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

Roma'Eat, Detroit pizza review, Cardiff

As the Red Queen said in Through the Looking Glass, “it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” 

It’s a phrase which certainly holds true in the hospitality industry, where restaurants that don’t constantly raise their game are rapidly overtaken over by new competitors. 

Roath’s Roma’Eat is one business that certainly can’t be accused of standing still as they’ve continually evolved in the five years since they first opened a tiny ten seat unit on Albany Road. 

For a start, in 2023, they relocated to a nicer and larger restaurant space around the corner on Wellfield Road.

Secondly, their pizza offering has gradually changed in response to consumer preferences. Initially, they only offered their superb rectangular Roman style pizza by the slice. They’ve since gone on to introduce classic round pizzas and whole trays of their Roman style pizza.

In late 2024 they also got on board the Detroit pizza hype train. 

Known for their lacy caramelised cheese edges, thick and airy rectangular crusts, and the unusual application of the tomato sauce on top of the cheese, it’s a style that can be a doughy mess when placed in the wrong hands. 

However, Roma’Eats’ Matteo Pellico’s hands are pretty much as safe as it gets when it comes to Cardiff pizza making. So, it’s no surprise that their Detroit pizzas have proved to be very popular. 

So much so that when I visited on a Tuesday night, both the tables next to me had ordered them. And Roma’Eat have even launched their own street food business, Frico, which focuses on the style. 

Anticipating that my Roman style pizza was going to be a beast, I passed on their rather delicious sounding small plates. 

To drink, a large glass of organic Primitivo rose (£6.50) was packed with red berries. It was just the ticket for a summer’s evening. 

My Meatball Queen Supreme (£18) looked like it had been created by Michaelangelo himself, the sculptor that is, not the mutant turtle. 

With its soft, light and airy crumb, fruity tomato sauce (untraditionally, located underneath the cheese), plump and tender meatballs, generous ooze of melted mozzarella, flurry of savoury parmesan, and the top notes of fresh basil and oregano, it was dangerously easy to eat.  

The kicker, however, was the crisp frilly edge of caramelised cheese, which added another level of umami to proceedings. 

I could quite happily have polished the lot off by myself if I hadn’t reminded myself that I needed to take a slice home for Mrs G. 

On another occasion, I ordered a Pepperoni Lord (£17) to takeaway, and it travelled very well on its eight-minute journey home. 

This was a much more decadent proposition with the crisp and fatty pepperoni harmonising with a good drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey. It was another excellent pizza, but I think the Meatball Queen Supreme edged it for me. 

Considering Roma’Eat’s pedigree, it’s no surprise how good their Detroit style pizzas are. Who knows what this business will be doing by the time 2030 comes around? Perhaps they’ll be serving New Haven style pizzas made with precision fermented cheese and lab grown meat from humanity’s last outpost in Neo-Cardiff. 

The Details:

Address - Roma'Eat, Unit 6 The Globe Centre, Wellfield Rd, Cardiff CF24 3PE
Web - https://www.romeatpizza.co.uk/
Telephone - 029 2048 8111

West Pizza, Canton, Cardiff review 2024

Mrs G is rarely in the mood for pizza. So, whenever she is, it’s action stations and I immediately dig out my emergency pizza slice and secret stash of garlic and herb crust dip.

It was one of those occasions the other week and I remembered that we hadn’t yet visited West at their permanent home in Canton, which opened in March last year.

Owned by Jez Phillips and Ieuan Harry, the same team behind the excellent Ffwnres Pizza in Cardiff Market, West specialises in New York style pizza. West was previously based at Kongs in Cardiff city centre and we had a few excellent meals during their time there.

Their permanent home has the feel of a modern American diner but arguably lacks the same warmth and comfort. It’s the kind of place to eat and go rather than settle in for an evening.

In addition to serving pizza by the slice and by the pie, West now serves coffee and freshly baked goods, including brownies and Basque cheesecake.

Despite having a permanent home and bigger bills to pay, West’s prices are still excellent value. A slice will set you back between £3 and £4 whilst a whole 18-inch pizza weighs in between £15 and £22.

Having previously enjoyed excellent slices of their Meri-Ann margherita and Ray pepperoni pizzas, this time around I was laser focused on ordering a whole pizza to share.

