The atmosphere was good but theinterior decor is a little staid and tired, andcould do with a refresh. Food wise though,there’s little to fault.

Bombay Blue27a Cardiff Road, NantgarwCF15 7SS 01443 842828You sense that the Bombay Blue is borderlineto being very special. The food is excellent, acreative “want to try” menu of chef’s specials,a modern interior and definitely a feeling thatyou would want to come again. One quibblewas that the menu was held together by stickytape and a little grease-marked.

The starters sparkled: barbecue chicken in acrisp pancake and garlic Jhinga prawns withgarlic and coriander (£4.95). The well-cookedmeat and seafood was not lost in the strongflavours. The Bawarchi Kadi Murgh (£9.25) –breast of chicken stuffed with mushrooms in alight well-spiced yoghurt based sauce – was areal find and one to return to, while thesizzling lamb (£9.55) was well presented andexcellent. Service was superb.

Eurasian Tandoori66 Cowbridge Road EastCanton CF11 9DU029 2039 8748An attractive restaurant offering an interestingmenu is always a good starting point. But thequality of the food was mixed – a very goodwell-spiced unusual liver starter (£3.95) wascountered by a very bland tasting prawn puri(£4.95). The Mumbai sizzler (£8.95) – strips ofchicken cooked in onions, peppers andcoriander – was excellent but the Goan fishmasala (£7.95) suffered because the white fish,although well filleted, was tasteless, andoverwhelmed by the ginger, lemon andaromatically spiced sauce. The naan wasbarely warm. Excellent service, a couple ofquality dishes and good value for money arereal positives.

Castlegate5 Castle View ShoppingCentre, Nantgarw Hill,Caerphilly CF83 1SN029 2088 9993Castlegate sits in a little shopping complexwith excellent free parking on the fringes ofCaerphilly. The interior is a treat – warm lightand wood furnishings complemented by anaqua blue colour scheme peppered withcolourful modern art. Service was superb, withrecommendations to give a balance of disheswhen sharing. The starters were huge, the kingprawn puri (£4.95) a meal in itself, while themixed tandoori (£4.95) offered tender lamband chicken. The special chicken bhoona(£7.50) was beautifully spiced while the LahoreBalti (£9.95) with prawns, chicken and lambwith spinach disappointed, the tiny prawnstasteless. One negative – the poppadoms tastedstale and gave a poor first impression.

Palm Tree79 Llantrisant Road, PontyclunCF72 9DP 01443 237194Pontyclun might not be first on the lips whenconsidering a drive out to eat, but it really istime to think again as the Palm Tree is one ofseveral eating establishments with growingreputations in this town. The Malabar mussels(£3.75) and the Batara vegetable puri (£3.25)were stand-out starters while the main courseof Chooze Aurchaulika Murghir (£7.25) was anexcellent chicken dish of beans, coriander andgreen chillies; hot but not to the point of losingtaste. A couple of minor niggles; the menuswere grease-marked and seating in the boothsclose to the kitchen and toilets feels a littleisolated. One big plus: excellent value formoney.

VegetarianFood Studio109 Penarth Road, CardiffCF11 6JT 029 2023 3506This curry house is a complete contradiction –it should be so wrong, but in fact you end uploving its quirkiness.

It’s little more than a café, serving Indiandelicacies from a large fridge unit as youenter. The tables are basic and the portionsalmost too generous, particularly the mixedplatter (£3.95). The food is largely based onsouthern Indian cuisine, lots of pancakes withchutneys and cheese.

I particularly liked the roasted auberginedish (£4.55) and spinach paneer (£4.55) butfound the pudla (£3.15) – gluten-free chickpeaflour bread – bland. The restaurant was busyand has a good following and it’s anexperience every meat eater should explore.Take your own wine. A huge plus is the serviceand the explanation of the extensive menu.

Golden Spice15 Boverton Road, LlantwitMajor CF61 1XZ 01446 796050Here’s a restaurant that has built a strong andgrowing reputation for well-priced fine Indianfood.

The Pathili chicken (£7.50) with fresh herbs,coriander, garlic, mint and yoghurt wasbeautifully spiced, hot but not overpoweringlyso, while the king prawn bahar (£9.95) wasmild and sweet, the masala, almonds andfenugreek giving a distinctive taste.

Pricing is competitive – the house merlot is£8.95 a bottle – and naan and rice come inunder £2. Service is attentive but not OTT.One niggle: the menus had hand-writtenincreases on them which didn’t give a goodimpression.


Saturdayfor food

reviews onall of ourfavouriteeateries

TREAT THAT SPECIALSOMEONE TOA DELICIOUS

VEGETARIAN INDIAN

109 Penarth Road,Grangetown, CardiffTel: 02920 238222

www.vegetarianfoodstudio.co.uk

This Valentine’s day,open just for you and

your loved one.Ring now for details

Open 11.00am- 10.00pm (Last Orders 9.30pm)Booking is essential.

Bring your own! Corkage £1 per personALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS TAKEN

AWARDWINNING RESTAURANTFinalist in the 2011 Echo Food and Drink Awards

♥

♥

♥

♥

FOOD STUDIO


INDIAN RESTAURANTS

■ Chooze Aur Chaulika Murghi

Haveli157 City Road, Roath, CardiffCF24 3BQ 029 2048 2882I loved the tapas-style starters, mixing andmatching four starters for £7.95.

The garlic mushrooms were sensational, aswas the jhinga puri – big meaty king prawnstopped with the puri bread. On the mainsspecials the chicken in spicy chilli sauce,Murgh Mirchi Lahsuni (£8.95), had a potentkick – we were warned – while the lambMalabar (£9.95), though predominantly tender,was served in a dry coconut-based sauce.

Sadly the cod (£12.95), in coriander andlightly spiced, was beautifully cooked butmarred by poor filleting.

Bones in a thick sauce are a complete no-noand spoilt what otherwise would have been asuper dish.

Haveli has a good buzz, is an attractive lightand airy restaurant with contemporaryartwork and service is excellent.

handful of tables in midweek gave it anunexpected warmth in a restaurant that canhandle 80 covers. Little wonder that it pulls inregular diners from the valleys, Cardiff andBridgend.

Janata Palace325 Cowbridge Road East,Cardiff CF5 1JD029 2038 3101This is a traditional Indian restaurant withIndian scenes, music, red pillars, chandeliersand elephants, and the menu reflects thattraditional feel. Portions are generous andprices are competitive. The tandoori mixedgrill (£9.40), as you would expect, was acomplete meat feast, but a little over-facingwhile the non-vegetarian Thali – individualdishes of chicken tandoori, lamb pasanda,prawn massala, “meat curry”, pilau rice andnaan – was definitely a dish for two and at£10.20 great value. Best of the starters was the

king prawn butterfly (£4.10), but again thesingle prawn was overwhelmed by too muchbatter.

Jamuna89 Caerphilly Road, CardiffCF14 4AE 029 2062 6220The screen at the end of the restaurant wasshowing a Bollywood film which was as hot, ifnot hotter, than the food! And for a Saturdaynight, trade for takeaways was a lot briskerthan the sit downs, probably explained by themidweek offers. And this is a good restaurantwith superb food, friendly service andcompetitively priced. The salmon (£11.95)main course was a major hit, with subtlespicing and a kick of coriander, while theBengal Shai (£8.45) – lamb in a well-spicedmince sauce – was again a standout dish. Thetiger king prawn (£5.95) starter and mixedtikka (£4.95) were well presented. On myreturn list.

Indiaah Cuisine34 Cowbridge Road, PontyclunCF72 9EE 01443 449899This is a fairly minimalist and well litrestaurant offering excellent service and anextensive menu of house specials atcompetitive prices. The standout dish was thetandoori king prawn karahi (£12), while theskewered chicken with spinach (£3.50) was animpressive starter. Staff were attentive andchatty, happy to explain the menu, and a

Takaways:Pages 20-21

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As we celebrate our 25th year, TheStar ofWales would like to thankall customers past & present.We look forward to welcomingyou in our anniversary year!

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Opening Hours:6pm-12am

438 Cowbridge Road East,Canton, Cardiff

Tel (029) 2039 3222 • (029) 2022 5848www.starofwales.co.uk

Est. 1987

www.nahinspicecentre.co.uk

AUTHENTIC INDIAN MEALSJUST HEAT AND EAT!

A new style of Indian takeaway. You pick up chilled Indianready meals with heating instructions for Ovens and

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NAHIN SPICE CENTRETANDOORI TAKEAWAY

314 CAERPHILLY ROAD, HEATH, CARDIFF, CF14 4NTSERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1989

TEL: 029 2052 0360 • FAX: 029 2052 0757e-mail: [email protected]

Open Monday to Friday 3pm - 10.30pmSaturday 12 noon - 10.30pm

Closed Sunday. Open Bank Holidays

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Our reputation for fine food with excellent service has establishedour name in the capital for more than 50 years. Whatever the

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• Open 7 days a week from 6pm• Modern Design• Private Function Room• 25% off Takeaway Meals• Easy parking

103-105 Woodville Road, Cathays, Cardiff • Reservations ☎ 029 2022 8863

Est 1957

Best Indian Finalist


Juboraj10 Mill Lane, CardiffCF10 1FL 029 2037 7668It seems as if the Juboraj has been aroundforever, part of the establishment of “top-end”Indian restaurants at the heart of the city andstill a stalwart of Mill Lane. The food was ofhigh quality, a superb duck dish (£11.95) and achicken dish with olives (£11.95) were thehighlights. A Shami kebab starter (£5.95) wasalso very good. Presentation of food in copperdishes was first class, but the service wasdisappointing, bordering on a little complacenton our visit. Shabby menus and tired decordidn’t help.

Mouchak25 Mill Street, TonyrefailPorth CF39 8AB 01443 673081The chopped prawn and ginger deep friedballs (£2.95) were a subtle and very tastystarter, but the huge bowl of mussels (£4.95),while tasty, were overpowered by a thickclinging masala-style sauce.

The chicken Nawabi (£6.95), in a sweetcoconut, cream and yoghurt sauce, was verysweet, while the Hass Tarkari duck (£9.95)dish was a generous portion, the duck breastwell spiced but overcooked for my taste.Service was outstanding, the waiters pickingtheir moments to be attentive and offer advicewith good humour. One quibble: I felt the longand narrow restaurant suffers for being toodimly lit.

Star of Wales438 Cowbridge Road EastCardiff CF5 1JN 020 2038 3222This is a long-established “old school”traditional Indian restaurant with stand-outservice, attentive but not overbearing andoffering advice when asked.

The Machli Biran (£4.95) salmon steakstarter was beautifully spiced, not losing theflavour of the fish, while the tandoori kingprawns (£5.25) were meaty, hot and spicy. Thechicken stuffed with minced lamb –Hydar-e-bahar (£12.95) in a rich sauce – camecomplete with pilau rice and salad and couldbe a meal for two, slightly over-facing you onthe plate. The Shatkora Ghost (£12.95) – lambwith tropical citrus fruit – was much lighterwith the sharp fruits complementing thetender lamb and rich sauce.

Cardamom442c Cowbridge Road EastCardiff CF5 1JN 029 2023 3506It is good to see Indian restaurants deliveringexceptional fish dishes beyond the normalprawns.

It requires considerable skill to let the fish“drive the dish”, the spices complementingrather than overpowering. Cardamom scoreshighly here, with a well spiced salmon tikka(£5.95) starter and a superb sea bass BengalBhuna (£10.95). The tandoori lamb chops(£4.50) were another stunning starter, but Iwas less convinced by the king prawn noodles(£11.95). This growing experience of seeingpasta on an Indian menu jars, the rich saucesmaking the noodle dish just too heavy for mypalate. Full marks though for invention. On abusy night there was a good vibe.

Purple Poppadom,185a Cowbridge Road EastCardiff CF11 9AJ 029 2022 0026This restaurant opened too late to be enteredin this year’s Food and Drink Awards but chefAnnan George has created something trulyspectacular in this part of Canton. Eating hereisn’t cheap, but it is unforgettable.

■ A New York Hoagie

New York Deli20 High Street ArcadeCardiff CF10 1QR029 2038 2388The New York Deli isn’t really asandwich shop, it’s a temple to theincredible things you can do jammingbits of meat, cheese, gherkin, mustardand tomatoes between two bits of bread,bagel or hoagie. It should be in aspecial temple-to-incredible-thingscategory.

It is a touch expensive. It’ssomewhere city centre workersgo on payday because it’s abit too pricey to do everyday. If there were aspecial-lunches-to-have-on-payday categoryit would have no competition.

It also sells Snapples. These

are so outrageously good,the New York Deli mightbe more at home in thefine dining section.

It has also launched aRichie Parksfundraising toastedrye-bread sandwichpacked with salt beef andmelted cheese that is bothsensationally lip-smackingly

fantastic and raises money forthe heroic peak-climbing

sportsman. This is thereason – against stiff

competition – that it won.■ Richard Parks special £4

READER OFFER: FREEcoffee, tea or regular can withany bagel, sandwich orhoagie: See page 24 for

terms and conditions

Fresh32 Royal Arcade, CardiffCF10 1AE029 2022 3158You get the feelingthat if the saintly andmotherly Greekharvest goddess De-meter was wander-ing through Cardiffshe’d be quietly im-pressed by Fresh.

Demeter symbolised thefact that organisedagriculture made mandifferent from the animals.She was civilisation.

Fresh, with its changingcast of specials, its selection of qualityingredients waiting to be happily made intobaguettes or salads on demand, and itsspeedy and polite service, is one of the mostcivilised takeaway lunch spots in Cardiff.

Not only does it feed the ever-replenishingqueue that starts building before midday andrarely disappears before two, but it does sowith a touch of class.■ The Echo visited just before Christmas,and thoroughly enjoyed the turkey special at£3.50.

B Getti Junction312 Heathwood Road, CardiffCF14 4HT 029 2075 5563Comfy seat. Crispy bacon in a crusty baguettesliced in two with a generous dollop of brownsauce. Hot coffee in a mug and saucer. Softrock on the radio. Outside, in the rain, seenthrough the wall of windows across the frontof the shop, Cardiff unhurriedly goes about itsbusiness.

If there’s a more comforting, andcomfortable cafe in Cardiff than B Gettijunction, it is well hidden. A stop here is likechamomile on a sunburnt back, a stiff drinkafter a long day or a break in the traffic

during a congested drive. With a menu ofpanninis, baguettes, salads and gourmetspecials, and a decent coffee, this is a topnotch sandwich shop.■ Baguette and coffee, eat in, £3.80

Devonshire Pantry117 Caerphilly Road, CardiffCF14 4QA029 2061 5800A club sandwich is a tough prospect for asmall cafe. Too dry and it’s inedible, too soggyand the tower of toast and contents just fallsto bits.

