Roos, Cardiff city centre restaurant review

I normally think of chefs and restauranteurs moving from the city to the countryside, rather than the other way around.

In comparison to the grey hustle and bustle of urban life, I can certainly see the appeal of opening somewhere rural with an abundance of local produce, beautiful scenery and a slower pace of life.

Inn at the Sticks, Osip, Coombeshead Farm and Holm are all examples of places that are owned by chefs and restaurateurs who made their name in the city before moving to the sticks (quite literally in the case of Inn at the Sticks).

So, it’s interesting to see that the owners of two Pembrokeshire pubs, The Golden Lion in Newport and The Boars Head in Templeton, have expanded in the opposite direction by opening a restaurant in Cardiff.

Roos, which is located in the warden’s bungalow on the edge of Bute Park, feels about as close to the countryside as you can get whilst still being in the heart of the city.

The team have done a lovely job with the former home of Kindle, which always faced an uphill battle due to its lack of inside dining space. The main building, where the bar and a dining room are located, has an upmarket pub feel and exposed ceilings that give it a distinctly un-bungalowy vibe. They’ve also added a clever construction at the back where there’s a second dining room with verdant views over of the park.

However, it’s arguably the courtyard area at the front of the building that holds the most appeal on a sunny day – I can imagine it’s going to be very popular with match day crowds and Pontcantonites stopping off for a drink on their way home from work.

Considering the owners’ backgrounds, it’s understandable that Roos menu feels like the kind of thing you might find in a country pub. Starters and small plates are where the most excitement lies with dishes like charred leeks and smoked Teifi Caerphilly croquettes. Mains are less exciting, with grilled meat and fish and pasta providing the bulk of the available options.

On the drinks front, beers lean towards to the macro brewing end of the scale. Mrs G enjoyed a fruity pint of Tiny Rebel’s Clwb Tropica (£6.80), the only local offering available, whilst I knocked back an easy drinking pint of Salt’s Alpacalypse pale ale (£5.90).

I followed it up with a small glass of crisp and fruity Royal Tokaji Furmint (£7.50) whilst Mrs G sipped on a glass of sticky Pedro Ximinez sherry (£ no price on menu) in lieu of dessert.

Whilst we waited for our starters, we ordered a couple of breads for the table. However, as it turned out, they arrived at the same time as our first course. Both options were pretty good – warm and soft focaccia (£6) and crisped olive bread (£6) both served with vivid green basil oil and balsamic.

To start, I kicked off with a lovely ’nduja scotch egg (£11) that comprised of a jammy yolked egg surrounded by juicy sausage meat seasoned with the fiery hit of Calabrian sausage. On the side, a pile of creamy mustard seasoned celeriac remoulade would definitely have benefited from more crunch to provide some texture contrast.

Mrs G enjoyed her portion of beef rib croquetas (£9), which were nicely filled with tender slow-cooked beef and creamy bechamel. But they didn’t deliver the same intense bovine hit of the city’s best.

There was also a thumbs up for a portion of grilled celeriac and oyster mushroom skewers (£9) that a were ordered by a friend across the table.

Onto the mains, and three of us ordered the epically portioned mussels (£19). A huge bowlful of plump bivalves were bathed in a thick creamy sauce with heaps of crisp bacon pieces, sweet soft leeks and a cream sauce with a fruity hit of cider and savouriness of mussel liquor. On the side were four crisp slices of toasted bread for mopping. Arguably, a glug more cider would have made the sauce a touch less rich. But, it’s a dish that I’d very gladly order again. 

In fact, I already have because I forgot to take a photo the first time around. It was still very good on my second visit but a few of the mussels were overcooked and starting to lose their plumpness. 

The other two mains were decent but didn’t fully hit the mark.

A pea risotto (£17) was laden with colourful vegetables, and the loose textured rice was well cooked. It lacked a bit of seasoning, however, or perhaps even a handful of parmesan cheese. Fortunately, there was a salt mill on the table that my friend put to good use.

A crab ravioli dish (£20) had pleasingly thin pasta and was drenched with butter and topped with diced tomatoes, green herbs and onions. The one flavour that was lacking was the headline hit of crustacean – neither sweet white flesh nor earthy brown meat really came to the fore.

Both the desserts we ordered were quite tasty but not exactly as expected from their menu descriptions.

A crumble de cassis (£8) wasn’t a comfortingly hot fruit crumble but in fact a cold dish that combined a crunchy crumbly base topped with blackcurrant mousse, a fruity and sharp dark fruit compote, and a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Similarly, my chocolate cremeux (£9) wasn’t the glossy and “luxuriously smooth” dessert that I’d envisaged. Instead, a bar of solid chocolate ganache was sat on a crisp biscuit base and joined by sherberty cherry sorbet and more of that dark fruit compote.