It’s great to see a strong Welsh presence in West’s booze selection, with cider from Gwynt y Ddraig and beers from Crafty Devil and Bragdy Twt Lol. I knocked back a super easy drinking can of Mikey Rayer (£5.25), whilst Mrs G enjoyed a can of fiery ginger beer (£2.50) from Heartease Farm.

As much as I love Neapolitan style pizza, West’s New York style pizza is an excellent contrast to one of the city’s most common varieties. With its thin and crisp base and airy crust, it’s a slice which is easy to pick up and inhale very quickly.

With the option of ordering West's whole pizzas as a half and half of two different types, I chose their Delme (£20) whilst Mrs G opted for their Squatternut Bosh (£22) weekly special. Our pizza came to £21 so I assume that they just take the average of the two flavours you order.

It can’t be emphasised enough just how big West’s whole pizzas are. Served on a giant silver platter, it’s the kind of grand serving dish that would also be an appropriate home for a whole suckling pig with an apple stuck in its gob.

The Delme saw a light tomato sauce and caramelised melted mozzarella topped with coarse fennel twanged sausage, oregano and slivers of garlic with the balancing acidity and heat of pickled peppers.

Meanwhile, the Squatternut Bosh utilised sweet and earthy butternut squash puree instead of tomato sauce. It paired very well with the savoury funk of perl las, the crunch of roasted butternut squash seeds, and the fiery kick of sobrasada.

They were both excellent pizzas and their crusts didn’t go to waste as they were delicious dipped in a pot of garlicky and fragrantly green herby mayonnaise (£1.50).

With baked goods being West’s other speciality, it would have been rude not to order one for pud. A crisp and chewy cookie (£2) was just the rice balance of sweetness, the bitterness of dark chocolate and saltiness.

I’m really glad we finally paid a visit to West in their new Canton home and as far as I’m concerned, they serve one of the best pizzas in Cardiff. If they were any closer to where we lived, then I’m sure I’d be popping in for a slice on a weekly basis.

As a bonus, we had a couple of leftover slices to take home and enjoy cold the next day. Like a nana, I even brought my own foil to wrap them up in…

The Details:

Address - West Pizza, 60 Glynne St, Canton, Cardiff CF11 9NS

Web - https://www.west.pizza/

Dusty's, Llanishen, Cardiff pizza restaurant review

I didn’t expect a Cardiff pizza place to give me a lesson in urban geography. But, prior to picking up Mrs G after a visit to Dusty’s Pizza in Llanishen last year, I had no idea that the little row of shops which they call home even existed.

Tucked away in the middle of a housing estate on Llangranog Road, it’s the kind of location where you’d most certainly have a valid claim to use the well-worn cliché “hidden gem”.

Since the heyday of the Dusty’s empire when they had outlets in street food venues like Barry Goodsheds and Founders & Co. in Swansea alongside restaurants Kindle and Nook, there’s been a scaling back in the size of the business.

However, Dusty’s are one of the OG’s of Cardiff’s artisanal pizza game for good reason and so a visit to their Llanishen restaurant was long overdue.

We visited early on a weekday evening at our preferred kiddy teatime of 5.30pm. Whilst we were the first people to arrive, their woodfired pizza oven was roaring and ready to go. 

Dusty’s have a great selection of craft beer with offerings from breweries like Polly’s, Verdant and Cloudwater. However, with a Polly’s 5% pale ale weighing in at £7.60 a can, I do wonder how accessible some of the pricing is. I plumped for an excellent can of Cloudwater Happy Easy Pale Ale (£6.10), which was super crushable with plenty of fresh hops.

Mrs G meanwhile, enjoyed a glass of soft and fruity Gran Cerdo white Rioja (£6.50 for a 175ml glass). It’s interesting to note that a pricing glitch means it’s cheaper to drink wines at Dusty’s by the glass in comparison to buying a whole bottle (£29).

Dusty’s menu includes a mixture of classic and creative pizzas, with examples including the Buffalo (£12) topped with gorgonzola, roasted red peppers and pickled celery, and the intriguingly titled Death of Rob (£14.50), which is adorned with blue cheese, goats cheese, ’nduja and chilli. 

