Named after the web address suffix for China, I don’t think there’s much to say about the rather fabulous .CN that hasn’t already been said by Corpulent Capers and Hungry in Cardiff. The food is interesting, generous, authentic and well priced. The restaurant is bright and modern feeling and the service is friendly.
A couple of weekends ago this newly opened Northern Chinese restaurant on City Road played host to the inaugural Tweatup organised by the author of the aforementioned Corpulent Capers, @GomezAdams. It was a great opportunity to meet some people who I exchange tweets with regularly & also to pillage a large proportion of .CN’s interesting looking menu.
The food ranged from the good to the excellent. I didn’t eat a single duff dish and that even extends to the tofu dish I tried (I bear a massive grudge towards tofu for being so flavourless). Highlights included a wonderfully tender yet fiery hot crisp lamb breast with ground chilli (£8.50), a clean yet powerfully spiced Beef in Sichuan pepper & chilli sauce (£8.00) and a crisp and well seasoned salt & pepper squid (£6.80).
Accompanying the bill were segments of orange and some rather familiar looking white rabbit milk candy. It was only when I got home and did some web research that I remembered where I’d seen them before. They were none other than the sweets which had been in the news back in 2008 as part of the Chinese milk scandal for having dangerous levels of melamine in them! I hope they’ve sorted out the melamine problem because they were kinda tasty.
If you haven’t been to .CN yet then I suggest you go. There is no other Chinese restaurant like it in Cardiff. Finally, apologies in advance for my photography but it’s hard to take photos of uneaten dishes when you’re the sixth person out of twelve to get your mits on them. Also I felt like a bit of a wally taking more than one photo of each dish. I normally have to take about ten before I get the desired shot.
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| Tofu - I'm not sure what the dish was called though |
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| An action shot of the crispy lamb breast - I did well to even get it this focused as it was moving so quickly |
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| Beef in Sichuan pepper & chilli sauce |
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| Salt and pepper squid |
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Golden King Prawn - Probably Crispy spare ribs with garlic - Crispy yet tender. Yum Stewed chicken with mushrooms - Stacks of chicken on the bone which tasted really chinesey (lots of five spice I guess) |
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| Hot and spicy golden crab |
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Pork in peking sauce with pancake - The pancakes aren't in shot Crispy pork fillet - really good |
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| Carnage |
The details: .CN, 228 City Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3JH, Tel: 02920 48 66 88
Web: http://www.eatcn.co.uk
Web: http://www.eatcn.co.uk
looks like a pretty good menu, I will definitely have to check it out, Happy Gathering is starting to get boring.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a good alternative to Happy Gathering. Still love it though.
ReplyDelete.CN's menu is really different. Loads of dishes that I still want to go back and try.
Cracking blog mate. We love .cn - cracking restaurant. Definitely try the beef tripe in chilli oil - it's lush. Also the spicy beef tongue.
ReplyDeleteHey, glad you like the blog. Not so sure about tripe. Don't think I've got the stomach for it! I'll give the tongue a go though. Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI've heard you do a broth fondue, is that called 'steam boat' cooking?
Delete@Judith - Yes .CN do a steam boat as well. Have a look at my other review of .CN for details. It's a fun, sociable meal out if you want to try something different.
DeleteHad a takeaway last night, fab, hot king prawns, garlic and ginger lamb and spare rib sweet and sour. We go again and try the steamboat. Lovely friendly atmosphere.
ReplyDelete@Judith - Pleased to hear you enjoyed it.
DeleteHey - Thanks so much for this review and turning me on to this place. I love westernized Chinese food, but finding the real deal is a challenge. This place was brilliant. I ate (gorged is a more appropriate word) there last week, and have already made another reservation for next week. Just fantastic. Great blog - keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete@Robert - No problem at all, glad to have been a help!
DeleteI HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME TO EAT AUTHENTIC CHINESE FOOD IN THE uk AFTER WORKING IN CHINA FOR 30 YEARS
ReplyDelete