Burgers on my Brain, Cathays, Cardiff burger review

If you wait long enough then everything comes back in fashion, both the good and the bad.

It’s a travesty to see mullets, super baggy jeans, tie dye t-shirts and ‘dad’ trainers once again surge in popularity.

In contrast, I’m glad to see a lot more people birdwatching, wired earphones, beans (especially in glass jars) and thick patty burgers.

When it comes to burgers, over the last few years it feels like every menu now features a burger with a couple of thinly smashed patties and thicker patties have fallen by the wayside.

But the signs are there that they’re coming back in fashion.

Firstly, the arbiters of style, British Vogue say that thick patties are back in.

And secondly, Cardiff’s newest burger joint, Burgers On My Brain, focuses on thick patty burgers.

Located in Dalton Yard, a cosy covered outdoor event space just off the top of Crwys Road, Burgers On My Brain has only been open for a few weeks. Currently operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, it’s run by the former owner of Chronic Fried Chicken.

When it comes to making a good burger, the crucial starting point is buying good ingredients and not messing around with them too much. So, Burgers On My Brain is in a good position as they use dry aged Welsh beef from legendary Cardiff butchers Oriel Jones and potato buns from Newport bakery Nos Da.

On the menu, is a choice of three cheeseburgers, and two different fry options. I can understand why the menu is so compact as it’s all prepared singlehandedly by the chef-owner Tyler, who was working full tilt on the Sunday we visited

On tap, there’s normally local draft beer from Caerphilly’s excellent Dark Element. But, they’d just sold out when we arrived, so Tyler kindly let us bring in a few cans from Cathays Beer House around the corner. We sank a couple of lovely pale ales from Burnt Mill and Left Handed Giant.

When it came to our burgers, the intensely beefy dry aged patties combined the juiciness of a thick patty with the caramelised crust of a smashed patty. It was excellent but I’d have probably liked the option for it to have been cooked medium.

A bacon cheeseburger (£13.50) combined a soft yet sturdy and not too sweet potato roll that well held the thick patty topped with crisp smoked streaky bacon, a good poke of melted cheddar, tangy burger sauce and the balance of a little bit of raw white onion.

A Carolina (£12.50) saw the melted cheddar topped beef patty combined with sweet and punchy honey mustard barbecue sauce, pink pickled onions and a token scattering of lettuce. 

Super crisp skin on loaded fries (£7.50) were dusted with umami chicken salt and topped with heaps of crispy bacon nuggets as well as generous drizzles of burger sauce and honey mustard barbecue sauce. Dirty and delicious, I regret sharing a portion with Mrs G.

We had a belter of a lunch at Burgers On My Brain and it’s up there with the best burger joints in Cardiff. We were told that they're planning on sticking around in Dalton Yard for the long term and this makes me very happy indeed because it’s great to have somewhere like Burgers On My Brain on our side of the city.

The Details:

Address - Burgers On My Brain, Dalton Yard, Dalton Street, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HB

Web - https://www.instagram.com/burgersonmy_brain/

Three Flames, Cathays, Cardiff, Nashville hot chicken takeaway review

We very rarely eat takeaway anymore. In part, it’s because we enjoy the whole experience of visiting a restaurant. The dining room, the service, and the ambience, all add to the sense of occasion. The day that going out for a meal stops feeling like a special treat is the day that I give up writing this blog. 

The other reason is because takeaway food quality is inevitably compromised on its journey from a restaurant kitchen to a punter’s home. Especially things that are supposed to be crisp, which quickly become soggy whilst steaming away in a takeaway container. I like to eat a food business's food as it's supposed to be be rather than after its been sat on the back of a delivery bike for half an hour. 

Which brings me to Three Flames, a recently opened Nashville hot chicken takeaway joint that’s located down a back lane in Cardiff's Cathays area. Whilst there’s no way you’d ever stumble across it and their passing trade must be non-existent, you can be rest assured that I’m not going to describe it as a covert trinket, stealth sparkler or some other insufferable cliché.