The person who served the Echo in thesmall Devonshire Pantry on Birchgrove Road

nailed it, and even managed to do threeother things at once.

The contents were unusual – hotbacon and fresh, crunchy lettuce

on one layer, coronation chickenon the other – but they worked.

The Devonshire Pantry is ablackboard, a sandwich bar, adrinks fridge and a couple ofstools. The friendly staff offerfree delivery and you can orderby telephone or even online. It’san impressive little operation.■ Club sandwich, £3

SANDWICH BARS


ITALIAN RESTAURANTSGemelli42 Bridge Street, NewportNP20 4NY 01633 251831From the second you walk into Gemelli, youknow you are somewhere special. From theelaborate decor on the walls and ceilings, to thefresh lilies on the tables and the way you unwrap yourcutlery from a small wooden case, you know thateverything has been done with precision and carefulthought and planning.

It is extravagant without being distasteful and youcan’t help but be impressed with everything you are

presented with.The main courses, which were more like sculptures,

were stunning, with the tagliatelle with fresh lobsterand scallops in spicy tomato sauce (£14.95)presented in a huge seashell and cooked to absolute

perfection. The duck breast with wild mushroom andfruits of the forest sauce (£16.50), was tender,

well-cooked and packed with flavour that made the dishan instant favourite. The desserts are also full ofgrandeur, with a whole cabinet of delicacies to try. Wewent for the fruits of the forest gateaux (£4.20), whichwas delicious, but it was the warm chocolate andpeanut cake (£4.20) that really stole the evening and

was absolutely stunning. Can’t wait to return!

La Vita25 Castle Street, CardiffCF10 1BT029 2037 3433La Vita feels authenticand has a greatambience to it. Youimmediately feelrelaxed and it is in aperfect location forpeople watching as it sitsopposite the castle.

The main meals areflavoursome and are goodvalue for money, with mostmain meals around the £9-£10mark. We were given a deal oftwo courses for £12, making itexcellent value. The menu was varied enough,and both the calzone originale and calzonesalmone were busting with ingredients.

The service was polite but we were often lefttrying to get the waiter’s attention and feltslightly ignored. There was also no dessertmenu, so the limited choices, mostly consistingof ice cream and sorbet, were listed by thewaiter. However, we were offered homemadetiramisu, which didn’t disappoint, and was ahighlight of the evening.

Giovanni’s38 The Hayes, CardiffCF10 1AJ 029 20220077As soon as you arrive atGiovanni’s you are made tofeel like part of thefamily. The staff arefriendly and welcoming aswell as being highlyattentive. With a wideselection of meals to choosefrom, which combinetraditional Italian dishes withWelsh classics, we were giventime to make our decision whilethe waiter poured our wine. Ourglasses were never left emptyafter that. The wine wasn’t quite to our tastes,but was perfectly drinkable. The atmosphere

brim, we managed a pistachio ice cream(£5.25) and chocolate tart (£4.75) which were aperfect end to a delicious meal.

Prezzo106 St Mary Street, CardiffCF10 1DX 029 2022 7785Situated in the heart of the city centre, Prezzoprovides a great place for people watching.

The restaurant was very busy for a Mondayevening, staff remained friendly and attentiveand coped well with the rush.

One of the appeals of the varied menu wasthe light options section for those who maywant a healthier choice. The chicken androasted pepper fusilli (£9.25) was tasty andfilled with flavour and the side salad was fresh.

The meatballs alforno (£9.95) was deliciouswith a spicy kick. The meatballs were tenderand well cooked, but the quality of the mealwas tainted by the overcooked pasta.

For dessert, we chose a low fat option offrozen strawberry yoghurt (£3.50) and thespecial white chocolate and pistachiocheesecake (£5.25), which was creamy andsmooth, packed with flavour with a perfectlycrunchy base. An ideal place to go after workand popular with families.

Bella ItaliaBrewery Quarter, Cardiff CF101AD 029 2037 4050The chain restaurant benefits from theconvenience of being set in the centre of townin the Brewery Quarter. It was fairly quietwhen we arrived, but we were welcomed in byour waiter and although it got busier later, theservice remained prompt throughout theevening. The restaurant walls are covered inmirrors and vintage posters which transportyou to an early 20th century Italian cafe.

The menu is wide and we selected theseabass (£12.75) and pollo cacciatore (chickenwith a tomato sauce and mozzarella , £11.25),both served with potatoes and vegetables. Ourmeals were flavoursome, well cooked andpleasant enough. The lemon sorbet (£3.95)provided a refreshing finish, while mini

doughnuts with chocolate and caramel sauce(£3.95) were great for those with a sweet toothbut who can only manage a small dessert.Great for families.

Casa Bianca175 City Road, CardiffCF24 3JB 029 2049 2817Independently owned Casa Bianca is a fairlynew addition to City Road’s many offerings ofplaces to dine.

However, it immediately stands out with itsintricate white exterior decor inspired by fineItalian architecture. Inside, the interior is justas impressive and classy, with big mirrors onthe walls, lovely paintings and the same whitearchitecture around the bar area. Although wewent on a quiet weekday lunch time, it waseasy to envisage the whole restaurant buzzingwhen it came to the evening and wouldcertainly want to visit again. We selected atable, which turned out to be slightly too smallto fit all our belongings on, so we were offeredanother table without having to ask, and allout items were moved by our waiter, with usnot having to lift a finger. We chose thespaghetti marinara (£12.95), and although therestaurant had run out of king prawns, the chefaccommodated by putting in some seabassfillet and it was stunning. The duck breast withhoney and fruits of the forest sauce wasexquisite – packed full of flavour and cooked toperfection. For dessert we chose homemadelemon cheesecake and raspberry cheesecake(£3.50 each). The portions were hugelygenerous and the cheesecake was deliciouslycreamy and smooth.

READER OFFER: FREE bottle of house winewhen two people order from the main menu:See page 24 for terms and conditions

The Italian Way157 Cowbridge Road EastCardiff CF11 9AH029 2039 6980A small, cosy, locally-owned restaurant just

Treatyourself

withsomegreat

readersoffers:

See page 24

in the restaurant is highly authentic –buzzing and friendly, yet still professional.The walls are covered in photographs ofvarious celebrities that owner Giovanni has

met, and provides a good conversation topic.The portions were huge with enough

vegetables and potatoes to feed a small family.The chicken in a tomato sauce topped withcheese (£12.95) was succulent and incrediblytasty with the flavours in the saucecomplementing the meat perfectly. Themediterranean risotto (£11.95)was delicious,crammed full of various types of seafood andpacked with flavour. Despite feeling full to the

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outside town, which could easily be overlookedsqueezed between shops with big flashingsigns.

Service was great, our coats were taken, thewine was poured, and our waitress wasfriendly and polite all the way through.

Although slightly dated in its decor, therestaurant achieves individuality, away fromthe modern minimalist restaurants, with avariety of antiques and vintage signs placedon shelves and hung on walls.

The chicken tagliatelle (£9.85) wasgenerously portioned and had a spicy kick butwas otherwise fairly average. The chicken inmushroom and cream sauce (£12.95) wastenderly cooked and flavoursome, and a betterchoice.

The fresh fruit salad (£3.95) would havebenefited from some slightly more exotic fruit,such as melon and strawberries, rather thangrapes and oranges, but was refreshing aftersuch a big main course. The creamy and tangylemon cheesecake (£3.95) was stunning andthe highlight of the meal.

Zia Nina28 Dunraven Place, BridgendCF31 IJD 01656 660045Zia Nina greets its customers with ahome-from-home feel.

The restaurant is full of warmth and as wewent on a busy Friday night, there was a realbuzz which created a feel-good atmosphere.

The venue was very busy, but we were led toa table upstairs where we could watch over the

balcony at the scene below. However, thistable was also tucked away and there wereoften occasions, due to the number of peopleat the restaurant, when we found it difficultand frustrating to get served.

The penne arrabiatta (£9.95) was average,but the mushroom pizza (£10.50) was packedfull of flavour and absolutely delicious.

For dessert, we chose the mixed ice cream,which was a light and refreshing dessert andthe truffle torte (both £4.50) which wassmooth, creamy and didn’t disappoint at all.

Scalini’s1 Wedal Road, Roath, CardiffCF14 3QX 029 2048 1700This charming restaurant on the corner of

Roath Park is well worth discovering.The service was perfect – our coats were

taken and we were asked if we wished totaste the wine, with our glasses frequentlytopped up throughout the night.

The service was very attentive withoutbeing annoying or making us feel pressuredto leave.

We went for the loin of lamb with gravy andthe seabass, both served with potatoes andvegetables, but at £19.75 and £17.50respectively they were a little more priceythan many of the other entrants.

Both the seabass and the lamb were tenderand packed with flavour, however a littlemore creativity could have been used with thepresentation.

The homemade ice cream (£1.95 per scoop)was stunning as was the apple pie (£4.95).

Cafe Minuet42 Castle Arcade, CardiffCF10 1BW 029 2034 1794A charming little cafe tucked away in theCastle Arcade, Cafe Minuet immediatelymakes you feel as if you have walked into anItalian family’s household kitchen for lunch.

The atmosphere is relaxed but the service isvery friendly and you are welcomed by thechefs straight away as if you were an oldfamily friend. The cafe, which is covered in arandom set of traditional posters and relics, isso small, that there is only room for about halfa dozen tables, but this just adds to the charm.

It has no alcohol licence and is only open inthe day so is an ideal place to drop by for aquick bite for lunch. For main course we hadthe penne al arrabiatta and the JamesBowman – pasta in white sauce with bologneseand two cheeses. Our plates were piled highwith food and for £5.50 and £6.90 respectively,there is no arguing that it is not value formoney.

It’s not fancy, but the staff, who weregenuine and friendly, were definitely thehighlight and with service being so prompt,the cafe is an ideal place to grab a bite to eatduring your lunch break or while shopping.

La Trattoria9-11 Talbot Road, Talbot GreenCF72 8AD 01443 223399Setting foot in La Trattoria is like steppinginto a cosy cottage retreat.

With its stone walls and nooks and crannies,it could be set in the middle of the countrysiderather than on Talbot Green’s busy main road.

It’s appeal and popularity was reflected inthe fact the restaurant was buzzing even on aweekday evening. Service was prompt andpolite, although could have been warmer. Themixed grilled seafood (swordfish, seabass andking prawns £14.95) was beautifully cooked.The monkfish with spinach and artichokesauce (£14.95) was also tender and full offlavour. Both came with a generous portion offresh vegetables and potatoes. Theaffogato, vanilla ice creamwith hot coffee, and thehomemade chocolatetart (both £4.50) weredelicious and theperfect way toround off a lovelyevening.

Lunch Time & Early Bird Menus:2 courses for £12.75(menus change daily)

12pm - 1.45pm6pm -7pm

Scalinis would like to thank allof their past, present and futurecustomers and look forward toseeing you all in 2012!

Tel 029 2048 17001 Wedal Road, Roath Park, Cardiff

paradisoparadisocafe bar restaurant

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Open 10am – 11.30pm • 7 days a week8 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NJ • Tel 02920 488070

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• 3 course meals

Valentines bookings now being taken


Youngers73 CaerphillyRoad, HeathCardiff029 20620678Youngers injects anadmirable character,passion and pride intothe fish and chip business.

From its cute orderingprocess – where your ordernumber is handed to you on awooden spoon rather than ona ticket – to the framedphotos showing where and how the fish arecaught, the shop is bursting with personality.

There is room for some welcome tables andseats along the sides if you wish to eat in, anda spread of magazines for idle browsingpurposes. In another lovely personal touch,those who eat in are given a laminatedtablemat hand-drawn by pupils at a localprimary school.

Youngers purports to be the only chippy toserve monkfish – and what a welcome additionit is. If Youngers had better chips, it wouldhave won the competition this year.

While perfectly tasty and in no way soggy oroily, they simply lacked enough of a crispytexture.■ Prices: regular cod and chips: £5.75, smallcod and chips: £4.75, monkfish and chips:£7.95

READER OFFER: Free side order with yourfish and chips: See page 24 for terms andconditions

The Crispy Cod12 High Street, TonyrefailCF39 8PG01443 672111With itsblack-and-orangeinterior and silverfixtures, thisTonyrefail chippy iscertainly incontention for themost stylish fish andchip shop in South Wales.

The spacious interior isdecorated with pristinewhite tiles and there’s aluxurious leather seatingarea for waiting customers.

The menu included a range of homemadespecials on offer, while staff wore smart blackuniforms.

And the meal was presented with style aswell – in a sleek, black box with orange text.

The chips were cut in a variety of ways.Whether this was intentional or not, itprovided a range of crispy bites andfull-flavour fluffy potato treats.

The cod itself was slightly chewy, but waswrapped in just the right amount of batter.■ Prices: regular cod: £3.75, regular chips:£1.30, large chips: £1.80

READER OFFER: Two cod suppers for £9.95:See page 24 for terms and conditions

FISH AND CHIP SHOPSO’Shea’s1 Western Arcade, BarryIsland CF62 5TJ01446 734307This fish and chip shopreaps the benefits ofseaside charm thatonly Barry Island canbring. Pastel blues andgreens adorn theinterior walls, wherecolourful signs, posters,and sepia shots of Barry Islandin its past glory days vie foryour attention. And the viewof the sea was a fantastic sight,wonderfully framed by thecolumns of the WesternArcade. Sand lay across the floor amidst thescattering of stainless steel chairs and tables,but staff moved swiftly to make the shop morepresentable. The slim-line chips were crispy,light and grease-free, while the fish had agolden batter, if a little chewy and oily. Anddespite the tourist destination location, theprices were among the cheapest of the shopstested.■ Prices: large cod and chips: £5, small codand chips: £3.70

McGinleys Fish& Chips6 Clifton Street, CardiffCF24 1PW 029 2046 4835The service was lightning-quick, but even ifyou are kept waiting, a selection ofnewspapers are available to browse throughand help the time pass. Patient, friendly staffand clean, functional surroundings helped tocreate a comfortable atmosphere.Presentation, however, was not as high astandard as other shops. The cod and chipswrapped in standard sheets of paper, withsome chips unfortunately becoming stuck tothe paper during the journey home. But themeal was tasty. The chips were rather fluffyand pleasantly free from excess cooking oil,while the cod had a fresh taste and crispybatter. The menu was not as varied as otherfish and chip shops, but all the basic mealsyou would expect were present and correct atreasonable prices.■ Prices: cod £3, jumbo cod: £3.90, small chips:£1.30 large chips: £1.75

Albany Fish Bar18 Albany Road, CardiffCF24 3RQ 029 2048 2022The quality of the food served by this fish andchip shop is clearly shown in its popularityamong the people of Roath. Long queues ofhungry punters snake through the shop,especially at weekend peak times. This meansyou will need to be prepared to queue to get ataste of its success. Once you finally get to thecounter, the service is speedy and professional– even if it does feel like you’re on a conveyorbelt. The menu was varied, from the standardcod and chips meal to homemade pies andpasties. An Albany-branded box gave the meala neat presentation and the prices didn’tbreak the bank. The mouth-watering gravysauce was the highlight of the meal, but thechips were slightly soggy.■ Prices: large cod and chips: £4.60, small cod:£2.40, large chips: £2, small chips: £1.30

Yans Fish Bar182 Whitchurch RoadCardiff CF14 3NB029 2068 9585This chippy makes you feel right at home.