When we visited, the menu was more compact than usual as Phill the owner was away on holiday. So, alongside the pizzas, there were a couple of snacks and sides, fries, dips and two desserts.

Whilst we waited for our pizzas to be prepared a trough of seasoned fries (£4.50) arrived as a timely starter. They were everything you’d want from a bowl of fried spuds – crisp, golden, well-salted and plentiful in quantity.

But, the kicker was a mini cast iron pan of Russian dressing (£2), which had clearly been given a lot of condiment consideration. Dressed with fragrant dill and flecked with pieces of gherkin, the creamy and tangy dip was highly reminiscent of Big Mac sauce. I could have happily dredged fries, bits of pizza crust, or any other beige carb through it all day long.

Both of our pizzas were well-topped whoppers with thin bases and light and crisp crusts that had a delicate chew. There was also no doubting the quality of the fresh and fruity San Marzano tomato sauce and creamy mozzarella either.

A Double Pepperoni (£14) more than lived up to its billing as it was crammed to the edges with crisp discs of thinly sliced fatty sausage. But there was plenty more going too – there were nubbins of fiery green chilli, a dusting of savoury parmesan, and most interestingly, the crust was glazed with sticky and spicy hot honey. Whilst it made for a messy eat, I liked that the hot honey hadn’t been drizzled over the whole pizza as it can often make everything a bit sweet.

Mrs G’s 'Nduja (£13.50) was a lot more creative than its understated title suggested. Topped with plenty of the fiery spreadable sausage, it was accompanied by a vibrant green pesto, slices of zingy pink pickled onion and nuggets of tangy goats cheese. It was a cracking combination of flavours.

We had belting dinner at Dusty’s with their delicious creatively topped pizzas, super friendly service and delicious booze. If you haven’t had a chance to visit them in their north Cardiff home then I’d highly recommend a visit.

The Details:

Address - Dusty's Pizza, 9 Llangranog Road, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5BL

Web - https://www.dustyspizza.co.uk/

Telephone - I couldn't find a way to get hold of them via telephone so I assume it's walk-ins only

Roma'Eat, Roath, Cardiff pizza restaurant review

What’s the best type of pizza?

Is it the leopard spotted Neapolitan style with its puffy rim and soupy centre?

Or the mammoth New York style, served by the slice, and best enjoyed whilst exclaiming “cowabunga”?

Maybe it's Roman style? Although then there’s two varieties to choose from – rectangular slices (pizza al taglio) with a thicker, airier and vaguely focaccia-esque base or whole thin and crisp round pizzas (pizza tonda).

In my opinion, there’s no right answer.

I love all of them and I don’t say this as cop out.

Whichever style of pizza you consider to be the best, Roath’s Roma’Eat undoubtedly serve some of the best in Cardiff.

Originally opened as a tiny takeaway-focused unit on Albany Road called RomEat in 2020, owner Matteo Pellico built up a loyal following for his Roman style pizza.

The next step in their evolution has seen them move to a larger space just around the corner on Wellfield Road, allowing them to offer a full restaurant experience, whilst still fulfilling the constant stream of takeaway orders. It’s a lovely spot with an open kitchen, exposed brickwork and industrial lighting.

Alongside the change of venue, there’s been a slight rebrand from RomEat to Roma’Eat and an expansion of the menu, which offers starters, freshly made pasta, fried calzone, whole pizzas (round and rectangular), and a small selection by the slice.

To drink, ice cold Ichnusa lager (£4) was knocked back in a few gulps, whilst a light and summery organic Primitivo Rose with heaps of strawberry is one of Mrs G’s favourite Cardiff restaurant wines; she was a big fan of the stuff when it was on offer at the now departed Kuro.

Five mini bolognese suppli (£5) (the Roman equivalent of arancini) were golden crumbed with a loose meaty risotto filling and an oozing core of mozzarella. Honking garlic aioli dip on the side was probably unnecessary but it turned out to be a great pizza crust dip.

A pair of generously proportioned rectangular pizzas slices were light, airy and crisp bottomed.

The San Pietro (£4.50) was topped with chunky slices of tender aubergine, creamy fior di latte mozzarella, pert blobs of ricotta, fresh basil and burstingly juicy baked cherry tomatoes; it was our pick of the meal. Pepperoni (£4.50) was excellent too, with a good ooze of cheese and crisp discs of meat.