Having used Google Maps to track them down to their home in what looks like a converted garage at the back of 98 Crwys Road, I was mightily impressed to find a crowd of people waiting for orders at 8.30pm on a Sunday evening. 

Specialising in Nashville hot chicken, Three Flames’s menu comprises of sandwiches, sliders, wraps and loaded fries, all of which are available in a variety of heat options ranging from Spark (mild) to 3rd Degree (extreme). If hot chicken isn’t your thing, then they also offer a selection of beef burgers and a veggie option too. 

I'd preordered my meal on Three Flames’s website, which allows you to live track your meal, and was looking forward to waltzing to the front of the queue to collect my dinner. However, when I arrived on time, the tracker showed that my order had already been collected, and I then had another 10 minutes to wait for it to be cooked. The friendly front of house team was very apologetic but there’s not much point in whizzy technology if it doesn’t work. 

As I was ravenous, and a little bit tipsy, I decamped to the nearest street corner to eat my dinner within a few minutes of it being cooked. 

My Nashville sando (£10.99 including fries and dip) saw a run of the mill toasted St Pierre brioche bun overflowing at the edges with a colossal and supremely juicy buttermilk marinated chicken thigh that was coated in an uber-crisp gnarly crumb and topped with creamy slaw and cleansing pickles. I’d opted for the mild spice level, and it delivered a big hit of flavour with just a delicate kick of heat. 

Served on the side was a mound of exemplary spice dusted crinkle cut chips, and a pot of tangy, creamy and spice-twanged Flamer Fuel dip. 

Even taking into account the unremarkable bun, this was a first-rate fried chicken sandwich meal.

On a second visit during the middle of the week, I had no such issues with the pre-order technology. In fact, quite the opposite as when I arrived a few minutes before my allotted collection slot, my meal was already sat waiting for me. I’m not sure for how long. 

By the time I’d made the 10-minute walk to Roath Park to guzzle my dinner on a park bench, the condition of my chicken tender meal (£9.99 including fries and dip) was somewhat compromised. 

Whilst the pair of mahoosive chicken breast tenders had thankfully retained their heat, tenderness, and crispness, the crumb coating started to fall away when I picked it up. They were sat on a token slice of toasted brioche that was a little bit too sweet for the job – cheap white sliced bread is clearly used in most Nashville hot chicken joints for a reason. 

Whilst the chicken had held up pretty well on its journey to the park bench, the same couldn’t be said for the pile of crinkle cut chips that were sadly tepid and limp.

This time around, I’d ordered my chicken at a medium heat level and whilst it was full of flavour, it was still pretty mild, even in comparison to mild Nashville chicken heat levels that I’ve had elsewhere. I’d certainly go hotter next time. 

An accompanying pot of ranch dip was pleasingly creamy and tangy – it was an ideal foil for all that spicy deep-fried stuff. 

So, what can I say about Three Flames? At its best and when consumed immediately, they serve generous portions of cracking value, top notch Nashville hot chicken. However, after ten minutes sat in a takeaway container, it’s a much more mediocre experience. 

But, I guess that’s the inevitable challenge for a business that operates exclusively as a takeaway. Unless you’re planning on eating your dinner in your car or on a street corner, then it’s unlikely that you’ll be tasting Three Flames at their very best, which would be a shame as their very best is very good indeed. 

The Details:

Address - Three Flames, Rear of 98 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NQ
Web - https://threeflames.uk/
Telephone - 029 2297 4007

Desi Dera, Cathays, Cardiff Pakistani restaurant review

By most accounts it’s a perilous time to be running a hospitality business in the UK.

According to one recent survey, a third of hospitality businesses are now running at a loss and 60% have had to cut jobs to try and stay afloat.

And with businesses like Gary Usher’s excellent Kala bistro shuttering its doors and Bristol’s acclaimed Sonny Stores pivoting to a more financially sustainable approach, it all makes for rather depressing reading.

So, to open a new restaurant in the current climate is a very brave (or bonkers) thing to do.