From the warm terracotta walls andmulti-coloured tiles to the rows of saucebottles stacked neatly on shelves, Yans has awonderfully wholesome charm, if a littlelacking in finesse.

Staff were very pleasant and took a genuineinterest in their customers, while the menuwas relatively cheap and cheerful.

The fish and chips themselves really hit thespot. Sprinkled evenly with just the rightamount of salt and vinegar, the fluffy, chunkychips were great. And the generous portion ofcod was moist, juicy, and wrapped in apleasant, crispy batter. A small and simpleplastic blue fork was a welcome bonus to themeal’s presentation – something thatsurprisingly few entrants offered.■ Prices: small chips: £1.40 large chips: £2.20cod: £3.25

Victoria Fish Bar41 Old Church RoadWhitchurch, CardiffCF14 1AB029 2062 5286Tucked away on a relatively quiet suburbanstreet in Cardiff, Victoria was inviting, popular,and the best value fish and chip shop in thecompetition. Its interior is plain but clean andbright, with the choice-filled menu clearlydisplayed for customers.

The chippy also featured a separate burger

area, full of salad options and dressings forpunters to choose from. The rather slenderchips tested were surprisingly pleasant,although the cod was overdone and too greasy.It was also disappointing to receive no offer ofa lemon slice with the cod, as this would be amust for many fish fans. The order was placedin a polystyrene plate and wrapped in plainpaper. Not the best presentation, but certainlynot the worst.■ Prices: cod and chips: £4.30, mini cod andchips: £3.30

KT’s13 Market StreetPontypridd CF37 2STThe shop had an inviting, homely atmospheredue to its cream-and-yellow interior, withwood-panelled walls.

The young female staff were pleasant, chattyand professional.

The cod and chips were relatively reasonablypriced, and were presented in aplain-but-functional polystyrene box within anacceptable waiting time. While the chips wereslightly soft for some tastes, they were notoverly greasy, and the juicy cod was wellcooked. Both the chips and the cod could havehad a little more salt and vinegar to add to thetaste, but overall a rather good showing fromthe Ponty team.■ Prices: cod and chips: £4.30

■ Top Gun Spiro Gropetis with his tasty fish and chips Pictures: Richard Williams©


Taylors TraditionalFish & Chips66 Tylacelyn Road, TonypandyCF40 1JU 01443 442062Out of all the fish and chip shops tested, thisTonypandy store had by far the mostintriguing chips on offer. Although the freshlycut chunks of potato were perhaps a tad soft,there was something unique about the tastethat left you wanting more. The cod itself wassatisfyingly moist, if slightly oily, and waswrapped in a golden batter. The cod and chipswere also nicely presented in a large box and ahandy plastic fork was provided. Service at thestore was a no-fuss affair, with orders takenand quickly delivered upon with little chitchat.

Unfortunately, the interior was slightlycramped, and would not be a pleasantenvironment to be waiting in on a busy Fridayevening.■ Prices: small chips: £1.20, large chips: £1.50,cod: £3.10

Zero Plus Fish Bar318 Cowbridge Road EastCardiff CF5 1HD029 2023 1896Zero Plus unfortunately had the least invitinginterior of the chippies tested. The floor was

rather dirty following a busy period of custom,the counters were quite messy and clutteredand the cost was fairly standard compared toother chippies entered into the competition.But thankfully the fish and chips themselvesshone through the poor initial firstimpressions. The fish was tender and free fromexcess oil, while the chips were tasty. The mealwas also prepared very quickly by the friendlystaff, and professionally presented with anoptional lemon slice and plastic fork provided.■ Prices: small chips: £1.40, large chips: £1.80,cod: £3.50

Plassey Fish Bar87 Plassey Street, Penarth,CF64 1EP. 029 2070 7101.The small interior is unfortunately quite datedin appearance due to the faux marble wallsand creaky plasterboard ceiling. Staff howeverdealt quickly and proficiently with thebuilding queue of customers. They expertlywrapped the meal in paper and a lemon slicewas provided, but a box would have beenpreferable. The generous portion of cod wasone of the better cooked of those tested thisyear but the rather pasty batter was far toothick to dig through. And the chips – whilebeing satisfyingly fluffy, chunky and not at alloily – needed an extra crisp.■ Prices: cod: £3, small chips: £1.20, largechips: £1.50

Frydays Fish andChip EmporiumOld St Mellons Post OfficeNewport Road, Old St MellonsCardiff CF3 5UA029 2036 2060Frydays was delightfully hygienic, the brightand modern interior sparkled, the stainlesssteel cooking instruments shone and the staffwore pristine uniforms.

Pride itself seemed a big part of this fishand chip shop. Its owners and employees wereclearly proud of their store and the meals theyproduced.

And the food itself?The chips were satisfyingly crunchy, the

insides nicely floury, while the fish was freshand enveloped in a crispy golden batter.

With meals lovingly presented in clean,white boxes and the menu displayed on one,simple board, this was a fish and chip shop toremember.

However, with costs at the higher end of thescale, quality certainly came at a price.■ Prices: regular cod and chips: £5.25 large:£5.95

Penylan Fish BarFlat 6, Lady Margaret CourtColchester Avenue, PenylanCardiff CF23 9AW029 2048 8236The cod and chips were packed up and readywithin a minute of ordering – and this was ona bustling Friday night.

A queue of customers lined up along thewalls towards the counter, allowing formaximum speed and efficiency.

Staff were pleasant to customers, but thelightning speed was an admirable priority atthe popular chippy.

The shop layout was relatively spacious,clean and functional, although its green décordid lack the artistic style of other chip venues.

The meal itself was satisfying but generallyunremarkable.

Some of the chips were rather stodgy andsoft, but cod had a crispy batter and lighttaste, and the prices were among the cheapestin the competition.■ Prices: small cod and chips: £3.70, large codand chips: £4.60

The Chippyand the Café35a/ 36 High Street, HirwaunAberdare CF44 9SW01685 811522As detected from the name, this chippy alsohas a café area, giving customers the option tosit in with their meals.

The décor was a little dated and lacked aparticular vision or style, but staff spoke of bigplans to renovate the shop in 2012. Servicewas rather slow considering the lack ofcustomers, but staff were very helpful, friendlyand keen to make a good impression.

The chips were chunky and flavoursome, andthe lightly battered cod was almost cooked toperfection.

It also soaked up the lashings of salt andvinegar very well. And all this was presentedin a lovely little box at a fairly acceptableprice – with a fork provided.■ Prices: cod and chips: £4.90

Beales Fish andChip Shop2 Eastern PromenadePorthcawl CF36 5TS01685 788223Beales is a fish and chip shop that clearlytakes pride in its tradition and heritage.

A family business dating back to 1937,Beales had a friendly, homely atmosphere andpride in its surroundings.

Black and white photos of picturesquescenes of Porthcawl hang on walls in the siderestaurant area. The cream walls and woodenfloors are both homely and inviting, whilemaintaining a clean and contemporary style.Unfortunately after the promising firstimpressions, the service and meal were aslight let-down.

Eating in the restaurant area, thecod-and-chips took a relatively long period oftime to arrive, despite a sparse number ofcustomers.

And the battered cod broke apart quiteeasily, making it difficult to lift with a fork.Despite this, the cod was satisfying, and thechips were bang-on the money.■ Prices: cod and chips: £4.80, restaurant:£6.60

Topgun33 Merthyr RoadWhitchurch, CardiffCF14 12DB

029 2061 8693Its name suggests action-packed styleand swagger – and Topgun more orless lives up to that promise.

Despite one of the most sleek andmodern interiors of the city’schippies at the time of the taste

test,signs showed Topgun was to undergo afurther facelift to stay ahead of the pack.

The meal was delivered at a super-quickpace – but be wary of peak-time queuesfor this popular food destination.

The cod was the very best Cardiff has tooffer. Unlike many of other chippies’overdone fish, Topgun’s cod was cooked totender perfection.

The chips, while slightly soft in texture,were tasty and fluffy.■ Prices: cod and chips: £5.20, mini codand chips: £3.85

READER OFFER: Free chips with everybattered or grilled fish: See page 24 forterms and conditions■ Top Gun Spiro Gropetis with his tasty fish and chips Pictures: Richard Williams©

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FAMILY RESTAURANTS

Spice RouteRed Dragon CentreHemingway RoadAtlantic WharfCardiffCF10 4JY029 2048 8820Trying to find some-where to eat to pleasethe whole family can be ahard task but not here.

There are dishes to suiteveryone from India, the FarEast, and the Mediterranean.Even the most fussy of eaterswill find something they likeand for those who like everything, they cankeep going back for more with the eat asmuch as you like buffet. There are soups, asalad bar, curries, stir fries, a kids’ corner andyou can’t get fresher than the noodle barwhere you choose your ingredients and theyare cooked while you wait. The open planrestaurant allows diners to watch the chefs atwork which in itself is mesmerising.

Prices depend on what time and day of theweek you visit but vary between £6.95 and£14.95 for adults and £3.95 and £5.95 forchildren aged under nine years.

Pizzeria Villaggio73 Merthyr RoadWhitchurch, CardiffCF14 1DD029 2061 3110A good old fashioned fam-ily-run Italian whichshines through, startingwith the welcomefamilies get.

The menu has allsorts of dishes includingthe traditional pastaand pizzas but do keep alook out for the specials onthe chalk boards around thedining area.

Homemade fish cakes (£5.50)were delicious as was the blackpudding and chorizo warm

salad (£5.50), for main I opted for a chickencacciatore cooked in tomatoes, peppers andolives (£12.50) while my husband chose theirspaghetti polpette (£8.50) homemademeatballs packed full of flavour cooked in atomato sauce (£8.50) and we ordered anHawaiian pizza (£7.50) for our daughter.

The only down side was that our mains cameout before our daughter’s pizza so she ate mychicken dish and I was left with the pizza but Idid try all three which were perfectly cookedand seasoned. The homemade Italiancheesecake (£4) is a must but very filling afterso many carbs. A hearty feast cooked up by afamily which you can tell has food at its heart– that’s the feeling you get throughout yourvisit. You are welcomed as if you’re part of thefamily and treated to delicious home cooking.

READER OFFER: FREE tea or coffee whenyou order from the menu: See page 24 for termsand conditions

Caffi’r CastellCardiff CastleCardiffCF10 3RBAfter a walk aroundthe castle grounds,the cafe was a perfectplace to get somethingto eat and get warm.The café is open plan,leading into the visitorcentre, and has big glass doorswhich in the summer are afantastic feature opening uponto the castle green. Seasonaldishes are prepared so themenu can change but we opted for the faggotsserved with mashed potatoes and peas (£5.95),traditional homemade cawl (£5.74) and thechildren’s platter, (£3.95) which is good valuefor money as it includes a sandwich, crisps,yoghurt or piece of fruit and a drink.

Our little diner loved the cawl after tastingmine, she especially liked the cheese it camewith. Now, whenever we call in at the castleit’s the first place our little one wants to visitbefore we wander round.

Benny’s Cafe24 Holton Road, BarryCF63 4HD 07969 781638You can always tell how good a place is byhow many locals visit it. Arriving at Benny’sthere wasn’t a spare seat in sight but we weresoon offered the table of customers who wereabout to leave. The menu had everything youcould want from cooked breakfasts to sand-wiches, jacket potatoes and hot meals. Wewent for a cheese and ham sandwich (£2),which was extremely fresh and very tasty,chicken curry and rice (£4.25) and a deliciouslasagne and chips (£4.25).

Everything we tried was very flavourful andthe service was prompt and friendly. The slightdisappointment was the custard on our applepie (£1.75), was a little watery but thehomemade apple pie hit the spot.

Mango105 Cathays TerraceCathays, Cardiff CF24 4HU029 2022 8221Situated in the vibrant student area of the city,Mango is great for students and families witholder children but I’m not sure it’s somewhereto go for food with youngsters under the age of16.

With the Mexican theme runningthroughout the restaurant and its furniture, weplaced our order of black and green olives(£3.20), taco shell chicken with homemadesalsa and melted cheese (£9.90), andhomemade Mexican beef cooked in salsaserved with mango rice and nachos (£8.90).

Our young guests had the Hawaiian pizza(£6.90) and Mexican rice chicken with mixedpeppers, garlic herbs and Mexican spices(£7.90).

They weren’t that impressed with the pizzaas the mozzarella cheese was too strong forthem and preferred the nachos from our dish.The up side was they loved playing some ofthe board games Mango has for customersespecially Guess Who? which during our longwait for food was played into double figures.

FarmersDaughterCroes-Carn-EinonFarm, RhiwderinNewportNP10 8RR01633 892800Located in a beautiful spotwith gorgeous views of the sur-rounding countryside, travelling upthe long driveway you get the feelingyou are visiting someone’s farm ratherthan a restaurant, but this is the charmof the Farmers Daughter.

Sat in the restaurant the feeling ofbeing in someone’s farmhouse homedoesn’t disappear as the dining room isdecorated with brass ornaments and horseregalia.

On a Sunday the restaurant serves threecourses for £14.95 for adults and £6.95 for twocourses for children.

We opted for delicious pan fried deer stripswith a sweet chilli dip and beer batteredcourgette sticks with a creamy garlic sauce tostart, followed by fillet of pork medallions withcreamy wild mushroom sauce, and beef andchicken dinners.