Roma’Eats whole round pizzas are a thinner and crisper experience. I’ve got so much time for their Capella Sistina (£13), topped with a delicately sweet butternut squash puree that’s balanced by aggressively spiced blobs of ‘nduja and gossamer thin slices of salty pancetta.

For dessert, there’s cheesecake, tiramisu or panna cotta on offer. As long as you’re a fan of creamy things then there’s something for you.

A big pot of tiramisu (£5) had a good balance of airy sweetened cream, coffee-soaked sponge and a dusting of cocoa. It’s amazing how something so indulgent can taste so light.

There were also complimentary glasses of ice cold and fragrant limoncello. It's one of the only things served by the shot that I'm ever happy to see.

We had a lush meal at Roma’Eat and it’s great to see their expansion has been such a success. Whatever type of pizza you think is the best, it’s definitely worth a visit to try both their pizza al taglio and pizza tonda.

The Details:

Address - Roma'Eat, Unit 6 The Globe Centre, Wellfield Rd, Cardiff CF24 3PE

Web - https://www.romeatpizza.co.uk/

Telephone - 029 2048 8111

Grano, Birchgrove, Cardiff, Italian cafe and bakery review

From the moment you walk through the door at Grano and are met with fridges of Italian cheese and charcuterie, a hulking bread oven with racks of freshly baked focaccia, and an impressive display of cakes and tarts, it’s clear that it’s a place which puts quality produce front and centre.

This Italian cafe, deli and bakery, which has recently opened in Cardiff’s Birchgrove on the former site of Organicafe, serves a compact menu of salads, focaccia sandwiches and cheese and charcuterie boards.

From the outside, there’s little indication of the modern and roomy seating area which opens up once you get past all that produce.

To drink, a bottle of assertively herbal Galvanina Chinotto (£3.95) was reminiscent of sweetened cough syrup - I always love it but I'm not sure why. Mrs G enjoyed an oat milk latte (£3.60) - the fruity Sumatran coffee not too roasty and bitter as I often find in Italian gaffs.

My sandwich (£7.45) was a simple combination of three components, but what a trio they were. Two pieces of freshly baked focaccia with a lovely crisp exterior and soft, airy crumb, were stuffed with soft and seriously creamy burrata and garlic-twanged mortadella, the best mystery meat known to man.

A runny-centred burrata (£10.95) was the star of another simple yet very effective dish combining peppery rocket, wafer thin slices of Parma ham, a sticky balsamic glaze, extra virgin olive and hyper-crisp toasted house sourdough.

To accompany the dish, the menu suggested a choice between focaccia and sourdough bread and when Mrs G requested the former they weren't sure if there was enough available - as a nice touch a bowl of the stuff soon appeared at the table.

Finally, a whopping tuna salad (£10.95) was made with plenty of well-dressed leaves and mixed olives.

With an impressive selection of fresh bakes on offer, including a rather delicious looking ricotta and pistachio tart, we stuck to two classics.

A crisp and brittle cannolo (£3.50) was packed with smooth sweetened cream cheese dotted with dark chocolate buttons.

A brilliantly comforting tiramisu (£3.50) had a good oomph from the booze and coffee soaked sponge which was tempered by a light, silky and rich custard. It's a dish which I often find too heavy from the over-use of whipped cream; this was the antithesis.

We had a delicious lunch at Grano. It's the kind of café anyone would be glad to have in their neighbourhood and I'll certainly be back for more of their mortadella. 

Update - November 2024

On a recent visit to Grano, they’d added a selection of pinsa to their menu. The super light, thick and airy crisp crust reminded me very much of Roman style pizza by the slice. I ordered the piccante (£12.50) topped with sweet and earthy pumpkin puree, fiery and fatty 'nduja, melted smoked cheese, and crisp salami. It's easily up there among the best pizzas I've had in Cardiff.

Grano are also now open on Friday and Saturday nights when they serve a special pizza menu. If they're anything like their pinsa then they'll most definitely be worth checking out. 

The Details:

Address - Grano, 104 Caerphilly Rd, Birchgrove, Cardiff CF14 4AG

Web - https://www.instagram.com/grano.cardiff/

Telephone - 029 2233 8255