Especially doing so without any web presence or social media to promote your business.

Which is exactly what Desi Dera, a new Pakistani restaurant on Crwys Road, seems to have done.

Having walked past it the other week, I googled it and all I could find was a registration on Companies House and a pending Scores on the Doors rating.

So, after a few happy hour beers at Pop n Hops, we decided to check it out.

With its gilded décor and functional furnishing, Desi Dera’s dining space is deceptively large. On the midweek night we visited there were just a couple of other occupied tables. The absence of the hum of chatter or any background music gave the place a slightly library-like atmosphere.

Desi Dera’s menu includes familiar grill favourites like seekh kebab and chicken tikka whilst an extensive range of curries includes bone-in or bone-off lamb or chicken karahi as well as specials like nihari and haleem.

With the scorching hot weather, we were both in the mood for grilled meat and so ordered the rather good value looking platter for two (£24.99).

But first complimentary poppadoms arrived as soon as we sat down. This kind of generosity always endears a place to me. Crisp and grease free, they were accompanied by solid mango chutney, mint yoghurt and chilli sauce. However, a side salad looked a little sad around the edges.

To drink, a mango lassi (£2.50) was ice cold but light on fruit flavour. Judging by the logistical challenge involved in preparing it, I’m not sure how many people have ordered one since Desi Dera has opened.

After a reassuring wait alongside the pleasing waft of chargrilling from the kitchen, our handsome platter was delivered.

Standouts were juicy and char-licked chicken wings, well-seasoned chicken seekh and meaty masala fish with a lightly spiced coating. Chicken tikka and lamb chops were both good too but I found them to be a little too salty – Mrs G, a sodium fiend, disagreed. Lamb seekh kebabs had good flavour but were a touch on the dry side.

Beneath all that grilled meat were excellent crisp fries and a mountain of buttery and fragrant lentil-flecked rice.

A pair of whopping naan breads were soft and crisp in all the right places.

Lentil dahl had a compelling meatiness and was a lovely sauce over the top of everything.

Stuffed, I doggy bagged up a meal’s worth of food to take home for my dinner the next day. With its well-priced and well-spiced cooking, we had a very tasty meal at Desi Dera. I hope they manage to find their niche in Cathays.

The Details

Address - Desi Dera, 101 Crwys Rd, Cardiff CF24 4NF

Telephone - 02922972785

Nefis Cafe, Cathays, Cardiff Turkish breakfast review

Ever since Cardiff Turkish breakfast trailblazers Longa opened their doors back in 2019, more and more cafes across the city have started to serve a similar offering.

As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

One spot dishing out a similar menu is Nefis Café on Cathays’ Crwys Road, whose strapline is a “Taste of Istanbul”.

Located on the former site of Stagg Coffee, Nefis’ expansive outdoor seating area and eclectic inside space make it a comfy spot for all of Wales’ climactic extremes.

On the menu are traditional Turkish breakfast dishes like menemen and sucuk with eggs, baked goods such as simit bagels and borek, and house specials like manti dumplings and hummus with slow cooked lamb.

However, it was the Nefis Turkish breakfast that caught my eye. For £12 you can choose a main from a selection of five dishes, accompanied by a selection of eight sides, bread and Turkish tea. On paper it’s extremely good value – unusually, even more so than the version for two people that costs £25.

Despite Nefis being pretty busy on a weekday lunchtime, my order arrived quickly. And what a looker it was with its ornate centrepiece surrounded by a bevy of treats.

The main event, kavurma and eggs saw scrambled eggs flecked with pieces of intensely flavoured and tender slow-cooked lamb scattered with palate warming chilli flakes.

A little light on seasoning, it really kicked up a gear when it combined with a smear of fragrant and spicy cemen, a harissa-esque red pepper paste that featured as one of the accompaniments.

A generous basket of soft-crumbed Turkish bread was an essential mop for the eggs and selection of sides. I intended to only eat half the basket, but my carb-grabbing reflex got the better of me and before I knew it I’d devoured the final piece.