For dessert we had tiramisu, cheesecake andice-cream which came with chocolate sprinklesand Skittles sweets. The food here wasoutstanding, by far the nicest Sunday dinnerwe had all enjoyed in a while.

■ Spice Route in Red Dragon Centre Liz Pearce©


The BarnMwyndy, near LlantrisantPontyclun CF72 8PJ01443 222333Tucked down a lane, this charming lookingpub is a great spot for families who enjoycommunity spirit. When we visited, the beergarden was teaming with families eating andwatching a boules tournament taking place.After we placed our food order we spent mostof the time in the beer garden watching thegames while our daughter enjoyed the climb-ing frame. There is a good menu and there arealso themed nights six nights of the week. TheBarn is also well known for the cask ales itserves. During our visit we opted for the ul-timate combo to share (£7.95), steak (£9.25),turkey Sunday lunch (£6.85) and our little onehad sausage and mash (£3.49). For dessert wehad peach and apricot frangipani (£3.60),tiramisu ice-cream cake (£3.35) and ice-cream.The most memorable part of the visit wasmost definitely the community spirit and fam-ily atmosphere.

GourmetBurger Kitchen22-24 Mermaid QuayCardiff CF10 5BZ029 2045 4078If you’re a fan of bur-gers then this is theplace for you. There areburgers galore on themenu as you would ex-pect but the problem isthey all sound just as goodas the next. We opted for aWellington and Jamaican(£7.95) and they wereboth delicious so wesplit the burgers inhalf to try them

both. All the beef burgers are made from100% Aberdeen Angus and you can taste thequality. The children’s menu offers a choice ofburger, chips, drink and ice-lolly which is goodvalue at £6.25. Youngsters are also given apicture and crayons to colour in while you waitfor your food and if your child would like theirmasterpiece on display staff put the pictureson the wall of the restaurant, which delightedour young artist. Staff are very friendly andservice is quick. This is the burger lover’sheaven.

Grills SteakhouseRear of the Llanover ArmsBridge Street, PontypriddCF37 4PE01443 492558We were looking forward to our visit to theGrills Steakhouse, tucked behind a pub inPontypridd. The restaurant has a modern in-terior and a view into the kitchen. We orderedthe 20oz mixed grill (£14.95), a Sunday roast(£6.95) and fish fingers for our daughter.

We were one of the first tables to order butthe wait for food with a young child in toe wastoo long. To keep her happy one of us took herfor a walk into Pontypridd town centre – twice.

Once the food reached the table thevegetables on the Sunday roast were warm nothot and the mixed grill was average, although

the steaks the table next to us werehaving looked much better and we

began to regret our decisions.The waiting continued when it

came to dessert – it took 15minutes to be told one of ouroptions was not on the menuand a further 10 minutes to tell

us the other was also notavailable so we left. Waiting for

food is not an enjoyableexperience especially when

you have a hungry child youare trying to pacify.

The BluePelican CafeHamptons10 Ludlow Lane, PenarthCF64 1EW029 2070 5391Penarth is a great place for families to visitand after a stroll around the seafront or shopsThe Blue Pelican Cafe is a great place to eat.

Set above Hamptons department store, TheBlue Pelican seems to be well known locally,with no tables free the day we visited.

Staff greeted us at the entrance and wedidn’t have to wait long for a table.

We had the homemade Glamorgan sausageswith tomato chutney (£7.50), lifeguard’s lunchbox, a platter of honey roast chicken and ham,pickled onions, homemade salad and roll(£7.99) while our young diner had the juniorsurfer’s picnic (£3.99), which consisted ofcheese, ham, tomatoes, cucumber, coleslaw,crisps and bread. One thing you won’t be ableto resist here is the homemade cake and thecoconut and lime sponge (£2.80) is a must.

The food was delicious and well presentedwith staff friendly and very helpful. The onlydown side is there wasn’t a hot food option onthe children’s menu.

Ruby TuesdaySt David’s, Cardiff CF10 2EF029 2034 9930As soon as we were seated at this popularrestaurant our little one was given an activitypack which kept her busy for a bit while wehad the difficult task of deciding what to have

off the vast menu.After changing my mind for the umpteenth

time, we finally ordered petite rump steak(£13.29), chicken quesadilla (£9.99) and ourdaughter had a very healthy grilled chickenand broccoli (£4.99).

The all you can eat salad bar is a big drawwith a wide variety, we went back more thanonce.

When our mains arrived I was glad of myfinal decision as the steak was the nicest I’dhad for a long while, cooked just as I’d askedand almost melted in the mouth.

For dessert we ordered a slice of carrot cakewhich at £4.99 isn’t cheap but was huge andwas enough for us all to share, it was so nice iteven put our daughter off her ice-cream.

The refillable soft drinks are a big plus. Anice place to take the family for a treat but alittle on the expensive side.

The Greenfield13-14 William StreetYstrad, Pentre01443 435953If it’s value for money you’re looking for thenyou won’t get better than the Greenfield.

Their Sunday dinners will not be beaten onprice. At £9.35 for a three-course mealeveryone can have what they want withoutworrying about the bill.

We had pork, chicken and beef dinners withplentiful amounts of vegetables and gravy togo around. Also a favourite with regulars, it’swise to book a table to avoid disappointment.

Adult prices are £6.95, £7.95 and £9.35 forone, two and three courses and child pricesare £4, £5 and £5.95 for one, two and threecourses. There are three sittings on a Sunday –noon, 1pm and 2.30pm.


FOOD PUBS

■ The Cricketers

The NewConway58 Conway RoadPontcannaCardiffCF11 9NW029 2022 4373With its fusion of Victoriana andScandinavian design, this place isvery much a contemporary takeon a British pub.

The menu is diverse and upmarketOur starters of warm and tender organic

chicken satay had a strong nuttyflavour, served with a carrot andpeanut salad (£6.50), and deep friedsquid (£7) stood up to its spicychilli, chorizo and tomato sauce.

A main of pork tenderloin(£12.50) was gorgeous. Lightlypink, it was tender andsucculent, with clearflavours from smoothblack pudding mashand a rich thyme jus.

An innovativehalloumi stack(£12.50) with pepperrelish, came in asweet bagel, withbig onion rings andlovely chips.

■ The NewConwaymanager,Neil Delahay

Picture: Liz

The Cricketers66 CathedralRoad Cardiff,CF11 9LL029 2034 5102As the name suggests,in this smarttownhouse, you’ll findsporting memorabiliadotting the walls alongwith televisions poised toshow internationals.

It’s warm and welcoming, andthe capably cooked menu has adistinct Welsh edge.

To start, silky cod cheeks (£5)in a delicate Cwrw batter wereserved with a powerful chilli jam, and adelicious ham hock, chicken and mushroomterrine (£6) had an intense flavour with burstsof mushroom and a tart chutney, served with acute wild mushroom loaf.

A vibrant main of salmon with beetrootrisotto, braised cabbage and herb oil (£11) wascolourful, and the saltiness of fish combinedwell with the sweetness of beetroot and spiceof the cabbage. Just as attractive was the lambshank with roasted root vegetables (£16), ahefty portion with plenty of sauce and triplecooked chips. The meat had plenty of flavourand was so tender it came clean off the bone.

■ The Bell Inn,Carleon Picture:Richard Swingler ©

£5 OFF a Meal for 2£10 OFF a Meal for 4Only off the main menu.

Valid Monday to Saturday.

SPECIAL OFFER VOUCHER

Lunchtime Specialsavailable Monday - Friday

Tuesday NightFISH SPECIAL

Fish & a drink £8.95

Wednesday NightPIE LOVERSPie ‘n’ a pint £8.95

Thursday NightCURRY CLUBCurry & Cobra £9.95

Friday Night2 FOR 22

Choose from sirloin, salmon,gammon or marinated chicken & abottle of selected house wine £22

Bookings now being taken forValentine’s Week andMothering Sunday

Coach and party bookings welcomeby prior arrangement

For bookings and information:Tel: 01446 760675 Sportsmans RestTel: 01656 880224 The Farmers Arms

Tel 01446 760675www.thesportsmansrest.co.uk

COUNTRY INN & DININGCOUNTRY INN & DINING

SportsmansRest

PETERSTON SUPER ELY, VALE OF GLAMORGAN

Can be used at the… Sportsman’s RestPeterson Super Elyor The Farmer’s Arms

St Brides MajorNot to be used in conjunction

with any other offer.Offer valid until 29/02/12.

Only with this voucher.Not available on Sundays(excludes February 14th)

o

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The Cricketers opened in July 2010and has quickly established itself asone of the great food destinations inCardiff. In 2011, we won the Publican’sMorning Advertiser Best Food Pub inWales, which was a huge boost for all

the staff and their efforts.Our style of cooking is very much

about freshness and quality. The mainmenu changes seasonally and excitingspecials are added to our chalkboardevery day. Our culinary team focus oncreating tasty, traditional food with a

contemporary twist.Our beer garden is an enormous suntrap in summer, our open fires areroaring throughout the winter, ourSunday roasts are first class and ourlocation is perfect for match days. TheCricketers offers a little something for

everyone whatever the weather.We hope to see you soon.

66 Cathedral Rd,Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9LLTelephone: 02920 345 102

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.cricketerscardiff.co.uk

10% OFF YOURFOOD BILL

THROUGHOUTFEBRUARY

(Offer applies Mon-Thurs,excludes Feb 14th)

Please present this voucher

✁


The Bell atCaerleonBulmore Road, CaerleonNewport, NP18 1QQ01633 420613THE perfect excuse for a country jaunt, weloved this pretty 17th coaching inn for beingfriendly and relaxed but most of all for itsterrific food.

It is renowned for cider, but there’s also realale from breweries such as Otley and Rhymney Valley.

The emphasis is on Welsh produce and there’s a goodlunch deal of two courses for £9.95.

To start, roast pigeon (£7.95) was a well conceived dishwith a depth of flavour. Nicely pink, it came with anappetising combination of smoked bacon, earthy lentilsand a tart beetroot jus. And we were wowed by the heftyslab of barbecue ribs (£7.95), slathered in a sweet andpeppery sticky glaze.

A main of cod (£15.95) was coated in a light and crispbatter flavoured with lemon and dill, served with abucket of fat homemade chips and pots of lemony mushypeas and tartare sauce.

Hearty and delicious, the lamb and mint pie (£9.95)was full of flavour in dark, rich gravy, with a golden topof puff pastry, a big dollop of mash and buttery veg.

READER OFFER: 25% off your food bill: See page 24for terms and conditions

Carne ArmsLlysworney, CowbridgeCF71 7NQ 01446 773553Past patrons of this country inn includeCharlie Chaplin and Clarke Gable, and you’llappreciate why they came when you reach itslovely setting off the beaten track.

Basking near the open fire, we enjoyedwell-presented starters of rich and smoothchicken liver pate (£5.50) with red onionmarmalade, and French onion soup (£4.75)topped with a melted cheese crouton and asprinkling of chives. Sirloin steak (£15.75),from nearby Pwllywrach Farm wasimpeccable. Cooked perfectly to our request, itwas juicy, flavoursome and tender. The peppersauce had a nice sweetness.

Game pie (£12.95) was just as impressivewith a golden herby crust that kept its crunch,encasing lots of tender meat and mushroomsin memorable peppercorn gravy, with roastedroot veg and chunky chips.

The SportsmansRestPeterston-super-Ely, CardiffCF5 6LH 01446 760675A beacon of light down a dark country lane,this pub has a farmhouse feel from its woodand wicker to paintings of the hunt.

Along with classic pub fare, there are bolderdishes like Portugese espertada kebabs, whichlooked striking in the arms of a passingwaitress.

Lightly browned and tender to the bite, astarter of scallops (£5.95) was matched wellwith crisp and spicy chorizo, drizzled withsweet chilli and lime, while goat’s cheesebruschetta (£5.95) was simple and satisfying.

For mains, I built a burger (£6.95 plus £1.95for three extras), greedily opting for cheese,pineapple and egg. It arrived with three of themost enormous onion rings I’ve ever seen. Theburger tasted homemade, meaty with aflavour of cumin in a soft and floury bun, withplenty of chips and a generous salad.

Roasted lamb shank (£13.95) was pink andtender with a mound of mash swimming inminty gravy and veg.

Blue Anchor InnEast Aberthaw, BarryCF62 3DD 01446 750329Brimming with old world charm, under thelow ceilings of one of Wales’ oldest pubs is alabyrinth of snug rooms and open fires,scattered with brass and porcelain.

There’s a good selection of real ales and toeat, there are lighter options such as baguettesand jacket potatoes along with an a la carte ofcountry favourites.

Smooth chicken liver parfait (£4.75) wentwell with a tart red onion marmalade, andslices of crisp ciabatta, and the halloumi andvegetable kebabs (£3.95) would have made alight lunch alone with its refreshing mixedbean salad and lemony mint dressing.

For mains, three fat homemade venisonsausages (£9.75) were meaty and flavoursome,sweetened with a celeriac and apple mash anda fruity Cumberland sauce.

Pheasant (£10.50) was a touch dry but thegood portion was great value – with niceaccompaniments of red cabbage cooked withraisins in a rich game jus and buttery newpotatoes.

The Travellers RestCaerphilly MountainCF83 1LY 029 2085 9021This smart country pub, with its thatched roofand open fireplaces, has a loyal following.

Alongside British classics there’s mezze,risotto and specials like guinea fowl.

A melting pot of Cornish brie (£6.95) toppedwith onion marmalade was a good sharer withample toast triangles and celery dippingsticks, and the sesame tempura chicken(£4.75) had a lovely, light batter with a sweetdipping sauce of plum, chilli and coriander.

We followed with a Lancashire hotpot(£9.95) with buttered veg.

Hearty and gratifying, the lamb was tenderin piping hot red wine gravy with the hiddenprize of a lamb chop.

Grilled seabass (£12.95) was a little overdonebut we liked its pepper and smoked tomatodressing.

And although busy, a charming waiter foundthe time to check we were happy with eachcourse.

O’Neills85 St Mary Street, CardiffCF10 1DW 029 2066 4103Heading to this Irish-themed chain pub, mycolleague and I thought we knew what toexpect.

Guinness, hearty food and a lively post-workatmosphere smack bang in the middle of thecity centre. I’m pleased to say we got all that –and more.

Visiting on a Friday evening just after 6pm itwas packed to the rafters.

Thankfully, we were immediately found atable by a waiter who would continue to serveus the “black stuff” (Guinness) for the nextthree hours. Attentive service is not somethingyou tend to expect from a big name chain pub,but boy does it make a difference.

