All reader reviews by Simon Lockett

El Puerto

My favourite restaurant in Cardiff (or just outside)

I have eaten here on many occassions but on my most recent visit I was treating my girlfriend so went all out starters, main, desserts and wine! I had fillet steak and she had monk fish. The food here is beautiful, the service impeccable! The atmosphere is lively yet you can still get lost in each other amongst the hustle and bustle. I love the location and the decor is really impressive too!

Like I said I went all out for her birthday only to find out that when I went to pay for the bill, Steve the manager at the time informed me that my father had already taken care of it! Which was a complete surprise, irrelevant to this review I guess but made the occassion that lil bit more special!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8

Thai Edge

Excellent restaurant!!!

The authenticity of the waitresses in traditional dress, the precision and art of each dish being superbly presented! the waterfeatures and humble atmosphere give it an excellent romance for a first date or somewhere to impress.

I would definately recommend this restaurant. Although my visit was when the restaurant first opened I would hope the same care and attention is still given now! A*

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7

Oscar's

Well what can I say? Before I moved away I was a regular diner at this beautiful and cosy restaurant. However since moving back to Cardiff I have longed for returning to my favourite Italian restaurant only to find that when I booked my reservation, I was notified of the change of management. This restaurant was excellent but now? All I can say is I hope the previous owners do not get to here of its future demise! Used to being greeted at the door by an authentic young Italian waitress who made you feel relaxed and privlidged to eat in the restaurant I was eventually greeted by a crowd of people who were dotting to a forth from behind the counter and treating the place as if it was there home. Which is fine if your not trying to make a good impression of your new restaurant.

Myself and my girlfriend were given the old style menu much to my delight and I ordered my usual, Chorizo sausage and spinach as a started and Penne Manzo for main. My partner had meatballs and Prawns in white wine sauce. Again I was disappointed to learn that they had no authentic Italian beers such as Peroni which is Mamma Mia's trademark lager. The staff were ill trained and didnt really know what they were doing. The service however was prompt but when the starters came mine was undercooked and was not chorizo sausage but appeared to be lumps of sausage meet in spinach and drowned in olive oil. The meatballs were also undercooked and were in a sauce that can only be described as heinz tomato soup. (there was even a piece of tinned spaghetti in it!!) At this point I wanted to leave however my partner convinced me to stay. When the main meals came i was a little more impressed however the steak was certainly not fillet and the dish did not resemble the quality that I have previously experienced here. We reluctantly paid the bill leaving no tip and left feeling totally disheartened! I would've approached the management but there seemed to be none and to be honest I doubt it would be of any use!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0