Out of the eight sides, grilled halloumi and a puck of tangy cream cheese were the highlights. Sweet honey with a dollop of clotted cream was also lovely slathered over the bread to make a mini dessert.

The only real dud was a tepid hot dog in a bland tomatoey sauce. A dollop of jam was decent but light on fruit intensity.

A large glass of fragrant and sweet Turkish tea was a delicious drink.

When I’d just about polished everything off, a complimentary piece of crisp and sugar-soaked baklava arrived to bring a sweet conclusion to my meal.

I really enjoyed my Turkish breakfast at Nefis. Whilst it doesn’t quite hit the same highs as Longa’s version, it’s really excellent value for £12 all in. If you’re in the market for a Middle Eastern breakfast in Cardiff, then it’s well worth checking out.

The Details:

Address - Nefis Cafe, 83 Crwys Rd, Cardiff CF24 4NF

Web - https://nefiscardiff.co.uk/

Telephone - 020 3342 1106

Ginger & Clove, Whitchurch Road, Cardiff Indian restaurant review

I’ve reviewed so many restaurants on Whitchurch Road lately that I should probably consider renaming my blog Gourmet Gabalfa.

Usually, after a few beers at the excellent Pop ‘n’ Hops, we’re craving a bite to eat and as a result we’ve recently visited Shiraz Grill, Stella Italia and now Ginger & Clove.

Ginger & Clove opened in January 2025 and it occupies the former site of Wildflower Kitchen and the Aegean Greek Taverna. It’s a lovely space with a colourful mural covering one wall and a third of the venue turned over to bar seating to try and encourage people to pop in for a drink.

The restaurant’s menu draws influences from across India but is mostly focused on southern India as that’s where the expertise of the chefs lies. With nine starters, and eight mains, Ginger & Clove’s menu is compact as far as Indian restaurants go. It’s a much more reassuring sight than 100 curries, all of which are made from the same base sauce.

Complimentary poppadum shards, chutneys and glasses of iced water were brought out as soon as we arrived. It’s the little touches like this which always endear a restaurant to me. Both the chutneys hit the mark - a sweet chilli number and a fragrant mint variety that also had a good oomph of chilli.

To start, gobi manchurian (£5.95) saw lightly battered florets of cauliflower coated in a sticky, spicy, sweet and savoury sauce flecked with garlic and onion. This was very good example of this dish, with the sizeable pieces of cauliflower still having plenty of texture.

It was a very good contrast to a Kerala beef fry (£6.95) with its earthy dry spicing and notes of toasted coconut. The impeccably tender nuggets of beef were lifted by a scattering of fragrant curry leaves and the zip of pickled onions.

For mains we showed a bit of restraint, relatively speaking, by ordering a main, side and bread to share.

A nadan chicken curry (£10.95) was billed on the menu as “included by popular demand”. Made to the owner Matthew’s recipe, I of course had to give such a hyped-up dish a go. Super tender bits of boneless chicken thigh were coated in a medium spiced thick and luxurious gravy with layers of spice, coconut and curry leaf. This was an excellent curry.

Its excess sauce was delicious drizzled over a vegetable thoran (£3.95) made with a fine dice of toothsome carrot and radish that was seasoned with mustard, coconut, curry leaf and crispy onion.

A table-topping triangular masala dosa (£7.99) was commendably thin and crisp and filled with comforting spiced potato. A bevy of accompaniments really made it sing. Fresh coconut chutney, a sweet and creamy tomato and onion chutney, and a velvety sambar flecked with carrot and stringy moringa beans, were all excellent.

We had a delicious and cracking value meal from Ginger & Clove with really friendly service. Despite strong competition in the local area, I hope this a restaurant that finds its niche. 

The Details:

Address - Ginger & Clove, 72-74 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3LX

Website - https://www.instagram.com/gingerandclovecardiff/

Telephone - 029 2063 0708

Stella Italia, Cardiff Indo-Italian restaurant review

Back in 2021, when I wrote a review of Whitchurch Road’s Vivo Amigo, an enjoyable yet eyebrow raising Indo-Mexican fusion restaurant, I asserted that some culinary crossovers make a lot more sense than others.