From the Emerald Isle-inspired menu, weopted for Bantry Bay mussels (£8.49) and themixed grill (£9.49) of rump steak, gammon,pork & leek sausage, chicken breast and afried egg.

Hang around into the evening and you’relikely to find live entertainment.

Fino Lounge49 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch,Cardiff CF14 1DB029 2069 2616This is the kind of place you can go for coffee,a meal or a night out. It’s casual but lively andits menu spreads across the walls on giantchalkboards offering lots of choice and decentvegetarian options. We started with tapas(£2.95 each) from a tempting selectionincluding sweetcorn fritters and pork andthyme meatballs.

Unfortunately, the peri peri chicken wingslacked spice and were a little oily, while thetexture of the falafel wasn’t quite right.

In contrast, our mains were great. A lamband rosemary burger (£10.50) had a lovelychargrilled flavour with a sound combinationof mint mayonnaise, handmade coleslaw,onion rings and paprika wedges. And thesweet potato, butternut squash, spinach andpuy lentil curry (£8.50) was fresh and full offlavour with a nice fiery kick, paired well witha cooling mint raita, rice and naan.

Zerodegrees27 Westgate Street, CardiffCF10 1DD 029 2022 9494Spacious, modern and industrial, here you caneat and drink in the surroundings of amicro-brewery.

And as much effort has gone into the food asthe beer. Tasty and simple starters includedking prawns in beer batter with a soy dippingsauce (£5.25) and mini-skewers of halloumi,sage and parma ham in balsamic dressing(£5.75).

There are salads, pasta, sausages and a pizzaoven in the bar with adventurous toppingsincluding Thai green curry and pear withgorgonzola.

We tried Italian sausage (£8.75), and on anauthentic base, the spicy and sweet toppingswere punchy and plentiful.

They also do a variety of mussels. We wentfor Creole (£13.95), and a kilo pot was filled tothe brim with big, fresh shellfish in a delicioussauce with a good chilli bite. They came withfries and mayonnaise.

Portions were good and we received goodservice.

Milgi213 City Road, CardiffCF24 3JD 029 2047 3150Quirky and eclectic, there’s an art school feelto this colourful lounge with its bunting, fairylights and oddities.

It’s a bit like having a picnic in an antiqueshop.

The menu is small and completelyvegetarian, with organic and ethical producethat’s gentle on the wallet. Drinks includeinventive cocktails like a blackberry andcracked pepper mojito alongside pear cider,smoothies and organic wine.

To start, a big plate of nachos with five blackbean chilli (£5) was slathered with plenty ofcheese and sour cream, while cricket ball-sizedonion bhajis (£3.80) with yoghurt had a niceflavour but were a little dry.

Served on a mish mash of porcelain plates,Glamorgan sausages with masala mash (£7.95)was lifted by a tamarind and tomato chutney,and a blackeye bean burger (£7.50) was freshin flavour topped with cheddar in a granarybun and chunky potato wedges.

Wholesome home-cooked food with aninternational flavour.

More pub food: Page 16

PenylanP i a n o B a r & R e s t a u r a n t

Booking essential: 01685 723179Parking facilities available

12 CourtlandTerrace,MerthyrTydfil CF47 0DT

The newly opened Penylan Piano Bar &Restaurant is perfect for intimate dining

or a family/works affair, and offers a uniquedestination for any event!

Valentines NightsFeb 10th – 15th

3 course meal & canapes £25ppincludes a glass of champagne, acupcake plus a pianist while you

dine.Book your Sunday Lunch with us today


FOOD PUBS

Butchers Arms10 High Street, LlandaffCardiff CF5 2DZ029 2055 1000From the piano in the corner to its wallsdecorated with pictures and autographs, thispub has rugby at its heart – and the local teamwouldn’t be disappointed with its hearty,homemade meals.We found it welcoming andlively.

They only serve at lunchtimes, with a smallstraightforward menu offering traditionaldishes such as steak pie and fish and chips,along with lighter options and a roast on aSunday.

A cheesy lasagne (£5.95), with chips and abig salad garnish, looked and tastedhomemade with plenty of meat.

The chicken madras curry (£5.95) was madein traditional pub style and big enough tosatisfy a tighthead prop, lots of chicken inspicy sauce with sides of chips and rice.

There are no starters but big desserts (£3.50)like sticky toffee pudding and apple latticeflan served with lots of custard or ice cream

Bear Hotel63 High Street, CowbridgeCF71 7AF 01446 774814Its origins are in the 12th century but this pubhas been sensitively modernised into a warrenof smart rooms decked out with a nod to thecountryside.

It felt snug under the restaurant’s lowvaulted ceiling, surrounded by fairy-lit trees atelegantly set tables.

Starters were generous. Two big salmon andprawn fishcakes (£6.25) had lots of fish topotato and came with a sweet and citrusysauce of honey and lemon, while deep friedbrie wedges (£5.75) were warm and melting

into tart cranberry compote.A main of steak, ale and mushroom pie

(£8.95) was comfort food, its tender beef intasty, thick gravy. It came with a great pile ofgarden peas and chunky chips.

The chicken masala (£9.95) was attractiveand delicious, sprinkled with toasted almonds.It wasn’t that spicy but you could taste thefresh flavours of coriander in a fruity andcreamy sauce.

The Cross InnChurch Road, LlanblethianCowbridge CF71 7JF01446 772995Rural and rustic, this country pub’s décor maybe a little dated, but it’s irrelevant when sit-ting next to its crackling fire with a pint ofButty Bach in hand.

We were taken through the menu by theenthusiastic chef and his passion translated tothe plate.

Starters were tremendous. ComfortingFrench onion soup (£3.95), delicious and dark,had the right amount of sweetness, with acheesy crouton bobbing on top.

Grilled goats cheese (£5.95) with sundriedtomato and basil cous cous looked and tastedgreat with red wine syrup.

For mains, a large piece of rock salmon in a

bowl of leek and mixed spice risotto (£9.95)had a meaty texture in a crisp tempura batterwhile leeks provided clout.

Pheasant (£9.95) was excellent, going nicelywith salty bacon, braised cabbage and amound of buttery potatoes. Wonderfullypresented food and great value.

The Deri InnHeol Y Deri, Rhiwbina, CardiffCF14 6UH 029 2062 6237This is a pub to take the family for a heartyfeed without worrying about the cost.

It had a bustling atmosphere, packed withdiners enjoying favourites off a comprehensivemenu.

Deep-fried Somerset brie (£4.25) collapsednicely when the crispy almond-crumbedcoating was cut, and came with a sweetredcurrant and juniper jelly, and apple salad.

Crispy beer battered mushrooms (£3.50),were well presented in paper on a woodenboard. The batter had a nice peppery flavourto match the smoked paprika dip, but theywere a little watery.

The main courses were huge and greatvalue. A juicy 10oz gammon horseshoe (£7.50)was accompanied by a mound of chips, agrilled tomato, grilled pineapple and peastopped with an egg. The steak, baby onion andLondon ale pie (£8.50) had nice flavour andlooked equally remarkable with its hugemuffin top crust, green beans and mash.

Sir Henry Morgan635 Newport Road, RumneyCardiff CF3 4FB029 2036 1311Big strides are being made at this pub, withmornings held for new parents, afternoon teasand a different deal offered every day.

It’s styled like an English gentleman’s retreatand the food is classical British fare.

To start, slow roast belly pork (£5.50), waselegantly presented with sticky and sweetdried apple and a swirl of apple sauce. It wasnicely cooked with crunchy crackling overjuicy meat.

Williams pear and perl las tartlet (£5.50) hada great blend of flavours dressed with walnutsand balsamic.

A main of seabass (£13.95) was cooked justright, atop cherry tomatoes, green beans,roasted onions and sauté potatoes.

As it was grill night, we had a Welsh black

ribeye steak (£17.50), which, though cookedjust beyond the medium we’d asked for, wassmothered in a tasty cheesy rarebit glaze andcame with spot-on triple-cooked chips.

The kitchen produces its own jams andpuddings and even bakes its own bread, whichyou can buy by the loaf.

Ty MawrGraig Road, Lisvane, CardiffCF14 0UF 029 2075 4456It’s easy to write off the chains for lackingpersonality – but this Brains pub proves theassumption wrong.

It looks like a well-kept country cottage, withlandscaped gardens overlooking Cardiff, andhas nine gardening plots where it growsvegetables and herbs to cook with.

Inside, it has romantic charm, full of nooksand crannies with the smell of firewood.

To start, crabcakes (£4.95) were spicy with atangy, chilli chutney, while Welsh rarebit(£4.45) had a nice crunch with a fluffy middleand a vivid beetroot chutney.

A main of braised brisket of beef (£8.95) wastender and a good-sized portion. The warmingdish came with mustardy mash and a tastygravy.

The guinea fowl (£12.95) was great – niceand juicy with a rich and dark peppercorn andmadeira sauce, in fact I would have liked moreof it. It was served with gratin potatoes, andboth dishes included broccoli from the garden.

The PendragonExcalibur Drive, ThornhillCardiff CF14 9BB029 2061 0550It’s the archetypical British pub, with a pop-ular quiz, pool tables and Sky Sports on thetelly. It’s likely you’ve encountered the Brainsmenu before – there’s something to suit every-one with salads, baguettes, fajitas, platters,burgers, rib and chicken combos, pasta andgrills.

To start, tandoori chicken skewers withminted yoghurt (£3.95) were plump with anice flavour, and lamb koftas (£3.45) werecrumbly but full of spice.

A main of Penderyn Whisky chicken (£7.50)had plenty of creamy peppercorn sauce butthe whisky flavour was lost. It came with lotsof chips, peas and broccoli.

The burger stack (£8.45) was a huge portionwith two – unfortunately chewy – burgersmade from Welsh beef that were piled withcheese, bacon, onion rings and lots of chips.Big food at inexpensive prices.

Ye OldeButchers Arms22 Heol Y Felin, RhiwbinaCardiff CF14 6NB029 2069 3526At this community pub, you can watch thefootball, drink with the regulars or enjoy acelebratory meal without imposing on one an-other. The food is a step above your averageboozer with light bites like marinated olivesand Turkish hummus, traditional basket mealsand a refined a la carte menu.

To start, deep fried Welsh brie Perl Wen(£5.95) oozed nicely out of its breadcrumbs,boosted by a sweet tomato and chilli jam. Abig portion of Thai-style salmon and crabfishcakes (£4.95) were dense with fish, with atasty dipping sauce.For mains, a warming dishof fat pork and leek sausages (£7.95) camewith a smooth mound of mash potato,swimming in rich onion gravy. But themedallions of pork (£11.95) was the betterdish – tender and full of flavour, with a greatsweet potato mash, sweet honey and mustardsauce and sides of buttery sprouts, carrots andswede.

9x4 for The OldRectory Hotel

■ The Butchers Arms, Llandaff and right, theirsweet potato wedges

A Pub and Restaurant with Real Ales, Real Fires and Real FoodCome and dine with us next to our cosy log fires. A warm welcome awaits you!

• Seasonal value for moneya la carte menu available

• Welsh local produce foodwith daily changing:- Fresh Fish Specials Board- Meat & Game Specials Board- Children’s Menu

We cater for funeral wakes, christenings, birthday parties and weddings. Let us organiseyour special occasion or office party at our venue, your venue or a special venue’

We are easy to find: just travel to the west end ofCowbridge High Street and take the B4270 Llantwit Major Road

and we are half mile on the left.

Church Road, Llanblethian, Cowbridge CF71 7JFTelephone 01446 772995 • www.crossinncowbridge.com

Cross Inn


ORIENTAL RESTAURANTS

Thai House3-5 GuildfordCrescentChurchill WayCardiff CF10 2HJ029 2038 7404As soon as you walk through thedoor of this cosy city centre res-taurant, you know you’re in for atreat.

From the elegantly-dressed, warmand friendly staff to the stylish butrelaxed dimly-lit interior, everythingabout Thai House points to your visitbeing a special experience.

And this isn’t a case of style oversubstance as the food is the main starof the show.

A mixed platter for two (£15.95)included the most succulent prawntoast you will taste and tender chickenwings as well as delicious homemadesauces. Our mains included a perfectroast duck curry with a kick (£9.95),fresh green vegetables in an oystersauce (£5.50) and soft ribbon noodleswith prawns and peanuts (£7.95).Everything was so beautifullypresented that it felt a shame to tuckin!

While the menu is a little moreexpensive than some other Orientalrestaurants, you get what you pay for.The perfect place to go for a treat.

Thai Lounge73 Merthyr RoadWhitchurchCardiffCF14 1UK029 2061 1222The Whitchurch sub-urb of Cardiff has de-veloped a reputation forits restaurants during thelast few years and ThaiLounge has to be the jewel inthe crown.

With smart, stylishsurroundings and friendlystaff, you feel at home as soon as you walk in.

And the restaurant offers a wide choice ofdelicious dishes which are reasonably pricedfor the high standards.

We opted for a Thai platter to share, whichincluded spring rolls, chicken satay and prawntoasts, (£12.50) and red chicken curry (£9.95)and fillet of seabass (£12.95) with lime andginger for the mains. Our bottle of proseccowas £18.

The food was all beautifully presented withlovely garnishes and perfectly cooked. Theservice was efficient and friendly.

Perfect for a celebration or a regular nightout, Thai Lounge deserves to be highlycommended.

Tenkaichi236 City Road, CardiffCF24 3JJ 029 2048 1888Having enjoyed a couple of meals here in thepast, I was really looking forward tomy visit. Unfortunately, it wasn’ta positive experience thistime.

With longwoodencommunal tablesand minimalistdecor, the sushiand noodle bar isan informal city

diner with a vibrant atmosphere. There’s awide range of dishes available but we had towait a while before our orders were taken.

We plumped for the kushi katsu (£3.90) andthe salmon teriyaki (£5.50) to start and katsucurry (£6.90) and cha siew chahan (£7.20) formains. A mix-up with the orders meant ourmeal was delayed. When it finally arrived, thepresentation was a little lacklustre but thebiggest horror was discovering a hair in one ofthe dishes – and the waitress didn’t even flinchwhen we pointed it out. Until then, the mealhad been enjoyable enough but this,understandably, put us right off.

Thai ElephantTrebanog Road, TrebanogPorth, Rhondda 01443 688073The Thai Elephant offers a wide variety offood, costing just £12.80 per person as part ofa set menu.

The restaurant, which has been convertedfrom a former pub, may be a little dated whenit comes to decor and the lighting could betoned down a little, but if you’re looking for afamily-friendly, down to earth place to eatthen you can’t go wrong here.

