Today I am putting my blog in the very capable hands of Kacie from The Rare Welshbit. Kacie is all about fabulous food, places to eat and tasty recipes. So today she is here to tell you all about her top 5 restaurants in Cardiff. I feel pretty bad saying I have only been lucky enough to eat in one of these awesome places so far, but I will be making the effort to try out some of the others when I can. So if your looking for a great restaurant in Cardiff why not try out one of these great choices.
1) The DEPOT
It may not fit the traditional definition of a restaurant, but the DEPOT is leading the way for Cardiff’s growing street food scene. The city’s first ever permanent street food venue, the DEPOT sees popular pop-up restaurants and independent food producers come together under one roof in a 24,000 sq. ft warehouse decorated with abstract art. From juicy burgers and tender pulled pork, to freshly made wood-fired pizzas and liquid nitrogen ice cream, there really is something for everyone.
Located just a short walk from Cardiff Central train station, the DEPOT currently opens every Saturday and admission is free of charge, although you can expect to pay around £7-10 per main meal. No need to book; just turn up and tuck in!
Budget: ££
The DEPOT, Construction House, 22 Dumballs Road, Cardiff, CF10 5FE
www.depotcardiff.com
(029) 2034 1119
2) Laguna Kitchen and Bar
Located within the plush Park Plaza hotel on Cardiff’s Greyfriars Road, Laguna Kitchen and Bar was previously crowned Restaurant of the Year in the South Wales Echo Food and Drink Awards and was also named Cocktail Bar of the Year in the Cardiff Life Awards 2015.
I’ve been to the restaurant on several occasions, both for an evening meal and for afternoon tea, and I have never been disappointed – quite the opposite, in fact. Head Chef, Justin Llewellyn has cooked for the likes of the Queen and after experiencing the quality of the food on offer at Laguna, it’s clear to see that Justin’s cooking is fit for royalty.
With an emphasis on fine dining, the à la carte menu draws upon fresh, locally sourced ingredients in addition to a few carefully chosen imports. Dishes on the current a la carte menu include the mouth-watering herb-crusted Brecon rack of lamb, pan-fried chicken stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and halloumi, and monkfish masala. If you can’t make up your mind, go for the Chef’s Tasting Menu – at £49-59 per head, this six-course menu with wine pairing allows you to experience some of Justin’s gourmet speciality dishes.
Prices: £££££
Laguna Kitchen and Bar, Park Plaza Hotel, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff. CF10 3AL
www.lagunakitchenandbar.com
(029) 2011 1103
3) The Clink
Offering a restaurant experience like no other, The Clink is a fine dining venue based at HMP Cardiff. Located just outside the prison walls, the restaurant is staffed by 28 category D prisoners from HMP Prescoed, who each spend 40 hours per week preparing, cooking and serving food for guests.
The menu consists of fresh, seasonal dishes made using local ingredients, many of which are grown at HMP Prescoed. The Clink is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea from Monday to Friday, while dinner consists of a five-course tasting menu served on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and priced at £39.95 per head. Pictured is the braised beef served with celeriac and garlic pomme puree, mashed potato, seasonal veg and red wine jus.
The restaurant is run by The Clink charity, dedicated to reducing reoffending rates amongst those who leave prison – so the food doesn’t just look and taste good; it does good, too!
Prices: ££££
The Clink, HMP Cardiff, Knox Road, Cardiff. CF24 0UG
www.theclinkcharity.org
(029) 2092 3130
4) Moksh
The first Indian restaurant in Wales to be awarded a coveted AA Rosette, Moksh is best known for its ability to put an innovative, imaginative take on even the most traditional of Indian dishes. Chef Stephen Gomes and his team have developed a reputation for molecular gastronomy (ie. food science) that could put Heston Blumenthal to shame.
Think chocolate orange-infused chicken tikka, camel meatball rogan josh and popping chilli chocolate and honey naan bread (I know you’re probably reading this and wondering how these combinations could possibly work, but trust me – they really do!)
Be sure to book in advance, as Moksh is very popular and you may struggle to get a table without a reservation.
Budget: £££££
Moksh, Mermaid Quay, Bute Crescent, Cardiff, South Glamorgan. CF10 5AN
www.moksh.com
(029) 2049 8120
5) Mount Fuji
Cardiff certainly isn’t short of decent Japanese restaurants; home to the likes of Ichiban in Roath and Canton, Yakitori #1 in Cardiff Bay, Tenkaichi on City Road in Roath. For me, the best Japanese restaurant in Cardiff is Mount Fuji, situated in St David’s Shopping Centre.
Designed to resemble a Japanese ‘Shinkansen’ high-speed bullet train, the dining area boasts comfy, sofa-style booth seating with a white cover, against a backdrop of Tokyo’s city nightlife scene.
The menu offers something to suit all tastes and budgets, with diners able to choose from set meals, individual dishes, or a combination of both. Costing around £10 each, the bento boxes offer great value for money, including a main course and several side dishes served in a lacquered box with compartments.
Budget: £££
Mount Fuji, St Davids Shopping Centre, Cardiff. CF10 2EF
(029) 20340333
www.mountfuji.co.uk/cardiff
Thank you so much for taking over today Kacie, you’ve made me pretty hungry!