Whilst Indo-Mexican food was just about understandable, I declared that Indo-Italian cooking was a step too far.

Fast forward to 2025, and the people behind Vivo Amigo have only gone and launched Stella Italia…an Indo-Italian restaurant.

Whilst my scepticism for Italian-Indian cuisine was only slightly diminished, my curiosity got the better of me and I of course had to check it out.

Located next door and interconnected to Vivo Amigo, Stella Italia’s name, signage and interior don’t give much away in terms of the fusion cuisine on offer. With its red-checked tablecloths and paintings of Venice, this could be any other Italian restaurant. Perhaps a name like Just like Naana used to make or The Gateway of Italy would provide a more obvious indication.

Stella Italia’s menu doesn’t go all in when it comes to fusion cooking either. Their starters and desserts are solely Italian, with familiar options including calamari fritti, sundried tomato arancini and tiramisu. When it comes to the drinks selection, however, draught Cobra and mango lassi provide a nod towards India.

It’s only with Stella Italia’s main dishes where the Indo-Italian fusion cooking is really unleashed. Whilst there’s a selection of classic pizza and pasta, Indo-Italian options include spaghetti mutter keema, penne butter chicken, and butter chicken curry calzone, which also comes filled with biryani.

To start, a trio of coarsely ground and loosely packed beef polpette (£6.50) were tender, honked nicely of garlic and were sat in a thick and fruity tomato sauce with a good grating of savoury parmesan. On the side, soft crumbed pieces of sourdough garlic bread were a lovely mop for all that sauce. This was a very tasty starter albeit the kind of thing you’d find in many Italian restaurants.

Onto the mains and I can only apologise that I that I didn’t order saag paneer spaghetti. That’s one step too far even for my usually adventurous palate.

However, Stella Italia’s Neapolitan style pizzas really are very good indeed. Made with slow-proofed sourdough, they have a thin base and a soft and airy crust. They’re certainly better than some from places I’ve visited who profess to serve authentic Italian pizzas.

Out of the two pizzas I tried across two visits, the Calicut beef (£12.95) was the definite winner. Plenty of hunks of deep-spiced slow-cooked beef combined well with the melted mozzarella, a dusting of parmesan, and a scattering of fragrant coriander and curry leaf. A drizzle of sriracha mayo added a nice extra hit of tangy spice but it was slightly unusual in the fact that it brought a third national cuisine into the mix.

A chilli paneer pizza (£12.95) was also very tasty but similar in flavour with its use of sriracha mayo, coriander and curry leaf. Arguably, it was less successful because of the cheese-on-cheese action, which meant it was richer yet less complex in flavour. Whilst the cubes of lightly spiced and sweet paneer were very tasty, I think they could have taken a bigger hit of spice. However, they did work very well with crisp mixed peppers and red onion slices that added to the chilli paneer vibe.

Gnoccho fritto (£4.95) were the most interesting sounding of the desserts on offer. However, the mound of dense miniature doughnuts were rather unlike the light and airy examples that I've eaten elsewhere. Still, at least they were crisp and grease free and lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar, drizzled with sweet chocolate sauce and accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

A cup of frothy, sweet, creamy and well-spiced masala chai (£2.95), however, was excellent. It’s worth popping in just for a cuppa if ever you fancy a brew.

I really enjoyed Stella Italia’s pizzas and their front of house team are excellent. Whilst Indo-Italian cuisine will still be eyebrow raising to many (including myself), I think perhaps Stella Italia has missed a trick by not leaning in even further into their fusion cooking. Why not throw the kitchen sink at it and serve starters like biryani arancini or masala spiced panelle with chutneys as well as desserts like chai spiced tiramisu or cardamom panna cotta? After all, I'd imagine a lot visitors are there because they're curious to try Indo-Italian food. 

The Details:

Address - Stella Italia, 136 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3LZ

Telephone - 029 2297 2017