Searching for Cardiff's Best Burger - Lolfa Mimosa Lounge, Pontcanna

The search for the best burger in Cardiff could be the subject of its very own blog. Other than steak, I can't think of any dish that's more ubiquitous on restaurant menus.  Inspired by the awesome London based burger detective Burgerac, I'm back on the hunt for Cardiff's best burger. Unfortunately I'm still not hopeful I'm going to find anything as good as a Big Mac.

By adopting an interrogatory style to this and future burger reviews, I can focus on the key issues in order of importance and make fairer comparisons between Cardiff's burgers .

The Burger - Lolfa Mimosa Lounge, Welsh Black Beef Burger

1. How was the patty? Served well done, the Welsh Black beef was still thankfully moist. It was well seasoned, herby and had a pleasant sweetness from some finely diced red onion. Unfortunately it more closely resembled a meatball in shape than a burger patty. This meant it didn't fit the bun properly and I had to dislocate my jaw to get it in my mouth.

3. How was the bun? It was pleasing to see a homemade focaccia style bun seasoned with rosemary. It was a step above countless other burger bun atrocities I've eaten. However it was slightly greasy due to the olive oil and it did break up too easily as I worked my way through the burger.

4. How was the other stuff in the bun? A smear of mayonnaise, a single slice of tomato and a tiny amount of rocket. Simple yet effective. The melted cheese was undetectable against the beef

5. How were the fries? Disappointingly soggy but there was a good background note of meat fat.

6. What was the price? £9.95 with fries (I'm not sure how much extra I paid for the cheese)

7. How were the sides? 

Onion rings were mindbogglingly brilliant. Perfectly crisp, ungreasy, sweet and salty. Perhaps the best onion rings I've ever eaten.

A starter of whitebait was crisp but a couple of the little blighters were unnervingly fishy tasting. The bread was also a little stale.

A Manhattan tasted like an ice-cold shot of neat whisky with a cherry. I've never had a Manhattan before and never will again. I'm guessing they're always this rank and it's not Mimosa's fault.

8. How was the service? Friendly but one of our groups' main dishes was forgotten. We were nearly finished by the time her dish arrived.

9. So what's the verdict? I'd enjoy eating Mimosa's burger again but I wouldn't drive past a McDonald's to get there.

The Details:
Address: Lolfa Mimosa Lounge, 175 Kings Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9DF 
Telephone: 029 2037 3554

Web: http://www.mimosakitchen.co.uk/index.php

Fabulous Welsh Cakes, Cardiff Bay, Welsh Speciality

One of the first, most important and only questions I ask myself when visiting a new country is “what national specialities do I need to eat?”

When I visited Germany for the first time I obsessed about sampling currywurst, the filthy late night speciality which I’d read about in my German GCSE textbook. My first trip to the USA was a dangerous 5 days in which I crammed countless foods I'd wanted to eat since childhood. I was half a stone heavier after consuming multiple pancake stacks, hot dogs, ribs, burgers, meatloaves, donuts, junior mints, pizzas, Reese's pieces, subs and philly cheese steaks.

I asked myself the same question when I moved to Wales. Over the last few years I’ve sampled Welsh rarebit, cawl, half & half, Glamorgan sausages, cockles & laverbread, faggots and the Caroline street speciality of chips & chicken curry off the bone. Perhaps though it's the humble Welsh cake which is my pick of the bunch.

Served cold they’re pretty lush with a cup of tea. But really there’s nothing nicer than to trough one warm cake after another when they’re fresh off the bakestone. For my occasional fix, I head to Fabulous Welsh cakes in Cardiff bay. Usually you can pick up a bag of these beauties (45p per cake) whilst they’re still warm. If not they’re still guaranteed to be exceptionally fresh and fabulous.

As well as the traditional combination of flour, butter, sultanas, caster sugar and mixed spice, Fabulous also do their own interpretations of the Welsh cake. An Easter variety had a moist core of marzipan whilst a dark chocolate and orange combination satisfied the chocoholic inside me.

Tourist or not, Fabulous Welsh cakes are one national speciality worth sampling.

The details:
Fabulous Welsh Cakes, Bute St, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5DW
Tel - 02920 456 593
Web - http://www.fabulouswelshcakes.co.uk