Although we had to wait a while for ourorders to be taken, the staff were polite andfriendly.

There’s a good mix of Chinese and Thai foodand, as part of the set menu, you can chooseup to five starters and five mains. We optedfor spring rolls, satay chicken and smokeychicken to start followed by chicken andcashew nuts, king prawns and chilli beef.

While the choice was good, the food couldhave been better presented and some dishes

were lacking in flavour whileothers were a little over

seasoned.But despite a fewniggles, overall the

Thai Elephantoffers a good valuefamily night out.

■ Head chef Sujan Klingsong

Get a taste of the Orient right on yourdoorstep. We sampled four Oriental

restaurants that you said were delicious

201 Cowbridge Road East,201 Cowbridge Road East,Canton, CardiffCanton, Cardiff029 2066 8833029 2066 8833

167 Albany Road, Roath, Cardiff167 Albany Road, Roath, Cardiff029 2046 3333029 2046 3333

Booknowat theParkOrient,MerthyrBooknowat theParkOrient,Merthyr140 seat oriental buffet tel - 01685 389888140 seat oriental buffet tel - 01685 389888

Delivery servicenow available!

We specialise in authentic,innovative and traditionalJapanese Cuisine such asSushi, Yakitori, Tempura,Soup Noodles and much

more!

VALENTINES DAY BOOKINGS NOWBEING TAKEN

21 WHITCHURCH ROAD • CARDIFF • CF14 3JW

Tel (029) 2062 8008www.thecrispyduck.co.uk

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK (CLOSED ON MONDAYS)Follow The Crispy Duck @Crispyduck21

12PM – 2PM 5PM – 11PM

The Crispy DuckPAN ASIAN BAR AND RESTAURANT

SPECIALISING IN CHINESE AND JAPANESE CUISINE

the crispy duck is an orientalfusion restaurant and bar, settingthe standard for modern asiancuisine in cardiff. the menuhas influences from Japan,

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Thé Pot138 Crwys RoadCardiffCF24 4NR029 2025 1246Stylish and sophisticatedare probably the best waysto describe this coffee shop.It describes itself as a crossbetween a Parisian patisserieand a San Franciscan café, andthe two influences are reflectedin its menu. It stands out fromthe many chains of coffee housesand has regular live music nights and events.

There is not much space, but it adds to thesense of intimacy and the mouth-wateringscrambled egg was a real highlight. In keepingwith the whole style we opted for anAmerican breakfast (£6), streaky baconcooked just right, light, fluffy pancakes with adish of maple syrup to pour over them, toastand some of the best scrambled egg you haveever tasted. Cafe owner Natalie Eddins wasmore than happy to reveal her secretingredient, but you will have to go alongyourself to find out what it is.

READER OFFER: Free bottle of wine whenyou spend over £15: See page 24

Waterloo GardensTeahouse5 Waterloo Gardens, PenylanCardiff CF23 5AA029 2045 6073We visited on a cold, wet and gloomy winter’sday but the warmth of the staff and thewelcoming atmosphere soon improved ourmood. Opened in a former butcher’s threeyears ago, it has quickly established itself as ahub for the local community and beyond withevents and arts exhibitions.

As the name suggests, it is more than just acoffee shop, there are more than 50 carefullyselected teas on offer (prices from £2.50 to £4).

My latte (£1.90) was a really rich blend, withjust the right amount of froth. The beans theyuse are freshly roasted and it came through inthe taste. The coffees are served in 8oz and12oz cups, not bucket sized mugs that you getelsewhere. The cakes (£3 a slice) also comehighly recommended. We tried out several andour favourite was the berry and apple crumblecake. It was light, full of flavour and fresh.There are some wonderful combinationsincluding orange and chilli cake and gingerand pear cake. The majority of the cakes arealso gluten free and some are vegan.

Butchers ArmsGallery andCoffee ShopCommon Road, LlantrisantCF72 8DA 01443 229285Based in the centre of Llantrisant, this is avery popular coffee shop. We had a little waitfor our table, but there was plenty to see inthe gift shop on the ground floor. There is avery varied menu of sandwiches and salad. Myham and cheese sandwich (£5) was filled withfresh salad and was accompanied by crispsand an orange segment. My husband’scoronation chicken (£4.50) was tasty with anice sauce and plenty of it. It is all served onvintage plates and the array of cakes ismouthwatering. After much deliberation, wepicked the coffee and walnut (£2.20) toaccompany our latte (£1.95) and filter coffee(£1.95).

Brava71 Pontcanna Street, CardiffCF11 9HS 029 2037 1929Probably best described as an up-marketcoffee shop, it is elegant, friendly and thefood was really first class.Situated in the leafy suburb of Pontcanna, it

is the perfect place to watch the world go byand has seating outside.

It can be very busy and space is limited,however staff are obviously expert inmanaging the tables and attentive from theminute you walk in. My latte (£2.05) and mypartner’s americano (£2.10) were a bit on thepricey side, but it was excellent coffee and thefood very reasonably priced. We both opted forspecials. My smoked haddock and rocketburger (£7.95) was a mouthwatering tastecombination, very fresh and something Iwould go back for. The moussaka (£7.85) wasquite delicious, as were the crunchy chips thataccompanied it. Meals are also served in theevenings when it turns into a bistro.

READER OFFER: 25% of the total bill after6pm: See page 24 for terms and conditions

The Tuck Inn Cafe132, Cowbridge Road EastCanton, Cardiff CF11 9ND029 2022 0841It is obvious from the friendliness betweenstaff and customers that this traditional caféhas a loyal following. Coffee is a bargain £1.20for a mug, but there are not many differenttypes to choose from if you’re feeling fussy.

If it is a breakfast you are after, this is theperfect place to go. There is just about everykind of combination you could ever want. Wechose the traditional set breakfast (£3.70) anda sausage and chips from the child’s menu(£3). Everything arrived promptly, there wasplenty of it and the tasty, thick rashers ofbacon were a particular hit with us. All in all anice, clean establishment with really lovely,welcoming service.

Jaspers Tea RoomsHigh Street, Llandaff CF5 2DZ029 2056 6602Jaspers is found in the shadows of LlandaffCathedral and named after Jasper Tudor, whoadded the northwest tower to the building.

The tables are located in a maze of smallrooms that were originally the downstairs ofseveral cottages. It gives the place a reallyintimate feel and there is also a smallcourtyard outside for sunny days.

The food is all freshly made and the menuchanges with the time of day from breakfast tomorning coffee, light lunches to afternoon teaand cakes.

The latte (£2.35) is on the expensive side,but was a rich roast, really frothy and waspiping hot. It was lunch and I had the childrenso it was the tasty Welsh lamb cawl (£6.95) forme and sandwiches from the children’s menufor my son. The ham sandwiches (£2.25) wereserved with crisps on really fresh bread andthere was plenty of it. We finished off themeal with a chocolate brownie (£1.95) to takeaway and eat as we enjoyed a trip to thecathedral. The cakes are all sourced locally.Bookings are taken for Sunday afternoon teaswith a cake taster plate (£4.95).

Thornhill FarmShopCapel Gwilym RoadThornhill, Cardiff CF14 9UB029 2061 1707This is a fantastic place if you are looking forsomewhere to take the children or just for a

cup of coffee while looking out on a lovelyview.

It overlooks an outdoor children’s play areaand small farm with goats, donkeys, pigs andpoultry. The menu is sourced locally and youcan see the food being freshly prepared.

I had a homemade vegetable soup (£3.50),which was filled with deliciously fresh, chunkyvegetables.

My husband ordered a jacket potato and ourson had a sandwich box from the children’smenu. The food was good, wholesome fayreand our coffees (£1.95 for a latte) were pipinghot and hit the mark. There’s ample freeparking and we even picked up something fortea in the farm shop.

Lew’s Coffee ShopFlat 4, Avocet House88 Station Road, LlandaffNorth, Cardiff CF14 2FG029 2055 5560This coffee shop with plenty of regulars is sowelcoming, it feels like you have been goingfor years – even on your first visit.

The service from start to finish wasexceptional and we were really impressed withthe quality of the food and coffee.

And it all came in at a very, very reasonableprice. The bread for my ham and cheesetoastie (£2.50) was fresh and my partner’smeatball baguette (£2.30) was one of the besthe had ever tried.

The excellent flavoursome coffees were agreat price at (£1.50). Fantastic value. Thisplace is a real asset to the local communityand well worth a visit. You will leave with asmile on your face and a full tummy.

Harley’s8 Royal Arcade, CardiffCF10 1AE 029 2037 381This place is a real jewel in the crown of thearcades. From the posters of musicals whichdecorate the walls, to the diner-style tablesand chairs, it oozes character. And on the foodfront, it certainly offers a choice of genuinehomemade grub with healthy salads. I don’tthink I have ever seen such a big side saladserved anywhere and it was all veryreasonably priced, especially for city centreprices.

I had a flan with salad and my husband hadchicken and ham pie with salad (both £4.80).

Our coffees (latte £2 and white coffee £1.60)were nicely brewed.

Excellent, friendly service.

K223 High Street, LlandaffCF5 2DY 029 2056 3637A great, friendly, family-run café in the heartof Llandaff.

We arrived for an early lunch and werebowled over by the welcome we received fromthe enthusiastic staff. The menu offersbreakfasts, main meals, light lunches,specialist teas and local cakes and is alsopopular as a takeaway. The service was firstclass and the food matched it. We didn’t havelong to wait and it was served piping hot. Thebasic breakfast (£4.95) was good quality food,not too greasy and there was plenty of it. Ourcoffees were a tasty blend, served hot andreasonably priced at £1.75 for a small latte and£1.95 for large.

COFFEE SHOPSCoffee Barker1-5 Castle Arcade, CardiffCF10 1BW029 2037 1491Family-owned Coffee Barker hassucceeded in bringing a touch ofEuropean cool to Cardiff.

Barker has been anindependent fashion outlet in theVictorian Castle Arcade since1979, but to mark its 30thanniversary a café extension wasadded.

And its successis evident in thefact that it hasalready doubled insize since opening.

The loft-styledesign creates apleasant, laid backatmosphere, theservice is secondto none and ourfood was fantastic.

My smokedsalmon and creamcheese sandwich(£4.49 to eat in)was obviouslyfreshly made, usedlocal produce andthe coffee wasexcellent too. Mylatte (£2.15 for a regular) and my husband’sdouble machiatto (£1.65) were full-bodied andtasty. The latte is a bit on the expensive side,but the generous serving and flavour makes itworth if for that little something special, eitherfor a lunch break or just for a sit down fromshopping.

READER OFFER: Coffee Barker Breakfast onus! (tea or coffee and a slice of chunky toast)between 8.30-11am: See page 24

■ Edit Almas and Joe Deard at Coffee Barker in Castle Arcade Cardiff PICTURE: Matthew Horwood ©


Snails Delicatessen6 Beulah Road, RhiwbinaCardiff CF14 6LX029 2062 0415This popular deli and coffee shop feels like ithas been picked up from the Continent anddropped into Rhiwbina. The deli and caféopened more than four years ago and seems tohave really found an appealing niche for itself.

There is a definite buzz about the place andmost of the food on the menu can be bought atthe deli counter. My Glamorgan sausage andchilli jam hot sandwich (£4.95) was delicious.With a mouth-watering chilli jam andscrumptious coleslaw, it was a delicious contrastbetween sweet apple and lively onion, on theside. My latte (£2) was served hot and was theperfect blend. There is also a take out menuand a great array of cakes, including victoriasponge, coffee and walnut and lemon drizzle.

Bentleys Cafe35 Wellfield Road, CardiffCF24 3PA 029 2045 7373You can see why this traditional cafe is sopopular with its good food and quick service.

It has various sizes of breakfasts to suit eventhe greediest of people and is one of thecleanest eating places I have ever been in.

I opted for a small breakfast at a veryreasonable £3.85 and a mug of coffee for£1.60.

There is not much choice of different coffees,but the one I had was rich in flavour and I wasmore than happy with it.

There is a good choice for children too. My

son and his friend had the children’s deal ofbeans and toast with a drink for £2.95.

And because they were so good, they wereallowed a Sidoli ice cream sundae (£2.95).

Costa Coffee21 Castle Street, CaerphillyCF83 1JD 029 2086 6452This was the only coffee chain represented inthis section of the competition, but big can bebeautiful and it certainly was the case withCosta.

Benefiting from a central location, close tothe castle, we were impressed by the qualityof the coffee, the comfortable seating areasand the friendly service.

And the prices are not too extortionateeither. My latte (£2.15) was a great size andwas a nice, rich blend, as was myhusband’s americano (£1.85).

There is a good array of cakes tochoose from. We opted for an almondbake (£1.75).

Caesars134 Holton Road, BarryCF63 4HH 01446 722024Based in Barry’s main shopping area,this is a traditional shop that plays onits Italian heritage. We unwittingly wenton one of the busiest days of theweek, market day, but itdidn’t stop the servicebeing fast, efficient andpolite.

It is also great value for

money, very clean and our coffees, latte(£1.60) and americano (£1.50) were servedpiping hot, within minutes of ordering.

My chicken sandwich (£3.75) was packed fullof fresh chicken and salad and my husband’sbaked potato with curry (£4.75) was definitelyenough for a main meal.

Deli Rouge73 Pen Y Wain Road, CardiffCF24 4GG 029 2048 3871Hidden away on a street corner in the middleof Roath’s maze of streets, this place is a realfind.

A small business involving three generationsof the same family, it is the perfect place for arelaxing Sunday morning brunch, even if youhave young children in tow. With an array oftoys and books, it kept them quiet longenough for us to enjoy our food.

The decor is relaxing and the Welsh cakesand brownies are all homemade.

My bacon roll (£2.90) was served on a thickcrusty cob, as was my husband’s breakfast rollwith free range egg, bacon and mushrooms(£3.30)

Our coffees were reasonably priced latte(£1.80) and americano (£1.70), the onlycriticism being that they could have beenserved hotter. Everything on the menu can bebought at the deli counter.

Tea & Cake36 Wellfield Road, CardiffCF24 3PB 029 2021 8815This quirky coffee shop was one of the biggestand best surprises of the competition. Theeating area is behind a gift and sweet shopthat has an emphasis on vintage.

The coffee shop is an absolute delight doneout like a 1950s diner and with a fab outsideeating area.

The cakes and biscuits on offer are all madelocally and our coffees were some of the bestwe tried. The cakes range in price from £1.75for the homemade fairy cakes and caramelslices to £2.95 for large cakes that can includecheesecakes and coffee and walnut cake.