Overall, we had an enjoyable evening at Roos with a couple of standout dishes alongside others that were middling. They’ve certainly succeeded in bringing a countryside vibe to Cardiff and I’d gladly go back again for another bowl of mussels and drink or two in their sunny courtyard.

The Details:

Address - ROOS, The Bungalow, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SZ

Web - https://rooscardiff.co.uk/

Telephone - 07961073512

Go Asia, Cardiff city centre, banh mi review

It's fair to say there's been a gap in the market in for a banh mi joint in Cardiff. 

This Vietnamese baguette is one of the very best sandwiches in the world and until a few weeks ago you couldn't buy one in Cardiff. 

Whilst the banh mi from Hanoi 1991, which used to be located in Cardiff's Royal Arcade, were good, I wouldn’t describe them as top tier. 

Enter Go Asia, which has opened on Barrack Lane on the former site of The Grazing Shed. 

This café, which also functions as an Asian supermarket selling a range of dumplings, sauces, drinks and instant noodles, serves both banh mi and zhushed-up Korean instant noodles.

Whilst I was very much interested in the banh mi, the instant noodles are less my bag for two reasons. Firstly, as a subpar home cook, one of the dishes I regularly make is packet ramen with toppings. Secondly, if I’m going out for noodles, I’d much rather go somewhere that makes them from scratch like Matsudai or Hatsu Udon.

Go Asia serves six different types of banh mi, including original, fish cake, grilled pork and tofu & eggplant. Each cost £8.99 and for just 50p extra there’s an option to add a soft drink into the mix.

Having placed our order with the exceptionally friendly front of house team, we pulled up a couple of chairs outside the shop and had just a short wait for our sandwiches to be prepared. 

The key thing to say about both banh mi is how impressive the baguettes were. Gorgeously crisp, airy and soft of crumb, they were a joy to eat. 

The original combined plenty of slices of workmanlike ham and pork roll, a slather of light and smooth liver pate, shreds of lightly pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber batons and fresh coriander. It was a delicious banh mi and the only thing really missing was a bit of advertised fresh chilli heat.  

The other sandwich we ordered was lemongrass beef, which was laden with thin slices of hot and tender meat that sang with citrusy herb. The other accompaniments, which were pretty much the same as the original except for the curious absence of coriander, worked very well. Mrs G thought this was the winner, but the classic just pipped it for me. 

We had delicious banh mi at Go Asia and they’re comfortably the best I’ve eaten in Cardiff. It’s a great option for a quick lunchtime pitstop and as they’re located near some of Cardiff’s biggest offices, I reckon they’re going to be on to a winner. 

The Details:

Address - Go Asia, 1 Barrack Lane, Cardiff, CF10 2FR
Web - https://www.instagram.com/goasiacardiff/
Telephone - 07593123678

BBQ Xiang, Cardiff city centre Cantonese roast meat review

I’ve got a hell of a lot of love for roast meat.

Whether it’s Cantonese siu mei, a Sunday roast, spit-roasted souvlaki and shawarma, or Spanish suckling pig, a pile of tender caramelised meat is pretty much as good as it gets in my book. 

So, it’s good to see the proliferation of Cantonese style roast meat specialists in Cardiff. 

The latest to join the fold is BBQ Xiang on Caroline Street, located in the tiny former site of Malai Thai. With a hyper-specialised menu, you can have whatever you want as long as it’s Cantonese roast meat. 

On offer is roast duck, crispy pork, char sui pork, soy sauce chicken and steamed chicken served with a choice of rice, soup noodles or stir-fried noodles. A handful of other specials includes dumpling noodle soup, vegetables with garlic and fish with pickled mustard greens. 

As is customary for siu mei specialists, they've got their wares on display in the kitchen window. I've got a lot of time for transparency and pride in product and those golden-skinned ducks and chickens looked cluckin’ tasty.

To drink, a bottle of ice cold roasty oolong tea (£3.50) provided perfect refreshment.

On my first visit, the meats were all superb. Tender, juicy and well-rendered of fat. Pork belly was crispy AF, off the bone duck breast was impeccably juicy and best of all, the char sui pork, had an addictively good, sweet marinade. They were served hot too, which is more my bag than when it’s served at room temperature. 

I ordered my triple roast meats in laksa (£13.80) with ramen noodles. The thin broth had a lovely chilli heat, fragrance and creamy coconuttiness. In its depths bobbed crisp beansprouts, tofu puffs, lettuce and coriander. A family-sized portion of noodles were pleasingly bouncy with a little chew.

