Sibling, Roath, small plates and wine bar review

We didn’t plan on staying at Sibling for a meal; it was only supposed to be a pre-dinner pitstop.

But, after a glass of wine and a couple of snacks, the momentum of enjoyment meant it was inevitable that we ordered more and more.

By day, Sibling, which is tucked away in a Roath backstreet, is a brother and sister owned coffee shop. Everything about the place is class, from their beautiful bespoke wooden furniture to their brilliant coffee and delicious seasonal baked goods.

However, on a Friday and Saturday evening, they stay open late for small plates and natural wine and craft beer by the glass.

On the booze front, we really enjoyed a bottle of summery and red berry packed sparkling pinot noir (£24) from Meinklang in Austria, a juicy IPA from Bristol’s Left Handed Giant (£6), as well as glasses of un-oaked Chardonnay (£7.50) and a very gluggable Nero d'Avola (£7).

The selection of small plates on offer mostly comprises of unfussy assemblies of tasty ingredients – if you’re sourcing good produce then there really isn’t much need to mess around with it.

Plump gordal picante olives (£3) had a good thrum of chilli and were scattered with toasted coriander seeds which added extra crunch and fragrance. It’s an idea I’m going to try at home.

A generous portion of Duroc jamon (£10) had a lovely depth of flavour and rich mouth melting fat.

Pan con tomate (£4.50), made with toasted house sourdough, was topped with a throat tingling quantity of garlic, tomato pulp and a drizzle of olive oil. It was very tasty but I do prefer a little bit more tomato pulp.

The star of the show was a plate of sweet and smoky barbecue roasted peppers (£7) dressed with salty anchovies, pops of acidity from a scatter of capers, and a good drizzle of oil. It was dreamy booze food.

Whilst a bowl of olive oil crisps draped with boquerones (£6.50) might seem a little bit bizarre on first impression, it makes absolutely perfect sense as far as I’m concerned. The vinegary hit of the marinated anchovies transformed the plate into the ultimate bowl of salt and vinegar crisps.

Pieces of creamy and funky Tunworth (£6) were a lovely British Camembert equivalent.

The sight of a glorious looking Basque cheesecake (£5) sat on Sibling's counter brought back fond memories of our trip to San Sebastian’s La Vina.

Not wanting to miss out, I pre-ordered a couple of slices and it was a wise move as it swiftly sold out before we arrived at dessert. It most definitely lived up to expectations – it was light, creamy, tangy and beautifully smooth with toasty edges.

We had a really fun evening of booze and food at Sibling. It’s become a popular Roath fixture since opening over 18 months ago. If you haven’t popped by yet then I highly recommend a visit

The Details:

Address - Sibling, 39 Lochaber St, Cardiff CF24 3LS

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

Lahore Kebabish, Grangetown, Cardiff Pakistani restaurant review

Pound for pound, what’s the best snack in Cardiff?

There are few strong contenders in my book, including Pooja’s legendary paneer roll, the excellent pizza by the slice from West and RomEat, the £1 panelle from Bacareto, the spinach and cheese borek from Four Seasons on City Road, Welsh cakes served warm off the bakestone from Cardiff Market, and the deep-filled steak pie from Rees the Butchers.

However, one acclaimed snack which hadn’t passed my lips until last week is the keema naan from Lahore Kebabish in Grangetown, and now I’m rueing all those missed munching opportunities.

It’s another recommendation from the same knowledgeable Cardiffian who brought City Road’s Hadramowt to my attention. When I last raised the subject of the best bites to eat in Cardiff, I was informed in no uncertain terms: “Don't want to cause an intra-city diplomatic incident, but the best snack in Cardiff is Lahore's keema naan.”

Located on the busy thoroughfare of Penarth Road, Lahore Kebabish’s bright and basic dining room has a fridge full of curries and fried snacks as its focal point. On offer are starters of pakoras and samosas, a selection of curries, and Lahori specialities such as haleem and paya (a breakfast dish made with trotters).

Having ordered at the counter, a pair of fragrant and tangy mango lassis (£3) were the first to appear.

I'll talk about the keema naan next as it really was the star of the show. For £3, it was a meal in itself; the crisp and pillowy bread filled with an equal quantity of spiced minced lamb which peered through its crust. A brush of glossy butter completed the first rate snack. 

Nihari (£10) delivered on the promise of its long cook. Exceptionally tender pieces of lamb were bathed in a well-spiced sauce that was enriched with meaty marrow and cooking juices. Batons of ginger and pieces of green chilli meanwhile brought fresh fragrance and spice to the dish.

Saag paneer (£6.50) saw soft pieces of cheese coated in spinach, onion and spice which had cooked down into one thick sauce.

Sizzling harayali chicken tikka (£5) had a vibrant green herb marinade and was pleasingly juicy and smoky of flesh. Soft and sweet charred onions accompanied each mouthful.

Accompanying side salad was a little lacklustre, the lettuce most certainly having seen better days and raw onion dominating the plate.

Tandoori pratha (£3) wasn’t anything like the flaky layered paratha I expected, but it was still excellent. The thin, crisp and soft bread was brushed with a liberal amount of fat and was a great mop for all those curry sauces. It's clear that breads are definitely one of Lahore Kebabish's strengths. 

We had a delicious lunch at Lahore Kebabish and I really enjoyed their curries and sizzling meat. But I’ll be making a special detour for that keema naan anytime I’m within a 1km radius.

The Details:

Address - Lahore Kebabish, 160 Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 6NJ

Web - https://lahorekebabishcardiff.com/

Telephone - 029 2022 1354