The owners have obviously put a lot of effortinto choosing their coffee blends and it issomething they are passionate about. It showsthrough in the taste and the quality of thecoffee.

READER OFFER: Free drink with any foodorder: See page 24 for terms and conditions

Cafe Calcio145 Crwys Road, CardiffCF24 4NH 029 2039 7575When this coffee shop/restaurant opened inthe city 11 years ago it had a laddish, footballtheme (Calcio being Italian for football).

It had been a while since I had been and inthe intervening years it has had a complete

transformation into a relaxed, laid backeaterie ideal for both a breakfast ora lunch date.

Our visit was for breakfast and itdefinitely didn’t disappoint.

There is plenty of choice, not justthe traditional egg, bacon andsausage.

My husband, however, decided togo for traditional, which is served

with orange juice (£4.50) and wasdelighted with the quality of food. My

sweet tooth won out and I opted forthe pancakes and maple syrup

(£1.95). The pancakes werelight and fluffy and mylatte (£1.95) was theperfect accompaniment.

Embassy CafeCathays Community Centre36 Cathays Terrace, CathaysCardiff CF24 4HX029 2037 3144Based at the Cathays Community Centre, thissmall friendly café serves tasty and variedhome made vegetarian meals and cakes.

There is a different main meal and soup tochoose from each day, along with around halfa dozen tasty cakes and filled bagels are alsoon the menu.

All the coffee is fairtrade and my latte(£1.90) was good.

Mains are around £4.50 and on the day wevisited it was a tasty Glamorgan sausageserved with cauliflower cheese and salad,including a light, fresh spinach salad.

The service was a little chaotic and we hadto wait while the cauliflower cooked, but thestaff were lovely and did inform us of the waitfrom the start.

Waffle Coffee Shop63 Clive Road, CantonCardiff CF5 1HH029 2034 3087Every street should have a coffee shop likeWaffle on its corner.

A nice, bright friendly café, it is perfect for arainy Cardiff afternoon – and the cakes arepretty special too.

My latte (£2) was the perfect temperatureand a rich blend and the coffee and walnuthomemade cake (£1.40) reminded me of theones my gran used to make.

It was so nice I took some waffles and maplesyrup (£3.50) home to share with the rest ofthe family.

Cocorico PatisserieNiazs House53-55 Whitchurch RoadCardiff CF14 3JP029 2132 8177This authentic patisserie café is all about thecakes and the French owner’s passion shinesthrough in the array of cakes on offer to eat inor take away.

All Cocorico pastries are freshly prepared onthe day by the master patisserier and breadsand other treats are all made on the premises.Served in a nice, quiet atmosphere I opted forcheese and ham croissant (£2.10) as my main.The croissant was light, fresh and the meltedcheddar and mozzarella with the ham was theperfect combination. But it was the cake thatreally stood out. After an agonising choice, thechibouste (£2.40) won, a mouth-wateringraspberry tarte with vanilla cream. Magnifqueand enough for two.

This is well worth a visit, even it is just topick one up to enjoy at home.

■ Edit Almas and Joe Deard at Coffee Barker in Castle Arcade Cardiff PICTURE: Matthew Horwood ©

Fine Quality Delicatessen & Café

Family Business

T: 029 2048 3871www.delirouge.co.uk

Now fully licensed and openuntil 9pm on selected days

Catering for all occasions


Nahin Spice CentreCaerphilly Road, HeathCardiff CF14 4NT029 2052 0360Another of Cardiff’s long-established‘heat-and-eat’ takeaways and much praised inthe past for the quality of its food, the Nahin isa previous winner on a number of occasions ofthe Echo’s Takeaway of the Year awards.

It remains the best of its kind, not least forowner Dilwar Ali’s noble refusal to addunnecessary colouring to its food – somethingwhich can alarm those for whom curries arenot curries unless they’re a deep shade of red.

The chana masala (£5.15), its signature chickpea dish, positively bursts with exotica, thanksin no small part to its coconut and almondingredients, and the portions are never lessthan generous. Want to pass yourself off as abudding Madhur Jaffrey? Here’s the place tostart.

Golden OceanWaungron Road, FairwaterCardiff CF5 2JL029 2055 2278

Busy, clean, tidy and fabulously wellorganised establishment at the gateway toFairwater and popular with passing trade asmuch as the local residents.

Nothing surprising on the menu but theGolden Ocean gets all the basics right, fromthe lovely mixed appetisers (£7.50, fried wonton, prawn toast, crispy seaweed and spareribs) to the fulsome king prawn andmushroom (£5.30) and, especially theSingapore rice noodles (£5) which managedin a single dish to encapsulate all that’s goodabout the place... and which tasted just asnice when warmed up the following day.

One quibble: the roast duck chow mein(£5.30) was a little too chewy.

IndigoAlbany Road, Roath, CardiffCF24 3RU 029 2045 2708At the heart of the Roath curry triangle, this isa chic, urban takeaway that obviously has toup its game because of the competition.

No little portable on the counter here;instead, a large flatscreen TV on the wallshowing an Indian news channel – veryauthentic.

Its prices reflect its upmarket feel (10% off,though, for students) but you’re getting whatyou pay for, especially on the starters, whichwere top notch – the onion bhajis (£2.65) andthe samosas (£2.85) were to die for.

From there, though, things went slightlydownhill – the chicken madras (£4.85) hadmild written all over it when it should havebeen hot and the chicken and spinach baltijust felt bland – a cardinal sin in this game.

Standard BaltiCowbridge Road East, CantonCardiff CF5 1HD029 2037 3322Bustling little takeaway that claims to beCardiff’s most popular and certainly isbursting with good-humoured self-confidence,backed up, it has to be said, by the quality ofits food. Nice, freshly-made poppadoms andvery aromatic pickles set the tone, with acoriander-heavy chicken tikka garlic chilli (£6)to follow that was really superb.

The madras (£4.50), both chicken and lamb,were as hot as advertised and the quality ofthe meat overall was good and tender, withgood cuts used and a lack of processed feel.Engage the owner in banter while you wait –he’s just as good value as his food!

Taste of Bengal119 Broadway, TreforestPontypridd CF37 1BE01443 403987Spoilt for choice, we opted for theattention-grabbing balti special set menu forfour (£34.95), featuring shami kebab, onionbhajee, balti chicken with spinach, baltispinach, tikka masala and the usual offeringsof rice, naan, poppadoms and mint sauce.

From a relatively traditional menu, this hadall you’d expect in terms of strength and tastebut the portions could have been moregenerous. Friendly staff and food served bangon time more than made up for anyshortcomings. Looking for a quick fix? This isthe place.

ZeeraCowbridge Road, PontyclunCF72 9EB 01443 208885More traditional than its Church Villagecounterpart, this offered exactly the samemenu at almost the same high quality. Itschicken rogan josh (£4.45) was a fine staple,ample in quantity with excellent cuts of meatwhile the shorshe raja chingry (£8.95), kingprawn in hot sauces with mustard seeds,ginger, garlic and green chillies justified itsbranding as a Zeera exclusive, boasting at leastfive huge prawns brimming with taste. Anyonewho thinks the Valleys are a wasteland when itcomes to great Asian food is sadly deluded.

Noodle BoxSalisbury Road, CathaysCardiff CF24 4PE029 2025 1007Funky, bright, snappy and smart, this is aimedright at the student market for whom this hasbecome something of a meeting place; thinkCentral Perk meets Tiananmen Square. Anexcellent menu features stacks of set mealsand boxes to suit everyone’s taste and pocketbut it can all be a little confusing for thenoodle virgins like us. We went for the karenoodle soup box (£5) which was reallyfantastic and the sweet potato sesame cakes(£2.50), too, were out of this world. Thenoodles themselves had fabulous flavours but Idon’t think they travel well – eat them inhouse and they’re fine. Take them home andthey can get too soggy. We’ll know next time...and there will be a next time!

India KitchenCaerphilly Road, CardiffCF14 4QA 029 2052 9165Unremarkable, traditional Indian takeawaywith the usual range of traditional dishes.

Nothing too hot, nothing too bland but thegarlic chilli chicken (£5) lacked fire and thelamb madras was put in the shade by toomany others on our list. Its saving grace is thatit’s very good value for money.

Barry BaltiBroad Street Parade, BarryCF62 7AN 01446 733223A fixture of this very busy precinct for morethan 15 years, this is really rather a lovelyplace – clean, industrious, not what you’d callchic but boasting a pair of chefs working theirsocks off in full view of the customers. Alwaysa good sign. Their attention to detail and freshingredients were clear in the food, particularlythe garlic chicken and the onion bhajees(£1.70). It was all good value, too, with theaverage price of a dish around £4. On thenight we went – a Thursday – at around 8pm,the wait wasn’t too long but it could have beenan hour and still have been worth it.

Bombay MixPenlline Road, WhitchurchCardiff CF14 2AA029 2063 6060At the cutting edge of Indian marketing, withits sparkling website and text messagingservice, this takeaway takes its responsibilitiesas a long-time fixture of Whitchurch’s bustlingand eclectic foodie scene seriously. Everyone isguaranteed a warm welcome from theebullient host and his food more than matcheshis sunny disposition. Stand-out dishes includethe Sri Lankan speciality chicken methi(£5.95) with its herbs, spices and fenugreek,and the chana bhajee chick pea dish (£3.10),very much an essential side order here. Goodvalue and, if you know where to look, handyparking, only add to its appeal.


TAKEAWAYSSaffronBridge StreetPontypriddCF37 4PE01443 408044Relatively new (it openedin April) but it has alreadybecome a success, thanks to itsopen-plan, modern interior andits unique range of gluten-freeappetisers and curries which,according to the affable owner,enable those with an intolerance the chance toenjoy some scintillating curries.

The South India garlic chicken (£4.95) was awinner but the saag paneer (£3.95), an Indiancottage cheese pan fried with spinach andfinished in cream sauce, was spectacular – theconsistency of chicken but with amelt-in-your-mouth quality all its own.

China VillageMain RoadLlantwit FardreCF38 2LT01443 208833Something of aninstitution in this cornerof the Valleys, it is anoddity in that it’s stuck outon a limb but it’s also verybusy in the face of lots ofcompetition. Located on themain road between Llantrisantand Llantwit Fardre, you maystruggle to find it but pleasemake the effort. From the mixed starters(£3.50, including great prawn toast andCantonese spare ribs) to the superb crispyaromatic duck (£6.80) and the luscious kingprawns, everything was freshly cooked, nicelyprepared and delivered with a smile.

Shaz’sMain Road, Llantwit FardreCF38 1RN 01443 202224A spruce, clean and welcoming location in theheart of the village, Shaz’s benefitsimmeasurably from a kitchen just behind thecounter, in full view of potential customers.

Three chefs toiling away over the stoves,flames illuminating the interior, concocting thedishes with fresh ingredients (and Coleman’sMustard) does wonders for its authenticity andclaims of ‘original’ Indian food. The menuboasted some unique dishes – the ShorsheKing Prawn (£7.95) stood out with itsmammoth seafood and quirky, tasty sauce.

Try the Shaz Special Bhoona (£6.45) if you’rea lover of hot spinach dishes, and the meat

was all tasty and tender. Just as good thesecond night, with the reheated leftovers!

Modern BaltiHolton Road, BarryCF63 4HW 01446 746787Famous in the Vale for the customer wholoved the food so much he moved in above it,this takeaway was as busy on a Thursday nightas many places are at kicking out time onFriday and Saturday – always a good sign.

As a result, we had to wait an extra 30minutes for the food but when it came it washot and fresh-tasting, especially the LambPathia (£4.25), which boasted Thayers freshcream among the ingredients, but the chickentasted a little processed.

Good value for money – portions good andreasonably priced, and this is another placewhere the food is cooked by a busy crewworking in sight of the customers.

Parking might be a problem so this is onevery much for the locals.

Tiffin RasoiHolton Road, BarryCF63 4HB 01446 743030Tucked away at the bottom of Barry’s busiestcommercial street, this is a real find.

As much a chic little cafe as an Indiantakeaway, this may well be the future,certainly if the quality of the food is anythingto go by.

Everything about it is different, from thesmoothies on the menu, to the unique range ofdishes, such as the spectacular Machi Tikka(£2.30), ginger-scented tuna cakes with chilliand coriander.

The chilli paneer (£2.30), too – brownedchunks spiced with red chilli paste – was a realwinner. Of the main, the tandoori thali (£8.50)was packed with lovely meat the subzi masala(£4.50) was the best Indian vegetable dishwe’d ever had. If you think all Indiantakeaways are the same, try this place!

New WorldPaget Street, GrangetownCardiff CF11 7LA029 2066 5898A Chinese that serves its audience perfectly,whether they want a bag of chips to go withtheir own main courses, or the full-ontakeaway rush that is a must when the pubsare shut. Clean premises but, on the whole,the food rarely rose above the ordinary – themeat tasted a little processed but the disheswere not too greasy. The spare ribs with saltand garlic (£4.80) were excellent and by theend we were satisfied... and certainly nothungry again two hours later!

Gateway of IndiaPantbach Road, RhiwbinaCardiff CF14 6AG029 2052 9029Long-established as one of Cardiff’s best‘heat-and-eat’ establishments – they serve thefood cold and you heat it up later (or freezeit) – the Gateway of India is the cheat’sfavourite: who will know if you serve thedishes straight from the oven at your swankydinner party?

Understandably, knowing the nature of theiraudience and the volume of dishes served, thechoice on the menu is straightforward, lackingsome of the more exotic dishes found at morecosmopolitan takeaways.

The chicken korma (£6) was mild, of course,but no less tasty for it and everything had theair of freshness and authenticity.

However, some of the meat dishes lacked alittle, er, meat.

ZeeraSt Illtyd Road, Church VillageCF38 1DB 01443 217642Classy, smart and unashamedly exclusive,Zeera (one of two on our list) knows itmust compete not just with the plethoraof Indian takeaways in the area butthose in Cardiff if it is tosucceed.

And succeed itdoes, the quality ofits food easilymatching, if notsurpassing,anything we triedin the capital. Thelamb Madras(£4.35), far frombeing the mildexcuse for fieryfound elsewhere,really provoked asweat and thelamb tikkanoodles (£5.75) –something of ararity – made thisdeparture fromthe normal menuswell worthwhile.A place thatstands out for allthe right reasons.

