I’ve been meaning to visit Heaney’s for nigh on four years! We moved from London to Abergavenny at the start of 2019 and Heaney’s (in Cardiff’s Pontcanna neighbourhood) opened only 4 months earlier. It had gained a great reputation already and went straight onto my wish list to visit. Offering only a tasting menu though, ... Read more »
Brother Thai | Cardiff
Starting out as a Thai street food vendor – and a very successful one at that – Brother Thai opened the doors of their first permanent restaurant in July 2021, and it’s been an instant hit with old and new fans alike ever since. Described as a Thai roti bar, the snappy menu includes their ... Read more »
The Humble Onion | Dinas Powys
Not quite Cardiff but only a short distance out, it’s well worth making the trip to Dinas Powys for a meal at The Humble Onion. Antonio Simone is the humble chef in the kitchen of this humble space, serving up food which is anything but humble – indeed it sits loud and proud on the ... Read more »
Lee Skeet’s 40 Days 40 Nights Pop-up
Having heard some very enthusiastic endorsements about Lee Skeet’s supper clubs, when he announced his 40 Days 40 Nights pop-up, I bought tickets immediately! The blurb promised a six-course tasting menu with canapes for £70 per person, served in the upstairs dining room at Pontcanna’s Cafe Milkwood. We’d most recently been there for the Matsudai ... Read more »
Matsudai Ramen | Ramen at Home and Ramen Pop-ups!
Ramen, aaaah ramen! I bloody love ramen and, as a Londoner, was used to being able to get my fix quite easily, as ramen restaurants became more and more prevalent. But then, we moved to rural Wales and I discovered that ramen hadn’t gained a foothold here yet, let alone become a big trend. Luckily, ... Read more »
The Shed Restaurant by James Sommerin | Barry
Barry, a few miles South West of Cardiff, may not be the most obvious location for an elegant upscale restaurant from Michelin-starred chef James Sommerin, but over the last couple of years it’s become a hotspot for food lovers thanks to Hangfire Southern Kitchen, and Goodsheds, which houses a selection of superb food and drink ... Read more »
Rocket & Rye, Cowbridge
I rarely write about a restaurant if we visit on its first day open, but at Rocket & Rye, the experience and skills of John and Ceri Cook meant the team hit the ground running from the moment the doors opened, and we had an absolutely wonderful meal with friendly and helpful service. Based in ... Read more »
Hangfire Southern Kitchen | Barry Island [CLOSED]
Many journalists and bloggers have written in praise of Hangfire Southern Kitchen, and no surprise – run by Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn, Hangfire is the undisputed home of Southern USA-style barbeque in Wales, cooked and served up in a recently regenerated corner of Barry Island. The story of how the ladies came to launch ... Read more »
Uisce by Heaneys | Cardiff
Uisce by Heaneys sits next door to its older sibling, and offers an altogether more casual vibe with a small plates menu in place of Heaneys’ tasting menus. It’s labelled as an oyster and wine bar but offers much more, its small plates menu to pick and choose from making it an ideal spot for ... Read more »
Dim Sum Lunch at Happy Gathering in Cardiff
One of the things we’ve missed from London since moving to rural Monmouthshire in Wales is easy access to dim sum. A recent call out for dim sum recommendations in Cardiff led us to Happy Gathering, a Chinese restaurant on Cardiff’s Cowbridge Road. My favourite London restaurant for dim sum is Phoenix Garden, which I ... Read more »