On a second visit, my pick of the triple roast meats (£13.80) from the first visit turned out to be the weakest link.

Char sui pork still had its beautiful, sweet glaze but the meat was a little bit dry. In contrast, thin skinned bone-in roast duck and crunchy crackling pork belly were both bang on.

An accompanying mound of rice was nicely cooked and drizzled with sweet soy. Steamed lettuce provided token greenery whilst a dollop of chilli oil delivered a kick of spice.

BBQ Xiang most certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to Cantonese roast meats and when they’re on form they’re definitely up there with the best I've had in Cardiff. Coupled with their fast service and fair pricing, it makes for a great cheap addition to Cardiff city centre. 

The Details:

Address - BBQ Xiang, 33 Caroline Street, Cardiff CF10 1FF
Web - https://www.instagram.com/bbq_xiang/
Telephone - 07412 972271

Pizza Pilgrims, Cardiff city centre review

Whilst I’m most definitely not the biggest fan of chains, things are undoubtedly more nuanced than the simplified view point that independent restaurants are good and chain restaurants are bad.

So, despite Pizza Pilgrims now having 26 restaurants across the UK, including a Cardiff city centre branch which opened just over 12 months ago, and having recently sold a majority stake to German Italian restaurant group L’Osteria, it’s worth remembering that they started out as an indie that helped popularise Neapolitan style pizza in the UK.

And unlike so many chains, it’s hard to deny that they’ve maintained their focus on quality ingredients. Caputo flour, Latteria Sorentina fior di latte and Solania San Marzano tomatoes are all name-checked on their menus. Pizza Pilgrims were also recently named the 6th best artisanal pizza chain in the world behind well-respected names like Da Michele and Big Mamma Group.

On a Saturday night in January, it was pretty much a full house in Pizza Pilgrim’s eclectically decorated dining room. Despite the bustle, the jovial front of house team provided swift service.

Pizza Pilgrim’s menu offers fifteen different varieties of Neapolitan pizza as well as eight different sides and salads. A kids meal option was very well received by a junior member of the group with its offer of a half-sized pizza, drink, scoop of ice cream and activities for a cut price £8.

On the booze front, there’s a compact wine selection of just two whites, reds, and fizzes, and one rose. A bottle of Ilauri Bajo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (£32) was a delicious accompaniment to the pizza with its balance of red fruit, light oak and a bit of bright acidity.

Out of the two snacks we ordered, cacio pepe balls (£8) were the clear standout. I mean, what’s not to love about a turbo-charged mac and cheese ball? Stubby spaghetti coated in a runny cheese and pepper packed sauce were encapsulated in a deep-fried crumb.

Tender panko crumbed artichokes were good but a lot less exciting in comparison. However, an accompanying creamy garlic and herb dip was vampire deterring in its potency.

Onto the pizzas, and they all had well-mottled crusts with good aeration and a light chew.

The crusts were tasty on their own, but even better dipped in a trio of crust dippers (3 for £5) – a sweet and fiery hot honey, a fragrant basil aioli, and more of that honking garlic and herb.

The clear standout of the pizzas for me was the You’ve Got Maiale (£15.95), a classy yet filthy combination of potent ‘nduja, course ground Italian sausage, fatty pepperoni, thinly sliced red onion and a sweet yet tangy balsamic drizzle that delivered a similar effect to BBQ sauce.

An Aubergine Parmigiana (£13.95) was also very good with its combination of soft and meaty aubergine, smoked mozzarella and a good dusting of salty pecorino romano. But, I felt the topping was a bit sparse in places.

Finally, a simpler ‘nduja (£14.50) hit the spot, relying on the combination of fiery spreadable sausage with fruity San Marzano tomato sauce and creamy fior di latte.

For dessert they only had takeaway portions left of their enticing sounding Nutella tiramisu (£8). So, they kindly did us a two for one deal. I certainly wasn’t complaining as whilst it was served in a slightly unattractive carboard box, it was a mahoosive portion.

The delicious riff on the Italian classic combined light mascarpone cream and espresso-soaked sponge fingers with a thin layer of addictively sticky Nutella and a crisp biscuit crumb. Arguably it could have taken a bigger hit of bitter coffee to balance the sweetness, but it's a minor quibble.  

I really liked Pizza Pilgrims. It’s a fun and informal spot that serves good quality Neapolitan pizza. Despite its chain credentials, if you’re looking for a pizza in Cardiff city centre, then it’s well worth a visit.