‘Very good food -beats the taste of much bigger& more expensive restaurants’ -

TRIPADVISORSaffron are proud to be the first leading takeaway to offer gluten free,

reduced oil dishes and healthy omega 3 options,this ensuring a high demand in the local area and beyond.

We thank all of our customers for their continued support in 2012.• Nominated in 2011 SouthWales Echo Food and DrinkAwards• Gold award from trading standards for the gluten free options

SaffronSaffronExquisite Indian takewayExquisite Indian takeway

Tel: 01443 408044 • 01443 49124413 Bridge Street, Pontypridd • Officially opened by the Lord Mayor


Judged not just on food and beer but thepart they play in the local community...

Boars HeadCoedcae Lane, Tyla GarwNear Pontyclun01443 225400It’s difficult to imagine any-where more appropriateto escape the wintercold than The BoarsHead with its threecosy dining rooms cre-ating a picture perfecthomely feel.

Huddled shoulder toshoulder around the tinybar were a bunch of real alelovers extolling the virtues of

Victoria Park Hotel422 CowbridgeRoad EastCanton, Cardiff029 2037 4212The Victoria Park Hotelserves up the bestSunday roast this writerhas tasted in SouthWales. Judging by its pop-ularity, that’s no secret amongstthe locals so make sure youbook and be ready to placeyour order when you ring. Ourparty of four were served ourpiping hot roasts in a matter ofminutes – and what roasts. Our table wasn’tbig enough for all the swedes, roasties, carrots,peas, cabbage, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing,boiled potatoes, meats and gravy – and all forjust £5.95 each. This unspoilt pub has theusual mix of lagers and the odd ale, as well asa skittle alley and darts board. There is also alarge function room that can seat60 with its own bar.

The CoachHouseTy’r Winch RoadOld St MellonsCardiff029 2077 7400Cosy surroundings, personable

staff and a seriously extensive menu make thisa top local.

The inn is split between main bar, completewith roaring log fire and exposed beams and amore formal lounge. Entertainment is clearly apriority, with quiz nights on Thursdays, livemusic and even medium readings on thebusy events calendar.

There is also a function room available forweddings, christenings and other events. The

menu promotes the kitchen’s use of locallysourced produce and offers two mains for £10between noon and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

After starting with Oriental spring rolls, Iwas tempted by a classic – lamb faggots withpeas (£7.50), they were prepared by a localbutcher, full of flavour, massive and swimmingin onion gravy.

My partner opted for the poached fillet ofsalmon served with a creamy shrimp sauce,peas and potatoes (£9.95) – another winner.

The Discovery InnCelyn Avenue, CyncoedCardiff CF23 6EH 029 2075 5015Located a short walk from Roath Park Lake,The Discovery Inn is named after Captain

Scott’s ship which set sail from Cardiff on hisjourney to the Antarctic in 1900.

This pub offers quality, value-for-moneyfood and a decent array of entertainment.

Live music gigs are regularly held onFriday and Saturday nights and quiz nights

are held on Wednesdays. There are alsooccasional salsa for beginners classes held inthe large function room. The spacious loungehas a relaxed atmosphere, with long wall sofaseating and sport on the flat screen TVs.

Our starters were spring rolls with dippingsauce and a lovely fresh parsnip soup. Mainsare £5.95 each or two for £10. From the menu,my wife had the breaded plaice, while Iordered the 8oz sirloin steak with chips, onionrings, peas and peppercorn sauce (£9.25) fromthe specials. All were served with a smile byattentive staff and exceeded our expectations.

Robin Hood16 Severn Grove, Pontcanna,Cardiff CF11 9EN 029 2037 8829The Robin Hood remains a lively traditionalpub. Surrounded by tapas bars and boutiquerestaurants, it would be a shame to ever seethis pub lose its community spirit.

Last year it hosted one of the biggest andbest royal wedding parties – even CharlotteChurch sang karaoke.

There is live entertainment every weekend

LOCAL PUBS


Saturday forfood reviewson all of our

favouriteeateries

and quiz nights on Thursdays. The pub alsooffers free WiFi. The public bar is split fromthe main dining area, but the entire venue hasan electric, good-time atmosphere. You couldeasily come here for just a drink, or dance, butyou’ll also find one of the best value menus inPontcanna. The crab, tomato and cheddarfondue with pitta bread (£4.75) was a fillingstarter before we followed it up with a superblamb, chilli and coriander burger (£6.25) andhand-battered cod fillet with chips and peas(£7.95).

The Duke ofClarence48 Clive Road, Canton, CardiffCF5 1HJ 029 2034 2171This is a real family-friendly pub that remains,by our experience, at the heart of its com-

the current batch of guest beers. Beerfestivals are a regular fixture on the eventscalendar, with as many as 50 ales. TheBoars Head has seven guest cask ales at atime and we tasted Mighty Oak brewery’sOscar Wilde, which was named ‘Best Beerin Britain’ 2011 by CAMRA. And there’s

almost as much choice on the menu forfoodies. After our starter of crab andchilli fish cake (£5.25), my wife

followed it with salmon, prawn androcket lasagne (£8.95) – a tasty twist ona classic. My Dragon’s Fire chicken

curry (£9.25) was suitably named and Iwas thankful for my Oscar Wilde.

READER OFFER: Free bottle of housewine when you order from the main menu:See page 24 for terms and conditions

The Robin Hood

Tel 02920 37882916 Severn Grove, Cardiff CF11 9EN

Free Bottle of House Winefor 2 people ordering main mealsOr free glass of wine on any single

main course ordered

Dining Times:Mon – Sat 12 -8pmSunday 12 – 4pm(traditional roast)

booking required for Sunday

Home Cooking plus Real Ales -Hancock Bitters plus the Rev. James

Sweet Potato & Garlic SoupPotato Basket of Wild Mushrooms & Truffle

Sun Blushed Tomato, Parma Ham &Mozzarella BruschettaGarlic & Lemon King Prawns

.....................................Scallop &Monkfish Pappadella Pasta, Pesto & CreamMinted Lamb Steak, with Herb Mash &Maderia Sauce

Filo Tart of Roasted Veg & Garlic Chicken with a Stilton Cream SauceSteak Diane, with Hand Cut Chips

.....................................Selections of Desserts to Share

Welsh Cheese & BiscuitsAmaretto Crème Brulee.....................................

3 Course £19.95Available Sat 11th, Sun 12th, Mon 13th, Tues 14th

Please call us to reserve your table 01873 810373


munity. On the Sunday lunchtime we visitedfor a roast, a lively christening party was tak-ing place in the rear function room.

It was refreshing to visit a pub which is stilla popular meeting place for locals – and haskept its skittle alley with skittle nightsMonday to Friday. There is also a kids’Saturday film club, starting at 10.30am, withfree entry. Our beef and chicken roasts provedfantastic value at just £4.50 each, as did thesticky treacle and chocolate puddings (£1.50).

And we were given a reason to return whenwe discovered that diners are able to cooktheir own food – using a volcanic rock. Theblack rock dining experience was inspired bythe owners’ trip to Majorca.

The HeathWhitchurch Road, CardiffCF14 3LW 029 2039 4297Occasionally you visit a pub and get a genuinesurprise, which is exactly what happened to usat The Heath.

The Brains-owned alehouse reopened lastyear following a major refurbishment and nowoffers a quite simply outstanding experience.

The Heath is clearly split between its pubarea – complete with pool table and dartsboard – and the restaurant, which is styledwith traditional furniture, open fires andblack-and-white photographs.

Spacious, yet cosy at the same time, it offersthe complete pub experience: Welsh ales, agood value menu, sport on the TV andprofessional staff. We left stuffed afterfeasting on half a roast chicken with half arack of BBQ ribs (£9.45) and an 8oz rumpsteak with BBQ ribs (£12.95).

The Heath’s ‘Big Quiz Night’ takes placeeach Sunday, starting at 8pm.

Creigiau InnStation Road, CreigiauCF15 9NT 029 2089 0768Want to a visit a country pub but don’t want todrive miles into the depths of the countryside?Well here is your answer. The Creigiau Inn islocated in the heart of Creigiau north west ofthe city. There is a quiz every Tuesday nightfrom 9pm. Entry costs £1 with all proceeds

going to the winning team’s charity.While its menu offers unashamedly pub fare,

this spacious, relaxed inn is a nice change ofpace. A starter of chicken goujons with sweetchilli sauce (£4.95) was pretty standard, as wasthe other half’s fish and chips (£6.75).

But our visit coincided with curry night. Mylamb rogan josh was sensational and camewith a bottle of Cobra beer, all for £7.95.

Juno Lounge14 Wellfield Road, Roath,Cardiff CF24 3PB029 2019 8990FIRST things first, this isn’t a pub. But it’s alsonot a café, bar or restaurant, at least not in thetraditional sense.

Judging by our Saturday afternoon visit, theJuno Lounge is perhaps all of the above.

A relaxed, community atmosphere allowsthe Lounge to seemingly be different things todifferent people: be it a family-friendly eateryor cool hang-out. On our a visit we weresurrounded by couples reading the papersover a coffee and students polishing off abottle of wine while playing scrabble.

The tapas menu is great value for money,with each dish costing £2.95 or three for £7.95.Our patatas gratinadas (potato and manchegocheese) was a generous, warming portion,while the honey-glazed shredded five spicepork put an Oriental twist on a classic.

For mains, the chicken and gammon pie waspositively bursting at the seams, and servedwith delicious creamed leeks, chips and atarragon sauce (£10.50) My New York stylesteak sandwich was cooked perfectly andcame with potato wedges and a tangy mustardmayo (£9.95).

The Bear InnLlanharry, near PontyclunCF72 9LH 01443 225425The Bear Inn is well worth a visit and last yearwas named winner of the Best Bar NoneAward in Rhondda Cynon Taf for its work withthe community. It’s management are heavilyinvolved in the annual village fete and charityfundraisers. There is also a pub quiz on

Thursdays, as well as entertainment Fridaysand Saturdays. The friendly staff serve uphome-cooked food including 11 different pieswithout pretence or formality. My slow-braisedlamb shank and mint gravy (£9.95) was suc-culent and delicious.

Cayo36 Cathedral Road, CardiffCF11 9LL 029 2023 5211A traditional pub, with a modern feel, theCayo is a Marston’s owned pub located in aconverted Victorian townhouse.

Named after Julian Cayo Evans, the leaderof the Free Wales Army, the interior has beencreatively decorated and retains some oforiginal Victorian features. It offers a widerange of real ales

and the menu ranges from nibbles – such aswedges, nachos and crispy duck spring rolls –to sandwiches, baked potatoes, wraps andburgers. My pork belly with red cabbage,mash and apple sauce (£9.95) was better thanstandard pub fare but unfortunately the leekand gruyere tart was served cold in the middle(£7.95).

The Old CottageCherry Orchard Road,Lisvane, Cardiff CF14 0UE029 2076 5961It’s clear this pub has already become a fa-vourite amongst food lovers in north Cardiffsince reopening in 2011.

With a creative menu at the top end of theprice range, it is closer to an upmarketpub-restaurant with picturesque beer gardenthan a local boozer. I plumped for the specialof black pearl scallops with caesar salad (8.95),a tasty combination of flavours, while mypartner enjoyed well-presented prosciutto andpoached egg with asparagus and hollandaisesauce (£6.45). But the mouth-watering choiceof maple spit gammon with peach andmustard mash (£12.95) was the pick of themenu. My slightly over-cooked roast rump oflamb with pancetta, asparagus and babypotatoes (£15.95) didn’t reach the same levelof perfection.

MaltstersCardiff Road, Llandaff, CardiffCF5 2DS 029 2033 3096This is another old boozer to have undergone amajor transformation in recent years.

Since reopening in 2010, The stylishMaltsters has established itself as Llandaff’smost upmarket pub bistro. The menu iscertainly more exotic than most taverns, withthe huge cheese, seafood or charcuteriesharing boards a popular choice at £9.95 each.To accompany a pint of Rev James, mypartner and I shared a tasty plate of lambkofta with mint mayonnaise (£5.25). For mainsI went for a classic – rib-eye steak and chips(£14.95). A generous portion and cooked toperfection, it was just a shame about thewatery peppercorn sauce. My partner enjoyedanother pub classic – honey and thymesausages with mash (£6.95).

The Three ArchesHeathwood Road, HeathCardiff CF14 4HS029 2075 3831The Three Arches is another Brains pub tohave undergone a major family-friendly re-furbishment recently. In fact the transform-ation has been so radical that it really doesblur the lines between pub and restaurant.

From the grill-dominated menu we enjoyedthe succulent tandoori skewers, served withrefreshing minted yoghurt (£3.95), homemadeCeltic Pride beef chilli (£7.45) and salmonblackened with lemon and garlic butter(£8.95). Professional customer service is clearlya cornerstone of all revamped Brainsalehouses such as this and the brewery shouldbe applauded for raising standards.

The Royal Oak200 Broadway, AdamsdownCardiff CF24 1QJ029 2019 1048One of the most historic pubs in South Wales,The Royal Oak is best known for its con-nection to boxing, the knock out feature beinga training gym with boxing ring upstairs.

The main bar’s walls are adorned withphotographs of local champions, including the1910 Lonsdale Belt winner Jim Driscoll.

As well as its sporting heritage, the pub isalso well known as a live music venue withregular free gigs and open mic nights.

The Victorian ale house features stainedglass windows and church pews and is said toserve the best Brains SA in Cardiff.

Food is only served on Sundays. Our lambroasts did the job, but there is no pretension ofbeing anything other than a ‘proper pub’.

Dynevor ArmsGroesfaen, Pontyclun,CF72 8NS 029 2089 0530There’s a friendly, family atmosphere at thisvillage pub, where we received a warmwelcome. The décor has traditional brasshorseshoes and china plates, while outside, apretty beer garden is well-maintained. Its realales will please drinkers and a no-nonsensemenu offers staples like cottage pie, chickencurry and roast dinners. Vegetarians andchildren are catered for, and there are a fewmore adventurous dishes on the specials boardlike king prawns in Thai red curry. We hadgammon, egg and chips with salad and grilledtomatoes (£7.95), and it was huge! So was thebeef stroganoff (£10.95) with chips and rice. Ithad lots of chunky mushrooms and hunks ofbeef but the sauce was too heavy with garlicfor my taste. There are no starters but plentyof desserts like sticky toffee pudding andchocolate fudge cake (£3.75 each). The realales are popular with the locals and there areregular quiz nights.

■ Wayne Owen and Brett Summers enjoying a pint at the Boars Head Pictures: Peter Bolter©

south wales echo food & drink awards 2012

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