The Details:

Address - Pizza Pilgrims, 1 - 4 High Street, Cardiff, CF10 1PX

Web - https://www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk/pizzerias/cardiff/
Telephone - 029 2002 8660

Parallel, Cardiff city centre restaurant review 2026

When Paul Bainbridge, the head chef at Parallel asked if we were happy with how our steak was cooked, I’m pretty sure he already knew the answer. His accompanying smile was the giveaway.

You see, when it comes to meat cookery, there aren’t many safer pairs of hands in Cardiff than Paul’s. Before joining Parallel in September 2025, he spent years as head chef at Asador 44, one of Cardiff’s top restaurants and a temple to chargrilled meat.

Since taking over the reins at Pasture’s smaller sibling, Paul has gradually introduced his own ideas onto their menu of flame-cooked small plates and sharing cuts of meat. Whilst the influences remain eclectic, mammoth flavours are the unifying theme.

On a Saturday night, Parallel is a vibe with its moody lighting, funky beats and engaging front of house team. We sat at the bar where it's great fun to see the kitchen team knock out a whole menu using the smallest of charcoal grills and two deep fat friers.

For booze, we stuck to Parallel’s wine by the glass. Mrs G enjoyed a couple of excellent glasses of Pommery Champagne (£13.50), whilst I overenthusiastically ordered a bucket of Louis Latour Grand Ardeche Chardonnay with a lovely hint of vanilla. Glasses of Saladini Pilastri Sangiovese blend (£10.50) had plenty of bright red fruit and a good balancing acidity.

I've had many flatbreads in my time, but Parallel's (£6) is easily one of the best. With its smoky char lines and marriage of crisp and squidgy textures, the addictive bread is generously slathered with beef fragranced butter, diced white onion and a delicate kick of biber chilli.

Alongside it, we had an excellent thick burnt aubergine dip (£7) jewelled with cleansing pomegranate pearls, leaves of crispy kale, and tangy pomegranate masses. To be honest, it was an unnecessary order as the flatbread was so good on in its own.

Pasture's short rib croquettes (£5) are undoubtedly one of the best mouthfuls in Cardiff, so it’s great to see them on Parallel’s menu too. The crisp crumbed balls of intense shredded meat are seasoned with blobs of poky gochujang mayonnaise and slivers of pink pickled onion.

Parallel's fried chicken (£9) sees impeccably juicy thigh pieces coated in a super crisp crumb. Umami charged fiery hot honey and tangy cranberry sauce both build up the layers of flavour.

Parallel’s crab toast (£11) is a belter of a dish too. A brick of soft crumbed toasted milk bread is topped with sweet white crab meat flecked with green herbs and slices of zingy grapefruit. However, it's the accompanying tom yum bisque that’s the headline act. Rich and creamy yet at the same time light and aerated, it sings with the aromatic flavours of Thailand.

After the initial flavour onslaught, it was time for the main event. A 650g T-bone steak (£48) was a lovely bit of meat with its charred crust, tender flesh with a light chew, and good beefiness. 

Whilst the steak was delicious on its own, a pair of sauces were a hit and a miss. Excellent chimichurri combined bright acidity and a hit of green herb, but a thin and underpowered peppercorn sauce was a bit of a let down.

Smoked mashed potato (£10) with lamb shoulder is listed on Parallel’s menu as a side dish but it could easily be a main by itself. Their riff on a Shepherd's pie sees a layer of comforting slow-cooked shredded lamb topped with an airy and lightly smoked potato espuma as well as rustlingly crisp caramelised potato skin shards and a balancing hit of sour cream and chive.

Parallel's carrot (£7) is a dish that needs no introduction and it had been supersized since our last visit. This whopper of a charred and tender root vegetable is glammed up with an addictively sweet and smoky maple dressing, nutty cashew cream, crunchy chickpeas and a fresh and fiery zhoug. It's as good a carrot as you'll ever eat.

If one carrot wasn't enough, we were recommended the Carrot 2.0 (£9) as the best dessert on the menu. The reworking of the ingredients from the OG carrot makes for a hell of a good combination of sweet and savoury flavours that aren’t too rich. A warm and squidgy slice of glazed and grilled spiced carrot cake is topped with creamy mascarpone, fresh carrot ice cream, and herbal zhoug granita.

We had a brilliant dinner at Parallel. It was already one of Cardiff's best restaurants and it's got even better since Paul Bainbridge has joined the team. With a new menu set to launch imminently, brunches arriving in March, and another exciting announcement on its way, it's set to be a big year for Pasture’s younger sibling.

The Details:

Address - Parallel, 11 High St, Cardiff CF10 1AW
Web - https://parallelrestaurant.com/

Telephone - 07742 885440